I took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "It all started when I was seven. My mom and I were still living in Los Angeles. I grew up never knowing who my father was, it was just me and my mother. But one day everything changed. I was kicking around a soccer ball at the park while my mom bought us hotdogs from a vender across the street…" I shut my eyes tightly with painful remembrance.

I scampered over to the soccer ball and kicked it as hard as my small legs would allow. WHAM! Pretty good kick for a seven-year-old. My mother kicked it back over with a smile on her face, and I was grinning ear-to-ear. It was the best day ever. The summer was in full bloom, with clear blue skies and pretty flowers. The comforting sound of whistling birds, chirping crickets and grasshoppers, along with the occasional cicada, filled the park. We took a break on the bench on the pathway, laughing playfully.

"Are you hungry yet, my little Callie-cat?" I laughed at her nickname for me, and nodded my head vigourously. My mom looked around, taking in the surroundings. She pointed at the south end of the park, across the street, where an old, rickety man was selling hotdogs from one of those venders with wheels. "Hotdogs okay?" she asked, already knowing the answer. Hotdogs had been my favourite food. "Scratch that. Of course hotdogs are okay with you! Stay here and keep practicing while I get them, okay? Don't wander off; I'll be back in two shakes!"

I practiced my kicks diligently, running after the ball time after time, not really minding. I had to be good to make the junior team! I had just gotten to the ball when a shadow fell over my small form. I looked up slowly, seeing a tall man wearing dark sunglasses standing beside my soccer ball. He picked it up, tossing it from hand to hand, his black eyes watching me closely. I shivered involuntarily, and he spoke. "Hello Callie. You aren't afraid of me, are you? That would be a shame." From out of his pocket he pulled a cloth, and shoved it under my nose. I suddenly felt as if I was sitting on a cloud while it zoomed me up high into the sky. Then everything was black.

The next thing I knew, I was in a dark, closed, jiggling space, with a loud sound in my ear. I started to cry in confusion. Where was my mother? Why was there a oiece of cloth in my mouth? My hands were tied together behind me, but I managed to roll and feel around me. There was metal all around. Suddenly the jolting and moving stopped, and I lurched forward. My still developing mind finally grasped where I was. The trunk of a car. I started to cry harder, wishing for my mama. I heard the car door open and slam shut again, footsteps leading farther away, and finally the jingling of a bell, the kind in the doorways of stores. I kicked my feet wildly, thumping at the car, hoping that someone besides my kidnapper would hear me. I tried screaming too, but the cloth kept the words from forming properly. I heard a shuffling sound getting closer, and the lock of the car trunk being fidgeted with. Eventually it was pulled open, and light streamed into the small hutch, hurting my eyes. I refused to close them, though, because of the person standing there. My mama quickly pulled me out and hugged me to herself, running back to her own car. I glanced back at the car, burning it into my memory. MKE 437. Later I would learn the make of the car that had almost whisked me away that day. Once we were safely on our way, my mother removed my gag and held me as we both cried.

"My mother told me later that it had been my father who had tried to kidnap me. I couldn't understand it, I was too little. I didn't know why he couldn't just love mama and me, and live as a family. But as I grew older I began to see it more clearly. See, my father had been in jail those seven years. When my mother was pregnant with me, he started to beat her. She took it with silence, afraid of his threats. But she was worried about the baby's health, and was afraid that it would end up in a miscarraige. Then one day she almost did lose the baby. My dad beat her so badly she was in the hospital for weeks. It got out that my father was the one who did it, and he was arrested and thrown in jail. Luckily both my mom and I came out of it alive. Now he wants me back, for reasons I don't know and never want to find out."

Chris looked at me with his beautiful eyes, horror, sympathy, and compassion plainly revealed in them. I wished I could just erase my past like writing on a chalkboard. One swipe, and all trace of it is gone. Then Chris wouldn't be looking at me as if my past was much worse than his home life, and I wouldn't have had to add another problem or worry to his list. Instead, I kept talking. I had gone too far to stop now. "Since then we've had to move from place to place. He follows us. Everywhere we go, no matter how careful we are or how far away we go, he knows. The signs of him show up after awhile. A flash of his license plate, a reflection in a store's display window." I ran my hand through my hair. "Sometimes we don't see any signs of him, but we have to move along anyway. We can't take chances. My life's like a horror movie I can't escape." Tears were pouring down my face by now. I hated having this weakness, I hated crying. But the thought of having to leave again, leaving Chris…I was sick of it all.

