It's been AGES since I've been able to write anything, but I teach second grade now and haven't had a minute to myself. This isn't my best update but I just wanted to finally get something out. I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-One

That morning, Carol and Daryl ate their meal in the small dining area of the hotel. "It's bad enough they'll see the rice and soy stains on the sheets when we leave," Carol had whispered to him in the elevator.

"I wasn't the one who started that fight."

Carol rolled her eyes. "You never are, according to you." She nudged him with her elbow.

"See? Who's the one who started hitting here?"

"Oh, shut up."

When the door dinged open at the second floor, Carol got an evil idea. Once the couple from that floor were safely inside, she shoved Daryl with all her might out the doors and hit the close door button. It took him awhile to realize what had happened, but it was too late. Carol was waving at him as the doors closed on his shocked face.

"I remember those days," said the man that had walked in with a woman on that floor. "My wife did things like that to me all the time." He smiled down at the woman at his side.

"You pushed him out an elevator before?" Carol asked, not really understanding how that could be considered romantic.

"We were teasing one another and the opportunity opened, along with the doors, and I took it." The woman smiled.

"Except I was pushed out on the fifth floor and we were going up."

"The crazy man thought he could run up five flights of stairs and beat me to our room." The woman shook her head, but didn't lose the fond smile. "Good times."

Carol politely stood there and listened to the couple go on about the early days, when they had been dating. Though, she suspected they soon forgot she was there, lost in the retellings of their fond memories.

They separated in the lobby. Carol went toward the dining area and breakfast, while the couple left the hotel. When she walked in, she saw that she was alone and smirked, wondering if Daryl was waiting for the next elevator or trying to find the stairs. Shrugging, she went to the little buffet of breakfoods and started filling a plate.

Just as she scooped some scramble eggs, a hand placed itself on her hip and someone leaned close. "You're an asshole, you know that."

Carol turned to see Daryl standing there and not looking happy. "I couldn't resist," she said.

"Hmm." Daryl narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. "Just know I'm goin' to pay you back for that."

She only laughed. "We'll see. Now, why don't you go start filling a plate. I bet you're hungry."

"Yeah," he humphed. "Since I took the damn stairs."

Carol found a table close to a window. A few minutes later, Daryl joined her with a plate piled high with food. Somehow, he had even managed to carry over a mug of coffee. With a start, Carol saw that she had forgotten to get herself one.

"Daryl..."

"No. Get it yourself." He took a sip of his coffee. "Yum."

"I guess I deserve that." She patted his shoulder as she walked past him back to the buffet.

As she made her way to the coffee pot and mugs, the two men from the elevator walked into the room. One still wore a smart looking suit and the other had a different colored plaid shirt on. When they saw Carol, the smart-dressed one smiled and the other fiddled with his glasses. That was when Carol realized that he didn't look much older than her and Daryl. Maybe he was the other guy's son, but he looked nothing like him. Nephew?

"Good morning," he greeted her and reached for one of the ceramic mugs.

"Morning," she replied cheerily.

"It seems I forgot my manners on the elevator and didn't introduce myself. I'm Philip Blake and this is Milton." He nudged the young man forward.

"Hi, I'm Carol," Carol saidand shook Philip Blakes hand before turning to Milton.

Milton flushed and shook hers. "Hello."

"Over there is my friend, Daryl." At the mention of his name, Daryl turned in his seat and gave her a narrowed eyed glare. However, when Philip waved at him, he awkwardly waved back.

"So, do you have another full day of sight-seeing?"Philip asked casually and filled up his mug. Milton reached for a glass and filled his with orange juice.

"Not here. We're planning on seeing Niagra Falls before leaving New York."

"Sounds fun. I've never been there myself. Unfortunately, my job doesn't allow for me to see the sights the United States have to offer. I'm on a business trip, right now."

"I'm sorry," she said sincerly.

Philip waved her off. "It's quite all right. At least I have Milton for company. He's a friend of mine's son, and he's been wanting to see what I do for awhile now." Milton's shoulders tensed a little as he filed his plate. Carol wondered if it was because he didn't like being talked about.

"Well, it looks like your young man is waiting for you to join him. It was nice talking to you again, Carol. I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip."

