IMPORTANT NOTICE TO NEW READERS

This is the old version of the story. I have a greatly changed (much shorter, but I believe, much improved) version of this chapter has been posted as chapter 8. If you would like to skip to Wanderlust, and not have to go through the original version, Lost and Found, you can go immediately to chapter 8. Reading through Lost and Found will reveal more plot, but a lot of details and events will change in Wanderlust in order to make the story more coherent and interesting. Thank you for reading my story.

Chapter 1

Where Are We Going, Dad?

3rd P.O.V.

"We're going." A man said to the eight-year-old, "Pack you're things and get in the car."

"Okay, daddy. Where are we going? Are mommy and Jacky coming too, or is it you and me?" The little girl asked her father curiously. She had never been outside her hometown before. "No, mom and Jack are staying here. It's just you and me." he said and smiled at her. She ran up the stairs and started to pack her clothes up. She wondered why he hadn't told her that they were leaving sooner. Her mother and older brother were out. She was taking Jack to see her job at the hospital. Excitement, as well as nervousness rushed through her as she realized that she was going on a trip to somewhere new, not boring, old Jasper.

She vaguely wondered if mom would be back in time to say goodbye to her and how long they would be gone. She finished packing her things. Since she didn't know how long they would be gone she grabbed her picture of their family off the shelf, her favorite blanket, and filled a backpack with a kindle (she loved to read), movies, and a pair of headphones. She grabbed a piece of paper of the desk that she and her older brother shared and wrote a quick goodbye note:

Going on trip with dad. I'll see you and mom when we get back. Don't touch my stuff while I'm gone. Got it, Jacky? See you soon. Love Ya, Tawny

She put the note down on his bed, slung the backpack over her shoulder, grabbed the suitcase handle, and ran down the stairs. She cruised down the hallway and then into the garage. She hopped into the backseat of the truck and pulled out her kindle and began to read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Dad came out of the house quickly and started the car. He drove out of the garage like he was being chased by the hounds of Hades. She looked back just in time to see her mother run out of the garage and try to follow their car. 'She must have really wanted to say goodbye.' Tawny thought as she turned back to her book. 'I'll be back soon. I'll make it up to her then. Darn it! I left the I-pod behind! Oh well, I guess Jack will use it.'

Jack's P.O.V.

Mom drove up the driveway and parked the car. I jumped out and saw my bike sitting on the lawn. I grabbed it and began to lead it up to the garage door. I heard yelling and dropped my bike. I ran into the house and saw my mom yelling at my dad. She was crying and shouting at my dad to take whatever was his and leave. He turned and walked toward the door. He paused when he saw me and gave me a cold glare. I stepped back and let him pass me. He ran through the garage door and I heard the truck start-up. The reality of what was happening hit me. Dad was leaving and he wasn't coming back.

I felt the tears building up and sliding down my cheeks. My mom saw me and walked forward slowly and pulled me into a hug. As she did this a horrifying thought came into my head. I pulled away from her and felt panic rising in me. "Mom, where's Tawny? Where is she?" I asked and she jumped up and ran out the door and into the drive-way. She ran after the car until it was out of sight. I walked into the house, ran up the stairs, and into the room that me and Tawny shared. I looked around the room and immediately noticed the lack of Tawny's stuff. I zeroed in on the note that sat on my bed. I sat down on the bed and read the note. Then again, and again. I kept looking over the neat words that were written on the note.

She hadn't known she wasn't coming back when she had left this. She had thought that she was coming back. I fell forward on the bed, headfirst into the pillows. I felt his tears start to soak the pillow case and I heard my mom come into room. I heard her pick up the note and I felt her start to stroke my hair. She was singing to him, telling him that it would be okay. I could tell that she didn't believe her own words, so I didn't either. He couldn't take hearing his mom sound so heart-broken anymore. I sat up and hugged my mom. "Don't worry mom. I'll look after you. She didn't know that she wasn't coming back when she wrote this. She'll find a way back here. I won't leave you." I said and started stroking her hair and tried to swallow the tears. "I'll never leave you." I whispered to my mom.

'And I'll find you Tawny. No matter what, I'll find you.' I thought quietly as we sat there and I stopped crying. 'I won't cry again until I find you.'

Two Days Later, Tawny's P.O.V.

"We're here." dad said as he shook me awake. We had been on the road for two days. I wondered where we were as I looked out the window. It was dark and the only light came from the car itself and a lamp at the end of a long driveway. There were trees all around us. I had never seen trees before because there weren't any in Jasper. Dad grabbed my bag and I hopped out of the car. I immediately noticed the misty rain that was sprinkling down. When it rain in Jasper it poured down so hard, hence the large canals that kept the town from flooding.

I followed dad up to the porch of the house, it was large, three stories tall in fact. Dad knocked on the door loudly and then rang the doorbell twice. Half a minute later the door opened to reveal a tall man with brown hair. "Hello, Daren. Nice to see you again. Is this the little angel that I've heard so much about." he said and directed his stare at me and smiled kindly at me. I suddenly became shy and nodded slightly at the man. He and Dad were obviously friends. "Honey, go sit on the swing. I need to talk to your uncle for a minute, okay." I nodded and walked over to the porch swing. So, this man was my uncle.

