Chapter Nine: Searching

Mike's P.O.V.

Why wasn't Mal letting me keep control? I'm the first, anyway. It's starting to feel like what happened just before juvy. I can't let that happen again! What if he's hurting Zoey?

"Mate, you be more skittish than a wombat in a dingo territory."

I looked behind me to see Manitoba Smith watching me.

"What?" I asked him.

"You've been pacing fer a while, now. Yer begginin' to warry me. What's on yer mind?"

I sighed. May as well confess. "I guess I have been a little skittish. I'm scared something's going to happen to Zoey. What if Mal's trying to hurt her? What if she actually likes him more than me? What if she chose him over me? What if-"

"Mike," he interrupted. He put his arm around my shoulder. I was startled; he never calls anyone by their name. "Don' warry. If anythin' happens to yer lady, I'll take care of it. He can't keep us in. I wan'a see that slug try to keep the great Manitoba Smith down."

Appearing from nowhere, Mal showed up in front of us. I became confused and looked at Manny. He was just holding back from attacking him.

"Mal, wha-" I began.

He interrupted me. "Take control. I need to talk to the four. Separately."

I was surprised and took that chance. I didn't need to be told twice. As soon as I had my body back, I found myself in my bedroom. I left the room and ran to the kitchen to find my adopted father, Eric, sitting at the kitchen table and my adopted mother, Laurene, washing dishes.

"Mike?" My dad said.

"Yeah, Dad?"

"Just making sure it's you. What's the rush?"

"It's me. I need to find Zoey. It's important."

My mom looked back at me and said, "You've been with her a lot lately."

"That wasn't me. I need to go. Bye, guys!" At that, I grabbed my keys and ran to my Harley and jumped on. I backed out of the garage and sped to Zoey's house, surprisingly without getting stopped. I ran to her front door and frantically knocked on it and didn't stop until it opened.

"Mike, where's the fire?" Her dad, Kenneth, joked.

"Good morning, Mr. Meadows. Is Zoey here?"

"No she left about an hour ago," he said, glancing at his pocket watch.

"Do you know where she went?"

He scratched his head. "I think she went to that gypsy moon girl's house. What's her name?"

"Dawn?" I suggested. I knew who he was talking about. Dawn was an aura-reading animal activist that was on the show with us. She got voted off before I did, much thanks to Scott.

"That's the name!" He snapped his fingers.

I ran back to my bike, saying, "Thanks, Mr. Meadows! I'll see you later!" I backed out of their driveway and turned down the left side of the street, leaving town. It took me about an hour to get to Dawn's house and once I was there, I ran to her door and knocked on it. I'd only been there once.

A woman with long blonde hair and light gray eyes answered. She looked like an older Dawn, so she was probably her mother. "Hey, you're Mike, right?"

"Yes. Are Dawn and Zoey here?"

"Actually, no... They just left a little while ago to go into town."

I began to get frustrated and almost let Chester out, but I quickly calmed myself.

"Oh. Do you happen to know where they went?"

"Ahh... No, not really. Knowing Dawn, though, I would say she is probably outside doing something with animals. But I really have no idea. I'm sorry."

I shrugged. "It's okay, I'll find them eventually. Thanks!" I left to get back on my bike. Time to go back into town. 'Where could they have gone?' I thought.

After another hour on the road, I entered the small town. At first, I checked all of the stores and to no avail. Next, I checked the park, failing there, too. I drove to the pet shop, since Dawn was an animal lover. I finally found them around the hamster cage. Dawn was standing with her back to me and Zoey was on the other side. She looked up at me with a big smile that slightly faltered, but found its original place.

"Greetings, Mike. I am able to see that you have been having a slight trouble finding Zoey and I. Am I correct?" The small blonde turned to face me.

Okay, she's a little weird, I'll give her that. "Uh- yeah."

"Ah, by the dark tint in your aura, I can also see that something is troubling you."

"Yeah... Can I talk to Zoey, please?" I glanced at my girlfriend. I noticed that she wasn't keeping eye contact. Is something troubling her, too?

"Of course." She turned to Zoey and said, "Talk to him sometime." After that, she left building. I don't know if to wait outside or just leave; I can never tell with her.

I walked over to where Dawn was just standing. "Zoey, are you alright?"

She looked at me, this time in the eyes, and smiled. "Yeah, I'm okay. What's up with you? I don't really need an aura reader to see you're upset."

I didn't want to worry her too much, so I got straight to the point. "What has Mal done to you?"

She seemed surprised. "Well, nothing, really. He hasn't actually hurt me. Why?"

I let out the breath I didn't seem to realize I was holding. I smiled at her, saying, "I'm just worried about you, that's all. I care about you. I mean, you are my girlfriend after all."

"Mike?" She started.

"Yeah, Zoey?"

"I don't mean to sound rude, but I was hoping to hang out with Dawn today. If that's alright..." She rubbed her arm. That's my Zoey: always checking to see if everything's okay with everyone, wanting to keep people happy.

I nodded. "Right. Uh- sorry. I'll leave you girls to yourselves. Bye, Zoey." I went to the other side of the cage, kissed her cheek, and left the building. Dawn was waiting outside for me to leave.

"Sorry about that, Dawn," I said.

She waved it off. "That is alright. I could tell you needed to check on her. Goodbye, Mike." She waved and went back inside.

I walked over to my Harley, hopped on, and rode off.

Mal's P.O.V.

I didn't sleep all night, for that red-head was stuck on my mind. I really needed some advice. I took a deep breath, forcing myself into our head. I surprised Mike and the Australian.

"Mal, wha-" Mike began.

I interrupted him. "Take control. I need to talk to the four. Separately."

Once he was gone, I turned to Manitoba. "I need your help."

"Why should I help you? You're about as trustworthy as a vegan quoll."

I shook off the compliment. "I just need advice. Don't get too excited."

He became confused. "Advice about what?"

I grinned. "Girls."