When two strong personalities collide things can get pretty explosive. We're both stubborn and determined so naturally he and I got into big disagreements. When a hurricane meets a land what happens? Destruction, right? Well that's when happened when he found me walking home. I was more than half way when a car came to a near stop beside me. From the corner of my eye, I could see the silver car and the window roll down. I hurried on faster.

"What on earth is your problem!" Daniel demanded.

"I'm giving you space," I said. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"Not funny, Luce."

"I know, Daniel, I'm being serious," I told him.

"Get in the damn car, I'm taking you home," Daniel said. I didn't even look at him. We were about half way home. I'd be home in ten minutes if I walked fast enough.

"No!" I said defiantly.

"Get in this car now!"

"No, Daniel, get back to your friends."

I heard him hit the wheel purely out of frustration. His anger only made me want to retaliate. I knew how angry he was but I was angrier. I continued on. He said he didn't want to talk to me but comes after when I leave. I swear I could never figure him out. I stopped at an intersection.

"I swear Luce—"

"What?" I snapped looking left then right then left again before crossing. "What will you do? Treat me like the biggest bother in the world like you always do?"

I hopped off the curb. I was about half way across the crosswalk when Daniel swooped in nearly running me over if I didn't jump out of the way. Daniel was so fast that I barely even saw him come out of his car. Next thing I know, he has me by the elbow.

"Drop the act and let's go home," he growled.

"It's not an act! You're the one putting up an act," I shouted quickly slipping through his hand. "You know I can't and I told you why but you don't seem to get that. It's a lot harder for me than it is for you because I have to hurt you all the time. I'm doing all I can to keep you safe! Have I not proven myself to you already?"

I dashed past him and his car to the other side of the road. I continued walking not looking back.

"Luce, come back," Daniel said defeated. "I'll take you home."

"No."

I kept walking as fast as I could to get away from him. I heard him hop into his car and appeared at my side again. He didn't argue for me to get in his car and I didn't argue for him to head back to the restaurant. He drove beside me with his window down. I caught him stealing glances at me to which he shook his head every time.

How many times did I have to go through this? Why was I meant to protect someone that only resulted in a fierce game of cat and mouse? Once, just once, why couldn't we get along? This why being a protector was meant for the same three individuals. Imagine if there were new protectors every life time. They would have given up.

We finally reached our street. He darted forward toward his drive way. Having no other choice, I dashed forward hoping to avoid any more conversation. He hopped out of the car when I was almost half way across the lawn.

"Luce!" he called out.

"Good night, Daniel." I didn't stop until I got to the back yard. I threw my things across the back patio at my door. Why did protecting him be so hard nowadays? We're good then we're bad, we go two steps forward then one step back. Sometimes I felt like I couldn't do it, I didn't know who assigned me this job and right now I wanted out. I stomped over gathered my things and shot into my room.

I changed into sweats and managed to organize my room a little. There was a knock at my door but I ignored it. Whoever was outside in the hallway was persistent. More knocking.

"What!" I said sounding harsher then I intended.

"Is everything okay?" came Aunt Steph coming inside my room.

"Everything's fine."

"Did you and Daniel fight?"

"No, Steph, everything is fine. Can I just be alone, please?" I asked trying not to lose my patience with her. I didn't want to snap on her, she didn't do anything wrong. Aunt Steph did not need to be on the receiving end of my anger.

"Did you already eat?" she asked.

"Yes, I did," I replied. She gave a defeated nod and left my room. I lay in bed curled up in a warm blanket waiting for sleep to come but it never did. I saw my phone light up. I checked it to see it was Hogan, I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. But I read the message anyway.

Update?

I sighed heavily. I had completely forgotten telling Daniel about leaving this place to find safety. Hogan was expecting an answer. I had no idea what to say to him. The only thing I could ask for was time, funny, huh? I responded.

Didn't get a chance to mention.

He responded back almost immediately. Two days.

