The Bridge by Rachel Lou Page A

to be a jellyfish? Everett sighed.

Chapter 12
     
     
    HIS GRANDFATHER waited in the driveway while Everett checked if Omar was home. Omar hadn’t returned the missed calls or answered the new ones. It wasn’t likely he’d be gone for two days in a row without prior notice, but the house was as empty as before.
    The door remained closed after a few minutes of doorbell ringing and waiting. Everett tried the doorknob and found it locked.
    “This is ridiculous. I’m calling the Order,” his grandfather said. The sharp frustration of his voice was uneasy.
    Everett felt the same.
    He slipped a finger in his salt pouch. “There’s no residue, but do you think something happened to him?”
    He turned around after receiving no answer. His grandfather was on the sidewalk, already phoning the Order.
    He sighed and after a long look at the doorknob, shuffled off the porch. His grandfather spoke in a quiet, firm voice. He overheard a few words like unacceptable , harmful , and safety .
    His phone buzzed with a text from Bryce. Hey, there’s an open slot from 7-8 tonight. Do you want it? I can book it for you.
    Everett was surprised to see his thumbs tremble over his phone screen. For goodness’ sake, this wasn’t a date or anything.
    That’d be awesome. Thanks!
    Wear sweats and tie your hair up—if you can. Or just pin it back. Whatever you like. I’ll see you then!
    Did Bryce consider Everett a friend? He seemed to enjoy spending time with Everett, and his determination to book lessons with Everett had stood him through Everett’s multiple rejections.
    Rejections.
    As though friendship involved such a heavy word.
    Did Everett dare think so highly of himself? Bryce had even gone out of his way to get him a scholarship—not to mention walk through the woods just to deliver an informational folder.
    Buzz popped in front of Everett and landed on the bush in front of the front door’s alcove. It vibrated, its outline rippling with waves.
    “Buzz, what’s wrong?”
    Buzz flitted to the doorknob and vibrated.
    “Should I go in?”
    Buzz exploded in a show of phantasmal sparks.
    “Everett, let’s go,” his grandfather called.
    Everett tossed the knob a look. “Maybe later, Buzz.”
    He quickly got in the car and shut the door. Buzz dove into the bushes where it inconspicuously remained out of sight.
    “Something’s up with Buzz. It vibrated like it was warning me.”
    “Buzz’s pink color marks him as a he , and you should take his warning seriously. His goal is to protect you. Until we find Omar, stay away from this neighborhood. If Buzz has a bad feeling about this, so should you.”
    “Is Omar missing?”
    “It isn’t confirmed, but the Order has reason to suspect so.”
    Everett held his bag more securely in his lap. “Do they think it has something to do with me?”
    “It’s not likely. The only people who should know of the lessons are you, me, Mr. Pendley, and Omar. You and I didn’t tell anyone about the lessons, so either Mr. Pendley or Omar slipped the info. If not, then someone overheard. That’s assuming there was foul play.”
    “But Buzz’s reaction hints at foul play.”
    “It does.”
     
     
    THE LAVENDER incense wasn’t clearing Everett’s thoughts. They swam in his head in many directions, sometimes never connecting with each other. A few traveled so far they were completely different from what they started off as. Somehow, his thoughts of Buzz led to Bryce, and his thoughts of Omar’s disappearance led to his martial arts lessons.
    It was almost time to leave for his private lesson, and Everett still hadn’t conquered his messy thoughts. He had listed the happenings of the days leading up to his “awakening” as a Bridge Master and tried to find any connections. All the connections he made were desperate grasps.
    “Everett?” His grandfather knocked. “I’m getting groceries. Do you want to come?”
    “I have lessons with Bryce soon.”
    “This late?”
    “It’s the last