At first, I didn't believe him, but then he showed me his text messages with Philip and there it was clear as day.

Sorry, can't help. With Fifi.

Huh… normally it wouldn't be that strange of Philip to do. He lied to his friends, including me, all the damn time. But this wasn't just a friend. This was Rudoslav Borowsky, his best friend. Someone he made an exception for when it came to lying… or at least that's what I thought.

"Weird…", I mumbled.

We both looked at each other. We were thinking the same thing. What could Philip possibly be doing that even Rudoslav couldn't know about? Rudoslav quickly got an idea.

"Ask him where he is.", he quickly added, "But make sure you're subtle."

I swiftly pulled out my phone and texted Philip in the most loving, sibling type way possible.

WHERE ARE U???

"Do you know what subtle means?", he panicked.

I couldn't help but laugh a little: "This is subtle."

"No, it's not."

Suddenly it showed up that he read the message. Might sound weird to expect a response in five seconds but that's what Philip normally did. Whenever I asked anything he would ask a billion follow-up questions too, but this time nothing came back from him.

What was he doing that he couldn't find time to text me back?

Rudoslav and I decided to not let it go so we went to the book cafe where he obviously wasn't. It seemed like we checked everywhere for him, in his favourite cafe, the football field, his room and in the forest, but nothing. It was like he disappeared into thin air. The only thing left to do was to theorize. We sat down on a small stone wall next to the empty sidewalk. Although a bit wet from the rain we didn't really mind, I think both of were a bit defeated at that point.

I went first. "He smokes but you already know that, there wouldn't be a reason for him to hide it."

"He sometimes goes out for a run but… he wouldn't lie about it.", he mumbled.

I thought for a moment before saying: "Maybe he got sick of you and wants some time away."

Rudoslav looked over at me with a dead stare. Okay, that probably wasn't it. I should seriously think before I speak.

"Just a thought.", I whispered.

He looked away from me. If I wanted him to actually like me maybe I should try not to insult his friendship with his best friend. But there seriously wasn't any other reason why Philip wouldn't telling him what he was doing. It wasn't like there were that many things to do in town…

A light bulb lit. "Maybe we're looking at it wrong.", I paused, "Maybe… we shouldn't ask what he is doing but with who?"

Rudoslav looked over at me for a moment, almost like for a split second he thought my idea was stupid but then he stopped. Sudden realisation hit his face.

He lightly nodded. "…I think I know where he is."

Rudoslav and I rode his bike through town. But this time he was the one in the front paddling while I was standing up in the back holding his shoulders. No matter how much I tried he wouldn't let me ride his new bike. Although annoying, also a bit understandable since the last time I kind of ruined his old bike.

He rode his bike through the tiny alleys like he had been doing it since he could walk, which he probably has. When we left the town centre we arrived at a part of town I hadn't been to yet. Through some small woods we arrived at a plain filled with small hills. With the sun shining down at us you could see all the little pollen particles flying through the cool wind. Since it rained once again a few hours ago the sky wasn't completely clear yet and the scent of fresh wet grass filled the air. Although I still missed the city I couldn't deny how calming it was to live in the town.

Just as the dirt path became smaller in size, like not a lot of people walked through there, Rudoslav whistled. I looked around and…

there they were. Nathalie and Philip just sitting there in the grass. She was wearing an elegant white dress with small red cherries and a red cardigan, along with the white hairband in her hair she was, like always, dressed like she belong in a magazine. She was completely focused on Philip sitting next to her seemingly testing a few strings on his guitar. Wearing that stupid leather jersey that made him look even more like a jock. It felt weird seeing her like that, so calm and just… normal. Just listening, I saw her share a few small words with him that I was too far away to hear. It almost looked like a date, one that made my stomach turn.

"Are you gonna kiss or not?!", I yelled out right as we rode in front of them.

Their heads quickly snapped towards us. First came surprise and then annoyance. Nathalie just gave me her iconic stare while Philip up his head down in defeat.

