The stage lights blinded me. When my eyes adjusted I looked out to an empty theatre. I played my part though. All my lines, my use of the stage, it was flawless.

I watched as the figure of Sera walked into the theatre and down to take a seat right the front row. My heart started to race and a tinge of anxiety flowed through my body.

"But alas, for is it true that myself being as full of life and wonder as fire is still not enough to be seen in splendor?"

Sera sat still just looking at me.

"Even in night, under dotted specks of stars. My light before you by comparison is dull in your eye?"

I stepped closer to her.

"Then I call you wrong. My flame outshines all others. Thy's protest is the truest admittance of ignorance. I am here. I am warm. I am real. Pray, why must you attempt to extinguish from reality that which is as true as the ground we stand on and the air we breath."

Sera stood up and looked me over for a moment. Before turning and starting to walk back out.

"Actions prove what words deceive! Thy intentions be of selfish mind."

Sera was now walking up the stairs.

"Tell me then. At least be honest. What was the point of all of this!"

She reached up to the landing and was heading for the doors.

"Why come back to smash my life to pieces and then just leave!"

She now turned and began to open the door.

"Mom!" I shouted it as loud as I could, but she disappeared through the door.

I fell to my knees and weakly mumbled, "You can't just leave me."

"Rachel." a familiar voice came through like a whisper in my ear.

My eyes opened and hanging over me was a very familiar girl with a streak of blue hair.

"You okay?" She asked.

I felt the void in my chest give a throb. What the hell was wrong with me. I just had a hella fun night with Chloe. Why did I dream about Sera. Why couldn't I just be happy here with Chloe?

"I don't think I am." I told her.

Chloe's face turned concerned

"It's nothing to do with you," I tried to reassure as I sat up.

"It's about your mom, Sera." She looked down at her wrist as she touched her fingers to the spot where I had tied my bracelet.

"How..." I paused a moment surprised, "could you know that?"

"You called out in your sleep." She explained. "You were saying 'mom' and I didn't think you were talking about Rose."

I brought my hand up to my face to cover the tears that had formed "I just can't let her go. It doesn't matter that she doesn't want to be in my life. She doesn't get to make that choice for me."

I held my eyes closed and focused on breathing and trying to dull the throbbing in my chest. The room was quiet except for the morning birds chirping outside.

"Let's find her then." Chloe said.

I lifted my head to see Chloe's head turned toward the picture of her and her dad at the science fair.

"Chloe?"

She turned and slid closer to me, "I mean it. She's still out there. Whether she wants to see you or not. I'll get the truck running and we'll track her down where ever she went."

"Really?" I smiled as I lifted my hand to wipe the water from my eyes, "Uh, so where should we start?"

"We'll start in the bay. There's only a few motels around she's bound to have been at one. Hell I could even ask my mom. Maybe she's seen her pop in the Two Whales."

Those were all solid ideas, but I think there might be a faster way, "What about Frank?" I asked.

"Frank? Seriously?" Chloe reached over and lifted the sleeve of the shirt that I was wearing exposing the bandages.

I pulled the sleeve down, "What was that?"

"Just making sure I'm not going crazy in remembering the last time we did exactly that you ended up almost dying." She said pointedly.

"That was Damon." I defended.

Chloe just squinted her eyes at me.

"And besides you, Frank is probably the last person she talked to. Maybe he knows where she'd go."

Chloe locked on my eyes in thought. "Alright fine, I'll try Frank again, BUT…" She held up a finger and paused for my attention, "I'm going alone."

"Chloe, I don't think-"

"Yea, I don't like it either. But I can't go and try to handle this if I'm worrying about you." Chloe's eyes flashed to my arm, "Frank and I are cool. I'll be fine, and more importantly so will you."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head in defeat, "Alright fine, but you keep me updated."

"Should I call you when I make it home safe too?" she joked.

"Oh I'm overprotective?" I played along, "I'm not the one hovering over someone else while they sleep" I pointed out.

Chloe opened her mouth, but closed it without making a sound.

"What?" I asked.

She turned her head away, "Nothing, just took me a little bit before I could understand you were saying 'mom'."

"Took you a little bit?" I was now just getting more confused, "Chloe what are you talking about?"

