Has it really been over two months? I'm so sorry everyone! I spent the first week of December preparing for FINALS. The second week of December was FINALS. The third and fourth week was filled with me trying to figure out what to pack on my trip in January.

My college has January Term for the undergraduates so this past January Term I had the opportunity to go to Hawai'i for two weeks. I spent four weeks disconnecting, unplugging, and learning about solitude and Hawaiian culture and history. Part of the class involves unplugging from technology so I spent four weeks unable to go on social media and reading and writing fanfiction. All of our papers were handwritten. We were able to spend an hour a day using our technologies but for texting, calling, and for work, not for social media or internet. It was an amazing experience not constantly looking down at my phone when I could be talking with my peers.

I actually finished this chapter earlier this week and started chapter 7. I'm not exactly sure when I want to end this story bur right now, Val and Parker just made it to Bolivia and are getting ready for the BioDome. I'm hoping to work on part 3 of "As Long as I Have You" for Valentine's Day.

Here's the next chapter. Again. I apologize it took so long for me to update.


Chapter 6: Welcome to Bolivia!

Before I knew it, our plane landed in South America. It was my first time traveling somewhere outside of the US, let alone traveling on a plane. I was glad my first time was with my boyfriend of 3 days. The landing was a little rough and Parker held my hand during the landing. He kept holding on after we landed. I felt more at ease when Parker kept reassuring me that it was okay. I was so nervous that I nearly crushed his hand, I was squeezing it so hard. Fortunately, he only had to stretch his hand a little bit so blood will flow to his fingers.

We waited, rather impatiently, for everyone else to gather their carry-ons and get off the plane. Our fingers still intertwined, we grabbed our carry-ons and made our way off the plane to get the rest of our baggage.

Joya Andina Airport (That's the closest airport to the Salar di Uyuni. The airport, itself, is small and only has one terminal for flights. According to the airport page on , the only flights that go in and out of the airport are within other parts of Bolivia so please bear with me when they fly straight from LA to Bolivia) was rather impressive. Though I admit the airport in LA was much bigger, the airport in Bolivia has this sense of inclusivity and welcoming that I can't get in LA. It was small but it was good enough for Parker and I. It took us all but 10 minutes to wait for our baggage and spot our chauffeur from the crowd to take us to the BioDome.

Our chauffeur, I noticed, was in a dark grey suit with his hair combed to one side. He had jet black hair and his facial clearly outlined the bottom half of his face. His complexion was darker than both mine and Parker's so I assumed he was a local. Parker, his usual happy self, enthusiastically waved at the man, who acknowledged with a nod. I had to hold back a giggle, I just loved his enthusiasm. When we reached him, he spoke Spanish but I could tell that he also knew a few words in English. I didn't know exactly how I came to that conclusion, but I just knew. "BioDome Marte?" I looked at him with a confusing look. I could make out 'BioDome' but it sounded more like 'be-oh-doe-may' and he spoke pretty fast. I tried to process what he said but to no avail. Gosh, I should have taken Spanish, like everyone else, but I just HAD to take French. I looked over at Parker, whose facial expressions I couldn't read. I saw that he was trying to process the man's words and come up with a response. He took Spanish.

"Ummm. Si, BioDome Marte. Mi llamo Parker y esto es Val." The man's eyebrows shot up, I guess not a whole lot of tourists know Spanish. He started smiling and nodding.

"Oh si, si. Parker y Val. Sígueme." He waved his hand and then turned around and started walking. Did he want us to follow him? I felt a slight tug on my hand that wasn't dragging my suitcase. In the few minutes of our conversation, Parker had managed to grab my hand and now, he was pulling me with him as he was walking towards where our chauffeur went. I guess he did want us to follow us. I followed my boyfriend outside to where I saw everything from cars to people to suitcases. It was absolute chaos.

The cab ride was, in lack of a better word, quiet. I could tell that our chauffeur didn't speak a word of English, and if he did, he knew very little. From the 3 years that Parker took Spanish, he knows enough to understand a second grade level and from what I could tell, he wasn't making any attempt to talk to our chauffeur. Instead, he kept talking to me about our plans for the next year and beyond. I couldn't wait to spend the next school with Parker by my side and it was finally happening.

Before long, the cab came to a stop. I looked out the window to see that the ground was dry and a little bit of snow on it, and the sky was a beautiful blue. Our chauffeur got out of the driver's seat and turned to open Parker's door. I turned my head to see Parker's side and it was dramatically different from what I saw on my side. Before I could wonder what it was, I hear a "Val?" and I look up to see Parker with an outstretched hand. He must have seen my hesitation as he gave me a reassuring smile and I placed my hand in his. He helped me out of the cab before heading to the trunk to grab our suitcases, where our chauffeur was waiting. "Gracias," Parker said to our chauffeur, who nodded before returning to the driver's seat and driving away.

It was then when I really looked up to see where we were dropped off. There was a small parking lot that holds about 12 cars. Above a long, brick building stood with a thatched roof. We figured we had to go there so Parker took the lead and lead us toward the brick building.

