Hiding

Chapter 1

A/N: This is set in some type of alternate universe/sometime in the not too distant future. Everyone thinks they know Jo Masterson. Maybe they don't.

I heard him calling after me, but I ignored him and chose to run as fast as I could. Unfortunately, Green Grove isn't that big a place, and there weren't many places that I could go to be truly alone. The darkening sky did not bother me, and I purposefully avoided our hiding place, the diner, my house, or McNally Park; all places he might think to look. Instead I went to the place where I used to hang out, back in middle school, after he'd left and after Lacey decided she couldn't stand being around me for longer than several seconds at a time.

I went to the woods beyond McNally Park, where they had areas fenced off and rusted signs posted saying to 'Keep Out.' I found the spot in the fence that was broken and slipped through, slowing down now that I felt safe. I walked towards the small cave area that I knew to be back here, finding it hiding among the tall maple trees. I ducked into the cave, going far enough in to keep myself hidden but close enough to see the entrance.

I fished out my phone and switched it off, ignoring the missed calls and texts I'd received. I curled up in a little niche and pulled my legs up too my chest, wrapping my arms around them. Burying my face into my knees, I let myself cry it all out. I didn't know what Danny's motivation was and I was starting to wonder why I tried so hard to defend him. After Lacey broke up with Archie, I saw the looks between the two of them and knew that I was on my way to being forgotten about, again.

Maybe he likes her because she was harder to convince and he likes the challenge of trying to get her on his side, but I'm done playing stupid little mind games, I thought. If Danny enjoyed the challenge of a chase I could give him that, I could completely ignore him for all I cared because he'd brought nothing but trouble for me ever since he returned.

I cried until I had a hard time breathing and my head pounded. When I cried myself out and I couldn't cry anymore, I looked up. It was pouring outside, water flowing down into the cave. My pants and shoes were already wet. I sat there; breathing deeply until I felt calm enough to stand up and walk back home. I pulled up my hood and walked outside, getting soaked right away. I didn't try to run because I knew it would be pointless.

When I got to the fence, I slipped back through and exited onto the country road on the other side of the woods, choosing to take the long way home. I ignored the cold and trudged through the field that led to the back of my neighborhood when a brilliant flash of light caught me by surprise.

That brilliant flash of light was the last thing I remember seeing before everything went dark.

*Rico's POV*

"Hello?

"Rico, this is Chief Masterson," Jo's dad said on the other end of the phone.

"Oh, hello, how is everything?"

"Well, actually I was wondering if Jo was with you at the moment." I felt a surge of anger. Had Jo gone off with Danny and Lacey again?

"No, she isn't," I replied.

"I talked to Lacey Porter; she said that Jo isn't with her, either. Danny's with Lacey at the moment, so I was hoping you could tell me where she went because she isn't answering her phone." I stood up.

"I don't know where she could be, but I have a couple of places where I might look," I explained.

"Don't go out into the rain, Rico, it'll be fine. If you hear from her or see her, let us know, okay?"

"Sure," I said as he hung up. I grabbed my coat and told my parents I would be right back.

"Where are you going?" My mom wondered, glancing at the weather.

"Just to the library really fast," I replied and she nodded. The first place I looked was the diner and she wasn't there. I peeked in the library and didn't find her there, either. I even chanced to go to the hideout that she told me about to see if she was there, but instead I found Lacey and Danny. They were arguing and didn't notice me right away.

"So you're basing your decision on how Jo feels? What about what you want?" Lacey was saying.

"What I want is for people to stop assuming the worst of me, and right now, I don't have a lot of people on my side, so I can't afford to lose what few friends I have," Danny replied. I coughed loudly and they both turned to look at me.

"Rico? What are you doing here?"

"Looking for Jo. Did her dad call you two?"

"He called me," Lacey said, "but she ran off over an hour ago and she won't answer her phone."

"So, you decided to argue with each other instead of go looking for her?" I asked and Danny at least had the sense to look ashamed of himself.

"She ran away from my house," Danny explained, "and we went to the diner and then here to look for her, but we haven't seen her."

"So you decided to take a break from looking for her to argue once you didn't find her in two different places," I said calmly. Lacey pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes at me. Danny sighed.

"I don't know where else to look, Rico," Danny admitted.

"Well, you two can either come with me to look in a couple of other places or you can stay here, but I'm not stopping until I find her," I said. Danny looked at Lacey, who sighed in annoyance.

"We'll help," Danny said and followed me out of their hideout. It had stopped raining.

"So Jo told you about this place?" Danny asked and I nodded.

"She said you three built it when you were kids, a place to hang out to get away from everyone else when life was being too difficult to handle." They followed me to other various places that I thought Jo might decide to hide. The last one would be difficult to get too, and I warned them of this.

"I'm coming with you," Danny said firmly. Lacey agreed to come, but her mom called, insisting that she come home. She didn't argue and left, leaving Danny and I to search on our own.