Alison waved goodbye to Erica and thanked Lennie for picking her up after camp and dropping her off at home that evening, then thanked Mrs Yurken for letting her stay over.

"Anytime," said Mrs Yurken with a smile. "It was lovely to have you over."

"Maybe, next time, Erica can come over here?" asked Alison.

"Sure. Just let us know so we can drop her off."

"I will. Thank you again." Alison waved again and then headed inside her house.

"You're home are you?" asked Mrs Ashley disgustedly.

"Yes I am," said Alison as nicely as she could. She was angry still.

"I can't believe you spent the night in a dump!"

"It's not a dump! That house may not be as nice as ours, but at least it's filled with warmth and love. At least those kids know their mother loves them!"

"Excuse me? At least you have a roof over your head, unlike what would have happened if I didn't take you with me."

"I would have been better off with dad!"

"He doesn't love you. Why do you think you never see him? He doesn't want you."

"Funny, because it feels like you're the one that doesn't want me!"

"How dare you say that?!" Mrs Ashley walked over and slapped Alison's face, hard. "Go to your room!"

Alison ran up the stairs, slamming her door behind her. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she grabbed her jacket and climbed through her window. She was down on the ground a moment later, still crying, and ran off. She didn't look back, not even when one of her neighbours called out to her.

The air was already cold outside, and it just got colder as the night went on. Alison was freezing as she looked around for a street sign or a building that she recognised. But there was nothing there. Nothing at all. She was lost in a place she had only just moved to a couple of weeks ago. It was late and there was no-one around, not that she'd ask someone out here for directions anyway.

"Damn it!" shouted Alison as she finally admitted to herself that she was lost.

Her words echoed in the dark, empty night as Alison continued to walk around, looking for her way home. However, after another hour, Alison was too tired to continue and she sat down on the ground, hugging herself to keep warm.

Morning came slowly but when it finally did and the sun came out, Alison stood up to try and get home, or at least to school where someone could take her home. She barely made it a block before she stopped to sit against a fence and catch her breath, passing out a moment later.

Erica smiled as she entered the school grounds. Ever since camp, people had started talking to her, instead of teasing her. She knew it had to do with Alison being so nice to her once she had made friends, and Erica really wanted to thank her for that. She couldn't wait to see her new friend that morning.

When Erica sat down though, Alison was nowhere to be seen. She knew her friend was okay, since they had talked the day before, so she was a little worried. She was even more worried when Miss Belmont walked in and Alison still hadn't arrived.

"Class, pay attention. I wanted to say, despite all the pranks at camp, you really did what we asked of you. You were good at working together, even if you were being very naughty and sometimes dangerous towards Mr Kennard. The play was wonderful, even with all the setbacks and problems. Erica, well done for creating such a great play. Barry and Alison…" Miss Belmont looked up. "Where is Alison?"

No-one answered. They all looked to the back of the room, at the empty seat next to Erica. Alison still hadn't turned up.

"Erica, where is Alison?"

"I don't know. She was okay yesterday."

"Nobody has spoken to Alison this morning?"

Everybody shook their heads. Miss Belmont looked a little worried, but she continued on as if Alison being absent was completely normal.

"Barry, well done on being the male lead. You were very convincing. Everyone did a wonderful job, and for your efforts, everyone is receiving an award this morning." Miss Belmont picked up a pile of papers and handed them out. "Very well done."

An hour later, the class was dismissed for recess, and Miss Belmont called Erica up to her desk. "When did you speak to Alison last?"

"Yesterday afternoon, when we dropped her off at home."

"You didn't talk to her at all today?"

"No. And it's not like Alison to just take a day off. Something has to be wrong."

"I agree. I'm going to call her mother, maybe I can find out where she is."

"Her mother works nights, and sleeps during the day, so good luck getting her on the phone."

"Oh, I'll get her. After all, she owes me an apology for being so rude on the phone three days ago."

Erica nodded, wisely choosing to not say anything about that. She walked out of the room as Miss Belmont put in a phone call to Alison's mother.

"Jeff, did Alison turn up to PE today?" asked Miss Belmont after school had finished for the day.

