Chapter 7:

Gaia ran as fast as she could. She didn't stop after five blocks. Or ten. She ran through the street, despite the signs, as long as cars weren't pulling in or out. If they were, she turned the corner to keep running. Her legs started to hurt and her lungs started to burn, but she didn't care. Finally, she slowed to a walk and stumbled into an alley.

"Why do you do this to me?" she screamed at the sky. Gaia leaned against the brick wall of an apartment and her sweatshirt caught on the roughness as she slowly slid down to the dirty cement. Tears started to form on her eyelids. She hated to cry. But somehow, she couldn't help it this time.

Suddenly, she heard the squealing of bike tires and she looked to the right.

"My God, Gaia, you trying to run from yourself?" Chrissy put her kickstand down, slightly out of breath, and started to walk over. Gaia gnashed her teeth together angrily. Doesn't this girl give up?

"No. Just from you." Chrissy stopped.

"I doubt this is about me." Gaia looked away.

"Leave me alone," she whispered. Chrissy walked over and sat down next to her.

"Why?" Gaia's blood boiled. She jumped to her feet.

"Leave me the hell alone!" she screamed down at Chrissy. She flinched slightly and Gaia turned, walking back down the alley. Chrissy stood up and slowly followed her.

"Why?" Gaia suddenly found it hard to swallow.

"There's a reason I don't have friends."

"Ed's your friend."

"Ed's different. He knows–." Gaia cut herself off and sat back down on the ground, leaning against the wall. Chrissy annoyingly took a seat next to her again.

"He knows what?" Gaia sighed. The girl really just doesn't give up.

"He knows how dangerous it is to be my friend. You don't get it. Everyone that gets close to me gets hurt."

"Pushing them away isn't the solution," Chrissy told her. Gaia slowly shook her head.

"You don't get it. You can't. You don't know anything."

"Then tell me." Gaia looked over into Chrissy's eyes. They looked gentle and understanding. Gaia crossed her arms tightly around herself.

"My father's in the CIA," she whispered. "And…and…my mother…when I was twelve…"

"You don't have to say it," Chrissy murmured.

"Sam and Ed and…Mary…" Gaia choked over the last name. "They all got hurt because of me. And I can't tell you why. It's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't." Chrissy nodded.

"Ok." Silence sat between them for a few moments. "I can take care of myself, you know."

"Not from them."

"Who? Loki and Yuri and the Organization?" Gaia snapped her head around to Chrissy.

"How the hell do you know them?" she hissed through narrowed eyes.

"You told me, remember?" Gaia thought for a second, confused. "When we first met in the park? You thought I was working for them?" Gaia's face went slack.

"Oh yea." She sighed again and hit herself on the head with her closed fist a few times. "I cannot believe I told you that…"

"I don't know anything else about them," Chrissy told her. "I'm just pretty sure that if your father's in the CIA that they are some pretty bad guys." Gaia snorted.

"You could say that." They were quiet again for a few moments.

"Gaia, I really like you. I like the fact that we get along so well and I like the fact that we have so much in common. What I don't like is you pushing me away because of something like this. If something happens, it's going to be because of me. Not you. I'm the stubborn kid who fought her way into your life. I was the one that didn't let you push me away. If anything happens, it's on me." Gaia pursed her lips.

"Fine." Chrissy leaned over and took Gaia in a hug.

"Now you have two friends."