I hated to admit it, but I was trying to distance myself from Eden. She was just too perfect, too amazing. I didn't feel good enough for her.

I found Sophie to hang out with. She was pretty enough, but she couldn't compare to my best friend. I didn't want to be her boyfriend. I just wanted someone to keep my brain from being completely consumed by everything Eden.

It was crazy how much the little lady could affect me. Eden was the epitome of beauty and she was usually the reason for my happiness. She had been through a lot, there was no doubt about that, but I wanted to help her overcome that and just be a happy teenager like she deserved. I remember the first time I ever saw Eden. She was easily the smallest in the classroom. She was undeniably beautiful, even as a kid, I was drawn to her. I walked up to her and introduced myself and the poor girl fell in on herself like a bounce house without air. I could tell she was scared and her face was scrunched up in pain.

From then on, I did all I could to keep my Edith happy.

I remember being so angry when I found out Eden was being abused because I wasn't there to protect her. I knew I was young, but I should have seen the signs. I was the boy that just understood Eden. I was supposed to know Eden inside and out. I was the one who could decipher what she needed because I understood her perfectly. Imagine how I felt when I realized I didn't know the biggest struggle in her life.

Of course, I was in love with Eden. I think that I had been since third grade when she threw her spaghetti lunch at me for going after a boy when he was mean to her. I remember her cute glare and dirty cheeks, red with anger.

She always hated me sticking up for her, but I think I had some kind of complex, needing to protect her at all costs. Even then, she was sent to the office for something I did. I hated that I ever caused her pain.

I never told Eden I liked her because she was too good, too beautiful, and it wasn't the right time. She deserved the world and I wasn't worthy. She'd never want to be with me.

So, I did the worst thing I could possibly do. I tried to make her jealous.

I said yes to a girl that had been pursuing me for two months. Sophia was beautiful but didn't compare to my Eden. I came home bragging about my time with her, brought her home for dinner, hoping Eden would realize she liked me and not just as a foster brother. But trying to avoid my Edith turned into a bigger challenge than I thought. I found myself thinking about her all the time. I'd think about her smile, her gorgeous green eyes. I thought about her dark, curly hair that was so long, it caressed her waist the way I wanted to. I found myself wanting to hold her in my arms, to feel her tan skin against mine.

Sophie took me out almost every day for two weeks. I had recently got my drivers license on my sixteenth birthday and we'd alternate rides. She asked me not to invite Eden. That should have been my first red flag. I listened to her because she made the arguments very convincing. She ensured me Eden didn't need me.

Sophie tried to convince me that Eden was tired of spending so much time with me. She said that Eden needed space if I ever wanted her to love me back. I'd do anything to make Eden love me, so I listened.

Eden had nightmares most nights. They tortured me, knowing they scared her, and somehow I always knew when she had them. She'd let me hold her and I'd be lying if I said I didn't love it for selfish reasons. She never told me what they were about, but I think I knew, and it broke my heart to see her struggle. For some idiotic reason, Sophia convinced me Eden didn't need me when she had nightmares. She told me they would never go away if I didn't let her deal with it herself.

On the day Eden was taken, I was suffering from Eden withdrawals. Sophie sat beside her in the lunch room so I took the next closest seat to her. Her hair covered her face so I couldn't see. She pushed her food around her plate and she rested her elbow on the table, cheek in her palm.

I'd missed her. I'd missed sitting with her on the couch, her back to my chest. I'd missed going to her at night when she cried. Sophie said something nice to her and Eden smiled at her, but it didn't go to her eyes. Sophie kicked my leg under the table reminding me what I had to tell my best friend.

"Ed, do you think you can find a ride home today? After practice, Sophie was gonna take me to a movie." I didn't want to tell her that. I loved taking Eden home. It made me feel better that she was safe. Sophie said this was the only way Eden would love me.

Eden looked hurt. I begged her silently to know that I loved her.

Jolie told her she'd take her home and I thanked her, relieved that Eden wouldn't have to go alone. Eden's other best friend was mad at me because she didn't like Sophia. I should have taken her warning, she was really good at telling if someone was bad news. Regardless, I was glad Eden would have Jolie to take her home. I texted Mom and told her Eden would be home early. I kissed Eden's head, a habit I had formed when I was around her and walked out with Sophie.

"I wish you wouldn't do that," Sophie said, wrinkling her nose. "You look so desperate. I'm sure Eden wonders why you did that."

"Come on!" I groaned, fed up. "Can't I do anything when I'm around her? I'm dying here just trying to keep away. Plenty of best friends kiss foreheads!"

She laughed and shook her head. "I thought you wanted my help! I still think it would be better if you became my boyfriend. She'd notice her feelings right away."

"I don't want to do that. It wouldn't feel right."

"It's just pretend, you baby. But whatever. I'll see you after school." She walked away. She looked like she was exaggerating the sway of her hips. I found myself not liking her very much.

