They had been driving for about four hours, and Kari was currently chatting on the phone with Davis. Apparently he had stolen the phone from Yolie and was now asking Kari exactly what she and Tk were doing.

"We're just talking Davis…No we haven't…What did you say?..."

Beep!

"The phone just lost service."

"I'm sure Davis is heartbroken." Tk commented and they both started laughing. After the laughter died, there was silence.

After a few minutes Kari's eyes began to droop. "Are you tired, Kari?" Tk asked concerned.

Kari looked up at him a slight blush coming to her cheeks, "Yeah I was up really late last night."

"Doing what?" Tk asked his interest peaked for the second time today.

"It's a secret, but I'll tell you eventually."

"Will I be able to sneak it out of you now?"

Kari gave him a playful punch in the shoulder, "No you will not be able to."

"Fine then, I'll just use that patience a certain friend told me to find."

"Well, that friend is very wise." Kari replied a twinkle in her eye.

Tk responded a wide smile on his face, "Yes she is, and she also needs to take a nap, right about now."

He reached forward and grabbed one of the many pillows and set it on his lap. Then he grabbed her shoulder and pulled her down, too.

Kari allowed herself to be pulled softly down and snuggled herself up to him. "Thanks, Tk."

"Shush, just go to sleep."

Kari awoke to shouting. She opened her eyes and looked up at the concerned expression on Tk's face.

"What's going on?"

Tk looked down at her and replied in a soft voice, "we lost the others and now Matt and Tai are fighting about directions."

"YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN EXIT 148!"

"IT SAYS RIGHT HERE EXIT 160!"

"NO YOU DUMBASS IT'S 148!"

"ARE YOU CALLING ME A DUMBASS, MATT?"

"I JUST DID, WERE YOU TO SLOW TO CATCH THAT?"

"It sounds like a battle alright."

"Yeah, you should just go back to sleep, though."

Kari lifted her head off of the pillow, "I'm awake now I couldn't possibly fall asleep, I do however want to go somewhere a little quieter."

"Come'on let's wait outside and go for a walk or something." Kari nodded her head and followed Tk over the baggage and out the door.

Tai and Matt were bent over a map, and shouting too loudly to notice any commotion.

The road seemed to be built in the center of a very large forest. Kari's baby blue T-shirt and jean shorts seemed to stand out among the dense green. It was flattering to say the least. She looked like an angel, a hot angel, Tk couldn't help thinking. Her shorts showed off her skinny legs and nice curves. It would be a lie to say he wasn't turned on. She reached back in the van and grabbed her blue coat and put it on. When she looked up Tk's gaze was fixed on her hips.

"Tk, why are you staring at me?"

Tk snapped out of it and looked up at her eyes instead of the rest of her, "I was just thinking about how beautiful you look right now." After the realization of what he just said hit him, his cheeks flushed pink.

"You don't look half bad yourself," Kari responded keeping her true feeling to herself. She wasn't about to say that he looked hot and sexy right then, but she was sure thinking about it. The wind blew and ruffled his blond hair. It was left looking messed up and practically irresistible.

"Thanks," he gave a warm smile. "Hey Kari, look at those flowers right there." He started walking over to them, and she fallowed.

As she walked ten feet behind him the wind stirred up again. This time she watched as his white T-shirt clung to his well conditioned chest and muscled legs threw khakis. At his height of 6'1", good looks, and superb basketball skills it was no wonder he had become one of most wanted guys at their high school, but yet he didn't have a girl friend.

Suddenly he stopped and looked around.

"Kari, what's taking so long?"

"You walk faster than I do," she commented back, slightly flushed from her thoughts.

Tk waited for her to catch up and then they walked the rest of the way together. The flowers were absolutely beautiful. They were completely white except for the fiery red center of the petals. The edges were smooth and elegant.

"Wow, they're so beautiful!" Kari said with admiration in her voice as she and Tk kneeled down to look at them.

Tk picked broke off one of the flowers and held it out to her, "For you."

Kari graciously accepted the flower and placed it behind her ear, "Tk, thank you so much."

"Anything for you, but we had better get back to the van."

"Yeah, your right."

Tk got to his feet and held out a hand to help up Kari. Kari accepted it, and when Tk started walking she didn't let go. Tk didn't mind.

"Okay, it was Exit 152, so we were both wrong." Matt stated factually.

Tai nodded his head, "Yeah, sorry for shouting man."

"Don't worry about it, I shouted just as much."

"Ok let's get out of the shithole and back on the highway." Tai said energetically.

"O'man, the others are going to be so pissed, we have like an hour of backtracking."

"Prepare for the wrath."

Both boys started laughing loudly as they did a U turn and headed back up the road.

"Where are they?" Kari's heart began to beat wildly. "They didn't leave us did they?"

"Don't worry Kari, I'm sure they'll be back in a few minutes." He gave her hand a squeeze and tried to hind his own worry.

"Tk we're out in the middle of nowhere."

"Well it's authentic camping," Tk tried to joke but it came out dry.

Kari looked up at his expression; she knew he was just trying to stay calm for her. Tears burst from her eyes and she clung to Tk's chest. He protectively put his arms around her. "Don't worry Kari, I made a promise to Tai, all those years ago and I'm determined to keep it. I will protect you."

Kari's body racked in tears and all she could manage in reply was to dig her face deeper into his shirt.

They stood there for almost an hour; still they saw so sign of a vehicle. Kari was still buried in Tk's shirt. Tk was rocking them both back and forth, whispering hushes into her ears. Soon all her tears had dried up and her body stopped shaking. Tk's grip was still firm.

Another hour had passed; Tk guessed it was around 5 o'clock. Though the sun hadn't set, its warm rays couldn't penetrate the dense forest. Kari had been smart and grabbed her coat, he was left exposed. It wasn't that bad because he had Kari's heat, from where they still stood, his arms wrapped around hers, was warm enough. But, he would freeze if Tai and Matt didn't get here soon.

Tk looked down at Kari, though she stood, he thought her to be asleep. She must have cried herself into a slumber. He removed his arms and lifted Kari up bridal style, and then he lowered himself to the ground. Sitting crisscross on the side of the road, he placed her on his lap, face still in his chest, legs hanging over his knee.

Another hour past.