I ran and jumped on Travis' back.

He laughed and popped a blackberry into my awaiting mouth, "Dude, this is so much better than picking strawberries."

"Agreed." Malcolm laughed, "But then, I've been picking strawberries for too many years. So have you."

Travis nodded, "I'm looking forward to the things Cassie here is saying she wants to make."

"I picked cherries." I said with a grin, "With Felix and Emily."

"So that's what that singing was." Reyna shook her head. "I have a feeling it's a good thing I didn't know that last song because Will hasn't stopped singing it. Neither has Megara, Allison, Eric, Rikki, Pippa, and Zeke and…well, I still can't remember which is which when it comes to Levi and Frederick."

"Taller is…" Nico started, then trailed off. "I can't remember."

I rolled my eyes, "Levi has thick brown hair, Frederick has brown hair but it's not nearly as thick. Frederick has hazel eyes and he's older, and is skinny as a rail. Levi's got a bit of stockiness to him, and is maybe half an inch shorter, with brown eyes. Felix is the one that looks up to them completely but is extroverted and really isn't self-conscious. They've been friendly, but they're quieter as it is. Tend to keep to the company of themselves or the Northpointers. I think it's because of their time in the system."

Travis looked at me over his shoulder, "Nice job. I can only tell them apart because Frederick is afraid of me."

"Why?"

"Wrong place, wrong time." Travis bent so my feet touched the ground.

I let go, "The Northpointers are getting ready to head back up to their camp."

Travis nodded and strode toward Allison.

Reyna dropped a couple more berries into her bucket, "I should find out where we stand."

I sort of dipped my head and grabbed her bucket, "Head on over. I'll walk with Malcolm."

Malcolm took the bucket from me as she walked away, "You're not supposed to be using that arm to carry things."

I made a face, "I wasn't thinking about it."

"Well, I was." He smiled at me, "I'd like to try and keep you in one piece, if possible and if that doesn't sound too…overbearing."

I shook my head, "Not overbearing, adorably protective."

His eyes lit up as he laughed. He was incredibly handsome.

"So, I was mapping out our route to New York. Travis said that there was an Inn that you should check out."

I nodded, smiling, "Yeah, it's one of the properties my mom left me. I knew that she liked looking out houses and that Grandma used to have some properties that she managed. I guess some of them are from her. Anyway, Mom owns this Inn in Westfield. I want to see what she wants to update and such so that I can calculate the amount I can lower the rent without killing the ability to pay all of the property taxes and such. Talk to the woman about her plan to buy the inn eventually."

He nodded, "Sounds like a wise plan."

I smiled up at him, "Thanks, Feather-head."

"You are always welcome, Cass."

"Always?"

He glanced around and pulled me under one of the apple trees, "Well, for now…always."

I smiled, "I'll take that."

He nodded and planted a kiss on my lips.

I slid my arms around his neck, "Mm, that's a nice surprise."

"Was it really a surprise?"

I shook my head, "No, not at all. But it seemed like the thing to say." I kissed him quickly then slid out of his arms.

He caught my hand before I completely escaped, "You know, this is going to be the first summer where I have a girlfriend."

"Considering you're my first boyfriend, you can figure that out yourself." I ducked under the branches of the neighboring apple tree and out into the flower garden.

"So…does that mean our picnic was your first…date?"

I shook my head, "No, I've been on two dates prior to that. I went as a friend's date to his homecoming dance. That was terrible. He was fine. People there weren't. Second date was with…" No. We don't talk about him.

Malcolm paused, looking at me, "With?"

I shook my head again, "It doesn't matter now. It was a mistake and kind of ruined our friendship." That was the understatement of the century.

He stopped moving, "Cass?"

"Look, it was a moment of poor judgment and a lesson in trusting my gut instinct when it came to people. It's nothing you need to worry about." Not right now, anyway. In the future, once I've gotten some distance from these events then I would tell him. Provided we were still dating.

"Actually, I do." He said softly.

I looked away from him, "Really? Astound me with the reason why."

He turned me so I was facing it, "Because there are lines in the sand and I can't see them. I need to know because if I cross those lines…I could hurt you, and perhaps both of us. I'm just trying to…"

I shook my head, "You're fine. Look, I'm not afraid of pushing you away if you get close to my bubble. Now drop it before you do cross a line." My voice was sharper than I intended.

He flinched.

I closed my eyes, "I'm sorry. This is just something that I don't want to talk about. You've been doing just fine. I will let you know if you cross a line. Now let's go say goodbye to the Northpointers."

He hesitated, then nodded.

I walked faster than before, glad he didn't have a hold on my hand.

Rikki eyed me, "Look, you be careful. I can see the energy of pain in you. If you fight it too long, it will get stronger and overtake you."

"I'm not in that much—"

"The mind is full of tricks. You have just as much pain as everyone else here. But it's repressed. The day it comes out…you'll need to call your friends." She was scarily intense.

I nodded, "Right, yeah."

Allison came over, "You have my number?"

"Yeah," I glanced at Rikki again, then stepped to the side with Allison. "So…"

"The situation has stabilized. There is still much work for me to do, but for now, we don't have to worry." She let her gaze drift over to Eric and Evangeline, "Do me a favor?"

"Help Eric with Evan?" I guessed.

She nodded, "Just, make sure he takes time to take care of himself. He's really bad about that."

"Right, I'll do what I can." I then frowned at her, "Hang on, what did you just do?"

She met my eyes, then gently pulled me into a hug. "Hang on. Stay safe. Always meet an enemy's gaze. Stick to your truth until facts prove you wrong. I'll see you sooner than we both think. And don't order the chicken." She kissed my forehead and then was on the other side of the group, talking to Malcolm and Eric.

I shook my head and then went to hug Emily and Meg goodbye.

Meg gave me a gentle smile, "We'll see you again? Write to us?"

I nodded, "I love getting mail."

"Who doesn't love getting mail?" Emily snorted.

I shrugged, "Beats me. Tell Eithne…táim ag tnúth le...tú a fheiceáil arís."

Meg arched an eyebrow, "Wanna write that down?"

I smiled and pulled a notebook out of my bag and quickly wrote a note, "There."

"We'll make sure she gets it. Remember, we're here for you. Just a phone call away." Emily grinned at me, "I'll let you know when I get the clothing bombs working. Good luck with the event. We'll be watching online."

I felt my stomach drop, and my head started spinning, "That's a thing now?"

"Yup, the chatter is huge. Everyone wants to hear what the long-hidden daughter of the most brilliant author of the century has to say at the release of the first book to be released after her mother's death." Emily was grinning.

I felt like I would throw up.

"Don't pay attention to her. It doesn't matter." Meg said softly. "You'll get through that, and then you'll have an amazing summer."

"You're certainly optimistic."

"Sometimes it pays to be optimistic." She shrugged, then squeezed my hand and walked away.

Felix handed me a CD, "Mix CD of what we were talking about. See you again later."

I nodded, "Take care, Felix."

He nodded and climbed into the van.

Peter came over and hugged me tightly, then looked up at me, "Twêgen nu ofergitolian me ðêah−hwæðere yfel word sweotoliannabban 1 næbbe ofergietan êow." Never forget me and I will try not to forget you.

I was surprised when I realized I understood him and replied automatically, "In attraction with pron ðe ic met eft." Until we meet again.

He grinned at me, then did little flips over to Allison.

Malcolm came and took my hand as everyone loaded up after saying goodbye.

Then all but two of the Northpointers were gone.

"Let's go cook up these berries. What do you say, sis?" Connor finally broke the silence.

"I say…definitely."