Now it was Chris' turn to run his hand through his blonde locks. The look on his face told me he didn't know what to say. Finally he managed to push out some words. "God, Callie. I never thought…Your life's worse than mine." He threw his strong arms around me, holding me close. I sobbed into his shoulder, talking incoherently about how I didn't want to leave again, and how I wished I could just live normally. He just held me tightly, murmuring comforting things in my ear, as a I gradually stopped shaking.

I finally had myself under control. I looked up at Chris, wiping the last tears from the corners of my eyes. I managed a small smile, and Chris just grinned back, satisfied that I was finally smiling. "Thanks for listening, Chris. I didn't realize how much that needed to come out. I could talk to my mother, but she hates talking about him…"

He stroked my cheek, the coarse, roughened skin of his fingers brushing my smooth skin. I leaned into his touch, placing my own hand over his. He gave me a look of such tenderness that I had to shut my eyes as to not cry again.

"We have more in common now, Callie. I have an idea of what it's been like for you, even if I can't began to understand all of it. We can be strong together."

"I don't want to have to be strong," I whispered. "I want to have a normal life."

"I know," Chris told me. "I know. But it's the way things are, and we can't change them. No matter how unfair they are. The most we can do is get through it. And we have each other, don't we?"

I nodded, but I was really thinking something else. How long would we be together? Once I told my mom about the car, we'd be gone the next day. Unless I didn't tell her… But I had to. I'd be risking both our lives if I didn't. My thoughts were cut short by the feeling of Chris' lips pressed hard to mine, and I kissed him back. I buried my hand in his disheveled hair as he grabbed me by the waist, drawing me closer. He deepened the kiss, his warm tongue mingling with mine and exploring my mouth. I felt the whole world falling around me, dropping like the floor on one of those carnival rides. I felt disconnected from everything, like time had frozen, it was just Chris and I.

In fact, we were so detached from the world that we didn't hear the hatch of the tree house door opening. We did hear, however, the following "Holy shit! Hey Verno, Chris and Callie are practically doing it up here!"

My eyes flew open in surprise as I pulled away from Chris, reluctantly. Our gaze traveled over to where Teddy was still on the ladder, his head sticking out through the door, mouth agape. Vern soon poked his head up beside Teddy's, with wide eyes. I looked back at Chris, a light blush tingeing my cheeks, and wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Smiling, he slung his arm around me. I guess that takes care of problem of telling them.

The two boys climbed all the way into the tree house, plunking themselves down across from us. "So you two are going out?" Vern asked, somewhat slowly.

Teddy punched his companion, retorting, "Of course they are, Vern you dumbass!" He then redirected the glare over to Chris. "How come you get her, Chambers!"

"'Cuz she likes me best," Chris replied simply, grinning widely, pulling me closer. "Right, Callie?"

I looked up with wide, innocent eyes. "Why, no. I was using you to get to Gordie!" I tactfully used the only one that wasn't there, then burst out laughing, along with the other guys, unable to keep a straight face. I saw the mischievous twinkle in Chris' eyes, but there was no where to run. He dove onto me, tackling me to the ground.

"CHRIS! Y-you said you'd stop TICKLING ME!" I managed to shove out of my voice box, before being overcome with more giggly laughs induced by Chris' prodding fingers.

"I'm not even really tickling you, I swear! One poke to the stomach and you start laughing!" Then he raised his hand to my face and cupped it gently, letting me calm down before capturing my lips with his own.

"Uh hey guys, sorry to interrupt, but we're still here!"

We broke apart, looking over at them. I had forgotten they were there. Chris smirked from where he still had me pinned and said, "Sorry guys, come back in an hour or two?"