"No. She knew we were playing basketball today, and I have never seen her shy away from that sport before. Why?" asked Mr Kennard.

"Because she didn't come to school today and her mother apparently doesn't care enough to know where her daughter is. I was hoping she had just turned up late."

"That's not a good thing. Did Erica know anything about Alison's whereabouts?"

"No. I thought that was strange since they seem to have become good friends on camp. She did say that they were together yesterday, so I am a little worried."

Mr Kennard nodded, feeling worried too. "Maybe we need to call the police. They have the resources to search for a missing fourteen year old."

"I was going to do just that after I checked to see if she had been late," sighed Miss Belmont. She picked up the staff room phone and dialled 000. "Police please… Hi, I'm Nigella Belmont, a teacher at Barringa East High School. I need to talk to someone about a student that didn't turn up today and hasn't been seen since about six pm last night…. No, it's not normal for her, she's a perfect student…. Thank you, yes, I'll be here."

After the phone had been hung up, Mr Kennard spoke. "What did they say? It sounded like you were trying to get them to believe you."

"They know of Barringa's reputation. They thought I was overreacting."

"But you aren't. There's no way Alison would just disappear."

"I know that, you know that, but they don't. And I guess I understand their point of view. I would probably think it too if I was them."

"Yeah, me too." Mr Kennard sighed and turned to the window. "We should call the other teachers that Alison has. They could help us show the police how much of a good student Alison actually is."

"Maybe tomorrow. They're going to want to probably talk to Erica and her family since they were the last to see her."

"Not if we can help it. Erica's fourteen, much too young for them to ask her any questions."

Miss Belmont nodded her response, feeling the same protectiveness towards the students.

Erica was crying as she walked home that night. Jedda had been home sick that day, so she was alone. She couldn't stop thinking that she may have lost the only true friend she had ever had. She knew something was wrong, Alison was too much of a good student to skip school for no reason. And surely she would have sent a message or something to tell Erica if she'd been accepted into Kyle Grammar and wouldn't be returning to Barringa East. In fact, if that was what was happening, the school and the teachers would have already known and not been worried. As Erica continued to walk home, thinking about what could have possibly happened to Alison, she heard a small moan. With everything that happened in this neighbourhood, moans were common, but something said that this one was different, one that should be checked out.

Erica turned her head towards the sound and was surprised to see a familiar figure half hidden by the brick fence behind them. It was the golden hair billowing out onto the ground that made Erica run over.

"Alison! Alison!" Erica dropped next to her friend and shook her. "Alison, open your eyes!"

Alison stirred slightly, opening her eyes just enough to see Erica's face. It swam in her vision before she blacked out again.

"No! Alison, wake up!" shouted Erica before she stood up to find help. There was nobody else around yet, at least not outside. "Alison, I'll be right back, I promise."

Erica ran in the direction of her house, glad that Lennie had the day off.

The police walked into Barringa East's staff room, finding Miss Belmont and Mr Kennard sitting there, waiting. Fresh coffee was on the table between them, but it hadn't been touched yet.

"Nigella Belmont?" asked one officer.

Miss Belmont looked up. "Thank you for coming."

"You said you were concerned about a student?"

"Her name is Alison Ashley. She's new to the school, new to town I think, but she is a model student. She hasn't missed a day since she came here about three weeks ago. Something isn't right."

"Did you call home? Maybe she's sick."

"She's not home. Her mother doesn't even seem to care that she's been missing all day."

"What about other family? Or friends?"

"She doesn't really have any friends yet. Except one girl, but she's fourteen. And as for family, her father lives in LA. She doesn't have anyone else that we know of."

"What's the friend's name?"

Miss Belmont looked at Mr Kennard. "Erica Yurken. But you'll need to get her parent's permission before you can talk to her."

"That's fine. Who was the last person to see Miss Ashley?"

"As far as anyone knows, Erica and her mother and stepfather. They dropped her off yesterday at about five thirty at home."

"What's Alison's home life like?"

"Not sure. She doesn't talk about it. I do know her mother can be pretty horrible. I spoke to her this morning and three days ago while we were at camp, and both times she was very rude."

The officer nodded. "What's the address?"

