Alex moved his hand towards a dead tree still standing in the ground. In a swift movement it collapsed horizantly onto the dirt infront of him. He hopped over and sat down, watching the woman wading in the shallow area of the lake. He had come across the seemingly enchanted lake area, upon hearing the gentle water movements, and the soft splash she made when stepping in. She turned around in a circle, as if dancing and stopped, noticing him sitting there.
"Alex." Isabel said adruptly, standing still. She got cold just standing there in the chilly lake and not moving around. Wrapping her hands around herself and using her powers to warm herself up, she waded out of the water. She dripped but she didn't mind as she walked over to the broken tree and sat down. "Hi."
"Hi." Alex responded, glancing out at the lake. "Beautiful Lake."
"It's just a lake." Isabel shrugged. She lifted her hand up, a soft white glow emitted from it, casting an illumination over their faces. Closing her palm it went out. "I had to make sure it was really you." She smiled shortly.
"It's me. You can pinch me if you want. I'm here. In the living flesh." Alex chuckled. He glanced back towards the lake for a moment and lifted his hand up towards it. Little drops and beads or water rose from the surface, about a foot above the lake. "I think this is cool." Alex said, not looking her. He turned his hand and the water drops twisted and turned in a rhymetic pattern, as if doing a dance of their own. Isabel lay her hand on his shoulder, and stared at him for a moment before lifting her own hand and helping to push the molecules of water along in their riverdance. Alex grinned and stood up, working both hands on the water, creating waves and whirlpools with Isabel's help. It was like something out of that Disney musical...Fantasia. Isabel smiled with him and soon half the lake was up in the air, dancing and splashing around lightly, beautifully, magically. At the same time, they lowered their hands and arms, and as the water hit the surface again, a good deal of it splashed onto both of them. Soaking Alex and re-soaking Isabel. They convulsed in laughter.
"Heh heh heh." Alex ran a hand through his wet hair, throwing it aside. "Good times."
"Yea." Isabel smiled back at him. She took his hand in hers and walked back to the shore of the lake, stepping in and pulling him with her. They waded back in until the water was a little over their navels. Alex lifted his hand to start another waterwork, but Isabel clapsed his raised hand with hers. Obviously she didn't want to have another H2O parade. Finding the position of her hand on his appropriate, she put another on his shoulder and began to sway in the water. Alex instinctively put his hand on her hip and joined in the slow dance. It reminded them both of that dream so many years ago. Shattered dreams.
"I...um...met Jesse." Alex managed to choke out.
"Oh." Isabel nodded.
"Great guy. He loves you."
"Do you?" Isabel blurted out. She blushed, terrified at what just poured out of her mouth. Alex opened his mouth to say something, but Isabel was faster. She quickly pushed her lips onto his, the hand on his shoulder went to the back of his head, pushing him closer. Alex didn't move closer. He didn't move away either.

"Ugh. I think that was Poisin Oak." Tess muttered to herself, scratching her arm as she walked through the woods. Maybe Max would heal it for her when she got back. Hopefully he wasn't going to let her itch to death. She pushed away a tree branch and trudged in the dirt some more. Pushing her way through another cluster of trees, her eyes came upon a beautiful lake. It looked so calming. She noticed to two people in the lake. It couldn't be anyone else except...She squinted hard and took a step closer, praying against everyting her eyes were deceiving her. She gave an involuntary gasp as she was affirmed it was Alex...and Isabel. Her lips were on his and his hand was in hers. She took another step in the wet mud, the sound of the footstep called the couple's attention and they turned to her quickly. "I...can't...beleive..." Tess shook her head. "Why? It's because I killed you... I ruined your life, you'll never let go of that...all you care about is her..." Tess babbled softly. Alex practically ran out of the water and over to her.
"No, Tess, listen-"
"No! I gave up everything for you! My dignity!" Tess screamed. "I thought you actually- Oh God Alex!" Tess pushed him away, knocking him over in the mud before running through the trees the way she came, not bothering to push them out of her way, as many cuts and scratches appeared on her arms and face. She felt hot tears flood down from her eyes. They stung against the new cuts. She saw the campsite up ahead but took a turn. She just couldn't take being there right now, people would wake up, and question her...she kept running to her right, eyes closed and eyelids getting scratched every once in awhile. She opened her eyes and pushed herself faster and farther away from the site. Run Tess, run. Five minutes later, taking a deep breath of the fresh night air Tess pushed her way through two close pine trees when she ran right smack into someone. That someone wasn't Alex.
