Author's Note: I hope none of you thought that I meant Tendra was back in person, that'd just be stupid to bring him back. When a rock crushes you to a pulp, you don't tend to come back. Anyway, I just wanted to point that out( he is my favorite, I just thought it'd improve the story if Anders's best friend was taken from him). Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Pushing Harder and a Sleep Break"

Anders woke up on Tuesday and stretched. He was exhausted. He had stayed up all night thinking about Renee and what he had realized.

She does butt in. I want to tell her, but she doesn't understand. She's just……Renee. Regular Renee, good in small doses. I don't know why I think this way, I just do. Tendra was a better friend than she ever could or will be. I can't keep dwelling on the lost, but focus on the newly found. Father would want it…..and so would Tendra.

A silent tear rolled its way down his cheek and onto his wrist. He got up, put on his cap, took a deep breath, and made his way through the messy kitchen to grab his lunch. He let his breath out and laughed at remembering his first day at the mine. He was so nervous…then he met Tendra.

Tendra seemed to make everything seem so easy! And Alder had to make everything hard, didn't he? Oh well, he meant well……I think.

He went out the door, thinking more of his first day. He decided to run to the mine today, to see if maybe he could find some gems earlier. Then he could move up, until he was the best miner of them all. That would be his goal, his way of getting through the day.

He passed Joere and walked into the elevator. He stopped to catch his breath. The elevator slowly descended. It stopped at Section B first. Some men got off. Then Section C. More went. When the elevator finally reached Section F Anders went to get off, but an obese man moved in front of him. He could hear people yelling, but he didn't know why. He tried to see over the fat guy, but to no avail.

Come on, move! Miyu, I don't know what this guy eats, but it can't be good. Finally, we're moving.

They all moved to their spots. There were men being escorted onto the elevator. They rose up to new Sections. There were other menpicking up gems. They looked like Suferus's.

Man, they probably were moved up to Section B for that. They're almost to the top, but here I am, stuck. I'll just have to push harder.

(Back at Titans Tower.)

"When do you come in Star?"

"Soon, you must be patient. I'm too tired to tell anymore. I will continue in the morning."

Everyone got up, stretched, and went to bed. Except for Starfire.

Oh Anders, why do you still haunt me? I wish I didn't remember it, any of it. I wish I was an earthling, not a Tamerainian. I miss you and mother. You must have had a reason, correct?

She walked into her room and stumbled onto the bed. She huddled into a ball and looked at the window. It had started to rain. She watched as the rain drops eased their way down her window and into the night. The troubled girl fell asleep, nightmares creeping into her head.