Hello everyone.

So to explain the lack of updates, work was beating the shit out of me and the only time I was actually living at home with a computer avaliable was every other weekend. When I was home I was recovering from the week and spending time with my family and friends. Seeing as the job wasn't working out, I quit on Monday. I got really sick Monday night. Tuesday I was moving back in and my friends decided to come cheer me up because I was really upset about having to quit. So on Wednesday and this morning I finally sat down and wrote this.

Enjoy!

"I-I..." I stuttered causing my father to lift his eyebrows.

What did I want? Could I ever face Skittery after the what happened in that dingy train station? But if I went to Pittsburgh would I be able to face myself? I would be a coward and if I looked in a mirror is that all I would be able to see? No, I don't think I could handle never knowing what could have happened.

"New York." I said, sounding far more solid in my decision than I truly felt.

"Alright I'll let Leo know. I'll write him on the train." Picking up his solitary piece of luggage, he walked out of the room.

As we walked down the gloomy halls of the hospital, I felt a pang of guilt in my stomach. I should have been happier knowing it was the last time I needed to be in this unhappy building but the fear of seeing Skittery again made me feel uneasy.

I felt my father's arm around my shoulders. "You alright?" He asked. We left the dull lobby (not before I waved goodbye and smirked at the receptionist who had grown to dislike me intensely) and emerged into the sunny street.

"Yeah." I nodded, feeling distracted. Redirecting my focus back to him, I said "I'm really glad you're better."

He just smiled. "Me too."

We had walked most of the way to the White Rose when the Captain stated, "How strange is it that I've been in Savannah for almost a month and this is the first time I've really seen it."

"Very strange."

We walked in to the White Rose and I was greeted by the woman who owned the inn. I'd never bothered to learn her name. I walked up the sturdy stairs to my small room and emptied the contents of the dresser into my 2 leather suitcases.

Once we were back down stairs, the owner hugged me goodbye. "It's been a pleasure having you here. If you're in Georgia again, ya'll know where to stay right?"

I smiled and nodded. She held the door open for us and we continued to walk towards the train station. Knowing Dean would probably be near the docks, I took a longer route that didn't come in sight of the docks. The Captain didn't know the city so he wouldn't know I was choosing the longer walk and ask why.

"Go find out when the next train to New York leaves." He instructed me handing me money out of his pockets.

"Erm..." I remembered the encounter with the ticket seller and felt too embarrassed to go up. "Why don't you?" I said with a fake smile.

"Because I won at the nose game."

"What?" I asked as he put his index finger on his nose. I laughed, remembering the silly game that Leo, Jason and the two of us used to play. Whoever touched their nose last had to do whatever job no one wanted to do.

"But-"

"You lost the nose game."

"You act like you're seven." I said.

He shrugged. "You still lost."

"But that guy hates me." I whined.

"What did you do?"

"I wasn't very nice." I laughed. He shook his head and took the money. I settled down on a bench and waited for him to come back. I noticed the line's long length and pulled a book out of my bag.

"Mary?" I looked up from the book.

"Dean." I said flatly. "Why are you here?"

"I saw you with your bags and I wanted to tell you goodbye."

I inwardly cringed, wishing he would leave. "Alright, bye." I said shortly.

"Bye." He looked disappointed. He started to walk away and turned around suddenly. "Why do you hate me?"

"I don't know." I said honestly. "I don't think I hate you." I thought out loud and more firmly said, "No, I don't. You just remind me of someone I know." Skittery. "You were so nice and I was scared and angry at everything, the same way the person you remind me of did. You're really similar and that made me nervous that if I got close to you, I'd be betraying him.I I took it out on you, I'm sorry." I said all of that never thinking of what his reaction would be. It was the first time it had occurred to me that that was the subconscious reasoning behind my bitterness.

"Oh. I think I understand."

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I just needed to know why."

"Goodbye."

"Have a safe trip home." I stood up and hugged him briefly.

"What was that for?"

"Always being nice to me."

He didn't say anything else and walked away. The Captain returned.

"Who was that?" He said, clearly voicing his lack of trust in the boy he had just seen me hug.

"Just a friend." I said not looking at my father.

"Boyfriend?" He said, cranky.

I just laughed and shook my head.

"Come on. We're catching a train to Charleston."

"Charleston?" I asked surprised, afraid we weren't going to New York.

"It makes more sense to go there and get a train to New York from there."

"Okay. When do we leave?"

"Now. We have incredibly lucky timing."

He grabbed his bag and one of mine and started walking away. Picking up my other piece of luggage I followed.

I hope you are all still interested in the story. Sorry about the lack of updates. They'll becoming 678,681,765 times faster now that I'm living at home. Reviews are pretty sweet...