Warm fingertips on my palm coaxed me awake. My eyes flickered quickly as they adjusted to the streaming sunlight.

"Hey", she whispered, and I could sense happiness in her tone. "How'd you sleep?"

"Like a baby", I smiled. I stretched out my legs and groaned, feeling how sore my legs were from running so much yesterday.

Alice looked concerned. "Your legs sore?", she asked. "You should take a warm shower. I took one, it's real nice."

I looked up at her and saw her grinning face framed with a curtain of damp hair. Beautiful.

"Since when have you been up?"

"Oh, I couldn't sleep…" She looked down at her hands. "…I think it was just that yesterday was pretty eventful you could say. It was hard to calm down from it."

I imagined her staring up the ceiling, insomnia consuming her. "You could've woken me up."

Her lips smiled, her blue eyes following. "Next time."

ooo

I did take that shower, and like she said, it was nice. Although I showered back at home, it feels like weeks between yesterday and today. I'm never taking showers for granted again.

We spent the day reading. I had no idea she had even thought of packing books. But she definitely did, and she brought out all five of them, not too heavy but not light either. We sat on the messy bed, the blankets jumbled. She laid out all five of them, tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, and she started excitedly telling me about each book. She'd run her fingers, short, bitten nails, across the hard, shiny brown covers. She told me about what it was about, which I know is in my brain somewhere, but can't quite locate it. I just know her bright eyes amused and engaged me, holding onto me like pink gravity, and wouldn't let go.

She grew tired after reading me her favorite quotes from the fourth book. I let her nap while I went out to buy some food to bring back.

When I got back, she ate slowly, then fell back into her abyss.

ooo

I didn't know much where we were. All I really know is that it's warm and seems forever from home. I sat on the sidewalk outside our motel room. Tonight, Alice sleeps soundly in bed. Her pouty lips fascinated me, parted slightly, puffing soft breathes. I got up quietly to not wake her, and am here now, outside.

Lillian was always kind of predictable – at least the weather. Not too much on the alien part. The nights were always cold, the days usually warm. But it was much different here. It was night definitely, two a.m., but the air was moist and warm, like a light damp blanket laid on my bare arms and legs. My skin touching the air reminded me of summer, yet my eyes taking in the bright stars told me otherwise. Although there was beauty all over, it felt wrong. I knew this isn't home, and home is maybe where I should be.

I closed my eyes, trying to figure out what I'm doing here. It all goes so fast. I don't even quite remember deciding to run away. I try to imagine what I was thinking at that moment Alice asked me… I didn't even think it through. My dad is worried, I know. He's doing searches, and he's good at those. He's a deputy after all. Then I suddenly remembered why I agreed to leaving. Alice is in danger. Her father causes her harm and hurts her everyday. And I can't let that happen. That's why we're here.

I heard a train in the distance, and I opened my eyes, forgetting where I was for a second.

I went back inside and climbed into bed. I looked up at her beside me. Her cheeks were flushed pink. It sure was hot here.

She started to stir slightly. 'Joe', she mumbled suddenly.

She just said my name in her sleep! I smiled dumbly and got as warm on the inside as I was on the inside. And then it didn't matter where I was. I had her, and she was home.

ooo

We lay by the pool that afternoon on white beach chairs, sunbathing. Me squinting in the glare of light, her with her big sunglasses. The motel owner came by at one point, coming to inform and complain of the heat wave. But Alice didn't mind one bit. She loves the sun, I learned. Now I'm trying to learn how to like it as much as she does, and I'm having trouble doing so.

When I thought she'd fallen asleep, she asked me, "Joe?"

"Hm?"

"You like it here?"

"Ah… it's alright."

She placed her sunglasses on top of her head. "Oh. Because you know, no matter how much we end up liking a place, we're gonna have to leave."

"I know." I told her. And I did.

"I just can't help falling in love with this place."

"Well, there's lots of places with sun. Warm places like this."

She sighed. "I know… I guess we better get going soon then huh?"

I nodded. "What about we leave in a few hours."

"Sounds good."

"Till then, soak up some sun."

She grinned, put her over-sized shades back on her eyes, and contently did just that.

ooo

"Go, go go.", I said. He jumped into the convertible as I did on the other side, and he hurriedly started the engine. I don't think my heart has beaten so hard in my life.

"Alice, I haven't had as much driving experience as you…"

"I trust you."

It was a pretty rocky ride for the first fifteen minutes or so, but he got the hang of it.

The idea to steal a car was his idea. We couldn't seem to get anywhere on foot – not if we wanted to get caught. The convertible was across the street from the motel, and we just went for it.

The wind wept through our hair like crazy, and we laughed like crazy because we looked messed up and we were free.

"So Miss Alice," he started, "Where do you plan on going this fine evening?"

I thought about that one. "Let just see where it takes us."

ooo

She tucked her legs up beside her and wrapped her hands around her knees. She got real quiet and gazed out the window. She could've been looking at the topaz sky meeting the never-ending fields of green and dirt. Or maybe it was just all a blur going by her. Maybe she's staring blankly at the reflection of her sad blue eyes. Because I knew when she got quiet like this, her eyes glaze over, and to her, the world becomes oblivious. I wouldn't have noticed this if I hadn't known her so well. And I realized now how close I've become with her. I don't know where she goes when she goes quiet and her eyes get sad. But I hope it's not that bad and that she feels safe. And to not forget where she is. That I'm always here, right beside her.

ooo

Long time no see? So sorry for not updating sooner. I took a break from fanfiction for over a year, with school and all. I really did have writers block on this story. But thank god I couldn't sleep tonight and just got on a big writing spree, and I ended up writing this. This may be kinda different from my past writing on here, at least I think it is. For the better? I'm not sure, you guys let me know :)

Lastly, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, for all the messages I've got in the past year over this story. Your encouragement is truly amazing, and very appreciated :)