When we got to the crash down, everyone was waiting outside. Max had "borrow" a school bus and Isabel had used her powers to change the colors to completely white. I didn't say a word as I climbed aboard. I went straight to the back, tossing my bag in the seat across from me. Michael looked at me with those puppy dog eyes of his. I just closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the seat. All I could think was, this is it. This is what my life will be like. Constantly on the run for something I didn't do.
I felt the seat beside me sink down, not too much, telling me that it had to be Liz. I opened my eyes and glanced over at her. She didn't say anything at first. She just stared at me like she was trying to find the right words to say. Like she was afraid that I was going to go all bitchy and throw a screaming fit.
"You okay?" She finally whispered.
I laughed. "Just peachy."
"Maria,"
"Don't Liz. Don't cover up all of this and make it look like it's a good thing."
She shook her head. "I wasn't trying to."
"We have sacrificed so much for them. And what have they done for us?"
"It's not permanent. We will come home some day."
"If that's what you believe." I closed my eyes once again. The weight next to me lifted and I was allowed to drift away.
I knew I was lost in a deep sleep. I was dressed in a long, black dress, that drug the ground behind me. My long, sandy blonde hair, laid in curls down my back. I stood in front of a maze made out of rocks, and I knew that I would have to enter the door way to find my way back to reality. As entered a lantern magically appeared in my hand. The floor of the maze was covered in fog, and there was stars in the night sky above me. I began my journey, down one side was a dead end, the next isle was Max and Liz. They didn't see me at first. They were standing in front of a priest, she was in all white, her long, brown hair, pulled up with daisies. She was breathtaking. They both grinned at me. I knew that no matter what happened they would be okay with this life style. I continued my journey through the maze. The next dead end, stood Michael. He was wearing a button up shirt, torn jeans, and a smile from ear to ear. I felt my heart swell with love for him. Then I felt the knife go through my back. The black dress was now a solid white, with blood pouring down the front of it. My hands clasped my stomach, I looked at Michael who ran to me…. He screamed out in agony, as I fell to the ground.
I sat straight up on the bus, panting for breathe. I looked everywhere for the rest of my crew. I looked around to see that we were in Montana. Snow was all over the ground. Nothing like back home. I moaned and grabbed my bag to find my sweater. I pulled it over my head, and stood up to find the rest of the runaway crew. Alex stood by the bus. Liz, Isabel and Tess were sitting on the front punch steps. I rolled my eyes and walked down the steps and over to Alex.
"Good morning." Alex said, handing me a cup of coffee.
"Where are we?"
"Home." He replied, nodding towards a two story cabin.
It was nice and cozy looking, all nestled into the Forrest of trees. It looked like a Norman Rockwell Christmas card. "Where is Michael?"
"He and Max are having a secret meeting." Alex smiled. "We had enough money to get here, and to rent the cabin thinks to the sheriff and Tess had money that Nasato had stashed away for her in case anything ever happened to him. We need to get jobs to survive on our on."
"So Max and Michael gets to decide where and who gets to work."
"Something like that."
Alex looked up and nodded towards the Forrest. Max and Michael appeared. Michael paused for a brief second when he saw me standing by the bus. All the girls made their way down the steps, and Alex reached over and took my empty hand, walking me over to Max and Michael.
"Michael and I will go into town later today. We will see if we can find some kind of job to get extra money." Max said playing leader like always.
"Maria and I can find waitressing jobs." Liz spoke up, glancing in my direction for a quick second.
I just turned my head. This was so not happening.
"Okay." Max replied. "Let's all get settled in.
I watched as everyone entered the house. Alex smiled at me, before letting my hand go. He climbed the steps slowly to our new home. I turned and started back to the bus. I needed to get my things, before I settled in.
"Maria," Michael said behind me.
I turned to him. "Michael, I am so not in the mood."
"I just wanted to say… I-I'm glad that you are here. I couldn't imagine my life without you in it." He leaned down and kissed me a soft, quick kiss on the lips. "Go ahead and pick out your bedroom. I'll get your things."
I stood there in total shock. I couldn't move, I couldn't think. How could he go from not needing me, to kissing me?