Brainwashed (O/O) Closed

"August Ren.", he sighed. "Please find her."

"We'll try hun, I promise. There are already cars after a suspected silver van in that area."

(BTW, I'm going to be one of Kate's close friends later in the meantime, if that makes sense.)

(That makes sense.)
"Thank you.", he said sadly as he hung up. What if I never see her again?

(Do you want to time skip to maybe the next day at school?)

(Yeah)

Gina hesitantly approached August at his locker. "Hey."

"Hey.", he said, unenthusiastically, which was unlike him.

"Are… Are you doing okay?" If he looked at her, it was obvious that she had been crying.

"No! No I'm not!", he snapped. "Kate's gone!"

She took a couple steps back. "I… I know…"

August slammed his locker door shut and people turned to glance, but he couldn't care less about them. "Then why'd you ask if I'm okay?!" His fiery glare couldn't hide the tears in his eyes.

Gina flinched timidly. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "But you're not the only one who's upset." As if on cue, a small tear trickled down her cheek.

August didn't want to see her cry. He ran away from Gina and to his next class.

Gina tried to meet up with August after class. "August, please!"

"I'm sorry.", he whispered. His head was down to avoid her gaze.

"Do you need anything?" she asked quietly.

"Kate.", he said sadly. "I didn't mean to shut you out, but I didn't want you to see my cry." August looked up, revealing that he too had been crying.

"I wouldn't judge you, and I'm not going to hassle you. I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"I appreciate that.", he said. "Maybe we could help out each other."

Gina nodded. "How?"

He took a step closer. "Sometimes we need other people to help us get through our pain. I'll be your friend if you let me."

She nodded again. "I miss her," she whispered tearfully.

"Me too. What am I going to do now?", August asked as he sniffed.

"I don't know," she admitted. "For now, we just hope for the best."

August thought about that for a moment. "Hope that they find her?"

Gina nodded. "Yeah."

(timeskip?)
"I'll have to hang on to that.", he said thoughtfully.

(To when she returns?)

(Yeah probably)

3 months later, after no leads, Kate returned, standing at her bus stop, her gaze blank.