One: Max's POV

"Oh my gosh," I whispered as I burst into tears.

"Max! What's wrong?" my dad came into the room, alarmed by my sudden tears.

"The…the…the plane…" I gasped for air. "The plane…mom was…on," I focus on breathing; breathe in, breathe out, inhale, exhale…

"The plane sweetie?" my dad asked, pulling me back into the horrifying present.

"It just…just…exploded…in mid-air. And the guy…for CNN news…he's on scene…now." I forced out the sentence before beginning to sob harder.

My dad sat down on the couch next to me, stunned. "Valencia," he whispered brokenly.

"This, is Fred Stickerman, reporting to you live on the scene just beneath where the plane IXXV exploded in mid-air. The cause of the explosion is still yet to be determined, and medics already on scene predict no survivors." The television reporter spoke at us.

As I slowly register what Fred said in my mind, I some how begin sobbing harder, and then the phone rings.

"Hello?" my dad answers. "Just a second." He comes over to me. "Sweetie? It's Serena, on the phone. Do you want me to have her call back?"

I shake my head and go to the phone.

"Hello?" I choke out.

"Oh," she gasps, already guessing at my life's situation; Serena begins crying.

"No survivors," she whispers. "Max, I'm so incredibly sorry. She's watching over you, right now. She's your angel." Serena told me; she was a church girl, through-and-through.

"Mhm," I mumble, wiping my face on my sleeve.

"I'm sorry Max, but I have to go. I'll talk to you later, okay?" Serena finally says.

"Oohkay, bye." I mumble as I hang up.

"Did she see?" my dad asks as I come back over to the couch. I merely nod as I glue my eyes back onto the television screen.

"No explanation for the cause of the explosion has yet been released, but there are still, no signs of survival. We are still optimistic as CNN crew members, but the medics aren't so sure." He paused.

I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up and ran into my almost empty bedroom. I fell onto my bed and sobbed.

"Come on, sweetie. You need to pack your bed stuff so we can pack your stuff into the truck or van and leave. Come on, it's time to go." My dads' gentle hands shook me awake.

"Erg, fine." I rolled over, rubbing my eyes in the process. "Ouch," I mutter; my eyes slowly open, still sore from crying.

I sit up and begin to fold the sheets around me. I assemble the only unused box left in my room and stuffed my remaining items into it. Comforter first, then afghan, sheets, pillows, blankies, and finally, my childhood teddy bear.

I kicked the box out of my room and down the hallway as I reached the half staircase leading to my front door and basement. I kick the box down the stairs and then out to the van. For our move out east we decided to drive cross country; my dad in his truck, and I in the family van.

We got it for the whole economy thing that was going on. I think its total bullshit, but my dad wanted to…

I lifted my box into the passenger seat and went back to the house to find my dad who was surveying our now white clad house. We had decided to leave all of our furniture here, to get a fresh start on the east coast.

"Ready to go?" I ask my dad.

"Hm?" he turns around. "Oh, yeah. You got everything?"

"Yes," I mutter. "I'm going to Serena's before we get on the highway, though. I need to say goodbye." I tell him. I don't want to leave Serena here alone, I feel bad about it, but at the same time, I can't wait to move on.

My dad and I each get into the two cars and pull out of the driveway for the last time. I drive the few blocks to Serena's with my dad in tow. I stop and get out, letting myself into her house.

"Max?" Serena peeks around the corner.

"It's time for you to go already?" she asks sadly, a tear forming at the corner of her eye.

"Yes," I sigh. "And all I know is that it's someplace in Rhode Island, my dad won't tell me the rest. I'll let you know as soon as I know, okay?"

"Sounds good, and we can't lose touch. Seriously, Max, you have to call me. Every day."

"Every day," I promise, hugging her.

"I have something for you, before you go." She smiles and disappears for a few moments. She reappears with a decent sized box in her hands.

"Um…that's big…and you didn't need to do that. I didn't think to get you anything." I admit.

"Just open it." She grins.

I tear off the paper and pull open the top flaps. The first thing I pull out is a deep plum purple string bikini.

Serena grins. "It's nice in Rhode Island. You actually get warm, dry summers."

I nod and keep going. Next is a CD with our favorite songs in it, and then a bag of Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chips.

I grin as I remember all the messes we made as kids making these cookies. I feel the tears forming in my eyes, threatening to spill over.

At the bottom of the box, the last gift to the goodbye memories, was my favorite squishy pillow of Serena's.

"But," I begin to say.

"Just take it." She says. "You know you want to." She wiggles her eyebrows. I cave; grinning as a tear slowly escapes the corner of my eye. I hug Serena tightly and whisper, "Every day." She nods.

We slowly put my things back into the box as we hug one last time. She walks me out to the van and we both begin to cry as I shut the driver side door. I roll down the window and call, "Bye," as I start the car.

"Every day," she calls back.

"Every day," I repeat, and then I drive away. I stop at the end of the road and let my dad pass me so he can lead.