As I walked down the hall, I looked into the library and found Jolie and my Edith talking to a boy. He said something to my girl and they laughed at him. I loved the way Eden's nose scrunched up and her eyes crinkle when she smiled. I loved Eden's laugh. I was mad someone else was making her do it.

Of course, my day got worse after an awful day of football. I couldn't catch or run the ball worth shit and couldn't stop thinking about Eden. Something felt wrong. In the car on the way to the movies, Sophie was getting too close. She leaned on the center console and brushed her fingers through my hair. I gently pushed her off.

"Come on, Noah. Don't you ever want to give up on her? It's like she's blind. So many people would love to love you. Including me." She kissed my neck and I tried not to shiver with guilt.

"Sophia, I told you Eden's what I want. I don't want to be your boyfriend. I'll just drop you off at home. I don't feel very good."

Sophie huffed and put her arms across her chest. "You're so stupid, you know?" She shoved my arm. I tried to focus on the road. "I've been lying to you for weeks to get you away from that bitch and you just can't get it through your thick skull. You think you'd catch on by now!"

"Don't you dare call Eden a bitch!" I roared.

"Can't you see that there are so many other options? I could do so much for you! Amazing things! She probably doesn't even know how to kiss. How pathetic is that! She spends all of her time feeling sorry for herself anyway. You really want to spend your life with a mute tease?"

We were getting close to her house. I pulled up and put my hands on my head, raking my fingers through my hair. I needed to calm down. It was frowned upon to hit girls, but I wanted to.

"Get out of my car. I don't want you to talk to me again." My voice shook with unkempt rage. I reached across her and opened the door, gesturing for her to leave.

Sophie huffed and jumped out of the car. "Pathetic. I don't want you if you're going to be obsessed with someone, anyway."

I drove home, trying to find the words to apologize to Eden. I'd missed her so much.

When I got home, my family was in a panic. It wasn't uncommon for Joseph and Isaiah to be home, they went to college only a little while away, but it was weird that they were speaking urgently into their phones. Mom was crying and Dad was cursing at someone on the phone.

Eden wasn't there.

At first, I didn't understand why everyone was so distraught. Zeke and Jenna were coming home on the most recent flight. Everyone was crying and on edge. I think I figured she just went to the park downtown and would be home soon. She always did that. I texted her phone and didn't get a reply and started to worry. I called her and she didn't answer. Eden always answered her phone even if she didn't say anything.

I'm not ashamed to say I called her almost forty more times, one right after the other, more tears and worry with each missed call. I was in shock, only focused on my phone and that call that had to come with my girl's name and number on the screen. My mind was playing scenarios that got more gruesome as the hours passed and I couldn't seem to stop shaking.

Hadn't Jolie dropped her off? I called her. Eden had to be with Jolie.

"No, she's not here... I had a doctors appointment...I swear I didn't know about it!..... Oh my god! How long has she been gone?... Holy shit... Noah, I'm so sorry... My family will help look!...." I could hear her tears, but couldn't force myself to comfort her.

Jolie said she'd take her home. Someone should have found me and told me she was alone.

I could hear my mom yelling at someone on the phone, Dad trying to stay calm while talking to the two suited men sitting across from him, holding a picture of Eden, and my brothers, frantic with worry and restlessness. They tracked her number and located her somewhere 3 hours away. It had already been so long. They told us they'd find her. I felt a blanket on my shoulders, but couldn't take my eyes off the phone, my only way to talk to Eden.

When the screen lit up with her name and number, playing the song I picked for her. Every head in the room turned to me. My pansy ass was scared to answer.

What if it wasn't her? I had been waiting for hours to find her and I couldn't even see if she was okay? When I finally gathered up the courage, I couldn't seem to stop talking. "Edith! Baby, is that you? Where are you? Are you okay? How do I get to you? I'm so sorry, Edith. Who has you? When I get my hands on them-" Momma smacked my head and my brothers screamed at me to shut up, but I couldn't stop the tears. I needed to know she was ok.

I'll never forget the way she sounded- like she was broken and needed me to fix her. There are certain things you'd hope to hear from your best friend after years of being mute. "Help" was definitely not one of them.

Her voice was small, raspy, terrified.

I almost lost it right there. I knew she was in trouble, but that word meant what I didn't want to acknowledge.

Eden needed our help.

I begged her to hold on, told her we'd be on her way, but heard the swing of an old door and my world came crashing down at her screams of terror, screaming my name, and the words "you little bitch".

My heart constricted painfully. I couldn't hear Eden anymore. She begged for me to help her.

"We've got to go! We have to find her." I jumped up, eager to leave and find my girl.

"Sit your ass down, Noah. You aren't going anywhere," Isaiah sighed defeatedly. "We've been trying to leave. Police officers won't let us. They say it's too dangerous."

"We can't just wait here! She called my name! She needs me! She's waiting for me to help her." I paced back and forth.

"Noah, listen," Mom's voice was broken, afraid. "We'll be in the way. We have to let these people do what they need to do. We have to prepare ourselves to take care of her when she's safe."

"I have to help her," I cried, allowing myself to break down.