Chloe still faced away as she spoke, "You weren't exactly saying anything clear. I woke up to you kinda shifting around and every now and then you made a noise, and then it turned into some "Mmm"ing and I just kinda thought... since we had such a fun night last night…" She shook her head.

"Oh, that maybe I was having a dream about you?" I chuckled as I understood.

"It sounds really stupid when you say it." she responded still facing away.

I crawled behind the girl and wrapped my arms around her. "For the record," I laid my head on her shoulder. "I would have much rather dreamt about you."

Chloe leaned her head against mine. "That bad huh."

We sat like that for a few moments. The room was quiet except for our breathing. I could feel Chloe's pulse through my arms wrapped tight around her. Why did it take so much bullshit to bring us together.

"I want this all to end. But it never will. Will it?" I asked

"I don't think so. Not as long as we're in still in Arcadia Bay. Sorry to be so pushy about leaving, but I feel like this place is just going to kill off the last few things I still love if I stay."

"You don't need me in order to leave. You can just go once the truck is up and running. These are my problems not yours" I told her.

Her head lifted and twisted to face me on her shoulder. "What? No way. I'm not leaving without you." Her hand came up and brushed my hair, "So we're going to Dog the Bounty Hunter style track your mom down and bear mace anyone who stands in our way."

I smiled, "Bear mace huh?"

"Could always stab them with a nail file instead." she joked.

"Thanks Chloe." I muttered into her ear.

"For plotting attempted murder?"

No, not that," I laughed, "but for everything. For," I took a deep breath, "for being…" The words failed to come. Nothing I could think of could accurately say what I wanted to about her.

"Awesome." She finished in my silence.

I kissed her on the cheek. "Yes."

"How about we get dressed and raid my kitchen for breakfast?" She offered.

"I could eat." I looked down at the oversized shirt I was wearing. "Probably should put on some real clothes first." I said while letting go of Chloe and standing up from the bed.

"Go right ahead." Chloe said leaning back onto the bed with her arms folded behind her head.

"Hoping for a show are we?" I noted to her playfully.

"I mean, we're all girls here. It's no big deal right. It's like changing in a locker room." Chloe defended sarcastically.

I stood at the edge of Chloe's bed and raised eyebrow at her. She eyed me nervously not expecting my play. I paused just a moment before grabbing the bottom of the shirt and lifting it over my head and tossing it aside. Looking at Chloe her eyes were locked onto mine.

She wasn't even blinking.

I rolled my eyes and laughed, "You can look."

"I don't know what you're talking about." She commented with fake innocence her eyes still locked onto mine.

"Suit yourself." I turned away and began to dress myself in my clothes from yesterday. Even without looking I could feel her eyes on me now. It felt warm, like being on stage. I turned to Chloe who was now in a more relaxed position on the bed. Her arms no longer tucked behind her head but resting loosely at her sides.

"So I believe there was an offer of breakfast?" I asked her back in my own clothes.

"Oh right, this way to chow town." She quickly swung herself up from the bed and led me out her bedroom door down into the kitchen.

"Inheriting my mom's mad cooking skills…" Chloe reached over and lifted a box from the counter and presented it, "I offer the finest in gourmet Sugar Bombs."

"Oh could I be so lucky"

Chloe gave a quick laugh, "Go ahead and take a seat."

I say down at the table and took in my surroundings. Chloe's house actually felt like a home. I sat down at the table. Everything around me felt like it had a story. From the lone snow globe with a deer sitting on the fireplace mantle. To the obviously home crafted ashtray. I smiled as I took everything in. In the corner I could see Chloe's awards for her science projects, including the first place ribbon I saw from the photo with her dad.

There were a few paintings, things probably picked up from local shops. My eyes then locked onto a picture of two young girls hanging just above the TV. One of the girls was Chloe, she looked how she did in the science project picture with her dad and just as happy. The other girl must have been Max. I remembered the unsent letter I found in Chloe's room. Chloe really cared about Max and the way they look together in this picture. Them smiling while wearing a silly pirate hat and eye patch. I felt an uneasiness grow inside me.

Maybe you'd like to be my first mate?

More like second mate it seems. How close were Chloe and Max?

"Alright," Chloe said making her way around the table and placing down two bowls full of Sugar Bombs, "One for you and one for me."