I set back down my phone. They'd be in the meeting place in two days and I hadn't even got a move on. I'd have to tell him first thing in the morning by then I hoped to be capable of talking to him and he to me. Even if we were still at each other's throats, I'd have to get this out somehow. His safety was more important than our squabbles. I rolled over and shut my eyes.

I wasn't even in the mood to jog the next morning. I just stayed in my bed huddled beneath the sheets. I checked my phone to see it was nearly nine. That seemed to bring me back to life because I hopped out of bed. I needed to speak to Daniel even if I felt like strangling him.

There was a knock on my door before Steph popped in her head.

"Daniel's at the door for you, Luce," she told me.

"I'll be right out," I told her. She closed the door and I made sure to look somewhat decent. That was hard when I had a complete mess of hair in the morning and my sweats mismatched. I hurried over to the front door braiding my hair as I went. I shut the door in the foyer to prevent any cold air from entering the house despite my shivering.

Daniel was outside watching a pair of squirrels fly around in the trees. I opened the door and he turned to look at me. He looked a little embarrassed and offered me a smile. I sure as hell wasn't returning it.

"Hey," he tried.

"Morning," I said shortly.

"Did you sleep well?" he tried again.

"Partly. Listen, Daniel—"

"I was a jerk, okay?" he said. "I know, my bad."

"My bad doesn't quite cut it!"

"Then what else do you want me to say?" Daniel snapped angrily. "That I'm an ungrateful jerk?"

"Keep going," I encouraged. "It sounds a hell of lot better than 'my bad.' "

He turned to mutter under his breath. I crossed my arms leaning on the door hinge. He finally turned to face me once more. "You're really going to make me work for this apology, aren't you?" Daniel asked.

"Of course," I said straightening. "But we have more pressing matters than our feuds. Come in, I have to speak to you." I stepped out of the way and he stepped inside. I lead the way back to my room. Aunt Steph and Uncle Liam didn't ask questions when Daniel walked through the house back to my room. I shut the door behind me.

"I have been speaking to another protector and we have begun to think that it is no longer safe for you," I began gesturing for him to sit any place he found fit. But he remained standing. "If things progress as we predicted I won't be able to protect you on my own. We think it's safest to relocate you."

"Move?" Daniel asked. "I can't leave this place."

"I know the idea is hard to conceive but it's for the best," I insisted. "More Snatchers will appear in time and I can't fight them off all on my own. We're going to have to leave, Daniel."

"It's not that I don't want to," Daniel said. "It's that I can't."

"What do you mean?" I asked cocking my head to one side.

Daniel finally took a seat on my desk chair. "I mean, I can't physically leave Echo Valley. I did once and everything started spinning and ripping. I could see things peeling like there where layers under them. I went to Montana to visit my aunt when I was a kid and I could see things. I couldn't even walk a straight line because the ground would change."

"Time reading," I muttered more to myself than him.

"Well, whatever that's called I can't leave. I never know what time I'm in if I leave this place."

"Can you time read now?" I asked curiously. It had been ages since Daniel could time read. It was rare when he could and completely extraordinary. That was the only ability that was ever apparent from him.

"No," he said shaking his head. "It only happens when I go to someplace I've never been to."

"Hmm," I said thoughtfully. "I see. I can help you solve that problem but that would require much training and time which we unfortunately don't have."

"So what are we going to do?"

"Leave it all to me," I said. I went to my bed and grabbed my phone to make another call. I went to my back door and slid the door open to indicate it was his time to leave.

"Okay," Daniel said getting up taking the hint. "I'll just get working on that apology then." He walked past me out of my room. I rolled my eyes trying not to let him get the best of me. I shut the door after him and marking the two on my speed dial. I didn't even wait for Hogan to speak.

"Change of plans, he can read time," I said. I looked through my closet for something to wear. I knew today was about to be a busy day for me.

"Very well, changing course," I heard him say. "We'll be there in about thirty six hours."

We both hung up.