looking everywhere

"Where is she?" Roger pushed through the crowd of happy teens into the dark.

"Who?" Cory followed him. They'd just gotten their picture taken. It took a good hour to get that done.

"Ellie," Roger looked around at those dancing about. "Who do you think?"

"I don't see Ryan, anywhere." Cory looked at Roger as if this was all his fault. "Maybe he found her already."

Roger looked back toward the line of those getting photos. She wasn't there.

"I hope she beat him up," Roger said barely above his breath.

"What?"

"I never really liked him. I was hoping Ellie would unleash some of that venom of hers and put him in his place." Roger felt numb now.

"Well, why didn't you tell her that." Cory was trying to tell him as they pushed through the crowd looking for Ellie and Ryan.

"Cause. I can't. All right. I can't." Roger sighed.

"You just can't stand the thought of anyone not liking you, that's it." Cory grabbed Roger's hand before he got to far ahead of him in the thick crowd.

"Maybe." Roger squinted.

"Ellie will hate you for real now. She will." Cory told him.

"No, she won't." He couldn't believe that. She wouldn't. That would be the worst possible thing as far as Roger was concerned. She had to be around here, somewhere.