Let's make it short. I had an epic computer crash, my hard drive was replaced, and now my files are gone. There we go! Now, I have to start over.

10 (I've changed their ago to sixteen! They're now in tenth grade! Problems? PM)

Jacob was seething.

That stupid, wretched, I-think-I'm-so-much-better-than-you, good for nothing, no appreciation of art, book loving Ekaterina! he thought. What the heck was she thinking?

A moment ago, Brooke, code-name "Lex," had tried to get the super-powerful Madrigal concoction out of her system. Key stopped her before it was too late— partially because power corrupts, and your enemy that can kill you in about five-thousand different ways having power wasn't a good thing; poor Madrigals.

Also because, as much as he didn't want to admit it, she was the reason he wasn't still in that stuffy chamber of death the Madrigals call home… But on the other hand she was controlling him; telling him what to do as if she were the Queen all high-and-mighty.

"Stupid Ekats," he muttered. "They think they're so much better because they can crack codes… and invent things… and-and do Algebra!" Key sighed.

He never had a very good scholastic history. The best thing he ever did was cursive handwriting… and that was basically art! Also, he never had many friends. He was always known as the social reject with the girl handwriting.

In an effort to put his thoughts away, he looked around the woods for a sign of Brooke. Where was she? Not seeing anything he started to worry.

Oh my gosh! Did she commit suicide or fall off a cliff or worse— Leave me out to die! He stared at his and her stuff and laughed. No, she would have come back for supplies…

Snap!

Jacob snapped upright at the sound of the twig breaking. The first thing he saw was Brooke.

Man, did she look terrible!

Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, he clothes were rumpled, he hair a rat's nest, and she had dirt over eighty percent of her body.

"Hey," she said.

"Uh, hey," Jacob answered uncertainly. She licked her lips in the piercing silence.

"Well," she said finally breaking it and picked up her bag, "I'd best be going."

These words shocked Jacob so bad he fell sideways.

"Wait, you're just leaving me out here? In the middle of Greece? Alone?" he asked, his voice raising an octave each time.

"Well, yeah. You obviously can't stand me and my 'know-it-all' superior altitude I so forcefully put on due to Ekaterinan heritage." She turned around and started to walk northwest— at least he thought so.

"Wait," he said again. Jacob stood up. "Look you can't leave. It's not your fault, I just… I guess it's just in my blood. Like it's what I'm supposed to do— arguing with the other branches I mean."

"What do you mean?" Brooke asked hesitantly. Jacob sighed.

"I can't get back without you. I've spent almost half of my life in that stuffy chamber of death hoping and praying a miracle would get me out of there, and when I met you… that day that you broke my collarbone, I knew somehow, you were capable of getting me out of there.

"I need your help, your wisdom, your knowledge of the world, your experience. I need you."

Brooke stood there stunned. She wasn't sure if that was an apology or not. For once, she didn't know.

"Wow that was a remarkable piece of prose," was all she said.

"Will you stay?"

"Is that a sorry for yelling at me?"

"Only if you promise not to cut yourself to get the serum out."

"Jacob…," she whined. He stared at her pointedly. She sighed, "Okay, I promise."

Jacob smiled, "I'm sorry." She walked over to him.

"Apology accepted," she said as they shook hands. Brooke exhaled.

"So, what do we do now?" Jacob asked. Brooke fidgeted with her collar.

"We head towards Stuttgart, and on the way, we have to find Ian. I just can't leave him out here to die. Natalie would be crushed, and her parents would probably beat her into oblivion for being weak. I can't let that happen." Jacob nodded understandingly.

"How exactly do we do that?" Jacob asked eyes not leaving Brooke's face. Brooke looked to her left obviously trying to not make eye contact.

"I honestly don't know," she said. Her voice was cracking a bit.

She sure does care an awful lot for this Ian guy, Jacob thought. He held her hand in his. Brooke abruptly looked at it then his face.

"We'll do it," he said simply.

"Jacob…," she started, but she was cut off by a twig breaking.

Snap!

"What was that?" Brooke asked quickly pulling her hand out of Jacob's.

"A twig," Jacob said simply.

"He… not funny right now, Ja- uh, Key."

"Nice cover."

"Shut up!" she hissed through gritted teeth.

Crunch!

Jacob ignored it and continued talking, "You know, mate, when people say 'shut up' it usually means that they don't have a comeback."

This was Brooke's last straw. She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down to eye level.

"Look, I'm serious here! Something's going on and you are taking it lightly. I've gone through this before, so shut up and followed my advice!"

"Okay, okay," he said surrendering. She backed off. "What is your advice?"

There was a growl from the bushed to their right.

"Go left!"

Okayz, I finished! Whoo! Alright remember I changed their ages! Sorry for the inconvenience, but I had to do it.

13bewilder22