Reaching for Rebecca

Chapter 98

RYAN'S POV

The whole world was silent as I repeated what Landon had said over and over in my head.

Becca is gone.

Becca is gone.

Becca is gone.

Becca is gone.

My brain finally comprehended what was going on and I quickly wrapped my head around the horrible situation.

"What the fuck do you mean she's gone?" I screamed in his face and bound out of the room only to run directly into Mason who grabbed my shoulders hard and held me in place.

"We've looked everywhere Ryan. She isn't here," he stated firmly. "Let's go outside," he suggested and moved the entire group of us outside minus Alex who went to get Hannah whose red hair we could see bouncing on the dance floor.

"What the fuck happened." I was frantic and beyond pissed. Bentley and Kate came next to me and tried to calm me down but I shoved them off. "Where did you look?"

"Everywhere Ryan, we were looking when we ran into you – Johnny even looked in the neighboring yards." Mason explained. My hands covered my face and rubbed fiercely. I could already feel myself breaking down but I needed to keep it together. Landon reappeared by my side and laid a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"We'll find her Ryan. I told Alex to get Hannah so we know what happened." He was trying to keep his head on straight even though I knew he was freaking out too, we all were. I stepped slightly away from Landon and started pacing back and forth; taking turns clenching my fists at my sides and rubbing my face in exasperation. The second I saw Hannah it was like a switch flipped inside of me and pure rage came out. I stormed toward her and even her frightened expressions couldn't deter me.

"What the hell?! We told you to STAY TOGETHER! What the fuck happened to that!?" Landon pulled me away and Alex stepped protectively in front of a crying Hannah. "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"

"STOP IT!" Alex gave me a good shove and Landon tugged me back all at the same time so I ended up on the ground. I sat there, dropped my head in my hands, and completely lost it; I started sobbing loudly and uncontrollably because I didn't know what the fuck was happening. "Ryan..." my brother crouched next to me and peeled my hands away from my tear-filled face, "this isn't Hannah's fault okay? She didn't know. Can you please let her explain and not freak out at her?" I nodded along just bobbing my head up and down repeatedly. Soon enough, he helped me up and we walked down the road a bit so we weren't standing directly in front of the raging party. Johnny stayed behind to keep an eye out here – plus it was his house so he couldn't really leave, but he informed the rest of the footballers that weren't extremely drunk to scour the neighborhood for Becca.

"I'm so sorry Ryan I didn't know what was going on with Becca or that she was living with you guys..." I cut off Hannah's rambling.

"What. Happened."

"Becca needed to use the restroom so I walked with her upstairs but some man called her name. I don't think she heard him but I turned around since she was already in the bathroom. He said he was Becca's step-dad and that he and her mom had a surprise planned for her birthday and that you knew about it." I was walking back and forth in anger but listening to Hannah's story while she cried the entire time. "He said he'd wait for her and I should go tell you guys that he picked her up for the surprise... Alex just told me he's like evil," she was sobbing and barely able to talk, "I didn't know Ryan."

"We know, Hannah, it's not your fault," Alex knelt and held her close while wiping her tears. I wanted to yell at her that it was her fault. Becca was gone and it was all her fault... Landon pulled me away and faced me towards him.