Sorry this has taken so long, but I've been debating on how I wanted to do the second part. Feedback would be appreciated as always. I hope none of you get discouraged about this first chapter…if anything it is a prologue to a very long part two. Thanks… J

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Denver Colorado :: 26 March 2022

It took us a few days to figure out where we were going. Then it took another few days to decide if we wanted to stay together or separate. At which point Alec went all Zack on me and decided it was his responsibility to watch over me. And at that point I had stopped caring. I mean what's the point in arguing anymore?

And it had taken at least two days to receive the ID's, money, and papers for us to get into Colorado…thank you D…Dix I believe is what he said.

We are now looking for a place to stay. Colorado is nothing like Seattle or California terrain wise, but it was also not as run down as any other place I've been over the years. Maybe that was why it had been so difficult to enter. We almost had to abandon the truck, but thankfully they waved us through.

Anyway it's been a long ride. That much I can say. The company wasn't too bad though. It amazes me how different he and Ben are, even if they are identical. Still, however, when I least expect it, he'll do something that is Ben-like and I'll retreat into myself…everyday I am reliving the past. I feel like I'm taking a few steps forward though. Which is always a good sign, right?

I'm tired of hotel beds. I long for a soft mattress, blankets I know are clean, and maybe even a pillow. I've been sleeping more then usual because sleeping is an escape from reality. And you can never stop running from reality.

Jondy dropped her pen in the notebook and shut it, tucking it safely inside the confines of her backpack. Alec had stopped a few minutes ago outside of a building that she guessed was another housing project. It was their third one in less then an hour.

She surveyed the area and noticed that there were quite a few people and children roaming around. They were all dressed simply and looked somewhat happy. Jondy even spotted what looked like a yard. Seeing grass was becoming a rarity.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Alec's door was pulled open with an obnoxious squeak. He sighed and pulled himself up and behind the steering wheel. "What now?"

"It's in the price range but I think there's too many people."

Jondy shrugged. "I agree."

"Yeah, well it's still early and we can always find a hotel or sleep in here." Alec pulled his door shut and started the engine. The truck fell into the comfortable silence they were accustomed too.

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The two of them wandered through their new apartment. The best thing about it was that it came completely furnished, which is why they had went slightly over budget. They surveyed the run down furniture, the shredded curtains, and the faded shag carpet. The dark oak wood of the tables, chairs, and surprisingly enough, and entertainment center was dusty and scratched in a few places. It looked lived in and smelled like old apples and cinnamon. The bedrooms were just that, bedrooms. They were small, with a double bed, dresser, and a closet. They were side by side and had a window facing towards the mountains. It was one of the best apartments the two of them had ever seen.

"Which room do you want?" Alec asked walking out of the bathroom.

"They are exactly the same." Jondy shrugged and moved past him to get her own look at the bathroom. "Shower and a bath tub…it's like a tiny piece of heaven."

Alec smiled. "Yeah, well I'll take the one on the right."

The rooms were side by side on the right side of the room. The bathroom and small kitchen area were on the left. With what would be called a living room in the middle. It was simple, plain, and now it was theirs.

"I figure we splash some paint on the walls, new curtains…this place will be pretty decent." Alec checked the stove and refrigerator.

"I think it's decent as is, but I guess some paint and curtains wouldn't hurt." Jondy dropped her bag in her room and fell onto the bed. "And blankets!"

"And blankets…" Alec's voice trailed off as he walked towards the window in the living room. "I'm going to go find a job."

Jondy didn't reply as her eyelids flickered shut. She wasn't one who really needed sleep, but lately she had found herself craving it. The dark sweet oblivion of sleep was always a welcome escape from her life.

She didn't wake until hours later when Alec returned. His entrance was loud enough to rouse her from the restful slumber and cause her to slip off her bed and head towards the door. "Did you find a job?"

Alec nodded and set the pizza and water jug he carried onto the counter. "Yeah. It's about twenty minutes away though."

"What is it?" Jondy pulled herself onto a stool and grabbed a slice.

"Construction…" Alec pulled a pepperoni from one of the pieces and popped it in his mouth. "The pay sounds good. Better then Jam Pony."

"What's Jam Pony?"

He glanced at her. "It's where Max and I worked…"

Jondy shrugged. "We didn't really chit chat about that kind of shit."

Alec sat in the stool opposite her. "It was a messenger service. We delivered packages."

"I guess I should get a job…I was a bartender in San Francisco." Jondy sighed and dropped her crust into the box. "Are there any bars around here?"

"There's one a couple blocks down the street. You can take the truck if you want, it's getting low on gas though." Alec picked up her crust and bit off the end.

The two of them fell into silence as they ate as they each wondered what the other was thinking.

Jondy watched Alec occasionally as he ate. It was nothing like Ben. Ben was slow, meticulous, and even if it was only food, he seemed to plan out how he would eat it first. And there was always a certain way to do it. Alec liked it crust first while Ben preferred to eat the toppings first and Ben chewed slowly, almost like he was counting how many bites it took to finish one slice of pizza. And every slice was different. Now Alec, he didn't seem to care. A few times he chewed so hard and fast she almost worried that he would bite off his tongue…or choke. He seemed to prefer to chew a couple times then swallow.

And while Jondy was analyzing and comparing the why he ate to Ben. Alec was wondering what the old Jondy was like. Not that he really knew the "new" Jondy, but he could tell there were several layers to her personality and the newest ones were walls to hide herself from those around. Or maybe to hide her old personality from her new self…now he wasn't making any sense. She was most definitely a mystery and nothing like he had expected.

During their little road trip the old Jondy had showed herself more then a few times. Mainly to tease him about the way he drove or his road rage…but then she would look at him and suddenly retreat back into herself like she'd done something wrong. He'd seen her writing in some notebook a few times. He would almost pay to be able to read one of them.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the television click on. He hadn't seen or heard her move and he briefly wondered if he'd been staring at her. "Are you done?"

Jondy looked over from where she stood next to the TV. "I'll take one more I guess."

Alec handed her a slice when she walked back over to the counter. Then he yawned, in her opinion, louder then necessary. "I'm going to bed. Good night."

"Yeah…" Jondy fell onto the couch and stared at the screen. Staring at the fast moving pictures but not really paying attention.

This whole situation was going to get complicated, of that she knew already.