"Tess." a smile played upon the the man's lips.
"Nasedo." Tess breathed, looking around for a way out. What had she gotten herself into now? Well...whatever it was, she'd have to stick it out. "What do you want?"
"You know very well what I want." Nasedo smiled. "What I want for my king."
"Yes, precisely." The other man stepped out of the shadows.
"Khivar..." Tess trailed off, remembering the horrible experience on Antar. "I don't work for you anymore, I'm not like that, I won't help you!"
"Well, if you won't help us willingly, we may have to use force. You know your little mind games don't work on me." Khivar raised his hand and Tess hovered slightly, a few inches off the ground. She didn't say anything. Kicking and screaming wouldn't help. Khivar raised his other hand and a group of trees behind him opened up and Tess gasped seeing skins, once dead, gathering there. She'd remembered them from that day in Arizona, so long ago.
"We debated using you... it's not like they would actually come after you." Nasedo chuckled. "They hate you. But not that Alex boy. He'll come after you, and then they'll all come after him."
"So you'd better enjoy the stay, sweetie." Khivar said, levitating Tess over right into the middle of the skins. Tess swallowed her fear and looked around her. Alex wasn't going to come for her now that he had Isabel... she was going to die here, surrounded by her own mistakes.

"Alex! Alex!" Isabel pushed aside some branches and caught up with him. Alex seemed caught at a crossroads.
"I don't know which way she went!" Alex panicked.
"Alex! Alex..." He turned to look at her. "Alex, I'm confused, I don't get- why was she saying those things? Why was she mad? It's as if you and her- ...Oh my god. You didn't..."
"Yes Isabel, we are attracted to each other." Alex said, looking around. "We have to go back to camp...she might be there." Alex led the way. Upon Isabel and Alex entering the campsite again, pretty much everyone was outside, except for Grandma Claudia, whom Alex figured was still in the van.
"Where were you?" Max asked, looking at them both. Geez, first night back and they have to go run off together from some midnight make-out session.
"Tess is gone too." Michael said, rubbing his tired eyes.
"She ran off..." Alex said quietly. Liz looked at him quickly and then at Isabel.
"You didn't..." She mouthed. Alex nodded guiltily.
"We have to go find her." Alex said, crossing his arms. Everyone looked at him oddly except for Liz and Isabel. "We all know she's made some terrible mistakes, she knows it, and she's sorry, but she's still apart of the group."
"Mistakes." Maria huffed. She looked at Kyle, who looked at Alex.
"Alex, you were just collateral damage to her."
"Kyle, you said to her yourself that she's your family."
"She is."
"Then why aren't you gonna help find her?"
"I am. It's just I'm a little confused."
"About what!?"
"About...nevermind." Kyle stood up. Suddenly Courtney came rushing past Isabel and Alex and into the group.
"I felt them...they aren't far from here...skins...tons of them." She breathed. Michael helped her stand up, earning another sharp glance from Maria.
"We have to leave." Max said, standing up and taking Liz's hand.
"What about Tess?" Liz and Alex asked the same time.
"We have to leave, now." Max repeated.
"The saint's right." Michael said, shaking his head.
"I'm getting into the van." Isabel brushed past Alex quickly, wiping her eyes. Courtney glanced at Alex sympathetically and walked into the van, followed by Michael and Maria. Kyle was still sitting down and Liz was looking at Max intently.
"Max, you know we can't just keep running from them..."
"I don't know what else to do to protect us all, Liz. To protect you."
"Max..."
"Liz, even with all off us, using all of our powers we stand no chance for an army of skins. Not now. I only want to protect you." He placed his hand on her cheek. He turned to Alex and Kyle. "Please, get in the van." He said. "Tess can fend for herself, she's strong enough. They won't harm her." Alex looked at Kyle and Kyle stood up and walked into the van. Alex followed and then Max and Liz. Max slid behind the steering wheel and started the engine, as he began to drive away. Alex stared out at the window, like a child moving from his home, watching the campsite grow smaller and smaller as they pulled out onto the main road.