Heyyyy, how y'all doin'? I know I haven't really posted lately so sorry about that I've been CRAZY busy this week but I got to visit the Empire State Building with my friends nkb99 and shakespearqueen72 (both of them have great stories so go check 'em out)

So, ANYWAY, you probably came here to read the chapter so I'll shut up now. Enjoy! :)

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

11:00 a.m., April 19th

While Riker was pumping the gas into the car, I started thinking about my life before meeting Riker. Life at the orphanage had been a living hell. I hated it there and the older I got the worse they treated me. I remember the day I met Riker. I had gotten in a lot of trouble for sneaking out.

"So, I'll see you around?" Riker said after walking me back to the orphanage.

"Probably not anytime soon," I said looking down at my worn converse. "I'll probably be grounded for life for sneaking out today…"

"Oh…" he said disappointed. "I wouldn't want you to get in anymore trouble."

"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine."

He nodded and started to turn away but I stopped him before he left.

"Hey," he looked back at me. "Thanks a lot for helping me out today. The crazy lady that runs this place would have never let me hear the end of it."

"No problem," he said smiling. "Glad I could help."

He turned and walked down the street with his hands in his pockets. I smiled and turned back towards the large grey building just in time to see someone move away from spying in the windows. I huffed out an exasperated breath knowing exactly who it was.

I walked in the big doors of Love's Home for Girls, bracing for the onslaught of questions.

"Who was that?"

I didn't even look at her, I just kept on walking up the stairs.

"None of your business, Kat," I snapped, hearing her light footsteps following me.

"Miss Love is not going to be happy with you; sneaking out to see a boy. You are gonna be in so much trou—"

I stopped at the top of the huge stair case and whirled around to face her.

"Would you just leave me alone and go find someone else to tattle on? I'm tired of you sticking your freckled nose into my business."

I turned back around and walked down the hall to the room I shared with, unfortunately, Kat. Apparently, in her mind, since we were roommates it gave her the right to know every single detail of my personal life. She was also the one who always told on me to Miss Love. Who, by the way, does not live up to her name by any means.

Miss Love practiced discipline like a religion. She took away meal privileges when we talked back to her, locked us in closets when we left the house without permission, and smacked our hands with a wooden spoon if we took anything that belonged to her. I hated that woman with a burning passion. So when she walked into our bedroom and gave me a stern look you can imagine how overjoyed I was. Which would be not at all.

"Skye," she said in a nasally voice.

"Yes, ma'am?" I replied in my kiss up tone, causing Kat to roll her eyes.

"Where have you been? I don't recall giving you permission to leave, young lady."

"I'm sorry, Miss Love. I must have forgotten to ask you. I promise it'll never happen again." I laid on the sarcasm pretty thick. I was notorious for getting two or more punishments in a matter of two minutes.

"Skye, you just earned yourself a skipped meal and a night in the closet."

I sighed and grabbed my song journal before trudging out of the room and down the hall to the broom closet. As soon as I was inside, Miss Love slammed the door and turned the lock. I waited until I heard her footsteps walk back to her office at the opposite end of the hall and before leaning against the far wall and sliding down to the floor.

I'd spent so much time in the closet that I only slept in my regular bed once or twice a week. I opened up to the first page of my journal to the very first song I ever wrote and sang.

"I know exactly how you feel

It doesn't matter what you say

I see the sun begin to set

And we gotta, gotta get away

I got a patch of open road

I already miss you with all of my soul

So before we both get old

I think we gotta, gotta get away

I keep wishing, got the tickets stacked up on the wall

Let's rip 'em down and leave the town before the cops can call

And bring us back, cover our tracks in the dust

I think we must"

I didn't realize how much I wanted to leave this place, to get away, until I felt tears roll down my cheeks. I'd never had the courage to run away on my own before. Meeting Riker, though, had given me new hope.

"Take on the world

Let's go crazy

Love will tell us where to go

I'll be your girl, be my baby

Love will tell us where to go

Oh, oh, oh, through a dark night

Oh, oh, oh, without a sunrise

Oh, oh, oh, we will be alright

Love will tell us where to go

Love will tell us where to go

Love will tell us where to go"

I made a promise to myself that night. I would see Riker again and I would leave this place forever.

"Skye?" Riker shook my shoulder gently. "You okay?"

I snapped out of my memories and stared blankly at the windshield in front of me.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking."

"It's about the orphanage again isn't it?"

I looked over at him. "How did you know?"

"You always get that same, faraway look in your eye. What was it this time?"

"I was thinking about the day we met. Miss Love made me spend the night in the closet for sneaking out. I remember, I that was the first time I ever decided I was going to leave that place for good. You helped me realize that."

"Me? How?" he scrunched his eyebrows together like he did when he was confused, which was a rare occasion so it always made me smile.

"Before I met you, I never had the courage to leave on my own. All my time in a holding cell just goes to prove I never would have gotten far." Riker laughed at this. "But when you helped me that day, you gained my trust within five seconds of knowing you. And I knew I had found someone who could help me get away."

Riker looked at me with the same look he gave me last night, right before he kissed me. I felt a blush rise to my cheeks and I turned away covering my face with my hands and giggling like a school girl.

"Oh my god," I said into my hands.

Riker threw his head back and laughed.

"You know," he said still smiling like an idiot. "I thought we were having a moment there." He started the car.

"Just drive!" I said still feeling the heat in my face.

He laughed again and pulled out of the gas station.

"I just want you to know something, Skye." He said, serious again.

"Yeah?" I peeked out from behind my fingers.

"When I have you, I've got enough to keep me going."

I reddened again. "Oh my god, just stop!" I laughed right along with him this time as he got back onto the interstate.

So there was a cute little bit for you ;) And you got to see another flashback too :D I've been writing some mind blowing chapters lately so just be ready.

Well thank all so very much for reading. I love you tons ;)

~glamgirl16