We soon found out that we were dropped off at where we supposed to meet the executives of the space exploration company. I was always looking back to that day where we beat all the teams and proved to everyone, especially Artie, that Team Pal is the best team to go to the Mars BioDome. Ms Karsch had always been very supportive of us. I remember when she let Maddie, Willow, and I into BOOMS on a weekend but that's another story.

Now, what was I thinking about? Oh yeah, the Mars BioDome. I can't believe that we finally made it to the BioDome! It seemed like it was yesterday when Parker and I got trapped into the Chemistry Lab because of our Mars Madness projects combined. Sigh.

I feel a hand slip into my left. I didn't need to see who it was but I looked anyway. I turned my head to my left to see a smiling Parker. Every time I seem to see him now, he always seems to have a smile. I've always liked it when he smiled. He was always one of those people who smiled with their eyes too. When he would smile, his eyes would light up. In fact, his whole body would light up. You could see it.

I smiled back at him and he gave me a reassuring squeeze. This was both of our first time being away from our families for a long period of time but he knew it was my first time out of California. Ever since I could remember, I had never been outside of California. I had traveled within California but had never traveled outside of California. I guess my first time was with my boyfriend of one week for an entire school year. It seems exciting but scary at the same time.

I squeezed his hand in response. We've been doing that a lot over the past 48 hours. He's been great and I'm grateful to call him mine. We both been anxious for the trip but we have each other for 12 months so we both will be fine. I have him and he has me, as long as he doesn't panic under pressure and hives start appearing.

He drags my hand and I have no choice but to follow him. I drag my suitcase while holding onto my backpack, following Parker in the process. I see a man in a black suit waving in our direction. I assume he is one of the executives, since Parker seems to be waving back at him, that grin never leaving his face, just like when he waved and grinned at our chauffeur at the airport. I love his enthusiasm. Before long, we reach the man and I see a blonde woman in a fitted blouse and pencil skirt join him along with another man with glasses, a lab coat, and a clipboard.

The man in the black suit waits for us to be face-to-face with him before speaking up. "Mr Parker Rooney and Miss Valerie Wishart, welcome to Bolivia. We congratulate you two for winning Mars Madness these past few months. From what we gather from your teacher, you two work very well together. We apologize for the last minute plans but we appreciate you two coming on such short notice." Parker and I nod before the man continues. "My name is Dr Tenzing Trainer." We both shake the man's hand. He gestures to the blonde woman. "This is Dr Chloe Hosterman." We shake her hand.

"How do you do?" She asks us. We can only nod before Dr Trainer gestures to the man in the lab coat.

"And this is Dr Benjamin King." We shake his hand. "We will be your primary team that you will be in touch with for this next year. If either of you have any questions or concerns, please let us know and we will do our best to answer them. Now, before we go inside, Dr King will give you both the rundown on what the next year will be like for you two. Dr King?" He gestured for the man with the clipboard to say his spiel.

"As Dr Trainer had just said, I'm Dr King and I will be giving you both a general outline on what the two of you will be doing for this next year. Today and tomorrow will probably be the most difficult days for you two, as you will meet everyone else and get acquainted inside the lab before moving inside the Mars BioDome. After that, you two will move into the BioDome while we will be recording your progress on your work. Do not worry about having a due date for your projects. Just make sure you get them done by the time you leave but I suggest you two finish them as soon as possible so you can work on your others. You will have a total of 5 projects, each having something to do with Mars. Your first project involves communication from Mars to Earth, much like your project you two won to get here. Your second project involves bare necessities and natural resources on Mars. Your third project involves life on Mars. Your fourth project involves exploring Mars for future needs. Your fifth and final project is an individual project that you two can either work together or work separately on. As you finish each project, keep in mind that all the projects combined will determine how well you two will do on Mars. When you finish one project, we will give you the instructions for the next. Like I said before, do not worry about having a due date for each project. Just focus on getting each done as soon as you can. Any questions?" Dr King eyed Parker and then me. We both looked a little lost. Dr King chucked a little. "Don't worry about everything. Before you know it, you two will be finished here and on your way to the Red Planet. For the next few days, just focus on learning everything you will need to know for the BioDome."

I released a breath I didn't know I was holding in relief. That sounded like a lot of work to do but I guess both Parker and I are up for the challenge. I could see that Parker was fighting the urge to say it and not three seconds later I saw him raise his finger. "Challenge: Accepted!" The three executives gave him a look that clearly had no idea what that meant. I decided to explain for my boyfriend, since he was still in his daze.

"It's just this thing he does for when he is challenged to do something or when something happens, he wants to do something about and will not stop until he has succeeded." Dr Trainer was the first to get back from his confused state. "You'll understand soon enough." He nodded, taking my word for it.


If you didn't know, Tenzing Trainer plays Parker, Chloe Hosterman (Dove Cameron) plays Liv/Maddie, and Benjamin King plays Pete. Don't be surprised if future characters have names of the actors.