Vittoria's POV

My body twisted into a clinging motion as Criss laid me down in bed. I noticed the sky was dark and I knew he was going to leave, but I just couldn't let him.

"Criss….stay with me…please…", I did everything I could and yet he seemed to resist me. How could I let him go and immerse himself in that awful world of pain? Almost immediately a picture of him, strained and tied to a bed made me close me eyes and cling to him.

"I can't Vittoria….You know I can't. Besides I don't think Ali would appreciate me in here with you two….."

I opened my eyes and frowned. Ali surely wouldn't mind. She cares for Criss just like I do. Right? I know I'm right.

"Criss….she won't care at all. Besides, it won't matter. I won't leave you to suffer…"

"Then go with him to his bed", came a voice, cold and angry.

I sat up, Criss backing away from me and didn't say a word. I on the other hand looked at Ali. Her arms were crossed. Something she rarely ever did. And she looked….upset. She was leaned up against the doorframe, her lips downturned.

"What?" she said, shrugging her shoulders, "Do you find that offensive? Or do you want this room to yourselves? I mean there really isn't a need to ask me at all."

My mouth hung open as I only could simply stare. I watched as Criss spoke to her, saying that he would simply leave. I couldn't move. What brought on this sudden attack. This wild angry emotion? I stared her down hard.

"What is your problem?"

She looked at me and began to turn away when Criss went to grab her by the wrist to stop her.

"Now Ali, just hang on a second please…", begged Criss.

"Don't. Have the room. I'll sleep on the couch", she murmured and swept from the room, slamming the door behind her.

Ali's point of view

Really? Was she really that oblivious to me now that she had her "man"? What happened to loyalty? Friendship! How could she? If he ever breaks her heart what is she going to do? Not come to me. That's for sure!

I laid down on the couch and I knew I would not sleep. The betrayal I felt wouldn't let me. I wanted so badly out of there. How did this awesome opportunity turn bad so quickly? I just wanted to leave.

And why can't I?

With that thought in my head I got up and searched for JD and Costa. I was going home. Leaving her to her world of fantasy and magic.

Criss' POV

I felt my stomach drop. I've been in these situations before and well, they never turn out good. I looked at Vittoria who looked shaken. She looked as if I would sneeze she'd just fall apart. I walked over to her and sat down beside her, taking her hand.

"Vittoria?..."

She didn't answer. Instead she stared at the door as if it was sucking the life out of her.

"Vittoria!"

She jumped and looked at me then to the door. Her eyes began to swim with tears. I watched as part of her world began to swim around and she looked at me for a moment before she began to cry. I watched as she broke down, blubbering words at me like, "best friend" and "Sorry". I rubbed her back the best I could, shushing her. She looked up at me, touching my cheek.

"I can't win for losing, huh?" She chuckled slightly and I smiled. I told her to leave it be for now. That we all could talk in the morning. She released me, although reluctantly and I went to leave.

"Criss?"

"Hmmmm"

"I know this is … not the right thing to do but…would you mind staying with me? Just for the night? I really don't like being alone….I've always had Ali here….I don't know….I feel like I've lost her. I'm scared"

I turned around looked at her. She was sitting, her hair tousled and her face tear stained, her thin frame shaking. I couldn't just leave her alone.

"Of course,"

And so I stripped off my shirt, shoes and socks and very carefully climbed into with her. I pulled her close and ran my fingers through her hair. Her heaving breathing. Her warmth. It was comforting. She laid her head on my chest and began to fall asleep. I glanced down at the woman on my chest and began to feel my eyelids become heavy. I knew what I was doing was going to look bad but she needed me. And so slowly, although cautiously, I began to fall asleep preparing myself for the onslaught of nightmares to begin.

But they never did.

Vittoria's POV

The morning came quickly and I stretched, temporarily lost in the features of the man whose chest I was laying on. But the keyword here is temporarily. As if someone has poured a bucket of ice on me, the memories of the day before become suddenly clear again. The kiss. My attempted runaway. Ali….

I sat up and dug the heel of my hands into my eyes to try and erase the past. But it didn't happen. I looked down at Criss to see him sleeping quietly. I felt my heart pound fast.

No nightmares…..that's good. But to what extent…..what have I done? What did I DO? Ali looked so mad at me….I was just trying to help….but did I push it too far this time?

And as if he heard my thoughts Criss' eyes began to flutter before they opened completely. I reached down and caressed his cheek, smiling despite it all.

"Have a good sleep there?"

Criss blinked a few times and smiled before nodding. I watched as he began to stretch. I couldn't help but look at his bare chest. Those arms. Those…..

"Got a good view there?", Criss mumbled as he sat up, much closer than I had realized he would.

"I…uh…" I stuttered. Having all of that….perfectness up close and personal, well…..it takes you for a loop. And he smiled, wrapping his arms around me. I shudder ran throughout me and this time I didn't fight when his lips touched mine. I knew somewhere deep down inside this is NOT what I should be doing but I wanted this. This kind of attention and affection. I wound my fingers in his hair as he pulled me closer to him. As his lips grazed the skin of my neck. Those warm fingers began to slide up my shirt.

"CRISSSSS! "

I pulled away. Looked at Criss and his eyes widened as he whispered, "This cannot be good"

Pulling ourselves together we flew from the room to find JD and Costa and the rest of the crew pooling outside.

"What's going on!" Criss demanded.

"She's gone!" Criss' mother replied.

"Who?"

But Criss did not need to ask. I felt the emptiness deep down within me as I looked around. There was no sign of her anywhere. I didn't hear her usually bubbly voice or see her bouncing off the wall.

She was gone. And I had no clue to where. Ali had taken off….and it was all my fault. My world began to slowly whirl as Criss ran off with JD to see if they could find anything that would lead to where she'd went and I felt my knees give way. I sat in the booth and put my head down, after smacking away a stupid map.

"Hold on…."

My heart dropped as I pulled the map toward me and my sneaking suspicions were correct. There on the map, South Carolina was outlined in Red and a small arrow pointed to a few words scribbled in her bubbly handwriting

Home is where the heart is

My stomach dropped and I realized everything. She was out on the road. Alone with nothing trying to get home….

"Crisssssss!"