Chapter Text
Jim jumped when his phone rang. He walked over to it slowly, taking a deep breath. He hadn’t had any human contact since… Corey, 2 days ago.
He lifted the phone off the receiver and lifted it to his ear.
“Hello?” He probably sounded exhausted, because he was.
“Hi, uh… Jim?” a familiar but unidentifiable voice said from the other end.
“Yeah, who’s this?” Jim asked.
“Hi, sorry, it’s Josh… Corey’s roommate? I met you the other night, Corey had your number on the fridge,” it clicked in Jim’s mind now.
Jim’s heart sunk a little bit at the revelation.
Why was Josh calling him?
Jim tried to sound casual, “Oh, yeah, sorry. I remember now,” Jim tried to force a casual laugh, “What’s up?”
“I was just wondering if you’ve seen Corey around? He hasn’t been home in a while and it’s just kinda odd. Thought he might be with you,” he explained.
Jim swallowed hard, trying to compose himself, “Last time I saw him was when I walked him home on Friday night.”
Last time you saw him alive.
“Aw, damn it,” Josh sighed.
“Is everything alright?” Jim asked.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m just kinda worried about him. He gets in these bad moods sometimes and it’s not like him just disappear like this. He didn’t come home last night but none of his stuff’s missing. He’s my bud, y’know, just hoping he comes back soon so I don’t have to call the cops to track down his dumb ass again if he’s gone off on another... “ Josh trailed off, realizing Corey probably hadn’t opened up to Jim that much quite yet, “I’m just worried about him, he’s not known for thinking shit through,” Josh finished with a forced laugh that was laced with concern.
Jim didn’t realize he had started silently crying until he felt a tear slip down his cheek.
He doesn’t even know.
He doesn’t even know what you fucking did.
To his best friend.
Jim composed himself, kicking himself in the ankle to bring himself back and gritting his teeth a little at the pain.
“Yeah, I’m really sorry. I’m… Worried about him too, if he hasn’t been home in a while. I’ll call you if I hear from him,” Jim said.
“Yeah, please, dude,” Josh said with obvious distress in his voice.
“And uh….” Jim paused, squeezing his eyes shut tight, more silent tears fell down his face. He tried to sniffle quietly and finish his sentence, “...Uh, let me know as soon as you hear from him, ok?”
“Yeah, I will for sure, thanks dude,” Josh said.
“No problem,” Jim said, trying to keep his voice as steady as he could.
As soon as he heard the phone click as Josh hung up, he collapsed onto his kitchen floor.
Head down, supporting himself on his elbows and his knees, Jim wept loudly.