I glanced over and my dad and my uncle. My uncle's carefree smile faded and he said something but I couldn't hear it. He shot a glance my way and look a little sad. I stopped trying to hear what they were saying and looked up at the sky. I couldn't see many stars because of the clouds. I loved to look at the stars when I was at home. Dad would drive me out to the middle of the desert where there wasn't any light pollution and we would spend hours just looking at the stars. I went into a trance-like state as I gazed at the few stars I could see through the trees and clouds.

I was jerked out of my trance when I heard my uncle shout, "What do you mean she doesn't know yet?!" I glanced curiously at them and he caught my look and lowered his voice so I couldn't hear what he said next. My uncle seemed to engage in a heated by quiet argument with my father. In the end he slumped and said, "Okay, but you owe me. If the cops come after me..." I wondered what he meant.

"Thank you, it will only be for a little while." my dad said and he came over and picked up my bags. My dad walked in and I instantly fell in love with this house. The lights cast a warm orange glow around the room. The walls were deep purple and the floor was covered with lush black carpet. There was a black leather recliner and matching couch. A flat screen T.V. lined one wall and there were speakers on the roof. 'Yup, my uncle is single and is related to my dad.' I thought, 'I can't wait to watch Sherlock on that." My dad and I loved Sherlock, Doctor who, and any other British shows. I glanced around and found a shoe rack. I took of my wet shoes and placed them next to a pair of boots, my dad kept his shoes on.

My dad knelt next to me, "Honey, you're going to stay with your uncle for a few days. Okay? I need to get set up at our final destination and you can't come." I nodded, but inside I wanted to ask a million questions. If I had looked at my uncle I would have seen that he was glaring at my father. "Let's get you settled into your room and then I'll be off."

My uncle led me up two flights of carpeted stairs. To the basement. I frowned as I imagined a dark rat filled room covered in cobwebs. He opened the door and I cautiously peeked in. It was nothing like I had expected. This room was built for me. It had the same lush black carpet as the rest of the house. There was a queen sized bed with a purple nightstand with an alarm clock. The walls were covered in various posters from Sherlock to Star-wars to The Blue Man Group and everything else I liked. The comforters on the bed were covered in stars and galaxies. There was a computer in one corner. There was one window with a cushioned seat. A bookshelf was built underneath the window seat. I ran over and quickly scanned the titles. My eyes grew wide as I picked up some of my favorite books of the shelf. Dragon Slippers, Stardust, Gifted, The Lemonade War, and the Lightning Thief were all there, along with various comic books.

I turned around and looked at my uncle in awe. "H-How.."

"Oh, sorry this is just some old stuff of mine. I'll clear it out if you want."

"No, you're lying. You have the entire Perseus Jackson series. A few of these are brand new. How long have you had this room ready? This room was made for me."

"No and yes." My uncle blushed slightly as he said, "I like the series. Just because I'm a grown-up doesn't mean I can't like this stuff too. This room was made for you. Your father said that he might come around sometime and he told me that you reminded him of me. So, I put together the ideal room for me and hoped you would like it. Do you like it?"

Oh, "No, I don't like it..." I said and he frowned, "I LOVE IT!" I yelled and jumped on him. He laughed as if he already knew he was my new favorite grown-up. "I can't wait to tell Jack what he's missing. Can I call him?", my uncle stopped laughing immediately and looked at my dad, who was standing in the door frame. "No, hun. Not right now.", my dad said slowly and this time I caught my uncle's glare. I wondered if it was a sibling rivalry thing.

"I'm going now." My dad spread out his arms and I jumped into them. "I love you, daddy. I'll see you soon, right." I said and he nodded, "Bye, sweetheart."

Then he left.

The Next Morning

I groaned as I swept my feet out of the most awesome bed I had ever slept in. I looked at the clock, it was 11:00. David (My uncle insisted I called him David) stayed up with me and we watched the entire Star Wars saga. According to him, I fell asleep when Han shot Greedo at the Cantina and he carried me up to my room. I stumbled to the dresser and pulled out my favorite 'Welcome to the Dark Side. We lied about the cookies.' tee. I pulled on a pair of black jeans and walked down the carpeted stairs. I followed the scent of bacon to the kitchen, where David was waiting, and quickly grabbed a few pieces and a waffle. "G'mornin, David." I grumbled and sat down at the modern-looking glass table. "Not a morning person, are ya."

"I love mornings, I've been in a car for the past 2 days, I deserve to sleep in." He chuckled and poured me a glass of orange juice. I was beginning to think he could read minds. I think I'm going to like it here.

That is the end of chapter 1. I hope you liked it. There won't be any bots for a while. The 'cons are going to make an appearance soon. I need reviews and votes on my poll. I will update the story with the most reviews/votes first.

UPDATED 4/8/13