Soul was driving for over four hours before he noticed he was dozing off on the road. He shook his head and slowed the bike down to a good 20 miles. Maka picked her head up from his back and looked around her.

"Why are we slowing down?" Soul pulled to the side of the road and turned the bike off. Maka relaxed and dropped her hands from his waist.

"I can't keep my eyes open any more. And I don't think you want me driving asleep…" Soul yawned and slipped off the bike to walk around and stretch. Maka stayed on the bike and bit her cheek.

"Well, we can't just stop in the middle of nowhere. Especially the desert Soul." Soul stopped walking and turned to Maka. Maka got off the bike and dropped her bag on the ground to sit on it. Soul pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.

"What would you like me to do Maka? I can't keep this up. I haven't eaten in almost three days; I've barely been able to sleep without worrying about something happening to us, I can't sleep without knowing your safe at night. I'm tired-,"

"You can't sleep because you're worried about me?" Maka looked at soul with shock in her eyes. Soul dropped his hand and looked up at the dark sky, cursing under his breath. Maka waited for him to respond and shifted her feet underneath her.

"No. okay. I can't. It would be like me leaving you out here left for dead with the wolves." Soul put all his weight on his right foot and looked at her in the eyes. Maka could find anything to say to him, rather move from her spot.

"Were almost there aren't we? A couple more days to get to New York…" Maka spoke up.

"My dad probably has the whole Nevada PD looking for me. He used to work for them before my mom left us. Then… he became an alcohol drug addict. Sad to see someone's life waste away like that." Maka watched him talk about his problems like this. Like it was no big deal to him at all.

"My father was an alcoholic too. He would go out and cheat on my mom." Maka said out of nowhere. She covered her mouth and sighed.

"I'm sorry. My dad fought for full custody of me and won. So… I was never able to see my mom. I never saw her after that." Soul sat in the dirt next to Maka and leaned back on the bike.

"My dad tried, then quit after he met some chick. So my mom won and we left the day after." Maka's smile slowly turned into a frown, "But, when we left… he wasn't home. My mom didn't even leave him a note to tell him." Soul set his elbows on his knees and watched the ground between his hands.

"So are they still married or is she working on that?" Maka tilted her head to the side.

"I don't know what's going on between those two anymore. She filed the divorce papers but she's still waiting for her court date." Maka rolled her eyes. Soul chuckled and shook his head.

"Glad you ran away. You'd have to sit in that court for over 6 hours listening to them argue. It's not fun." Soul chuckled and tossed a rock by his foot. Maka giggled and looked up at the sky.

"Sorry you went through that. So… what are we going to do about sleep tonight?" Soul stood up and yawned.

"I don't know. I guess we'll take shifts or something. I'll go first you can-," Maka interrupted and stood up beside him.

"I fell asleep on the bike Soul. I'm not really that tired. I'll wake you when I see something." Soul thought about it for a moment.

"Please don't leave me in the middle of the desert?"

"Goodnight." Maka stood up from the bag on the ground and sat on the bike behind them. Soul rested his head back on the bike and looked up at her. Maka sighed and pushed his head back down with her hand. Soul repositioned his head and closed his eyes in defeat.

"Soul…?" Maka gently kicked his foot with her arms wrapped around herself, "Soul!" she kicked him even harder this time. He jolted up and gasped.

"What? What's wrong!"

"I'm cold. And it's almost daylight outside." Soul turned around to look at the sunrise and back at Maka. He got up and slipped off his jacket.

"Here" Soul held out his jacket for what seemed like the longest time before Maka slowly reached for it. Soul stretched his legs and arms afterwards and yawned.

"Are you almost done… with what…ever your doing?" Maka asked as he was lying on the ground on his stomach.

"I'm not doing anything. I'm just laying here."

"Well come on Soul. If we leave early enough, we might actually get there but the time it gets dark!" Soul pulled the map out and looked for any road signed on the sides of the road.

