Regan forced herself to stop. Stop running and take a deep breath. This was crazy, to find herself so spooked. And by what? By a ghost of someone she had long ago left behind. Or not so long ago. Regan thought back to the last time she had seen Grace only weeks ago. The years had been full of days like that one. Arguments, tears, accusations. But this last one had been different somehow. They had both left with the understanding that it would be their last meeting. It was no ones choice. They had just finally, mutually, reached the limit. They had parted ways promising to keep their distance.
Despite the promise, Regan stopped to wonder if she had been seeking Grace, even subconsciously. If she had come to this camp draft deliberately, into territory that belonged to Grace. Regan had intentionally not scanned the list of competitors. But still she couldn't deny that in the depth of the night she had wondered and dreamed and thought about the possibility she might run into Grace, if not today, then one day. All that dreaming, and planning, and if she was honest even hoping--all just to run a mile at the sight of someone who even slightly resembled Grace. It was madness. Complete insanity to be seeking something so relentlessly for years and then run away not even able to stand and face it for one minute.
Regan sat under a tree, suddenly feeling that she could no longer stand. For so long she had been trying to forget. And sometimes she did. But in that one moment, events of long ago suddenly overwhelmed her. As pictures, faces, and voices collided inside her mind, she closed her eyes and surrendered to the demons of the past. She was so consumed in another time, another place, that she wasn't aware of the person who silently stood watching her curiously.
Stevie stood puzzled for a few moments trying to figure out the direction Regan had gone, not to mention the reason why Regan had disappeared like that. She finally decided on a random direction and headed off. She walked quickly for no reason. Just a sinking feeling that something wasn't right. A feeling that got stronger with every step she took, an irrational fear of something unknown. She cast her mind over the last days and weeks. Now that she stopped to consider it, Regan had seemed distracted ever since she returned from visiting her mother. But Regan hadn't mentioned anything specific that was bothering her, and Stevie had been too caught up in her own life to even really ask.
And now Stevie stopped to wonder what could have possible spooked Regan like that causing her to run and leave Stevie stranded with that strange, unfamiliar woman. Was it Dave? Seeing Kate? Hearing about the two of them in Africa? No, Stevie quickly decided, not even Dave had ever really rocked her. Regan had always seemed so together, so on top of everything. It was what they all counted on her to be. Someone had to be. And that someone was always Regan.
Something wasn't right. And, unable to comprehend it, Stevie walked onwards scanning the horizon for answers, for Regan. Focusing on the task ahead of her was difficult. Something hung in her head, something alarmed her about that stranger, and that random insignificant meeting. And she was unable to dismiss it from her mind. On top of that, the silver phone in her pocket was constantly beeping, causing her to smile involuntarily even in the midst of her worries for her friend.
Her hand on the phone, Stevie stopped suddenly in her tracks as the realisation struck her. She had been distracted by Alex, and then by Regan disappearing. And she was thrown by the hair, the length, the colour, and the confident way the woman had introduced herself with a different name, as if they were strangers. 'Grace' she had called herself. What was she playing at? She may have changed her hair and her name, but Stevie hadn't. Why pretend to be someone else? Why pretend to introduce herself? And how on earth had Stevie been so distracted that it took her this long to put it all together? Stevie was so startled that she screamed when she felt someone place a hand on her shoulder.
"Run, Regan, Run" Grace whispered under her breath. Regan had always run. She played her little game, pretended she was the one chasing, that she was going to come along and save Grace from whatever it was she thought Grace needed saving from. But all along it was always Regan running away, and Grace just trying to keep up, and finally being left behind. Grace turned, somewhat sadly, some what triumphantly, trying to take joy in the fact she had been right all along. She didn't need Regan, Regan didn't need her, couldn't even stand the sight of her.
Surprised to see her sister? Grace was not entirely. Surprised to see Stevie Hall? A little bit. Surprised to see her sister with Stevie Hall? Yes. She hadn't seen Stevie for years. She figured Stevie would have given the rodeo away, much like she had. Like she had, until today. Today was the day. She figured Stevie wrong. She had always figured Stevie wrong. She couldn't believe that Stevie stood there and shook her hand as if they were strangers. Was she that blind? Had Grace changed that much? Had Stevie forgotten so quickly? Half her luck if she had, Grace decided. Grace could not even figure herself out, standing there introducing herself as a stranger. She didn't know what came over her. Still it mattered not. Stevie had run, much like Regan. The both of them ran as fast as they could. And that was the least astonishing thing of all.