The car pulled up to the front of the large house and parked. The young woman behind the wheel turned the car off and got out. The area around the house was quiet and when she looked at the house, she could hear voices from the inside. Closing the door, she took the steps up to the front porch two at a time. She reached the front door and raised her hand to knock when she heard a voice from the inside of the house.

"You better not be plannin' on knockin' on that door! You just walk in now. You're here enough." A female voice said and the young woman smiled as she opened the screened door and walked into the house. It was a bit less humid in the house and it took a few moments for her eyes to adjust. Walking into the kitchen, she saw an older woman cooking something.

"Hello Marguerite. How are you today?" The older woman stopped what she was doing, wiping her hands on her apron and moving towards the young woman.

"Alyssa! It's so nice to see you. What are you and Zoe gonna be doing this weekend?"

"Well, we're having a sleepover and I just needed some help going through my things. What should come with me to college or not."

"That's so excitin' now! What were you going for again?"

"Environmental science." Marguerite laughed and looked back at her.

"I guess we'll never be able to keep you out of that bog. I still remember that time when Jack had to save you from sinking." Alyssa's face turned a shade of pink, a bit embarrassed.

"My mom was so mad when I came home covered in mud." The two women stood there for a few moments before the younger one spoke. "Where's Zoe?"

"I believe upstairs getting ready. Go ahead and get her." With a smile, she turned and took the steps two at a time again. She made it to the top of the steps and took a turn at the top of the steps. She knew Zoe's door was to the right and when she reached it, she knocked and waited.

"Come in…" She heard Zoe answer quietly before she walked in. Her room was sparse but it somehow fitted her. She left the door cracked open.

"Hey." She had a smile that was from ear to ear as she looked at her friend. "You ready? I have lots of things planned for tonight." Zoe turned around as she brushed some of her short hair out of her eyes. Alyssa crossed the room and planted a kiss on the girl's lips. She slowly pulled away.

"I assume that is one of the things planned?" Zoe said with a smile and she laughed.

"Just maybe. Is this all your stuff?" She looked at the bed which just had a bag and a pillow. She reached for the pillow as Zoe grabbed her bag.

"Yes. I don't see why I need to bring a pillow. We just end up sharing your bed anyway." She didn't say anything as the two made their way down the steps and towards the front door.

"Bye Marguerite! I'll have Zoe back early Monday afternoon!" She called out as the front screened door was open.

"You two have fun now!" The two young women made their way towards the car and put the items into the back seat. Alyssa took the front seat and put her seatbelt on, then turning on the car. Zoe was silent as she drove them down the lane towards the road.

The house was silent as they made their way into the house. She knew her parents hadn't been gone long when she felt the cool air in the house had been turned down. The two were quiet as they made their way up to Alyssa's bedroom and when the door was open, boxes were stacked in the corner. Putting the bags down, she looked over at Zoe and smiled.

"I never knew how hard it was going to be going through all my stuff, deciding what to take." She sat on the bed and laid back, staring at the ceiling. She knew Zoe was still standing there. Arching her head just a little, she looked at her. "Come here, I got you something." As Zoe looked over at her and finally made her way to the bed, Alyssa had turned to lay on her stomach and reach over to her nightstand, opening the drawer. She felt the bed move and pulled her hand out of the drawer. Turning to lay on her side, she smiled.

"What did you get me?" She looked up at Zoe and put the object in her hand.

"A cell phone, so we can keep in contact while I'm away." She had watched her take the phone into her hand and looked at it. She knew they didn't have any kind of technology at her house and she wanted to keep in contact with Zoe somehow. "It's a prepaid and I put 600 minutes on it and it should last till I come home. I'll get another one then." The other girl looked at her and didn't say anything. Alyssa got worried. Zoe got closer and kissed her lips.

"Thanks. I'll try to keep it hidden."

"Hide it from Lucas, who knows what he'd do if he found it." The two girls laid on the bed for a while, not saying anything. It was getting darker outside as they sat on the bed, Alyssa showing her how to use the phone. It was a basic smartphone and she showed her how to text, take pictures and send them.

"It'll take a while to get used to it." Alyssa said as she put her own phone down and looked over at Zoe, who had put her own phone to the side. They fell into a comfortable silence as she reached over and turned on the lamp that was next to the bed. Leaning over, she kissed her lips and smiled a bit. "We'll get out of here, I promise."