"Were in Tennessee Maka. There's no way were gonna cross four-five states in one day." Maka placed her hand on her hip and rolled her eyes.

"Not if we keep standing here we won't!" she pushed Soul towards the bike and folded the map back up and handed it to him. She climbed behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Soul started the bike and pulled back on the road. Soul sped the bike up and let the wind go through his hair. Maka closed her eyes and leaned on Souls back smiling.

"We should stop in the next State. We need some supplies soul." Soul looked over his shoulder slightly and raised an eyebrow.

"For what?"

"Food, maybe a jacket or two." Maka started listing things that they needed. Soul turned back to the road and swerved around a car in front of them. As they passed a sign a few miles ahead, Maka unwrapped her arms from Soul and held onto the seat.

"Kentucky… didn't you say you used to live here Soul? Before the divorce and that happened?" Soul stayed quiet and kept driving.

"Where are we stopping?" Soul asked. Maka pointed at a market nearby and looked at Souls face. Soul pulled into the store parking lot and shut the bike off. He sighed and let his hands fall in his lap.

"Soul are you coming in? I need your help." Maka stopped a couple feet away from the bike and spun around on her heel. Soul looked at her with a tired look in his eyes and got off the bike.

"God I hope they don't work here anymore…" he looked up at the heavens and put his hand on the small of Maka's back. Maka gasped at his cold touch and glared at him.

"What?" Maka started to say something, but they walked into the store and Soul let go of her and walked off.

"Soul, what's wrong with you all of a sudd-,"

"SOUL? HOLY CRAP KID, LOOK ITS SOUL!" Soul face palmed and turned toward the registers.

"Oh, you're right Black Star. Soul, what are you doing back here?" Soul turned around and faced Maka.

"Don't say anything to them. Please?" Maka stood on her toes to look over his shoulder.

"Who are they? Friends of yours?" Soul walked off towards them and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I'm looking for my mother. Have you seen her around here? Or is she still in New York?" Kid stopped pushed a cart out of the way and walked over to Black star and Soul.

"I think she's still in New York. We haven't seen her here for a while."

"Hey Soul? Who's the chick? She's as flat as bored!" Black star started laughing and held his gut. Maka's eye twitched and she hesitated to Maka chop him.

"She's… a friend. We're going to New York. You two are the only ones I know, who actually know where she lives so… you're coming with us." Kid and Black Star stopped joking around and looked Soul dead in the eyes.

"Are you serious? New York. Soul we can barely cope here with our families. My parents would be so mad if I left." Kid crossed his arms.

"Ha-ha! Mine don't give a rat's ass about me still! Count me in Soul!" Black Star pointed at himself and smiled. Soul smirked and they both turned to Kid.

"Come on kid… adventure… action-fighting! We've encounter a ton of that haven't we Maka?" Maka nodded and walked up behind Soul.

"Fine. But I have to tell them and I'm coming back home after we get you there." Soul nodded and held out his hand.

"Sounds like a deal. So… you guys need some sort of transportation."

"Isn't she a beauty? AND she's all mine." The boys stood outside the back of the store in front of a blue camaro with a white stripe going down the middle. Soul placed his hands on the hood.

"Jesus Black Star… how'd you afford this?" Soul turned to the blue haired boy.

"I have my ways. Are we gonna hit the road or not?" Black Star asked as he sat down in the driver's seat.

"How did you and Maka get here Soul? Last time we talked to you, your father didn't even have a car." Soul smirked and crossed his arms, standing in front of the car still.

"Meet me out in the front and I'll show you guys." He started walking back around to the parking lot and got on the motorcycle.

"Maka! Come on we're leaving!" she stood up from her spot on the curb and grabbed her backpack.

"Where is your bag?"

"In Black Stars car. Were gonna follow them okay?" soul started the bike and Maka sat behind him.

"Oh great... the moron can drive." Maka dead panned and grabbed the seat.