Rudoslav stopped his bike and we both jumped off before going to them. They stood up as we reached them.

Philip was the first one that tried to talk: "How did you-"

"Should have turned your phone off.", I smiled.

Nathalie quickly looked over at Philip. "I thought you did do that."

Before Philip could respond I already started explaining mine and Rudoslav's genius: "He read my message which meant he wasn't that busy which meant he wasn't hiding what he was doing but with who, and oh, would you look at that? Philip recently asked Rudoslav about a good place for a date."

"Philip.", Nathalie smacked her lips.

Philip was quick to defend himself. "What? What if she needed help? I can't just turn my phone off!"

That excuse didn't seem to land for Nathalie. What, so she would have rather him ignore my potential texts for help?

"Why didn't you just tell me about this?", Rudoslav wondered and Nathalie swiftly responded for Philip: "Because we didn't want you guys to stalk us like a bunch of weirdos."

"Why would we ever stalk you guys on your date?", I crossed my arms.

That was a rhetorical question she already knew the answer to. 

Philip smiled as he corrected: "We're working on our assignment."

I glanced down at the neatly arranged blanket with a box full of fruits on the ground behind them. Then my eyes drifted to the guitar he was now holding in one hand. Even if that all wasn't even there it would still be really suspicious that Philip was the one that answered, the good liar.

"Which includes Philip's guitar?", I mumbled.

Nathalie seemed to be getting more and more annoyed at my questions, or maybe even at me.

"I got him new strings.", she explained, a bit more hissy, like an angry kitten.

I tilted my head slightly. "Giving gifts I see."

She scoffed, clearly done with me. "Yes, why not? I like giving people gifts they actually like."

I quickly understood what she was putting down. Which I wasn't going to let slide and also it was kind of entertaining for me to see Nathalie North get mad.

"Right, right. Or they are actually lying about liking it so they can gaslight you and themselves further instead of being honest.", I commented.

She put her hands together and bit the inside of her lip. Seemed like I managed to push the right button. At that point Philip and Rudoslav were watching us like a table tennis match. Just looking back and forth between us like every word we said was the ball.

"Calling pointing out someone's delusion as gaslighting is ridiculous, even for you."

"If it only was a delusion.", I grumbled.

Suddenly Rudoslav whispered to Philip: "Why am I getting the feel this is no longer about giving gifts?"

We both looked over at the guys. As much as I wanted to scream out to them the real meaning of our conversation, I couldn't. Getting my self control back may have been a pleasing but it was also a disadvantage. Maybe a few months back I would have immediately told Philip what was going on in a fit of rage, maybe he deserved to know, but by then, when I stood there surrounded by the calming green hills and spring breeze… I couldn't. I couldn't do that to him, it was also not something I should have revealed… that was up to her.

Looking at her again it was clear she wouldn't budge. I was angry like always but I couldn't help but feel a bit of disappointment. Maybe she wasn't as confident as I thought she was.

"Fine!", I hissed, "Rudoslav, let's go!"

When I started to walk off I could hear Rudoslav reprimanding Philip about lying to him. Which thankfully managed to shift my mood. Those two were like a married couple sometimes and it was hilarious.

Rudoslav quickly caught up to me. At least he seemed satisfied by the interaction. It was definitely fun trying to figure out what was going on with him. Something I couldn't help but comment on.

"We actually make a pretty good team.", I smiled.

He smiled back at me for a short moment, like he let his guard down and didn't even realise who he was talking to… until he did. His smile immediately dropped as his pace became slower, less energetic.

"Maybe.", he murmured while not even looking at me anymore.

Seemed like getting on his good side was a lot harder than I thought. Might seem dumb but I started to really care about what these people think of me and seeing one of them resent me that much… sucked.

Just as I was about to get on the back of his bike again I spotted something behind a bush. It was a dead spot, another one like I found with Jules. The grass was dry and the barely bloomed flowers were once again black in colour. A fungus that grows in random spots? Even though I wasn't a kid of some gardener I knew something was up and I wasn't letting it go. 

I never let things go.