I don't own these characters, I just wanted more after finishing The Host...

Ian cleared his throat, "mmm...Wanda."

I turned around and Ian's eyebrows were scrunched together and there was a definite worry line on his forehead.

Both of us knew there wasn't anything to worry about because these people standing right in front of us were just the same as we are, but I also knew that Ian just felt more comfortable when I was by him, which was the same way I felt too. So I turned to Burns and nodded than ran back to Ian's side, his hand found mine right away and I leaned my head into his arm, yes much more comfortable now.

"Well, we were just on an emergency raid in Tucson and need to head back to our group. It was amazing to meet more humans, and I would like to visit you again soon, so we can have a chance to talk. But we must be on our way now," Nate said.

"Of course, we are just about to raid ourselves. Whenever you want to come back feel free to do so, we will have someone checking here regularly to watch for you," Jared replied, it didn't feel appropriate to just tell them where we were hiding.

So both groups went on their way.

Jared and Melanie sat in the front of the old white van while Ian and I took the back, and headed towards Phoenix, with Brandt and Aaron behind us in the big storage truck.

"I can't believe how many more groups of humans there are still left!" Melanie gasped.

"It's amazing," Ian whispered.

"And hopeful," I added.

The sun was just about to peek over the desert and I was exhausted.

Jared and Ian discussed where we were going to stop and what we were going to get at each stop. My hand was still in Ian's and now I was too comfortable, I was starting to doze off. I was trying so hard to keep my eyes open but nothing that Ian and Jared were talking about interested me at the moment.

"I'm beat. There is no way I will be able to function on a raid without some sleep first. Can we please stop somewhere and rest?" Mel begged.

"I'm tired too babe, I just don't think it's a good idea right now," Jared started.

"No, no, I think we should stop too. Wanda's head's been bobbing the past forty-five minutes." Ian said.

My head snapped up, "No it hasn't!"

"Wanda I can see right now how much effort it's taking you just to keep your eyes open."

"No, I'm fine!" I opened my eyes as wide as I could, "See!"

"You are the worst liar, so stop trying to be strong, we are all tired too," Ian said while lifting up my chin so my lips would gently meet his.

It was so much different now, kissing Ian. Its how it always should have been, my skin tingles, I lose my breath, I get that amazing sensation in the pit of my stomach and suddenly I can't stop kissing him once I've started. My body now responds to him the way I've always felt for him emotionally. Melanie's body wouldn't react that way to anyone else's except for Jared's but now the soul and the body match.

I leaned a little more deeply into the kiss and felt Ian smile and bring his hand up to gently caress my face.

"Look, there's a Motel. It's about 5 in the morning now, so we shouldn't stay there any later than 3 to get back on the road. Wanda you think you're awake enough to get us checked in?" Jared asked.

Ian nuzzled his face into mine and I let out a small giggle, I was definitely starting to wake up now.

"Yes," I answered.

Jared pulled into the motel parking lot and drove to one of the back entrances. I opened the van door and Ian caught my hand. I turned around only to see his glorious blue eyes piercing into me, I leaned towards him and gave him one more kiss and got out of the van, and as I shut the door Ian let out a small groan.

Ian always stressed out too much. These were souls I was talking to, I am a soul, there will be no suspicion. The only suspicious souls were Seekers. I shuddered as I thought the word.

I opened the door to the lobby of the dinky hotel. There was a rusty pop machine in the corner of the small room with a love seat next to it and behind the tall desk was a short little man with rusty hair and a toothy smile.

"Hello there!" the little man said.

"Hi, can I check out a room for a couple hours? Me and my friends have been driving for a while so we are on a weird sleeping schedule," I looked at the clock above the man's head and couldn't believe it was already close to six in the morning, and I haven't slept since the previous night!

"What's your name?" the little man asked.

"Stretches Toward the Sun," I said.

"Well where are you and your friends headed to Stretches Toward the Sun?"

"Florida, I have some family down there that we are going to visit," I explained.

"Well that sounds marvelous! Here's your room key! Now you have a good….days rest now Stretches Toward the Sun!"

"Thank you!" I said while walking out the door.

I walked back to the van, and Aaron and Brandt were there now. I waved the key in my hand and a look of relief and satisfaction swept Jared's face. They all got out of the van and kept their heads down so no one could see their eyes, even though no one was visible at the moment, I'm sure it was just habit. I opened the motel door and we filed in quickly. Aaron and Brandt waved as they reclined their seats in the big truck, they still weren't comfortable staying in a motel room, especially since they would have to have their own room since Jared, Melanie, Ian and I all filled one room to the maximum capacity.

Mel shut the blinds right away and we all hopped into bed our designated beds without a word. We have assigned that the bed closest to the bathroom is always mine and Ian's, I don't know why but it was just convenient to know whose bed was whose when we got into a room.

Ian pulled me into his arms and cradled me, kissing my forehead, then my cheeks, my nose, then my eyes and finally my mouth.

"Goodnight love," he whispered onto my lips.

"Goodnight," I whispered back and then I ducked under his chin to rest my head on his chest and fell quickly asleep.

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