I punched his chest playfully. "Hey, don't count your chickens!" At the random thought of chickens, I melted into laughter again, tears running down my face. I could feel everyone staring at me.

"I think she's lost it."

"Yeah Chris, move away slowly. She could be dangerous and unpredictable."

Chris got up, pulling me with him, grabbing me by the waist when I almost fell back down again. CHICKENS! Yeah, I think this was the crazy aftermath of my breakdown earlier that day.

While I got a grip of myself, the guys were setting up a game of scat. Within minutes I was among them, boasting about how I was gonna beat them all to hell and back. That was exactly what I needed at the moment; some relaxation to help me push the memories further away. But I knew that as soon as I got home I'd have to confront my mother with what I had seen. After a couple games (which I won the majority) the anxiety started to get to me, and I felt I had to get home soon. I really didn't want to be walking alone with my dad still out there, so I decided to ask Chris to walk me home.

"Hey Chris? I should be getting home, and I really don't want to be walking alone…" I looked at him pleadingly, letting the reason of my worry sink in.

He got the picture clearly. "Yeah, no problem." He turned to Vern and Teddy. Vern had accepted Chris and I together easily, with his easy-going cheerfulness. Teddy was still kinda pissed that Chris had "beat him to the catch", but they had been friends forever and was getting over it quickly. "I'll see you cats later."

A little ways down the road I started trembling. Chris, who had his arm around me, could obviously feel it. When he asked if I was okay, I said, "I'm scared, Chris. When I tell my mom what I saw, we'll have to leave again. I don't want to leave!"

Chris stopped walking, grabbing my shoulders gently and turning to me towards him. "It's okay, everything will be okay. I'm not gonna let anyone take you away from me, including that sorry bastard of a father you have."

I looked into his eyes, god how I loved those eyes. "My name, Callie, is short for something." He must've thought that was the most random thing in the world. In a minute he'd see the relevance it had. "My real name is Calypso. It means "to conceal, to hide". My mother was big on the meanings of names, and she knew that when I was born she'd have to always hide me. She won't tell me why."

Chris tried out the full name. "Calypso. I like it, no matter what it means. So what's your middle name?"

I actually gave a small smile. I liked my middle name. "Gemma. It means "precious stone". I don't feel like one though."

"Well, you are. I always liked shiny jewels. Maybe that's why you attract me!" he joked, trying to lighten the mood.

It worked. I cracked a grin, slugging him lightly on the shoulder. "Looks like I got a magpie on my hands!" We both laughed, and I kissed him.

"Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?" Chris asked when we came up for air.

"Just for being you."

"Well then, remind me to be me more often," he replied, a silly grin on his face.

I laughed, tousling his hair. "C'mon we gotta get home."

Chris and I parted at the end of my driveway with a quick kiss, and I didn't have to worry about him going home to his father. The truck was missing from the driveway; a sure sign that he had gone to the tavern. My anxiety towards my own home grew worse, however. What if he had already gotten there, and my mother was-no I knew better than that. He didn't work that way. He liked to wait and instill the fear in us.

I opened the door quickly, all but yelling for my mother. She had been in the kitchen cooking, and she came running at my call. "What is it, sweetheart!"

I fell into her open arms. "I saw his car, mama! At the diner, same make and license and everything!" I was talking really fast and it had gotten panicky, but my mom knew what I had said. Going pale, she led me to the table and pulled up a chair for me.

"Okay baby, this is what we're gonna do…"

I lay in bed later that night, thinking about what my mama had said we were going to do. She had told me to never go anywhere by myself, always have one of the guys with me. I was also supposed to lay low for awhile, not do anything that would bring attention to me. If more signs if him popped up, then we would have to move on to another town, break off all ties here, including Chris. I could never contact him again. Frankly, I was surprised that my mom didn't say we we're leaving that day. I guess she really did feel something different about this backwater town, something she didn't want to let go.

I also didn't hear anything from Chris' house, which was a good thing. I wondered if his mother was okay. Then that made me think that I'd like to meet her someday. The only person in Chris' life that showed him any love. I pictured her to be a quiet lady and somewhat burned out by her abusive husband. And I had seen the way Chris spoke to her on the phone. I remember how I felt when I found out about his dad, so helpless. She must feel even worse, not being able to protect her own children.