"Haha, thanks" The laugh felt weird.

"Sorry things are such a mess around here." She apologized as she eyed the dying flowers on the table.

"I love it," I told her, "This place feels like a real family lives here."

"Maybe once," Chloe commented.

"Is that Max?" I asked pointing to the picture above the TV.

Chloe followed my finger, "Oh, uh yea that's her… Back in my pirate days."

"She's cute." I commented stupidly.

Chloe looked at me questioningly.

"I mean you two look really happy."

"Yea well… Things were much different back then." Chloe took a slow spoonful of cereal.

"And you guys don't keep in touch?" Why was I prodding Chloe about this girl? Chloe made it quite clear Max was no longer in her life.

"We kinda did… for a little bit and then I don't know. She just vanished into Seattle."

"So what? not even texting. I mean Seattle isn't even that far away." Oh my god Rachel just shut up.

"No we don't…" Chloe was visibly getting bothered now, "Why all the questions about Max?"

"I just…" just what Rachel. Just trying to get the info on the competition. Worried that Max is going to swoop in one day and it'll be all about Chloe and Max again. "Well you have been doing so much to help me get in touch with someone important to me. Maybe I could help in the same way?"

Chloe seemed to accept that answer.

"It's fine," she said shaking her head, "Max is old news. Your mom though, that is something we can make right."

My mouth finally fell silent about Max. Things then fell quiet for a few minutes as we ate our cereal.

"Right, so you gonna try to get in touch with Frank today?" I asked once I finished my bowl.

"Yea, I'll get him to talk to me." She replied. "You gonna canvass the motel's while I'm dealing with Frank?

"Might as well," I told her, " Not like I'm going to go home."

"All the more reason to get out of here." She pointed out.

"Yea," I responded. It was honestly hard to think about leaving. I just wanted to talk to Sera. "I guess I'll take off now. It's going to take some time to walk down into town."

"Oh, right" Chloe commented.

I stood up and walked over to the door while Chloe followed.

"I'll let you know about Frank." She told me.

I turned to her and leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. "You better."

I walked out the door and waved my hand over my shoulder, "I'll see you later Chloe Price."

"Yes you will!" She yelled back.

I gave one last look back at Chloe standing in the doorway of her house as I walked toward town trying to once again find my birth mother

There were only 2 places to stay in Arcadia Bay and both of them were on the Coast Highway just a few blocks from each other. Nearest was the Arcadia Bay Inn & Suites and it was the closest thing to a Marriott around.

I'd never been inside but when I walked in I was surprised. The open lobby had a chandelier. And lounge area with decent leather furniture. To the right of reception desk was the elevator with glass wall overlooking the lobby. The place had only three floors but the open design of the lobby made it look bigger.

"May I help you?" The receptionist asked as I took in the inside.

"Yes, sorry." I replied stepping up to the desk.

"Checking in?" She asked, her hands ready at the keyboard.

"No, actually I was looking for information. A friend of mine is staying in town but I never found out where. Would you be able to tell me if she's staying here?" I asked.

"Sure, can I have her name?"

"Sera Gearhardt." I told her.

The receptionist typed it in, "sorry I don't have any records of a Sera Gearhardt."

"She must be at the other hotel then. Thanks for your help." My heart gave a few heavy thumps as I left the hotel.

I checked my phone but there was no word from Chloe yet. I took deep breath as I walked down the road to the Bayside Motel.

The Bayside was much more bare bones. The guest rooms were on a single two story building with only outside access. The check-in desk was a separate smaller building with spray painted vacancy sign in the window.

A bell chimed as I pulled the door open.

"Eh be right wit ya!" A gruff voiced called from a back room behind the desk. I stepped up and pulled out my phone. Still no message from Chloe.

"Alright, what can I-" as the large bearded man with a worn work jacket and a "Bay Life" trucker cap emerged to see me his stance changed as he stood up straighter and adjusted his cap. "Oh, well how may I be of service to you sweetie?"

The man's gaze held heavy on me but it didn't bother me. "I'm looking for a friend who might be staying here. Think you can help me out?"

He leaned on the desk close to me, "Well I can't just be giving out my customers information to random strangers."

I could tell by the inflection in his voice this was not going to be as easy the last place.

