Deadly Silence (complete) Chapter 85

What was taking her so long? Theo understood girls could take longer in the bathroom than guys, but it was going on ten minutes now and that felt a bit excessive.

He wasn’t alone in feeling this, as Tyrell had started frowning after the first five minutes had passed without sign of her return. Taking out his phone, he’d sent a text and ended up glancing back at the device every so often as his eyes scanned the crowd.

It made Theo wonder yet again why Vivian needed a bodyguard. The large man was acting as though danger could be present but why would anyone target a teenager who’d only been around for less than two months? It didn’t make sense.

“Think she’s alright in there?” Theo finally asked from the bench he’d chosen to sit on while waiting for her to return. It was partially shaded by a snack stall and the smell of hot dogs was strong but it was the only one with a view of the restrooms. His pink elephant sat next to him on the bench.

A grunt was the only response he got from Tyrell, but the man began marching towards the building as if on a mission. The mission probably involved infiltrating the ladies’ room, which Theo was certain wouldn’t end well. Then again, he’d started to feel worried and found himself back on his feet after tucking the plush under his arm, following the man only to stop in his tracks when Vivian finally appeared.

Tyrell also came to a full stop at the sight of the girl, his shoulders relaxing a fraction before tensing again. Theo started moving until he stood next to the bodyguard.

Something wasn’t right. When Vivian had gone into the bathroom she’d been in a cheerful mood. Her mood the entire day had only brightened as time passed, if Theo was being honest. In the morning she’d been the usual — reserved and closed off — but the more time they’d spent having fun the more she relaxed. He’d never seen the side of her that’d come out that day.

It was almost like she spent her days as half a person and today she finally let herself live without restraint.

Something must have happened during her bathroom break to change all that because she’d closed herself off again. Gone was the smile that’d been on her face most of the day, replaced with pursed lips. Her shoulders were tense, her hands stuffed deep into the pockets of her cardigan. She looked stressed, which didn’t make sense.

“What took so long?” Theo asked, keeping his tone light and teasing. “Did you get lost?”

Vivian barely spared him a glance as she shook her head. “Sorry about that,” she muttered after a few seconds. “I’m burnt out. Can we call it a day?”

Suddenly wanting to end the day hit Theo hard. Regret blossomed in his chest as he began to wonder if getting her to ride The Drop had been the wrong thing to do. She seemed fine with it, though. If she hadn’t been willing to entertain going on it she was the type to speak up while they were making the bet, or so he told himself. Vivian was anything if not forthright when it came to her boundaries and enforcing them.

“Sure, if that’s what you want,” he said after taking a moment to process. He put on a smile so she wouldn’t feel guilty but really it was to hide his own disappointment.

As far as he knew the day had gone really, really well. Then again, he wasn’t the type to experience burnout when it came to social interactions. Not everyone was like that and Vivian was no social butterfly. It was possible she really was burnt out after running around the amusement park for hours but… it just didn’t feel right to him. She looked… wrong, if that was the real reason.

Something was bothering her and she’d misdirected his worry onto something else, something that could be an honest explanation. Theo knew better. He was experienced in deflecting people’s attention to other things when they wanted to know something about him. When others did it he caught on fast, usually choosing to go along with wherever they led the conversation, but he always took note.

What did Vivian not want to talk about? What was actually bothering her? And did it have anything to do with him? Had he done something to bring this sudden change?

Nothing was coming to mind as they silently made their way from the amusement park. At one point, Theo glanced up at Tyrell, who met his gaze and, in response, raised a brow as if to ask a question. In response, Theo shook his head, raising his shoulders a little before letting them slump. Neither of them knew what was going on and Vivian was either oblivious or purposefully ignoring the tense atmosphere she’d created with her earlier statement.

Once they’d settled into the backseat of the car, Vivian kept her head slightly turned away, her gaze aimed to take in what passed by outside the window.

What could he say to break the suffocating silence? Was there anything he could do to let her know he was there if she needed someone to talk to about whatever was going on in her head?

Both their phones dinged at the same time — a sign that Miriam was active in the group chat — and Theo watched as Vivian tensed at the sound. What little colour was in her face drained as she looked down at the pocket her hand was still stuffed into.

She pulled out her phone and glanced at the notification on the screen before returning the device back to the aforementioned pocket without actually checking the message.

Why was she ignoring Miriam? Had they had some kind of text fight while in the bathroom?

Theo pulled out his own phone and checked the message to see if it would have an answer.

Miriam: \[This pie ended up… not inedible.\]

A photo of a pie that wasn’t quite burnt but definitely overcooked had been attached.

That wasn’t helpful to the situation Theo found himself in. Turning the volume on his phone off — constant dinging was annoying if you weren’t the one receiving notifications — he opened the chat that was just between him and Miriam. The last message they’d shared was about getting Vivian’s number.

Theo: \[Did Vivian message you at all in the past like fifteen minutes?\]

It didn’t take long for Miriam to respond.

Miriam: \[??? No? Nothing since her last one in the group chat. What’s wrong? Why aren’t you messaging in the group chat? Did something happen? Did you do something stupid?\]

Theo had to fight the urge to roll his eyes. Of course she would jump to the conclusion he’d done something stupid — he’d done the same thing — but now wasn’t the time.

Theo: \[I’m not sure.\]