"It was nice talking to you, too, and we will."

With her mug of coffee growing cool in her hand, Carol returned to a breakfast that was just as cool. But she was hungry and eagerly dug in. Philip and Milton filed their own plates and sat on the opposite of the road.

"Makin' friends?" Daryl asked.

"I guess."

"Didn't know you had to introduce yourself if you're riding in the same elevator car."

Carol rolled her eyes. "I guess you do if you're a gentleman." She kicked him lightly under the table. "But you'd know nothing about that, would you?"

Daryl's eyes narrowed once more before he grabbed his empty plate and went to fill it once more.

"Are we going to get them now?" Martinez asked, lounging on his bed.

They were in the room he and Shumpert shared, next to Daryl and Carol's, who were already in theirs packing. Philip Blake stood in front of them while Milton stood off to the side, looking uncomfortable.

"Normally, I would say yes," Philip said, fiddling with the sleeves of his suit jacket. "But it's been awhile since we've had a proper chase, hasn't it? Plus, this place is a little public to snatch them."

Martinez and Shumpert looked at one another, once Blake's eyes aren't on them. They've never had to 'chase' after anyone since they started working for the man. It made them uneasy. Even more so, since they'd be going after two kids.

"Do you know where they'll be going next?" Shumpert's deep voice filled the room.

"No, but that car of Carol's is hard to miss. They'll be leaving soon, so that means you two will be leaving, as well."

They were already packed and ready to go.

"What's he doing here?" Martinez asked, pointing to Milton. It was something he and Shumpert were wondering. "He isn't much older than the two next door."

"He's collateral. His dad owes me and the kid is a genius. He's proven to be very useful so far."

Milton shifted more in place and didn't look anyone in the eye. So, when he spoke they were all shocked. "Mr. Blake, may I go back to our room? Unless... you still need me."

Blake looked amused at the young man's discomfort. "Go on. You may want to pack. Check out is soon."

"Okay." Quietly, he left the room.

Milton hated being with Philip Blake and his henchmen. If only his father hadn't made some bad investments and asked the man for a loan, he wouldn't be here. He wouldn't have to watch as this man stole money from two people his age.

"Oh, hey, Milton!"

Speak of the devil.

Turning, he saw Carol walking toward him. Behind her, Daryl stood in the doorway of their room and watched him with narrowed eyes. He willed the elevator to move faster, but she was probably going to the elevator, too. So, he had no choice but to say hi back.

"I left my stupid phone in the dining area," she said and rolled her eyes. "I don't even use it that much, but if I lose it, my parents will lose it."

Milton smiled only because Carol smiled at him. It had been awhile since someone had given him a genuine smile, and not one that had devious reasons behind it. "Hopefully, it's still there when you get downstairs," he said.

"If not, I won't mourn it too long."

The elevator doors pinged open and they stepped inside. Milton hit the nine while Carol hit the one. Milton looked through the sliding elevator doors and jumped. Daryl was still looking at them, well more specifically him. Milton gulped.

"Plus, I can always just steal Daryl's," Carol continued to talk and didn't seem to feel the glare being sent their way.

"Is he your boyfriend?" The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. Of course, he was Carol's boyfriend. Why else would he be looking at Milton like that?

"Actually, no. We're best friends." There were two spot of pink on Carol's cheeks. "We're going on a roadtrip together. B-But you already knew that, didn't you? From when we talked in the elevator last night."

"Uh, yeah," he answered. Truthfully, he had spent more time trying to melt into the shadow of Blake and hoping to not be noticed.

Slowly, too slowly, the elevator began to creep up to the ninth floor.

It wasn't that he didn't want to be in Carol's company. She seemed nice (and was very pretty). But Milton knew that he couldn't just stand there and talk to her as if he didn't know Blake and his henchman would soon be following and stealing from her and Daryl.

When the elevator finally stopped, Milton forced himself not to run out of the car. "I h-hope you have a nice rest of your trip," he said politely and hoped she couldn't tell he was nervous about something.

"Thank you," she smiled. "I'm sure we will, and it was really nice meeting you, Milton."

He was shocked with how genuine those words sounded. "Y-You, too," he said, just as the door slid shut.

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