Authors Note:  Thank you so much for whoever gave me feedback!  I love it! J  The song in this part is "Independent Women" by Destiny's Child.

Part 5

"I can't believe we're really running away." Isabel muttered from the backseat, where she sat next to Tessa.

"Believe it babe." Maria replied to her from the passengers seat. 

"What if we're making a mistake?" Isabel asked, her voice shaken with obvious worry.

"Isabel.  Would you rather go back there where Grant could do…what he did again?" Maria asked.

Isabel shook her head and her eyes filled with tears.  "No."

Maria softened as she saw the tears.  "Isabel, I'd kill him before I'd ever, ever, ever let him do something like that again."

Maria then turned towards me.  "So, where is our first stop?" she asked me.

I shrugged.  "Isabel?" I ask.  She had the map.

Isabel gazed her eyes over the map, quickly deciding on a stop.  "Uh, maybe Pittsburgh." She mumbled.  "Are you willing to drive two hours?"

I nodded.  "Yea, I think I can."  I drive for a few quiet minutes.  "Tell me when to go in an exit, okay?"

"Sure thing." Isabel responded while studying the map.

The car was silent for five full minutes as I drove under the black sky towards the border that left New York.

"This silence is too much!" Maria exclaimed.  "Let's talk."

"Bout what?" I asked her. 

"I don't know…let's talk about the very first thing we're going to do once we enter Los Angeles.  I'll go first." She said.  "When I get to Los Angeles, I'm going to find an agent that will represent me." She continued with a big smile.

Tessa went next.  "I'm going to find the first ballet company and see if they'll let me in."

Then Isabel.  "I'm going to enroll in UCLA."

Woo.  My turn.  I shrug at them.  It's not like I don't want to tell them about finding my mother…well, I don't want to tell them about it. 

"Oh come on Liz!" Maria exclaimed.  "What do you want to go?  What famous Hollywood celebrity do you want to see, or maybe get an autograph from?"

"I don't know.  I guess I'd like to meet Brad Pitt."

"Brad Pitt?  Very cool, I would love to meet Benecio Del Toro." Maria replied.  She turned around so she faced Isabel and Tessa.  "What incredibly hot superstar would you guys like to meet?" She asked them.

"Shane West." Tessa replied quickly and we laughed.  We all knew of her fascination with Shane West.  Not like we blame her.

Isabel hesitated.  "Josh Hartnett.  He's so smart." She gushed. 

Maria laughed.  "Just smart?" she asked Isabel questionably.

Isabel let out a small giggle.  "And hot!" She exclaimed, making the whole car burst out in giggles.

Maria reached her hand over and turns the dial that changes the music station which was at first playing some lame country song.

"Oh, this is my favorite song!" Maria squealed as Destiny's Child came on.  She began singing loudly, in sync with the radio.

Question: Tell me what you think about me

I buy my own diamonds and I buy my own rings

Only ring your cell-y when I'm feeling lonely

When it's all over please get up and leave

Question: Tell me how you feel about this

Try to control my boy you'll get dismissed

Pay my own fun, oh and I pay my own bills

Always 50/50 in relationships

Maria motioned to us and the remaining three of us joined her singing with our own off-key voices.

The shoes on my feet

I bought it

I clothes I'm wearing

I bought it

The rock I'm rocking

'Cause I depend on me

If I wanted, the watch you're wearing

I'll buy it

The house I live in

I bought it

The car I'm driving

I bought it

I depend on me

All the women, who independent

Throw your hands up at me!

All the honeys who making money

Throw your hands up at me!

All the mamas who profit dollars

Throw your hands up at me!

All the ladies who truly feel me

Throw your hands up at me!

We keep singing until the last bit of the song faded out.

"Beautiful ladies!  Beautiful!" Maria exclaimed as she clapped loudly and we laughed at her.

These are my favorite moments. 

When everyone is laughing and gossiping and not worrying about how hard it was under Grants care. 

It's just us being us and having fun while we're at it.

After our singing and laughing bit we once again fell quiet and only listened to the sounds of the car's tires sailing against the roads.

As I drove I began to wonder exactly how I planned on finding my mother.  I mean, I don't even know if she's in California.  She could be in Alaska for all I know.  She could be anywhere.

I let out an involuntary sigh.  It was going to be hard trying to find a woman who only existed in my faint memories as a child.  And I don't even know if those memories are true.  They could just be a figment of my imagination.  I was put in foster care when I was about three so memories I have of my earlier years are really fuzzy.

Maria put her hand on my arm.  "You okay?" she asked me.

I nod my head.  "Yea, I'm fine…"

Maria stares at me for a moment, contemplating something.  "I know you're looking for your mom Liz." She tells me.

I look quickly back to find Isabel and Tessa fast asleep.  "How do you know?" I asked Maria, not even denying it.

"I've been your roommate and best friend for what, four years now?"  Maria sighed.  "Why are you hiding the fact that you want to do this?"

"I don't know Maria."  I stall, trying to explain it to her.  "This is something I need to do by myself, something I need to figure out on my own."  I glance at the slightly hurt look on her face.  "Don't be mad at me…please."

Maria shook her head.  "I'm not mad Lizzy.  Just promise me that if you ever need help with this you won't hesitate to ask for it."

I smile at her.  "Of course not."  Once again I look back to Isabel and Tessa who were still asleep.  "Hey Maria.  I think you're going to have to work the map now."

Maria nodded and reached back to carefully remove the map from Isabel's hands.  When she got it, she looked at the directions that Isabel made.  "Ookay," she said a minute later.  "You have to get off at the next exit."

"Cool." I said as we went into silence once again.  "Is that going to lead me into Pittsburgh?"

"Yea."

I look over to see Maria nodding her head, indicating that she was soon to fall asleep.  I looked at my clock and it was 4:15 in the morning.  "Go to sleep Maria."

"No, I can't I have to make sure you don't get lost." She protested.

"Look, I'll get off on the exit and find us a hotel so we could rest for a few hours."

"Okay." Maria said before quickly nodding off. 

I smirked.  And a half hour later I see the welcome to Pittsburgh sign and smile. 

This is the start of our new lives.

This is the start of our destinies.

TBC