"My name's Rachel how about you?

"Maddox, now what's someone a cute as you doing here?"

"Like I said I'm looking for a friend of mine and it'd be great if you could help me out." I tilted my head and brushed my hair over my shoulder.

"Right, your friend. Is this a guy friend?" He asked prodding.

"No, it's a female friend I was hoping to meet up with."

"I see." He paused in thought. No doubt trying to think of his next move. "Well I wish I could help but I can't just give out customer information." He lowered his voice and leaned closer, "But tell you what, come back tonight and maybe we can work out a deal where I might look past that silly rule."

Ugh, this guy is actually smart in what I'm sure is an attempt to get in my pants. Might have to take a different approach.

"Are you saying what I think your saying?" I gave him an obvious look up and down.

"Depends on what you think I'm saying." He said now openly flirting.

I leaned in and whispered in his ear, " I think you're saying you want to get to know me without any clothes on?

He gave a cough of surprise at my forwardness. "Well, we can start there."

I stayed whispering in his ear, "Well I'll be sure let my dad, District Attorney James Amber, know that Maddox at the Bayside Motel wants to fuck his fifteen year old daughter." I pulled away from him.

I watched his face contort as he processed what I said. "Rachel… Amber…"

I nodded along as he figured it all out. He stood up from the desk and took a deep breath.

"So about my friend?"I asked again.

"Oh of course, err what's her name again?"

Sera hadn't stayed at the Bayside Motel either. I pulled my phone out but there was still no message from Chloe.

I was starting to get worried now.

Hey girl, things go okay? - Me Today 2:38pm
Yea just helping Frank out with something. - Chloe Today 2:41pm
Once I get this done he'll give me the low down on Sera. - Chloe
That's great where and when can we meet up? - Me Today 2:42pm
Junkyard? Could be an hour or so. - Chloe Today 2:45pm
See you there Junkyard Queen. - Me

I had a lot of mixed feelings about the Junkyard. So much bad and good has happened here. But all of it had to do with Chloe.

And I'll take that.

It was a little over an hour after I had arrived at the Junkyard that I heard Chloe's voice.

"Heyyyyyyyyy!"

I jumped off the hood of the school bus and followed her voice. She came around the corner with a spring in her step.

"So it went well?" I asked as I closed the distance and wrapped her in a hung.

"Well enough. Frank wasn't exactly happy to see me."

"What did he say?" I asked letting her go.

"He's going to get in touch with her. Set up a meeting."

"He is!?" I couldn't believe it. Was it really going to be that easy? "Chloe, that's amazing. You did it" I wrapped her in a tight hug.

"He has a condition though." Chloe strained through the pressure of my hug.

I released her. Of course it wasn't going to just be that easy. "Okay… What does he want?"

"He needs your dad to stop looking for Damon."

"What, why does he need that?" I asked.

"He… He didn't go into specifics." Chloe's voice then became heavy. "Just said that Damon doesn't need to be found." He might not have said the words out loud but Chloe seemed to understand what he had ment..

"Oh." I voiced in my own recognition. "Well then of course. I'll talk to my dad. I'll get him to stop the investigation."

"Do you really think you can do that?" Chloe asked.

"Frank saved both of our lives right? My dad owes him." I told her. "And if he doesn't do it willingly I guess I'll just sabotage his investigation anyway."

Chloe took in a breath and shook her head, "I'm sorry."

I laughed a little. It seemed like Chloe was always apologizing to me for something, and usually it was something out of her control. "You don't have to keep apologizing to me Chloe. None of this is your fault. You don't owe me anything."

Her face lifted and blues eyes pierced into my own. "Maybe it's not about owing anything."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… ugh as someone with experience in a shitty family situation." She swayed a bit as she spoke, "I hate seeing you go through the same."

"Thanks Chloe."

Chloe scratched the back of her head, "Yea, anytime."

"Well I guess I was going to have to go home sooner or later. At least now I have a reason to." I told her.

"I could come with you. Give your old man the double team guilt trip." She offered.

"As fun as that sounds. I think I need to handle this by myself."

"You're probably right. But hey, just give me the word I'll come over and take care of business." Chloe locked her fingers together and pressed them outward causing a few of them to make popping noises.

"No doubt" I smiled.