"Psst! Callie!" I shot up in bed at the sound of a faint voice coming through my window, which was open a crack. I tiptoed towards it, and saw Chris at his own open window. I opened mine fully, sticking my head out and asked what he wanted.

"Is your mom making you leave?" His voice was desperate. I shook my head and told him about my mom's plans. "Good."

"How's your mom?"

Chris was quiet for a second. "She's not too bad. Just kinda shook up. Anyway, I'll be over tomorrow morning, dig?"

"Yeah. G'night."

A/N: This chapter really didn't come out as planned. Oh well. I'm also thinking about fast-forwarding a little, so the action happens sooner. Not too sure. I also want to make Callie have another encounter with the Cobras but I don't know how to do it. I'll work it out soon. I'm going to Costa Rica in less than a week, for a week (sooooo excited!) and I'm busy getting ready for that, so it'll be awhile before I have another chapter up. Probably after March Break. So just hang in there! Maybe I'll write some of it during the plane ride. I got this chapter up sooner than expected because my bus was cancelled so no school! Yay me. I'm thinking about doing an Outsiders fic soon, too. I have a good idea for one. Anyway, I hope you didn't hate this chapter as much as I did, and please review!

ViCioUsKiTTie: Thank you muchos! Sorry 'bout the cliffhanger, I hate them too lol, but there was just too much stuff to put it in that chapter. I'm planning on reading your fic, As You Stand, even though I'm not really a big fan of Teddy. I'm more of a Chris or Ace person…Heck, even Eyeball! Anywayz I hope to read another review from you!

StormShadow21: I just love reading your reviews! Seriously, they're great! I can't help you out with Joanie/Chachi thing, I really don't remember! If you happen to find out, let me know please! You've got me curious now! About The Outsider, Rob Lowe played Sodapop Curtis, and Emilio played Two-Bit Mathews. You're right, there are a lot of famous actors…Tom Cruise too! You should definitely get a hold of the book and read it again. It's kind of an easy read, but I just love it so much. Johnny was played by Ralph Macchio, and I don't think he's that hot. I liked him better in The Karate Kid, because he had more confidence, and in The Outsiders he was scared of everything. He had good reason though, I feel sorry for him. He did sound hot in the book. But ooooh Rob Lowe as Sodapop is my favourite! I even want a horse like he had, a buckskin, and name it Mickey Mouse! Yeah, I'm obsessed. Hehe sorry about my cliff hanger! But this chapter revealed all! Except for WHY her dad wants her so badly…But that'll come in later, don't worry! I hope you liked this chappie, and update your SBM fic! I'm confused about Shawn! Haha please review again! I luv it!

Screaming666: Glad to hear it! And no, I haven't given up on your fics, they're too damn good! Please update them soon! It'll be awhile till mine is though, for reasons mentioned above. Yes, I do have MSN but not AIM. If ya want to add me my addy's I'm not on all the time, but a good amount. If you add me and it's awhile before I accept, it's because I'm in Costa Rica. The resort may have an Internet Café, I'm not sure. Anwayz thanks for the review, and please review again! Byez!

SandraSmit19: Thank you! I think Chris is cute with anyone, lol. It be even cuter if it was me! Haha yep I wish. That's why I create characters for him to fall in love with. Please keep readin' and reviewin'!

DiggingDog: Oh I love your review! Hehe, "tale". Always a good idea to vary words! You're really from New Zealand! (I read your profile lol...I read ppl's profiles when I'm bored) THAT'S AWESOME! I'm luvin' it! I'm also luvin' your fic! It's sooo good. Psychotelekinesisosisisis huh? Maybe that's why I had a sudden urge to write the other night! Hehe. No, I haven't seen "The Mosquito Coast" but I'm planning to soon. Pink huh? Now I REALLY gotta see it! I think River Phoenix would look good in anything! Well, please review again! I'll update my story if you update yours! Although mine won't be for a bit cuz I'm going on VACATION! I can't say that enough! I get to miss a week of school too! Well till next time, bye!