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Chapter Nine: Harder than the last time

"Yes!" Mike exclaimed as he viewed the photograph. "What?" Jake asked, confused. "This means she's around here somewhere, right? I mean, when Mark ran away, we got a lead of where he could be, then Dad went and found him. Now we have a lead, we can find her." Mike grinned. Jake put his hand to Mike's forehead. "You feeling okay, bro? Cuz that sounded like something Jessica would say!"

Mike shrugged. Jessica shook her head. "Well, as clever as that may have sounded, it's completely wrong. Kim could have been gone for hours now, and we don't know how long ago it was that she was here. What Mike's saying holds no evidence."

Jake nodded, "I guess you're right."

"Just when I think I'm being clever, you throw it in my face." Mike sulked.

They were interrupted by Jake's beeping cell phone. "Hey, Mom. No we haven't found her. Well, we've found a photo of us all. No, Mom, don't come and get us, she could have gotten to the train station by now, you need to look there. Okay, later Mom." He hung up the phone.

"Anything?" Jessica asked. Jake shook his head, and slunk down into a bench. "Nah. They're still looking round the train station."

Jake put his head into his hands. Mike put his hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, dude."

Jake looked up reluctantly, his eyes glittering with tears. "No, it's not, Mike. I mean, you're not even up to my shoulder – and I'm the smallest guy in my grade, yet you're the one comforting me."

Mike raised his eyebrows. "Nigel and Kyle may be taller then me – but you know if you call me small one more time, I can beat you up good!"

Jake laughed. "Yeah, I know."

Jessica tutted. "Hello! Kim could be in serious trouble and you're having a nice family moment. Come on!"

Jake and Mike looked at each other, then at Jessica. "Aww sorry, Jess, did you wanna be part of the hug?" Jake laughed. "We love you, Jessie Wessie!" Mike said, in hysterics. "You guys are freaky. Are you on crack?" Jessica asked, taking steps back from the boys. "No, I just wanna show my lil' sis how great she is!" Jake replied. They started hugging her manically. "Get off! You guys, this is freaky!"

They all fell in a giggling heap on the ground. "I….. can't…… breathe!" Mike gasped in between laughs.

"Come on now guys, we gotta look for Kim!" Jake said, getting up off the floor. "I know – Jessica you have to hold us up!" Mike laughed. Jessica sighed.

What seemed like hours later, the three collapsed onto a bench. Jake's cell beeped. "No, Mom, we haven't found her. No, Mom, we can't give up. We're not going home until Kim's with us. You're gonna go to Midland to see if Kim might be there? Okay, seeya."

"Found her?" Mike asked. Jake shook his head. "Mom and Dad are catching the train to Midland, see if she's there."

"She won't be." Jessica said.

Mike and Jake frowned. "How do you know?" Mike asked. "Oh, because I helped her run away." Jessica replied. Jake smirked. Mike gasped. "Omigosh!"

Jessica laughed. "Just kidding, stupid! I know she won't be in Midland, she doesn't miss it enough."

Jake looked at her. "Oh." He replied. That was all he could manage to say.

They sat in silence for a while, when Mike spoke. "Damn, this is harder then the last time."

Jake and Jessica looked at him. "Huh?" Jake asked, confused by the sudden outburst. "Finding the runaways. Finding Mark was so much easier." Mike replied. "You're right, this is harder than last time." Jessica sighed.

And it was about to become a lot harder.

Ooh, another cliff hanger! I know y'all must think I'm evil with these cliff hangers, but its just so much fun doing them! Please please please review, and I'll update soon! Bye xxxx