Mr Kennard handed over a piece of paper that he had scribbled the address on, anticipating the question. After the police had left, he grabbed the phone and called Erica's home, but no-one seemed to be home.

Lennie looked up when Erica came running in, screaming for help.

"What happened?" he asked.

"It's Alison. She didn't come to school today, and everyone knew something was wrong. I found her Lennie, and something's wrong. She won't stay awake. She's still wearing the clothes she had on yesterday. Even on camp, she didn't wear the same thing. Something is really wrong."

Lennie grabbed his phone. "Come on, let's go."

Erica led him to the corner of the street she had found Alison on. Her friend was still there. Lennie bent down next to Alison, checking her for a pulse. Then he called for an ambulance.

Alison was still unconscious when she was brought into the hospital. Erica and Lennie were right behind her, but they hadn't been able to give the paramedics much information. The police had been called and were on the way to the hospital right then. They had put in a phone call to Alison's father in Los Angeles, asking him to come to Melbourne to be with his daughter, though they hadn't needed to persuade him. He was constantly worried about her.

A doctor came out and took Alison into a room, working quickly to check her out and figure out what was wrong with her. It didn't take the doctor long, and she was back out in the waiting room to find Alison's family.

"The only family she has in Melbourne is her mother, and she isn't here," said Lennie.

"Who came in with her then?"

"We did. Erica and Alison are friends."

"Then I guess I'll have to tell you. Maybe you can pass this on to her mother. Alison is suffering from dehydration, hypothermia and shock. It'll take her a couple of days to recover."

"Is she conscious?"

"Yes. I left her sleeping, but she's been sedated to help speed along her recovery. You won't be able to see her until at least tomorrow morning. And I'd like her family to be here."

"Her mother doesn't care about her," said Erica angrily.

"Erica," said Lennie. "I'll try to get her mother here."

"Thank you," replied the doctor. "If you can't, then you'll have to speak to the police and Child Services. It's in their hands for now." She looked to Erica. "Was Alison in a fight?"

"No. I doubt Alison has a mean bone in her body. Unless it's provoked, she doesn't fight back. Why?"

"She has a very evident handprint on her cheek. Any idea how that happened?"

Erica shook her head. Lennie, however, thought he might know, but wasn't going to say it in front of Erica, or anyone else for that matter. He'd tell his suspicions to the police and let them deal with it.

The two officers that had spoken to the teachers at Barringa East High, Donovan and Bear, arrived at the hospital about half an hour after Alison. They quickly spoke to the doctor, who pointed out Erica and Lennie in the waiting room, then they headed over.

"Excuse me Miss Yurken, I'm Officer Bear, and I need to talk to you about your friend Alison. Is that okay?"

Erica nodded, though she was slightly scared of them. She moved closer to Lennie before speaking.

"What do you want to know?" she asked shyly.

"You were the last person to see Alison yesterday?"

"No, her mother was. My mum and Lennie and I dropped Alison at home last night."

"How was Alison when you left her?"

"She was happy. But she also looked nervous. Three days ago, our last day at camp, Alison called her mother to say she was staying at my house when we got home from camp, and they argued."

"Do you know what it was about?"

"Me. Her mother doesn't want us to be friends."

"Do you know why?"

"I'm from Barringa East High, is it that hard to figure out?"

"Fair enough. You seem nice enough though."

"I'm not like the others. If we had money, my mum wanted to send me to Kyle Grammar. But we can't afford it."

"If Alison is also at Barringa East, what's the problem?"

"She's only there for this term, then she's meant to go to Kyle Grammar. Her mother wants her to be friends with people that are rich and pretty."

Officer Bear nodded. "What does Alison want?"

"She wants to be friends. I can't blame her for wanting to go to Kyle Grammar, if I were her, I would. But there's nothing wrong with being friends with someone less fortunate than you."

"Of course not. Okay, thank you for helping us. We'll need to talk to Alison when she's awake, do you think you could tell her that?"

Erica nodded.

"Thank you." The officer stood up and walked away to make a call while Officer Donovan finished speaking to Lennie.

"Thank you for telling me your suspicions Mr Grubb. I'll let Child Services know." Officer Donovan stood too. "You both have been very helpful."