"I guess, talk to you later then?"

"Absolutely." I gave her one last hug and kiss on the cheek before beginning my walk back home.

"Rachel is that you!" My mom called out as I opened the front door.

"Yea mom," I replied.

My mom rushed from the lounge and pulled me into a hug.

"I'm sorry," my mom said as she pulled away. "I guess my emotions are just getting the best of me."

"There been a lot of that going around." I reassured.

My mom smiled, "Have a good time at Chloe's?"

My mind flashed to the night in Chloe's bed with her, "I did."

"I'm glad you had a good time, and happy to have you home."

"Thanks mom," I gave a quick look past her, "Is dad around?"

Her eyes searched mine trying to read my intentions. "No he's still at work, but he should be home soon. Is everything okay?"

"Yea I just want to talk to him."

My mom's face brightened a little, "That's great. Is there anything I can get you in the meantime?"

"No thanks, I think I'll just go up to my room. Let me know when he gets home?"

"Of course." She replied.

I laid down in my bed and went through how I was going to approach my dad about this. The biggest thing was that in some way I was going to have to act like I wasn't still pissed to shit at him. If I wanted to find Sera I was going to have to let go of some of my hate. I guess him helping me to meet her would be a start and trying to fix the mess he made.

There was a knock at my door. "Rachel, your father's here. Is it okay if he comes in?" My mom asked.

"Yea, come in." I called back.

My bedroom door opened and my dad stepped inside. He looked like he was going to say something when he walked in, but he stayed quiet until he crossed over to my bed.

"Rachel, I just want to say that-" He began but I cut him off.

"Dad please, I don't want to talk about that right now." I took deep breath to help ground myself.

"Okay, what did you want to talk about?" He asked.

"I was just- I know you can't really talk about this stuff but I was wondering if you knew anything about Damon?"

My dad rubbed his brow, "We are handling Damon. You don't have to worry about him. I promise you he'll never get close to you again."

"So you know where he is?" I pressed.

My dad paused for a moment, "We are following leads. Why such the interest in Damon?"

"The man nearly killed me. If it wasn't for Chloe and her friend he probably would have succeeded."

My dad looked at me closely, "What are you trying to say Rachel?"

"I'm saying that-" I stopped myself from cursing out at my dad. I took a few breaths, "The lies you told almost got me killed. It took a fifteen year old girl and her drug dealer to save me and to save my mom from you. Your goon Damon isn't going to be a threat to anyone anymore so you can stop looking for him."

My dad's face grew confused and then serious, "Rachel if you know anything about where or what happened to Damon you need-"

"No." I cut in. "I don't need to do anything. If you want to try to repair whatever we are than you'll stop looking for him."

I could see anger start to build in my dad has he rubbed his chin, "This is serious Rachel. Interfering with an ongoing investigation is a-"

"Crime?" I finished eyeing him intensely. "Are you going to have me locked up then? Or are you going to find some criminal to deal with me like you did to my mom."

My dad raised his voice. "That's not how things were supposed to happen. You don't understand Sera like I do. All she cares about is her next fix and yes at the time that fix appears to be you, but given a month and she'll move on to the next high and forget all about you."

"You can't know that. It's been years. She has gotten clean. She's rejected your money. She talked to lawyers and sent notices. She is just as much my mom as you are my dad."

My dad seemed to get hurt by that last statement. He stood up and took a few steps toward the door before stopping and turning to me.

"If Sera changed then where is she. Why didn't she come to see you in the hospital."

I felt my heart sink. I hated my dad so much for what he did to me and to Rose and Sera. I wanted so bad for everything he thought about Sera to be bullshit. But the fear of him being right seeped into me. I wasn't going to let him win though.

I gritted my teeth, "If someone hired a thug to kidnap and drug me, I'd lay low afterward too."

My dad's hands went to his face as he rubbed the anger from it, "I'm not sorry for protecting you."

He turned and walked toward my door. I called out as he opened it.

"And Damon?"

He gave me one last look before turning out of my room and closing the door.

A/N: As always thanks for any and all comments/reviews. As always you can find me on twitter at Wessssssss and you can find Rachel at RachelAmberBoRA. Best wishes to Captain Spirit on his awesome adventures. Hopefully we only suffer minor crippling heartbreak.