Sorry for the super long wait. I feel so horrible. My brain was being stubborn, refusing to come up with any ideas. Again, I'm soo sorry. This chapter is kinda on the long side and has some interesting info! That's all I really have to....say.... I own nothing.

Chapter 4

"So....Garrett.....why were you at the hospital?" I asked as we walked toward the kitchen for breakfast. Jamie held my hand in its comforting hold. Melanie went to find Jared.

Garrett hesitated. "Uh, it's.....complicated." He ran a hand through his hair.

"Complicated....how?" I raised my eyebrows, curious.

He sighed. "Now's not the time. I'll explain later."

I sighed. "Fine, but you better not forget." I grumbled.

While Jamie went to get our food, I sat on a counter. Garrett went off into a secluded corner. I eyed him curiously. He had....changed since the last time I saw him. Well, he had changed when Mom had died and when Dad had been taken, just as I did.....but he was definitely different. I couldn't explain it. He was more....reserved, distant. He always seemed to be holding back pain. When he smiled, it never reached his eyes. I hated seeing him like this. What was eating at him?

I quickly abandoned that train of thought when Jamie hopped up next to me. I smiled at him, taking a roll from his outstretched hand. "Thanks." I said.

"Your welcome." He opened a bag of chips. "Want some?"

I nodded, reaching into the bag and pulling out a hand full of Cheetos. I ate a few of them, then opened my mouth to thank him again but he stopped me.

"You don't need to thank me for every little thing, Regan." He smiled. "It's implied."

I smiled back. "So....that would mean your reply is implied too, right?"

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Whatever you say."

I laughed quietly at that. He laughed along with me.

--

"What do we do now?" I asked when we had finished breakfast.

"Now," He said. "we go to school."

I frowned. "School?"

He nodded. "Yeah." He held out a hand. "Come on, I'll show you."

I smiled, trying to hide my blush, and took his hand. "There isn't a school bus, right?" He laughed as he lead me out of the kitchen; through the maze of stone hallways.

"Do you know Garrett's secret?" I asked him, anxious for answers.

He sighed heavily. "Yes....and no. I know that when he shows up here, we are about to go on a raid."

"Really?" I waited for him to nod in confirmation. "That's inter-" I tripped over a crack in the stone. And, reflexively, held my arms out to protect myself from the fall.

His warm arms caught me before I could hit the ground. I looked up at him. "-esting." I whispered, finishing the word. Our faces were millimeters apart, noses barely touching.

Unexpectedly, our instincts took over and our lips meet in a intense fire of passion. We broke apart, gasping. He helped me to my feet.

Lost for words, I pulled him close, losing ourselves in the fire again. His hands pressed against my back, as if he were trying to fuse our bodies together. My hands were tangled in his hair.

He pulling away, breathing hard. "We're....gonna be....late."

"I-don't-care." I said in between short kisses.

"Don't you want to increase your IQ?"

I sighed. "We're learning right now." I pulled him close, igniting the fire once more. "Besides," I said when I had pulled apart. "what use is school when the world is lost?"

"Sharon's going to kill me." He murmured into my ear.

"I'll protect you." I answered, knowing he'd given in.

He laughed. "And Mel?"

I kissed him softly, our lips meeting for a brief second. "She'll be right beside me, as will Garrett."

"Of course. Older siblings will prevail." Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

I laughed and let the fire burn through my entire being. I heard him moan quietly against my lips and I knew he was feeling it too.

Pulling apart, I rested my chin on his shoulder. We stayed like that for a few minutes, relishing in each others presence.

"What's your favorite color?" He asked.

"Blue." I answered immediately. I didn't question him, knowing there was a complicated thought process behind it. What could I say? I knew him too well.

"Red." He paused briefly. "Animal?"

"Uh....panther."

"Sparrow."

I smiled, realizing what he was getting at. "Opposites attract, Jamie." I pulled back and looked into his eyes.

He smiled. "Like magnets."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, like magnets. People are just like big clumps of metal."

He laughed. "When it comes to love. Any other time, they're just like....well, people."

"Of course, people are people."

"And they never change."sly

I smiled, resting my head on his shoulder. "Right." We stayed in each others arms, words useless.

After a time, he spoke. "Are you sure you don't want to go to school?"

I rolled my eyes. "If it bothers you that much....." I sighed. "Fine. I'll go."

--

When we entered the small room, a red-haired woman glared at us, Jamie specifically. So...this was the Sharon he was talking about.

"Where have you been?" She snapped angrily at him.

"Uh..." He, nervously, rubbed the back of his neck. "We were....preoccupied."

She raised an eyebrow. "I see."

The awkward silence that followed with filled with movement as we sat down on the cool rock along with the other children: two little boys, a girl about twelve years old, and a boy about my age.

I studied him, interested. His pale strawberry blond hair faded to a white blond at the tips. His skin held a tan similar to mine. Maybe he was a loner,I thought. He glanced over at me. His emerald eyes met mine for a brief second before I looked away, a blush warming my cheeks.

Throughout the morning, I kept glancing over at him. I couldn't help but wonder who he was and how he had arrived here.

When Sharon finally let us go to lunch, I approached him. "Hello." I said friendily. Both he and Jamie looked at me like I was insane for just greeting someone. I sighed. "Look, I just want to ask you a couple questions. Sitting next to someone for a few hours can pique your curiosity."

He smiled and Jamie held back a laugh. He noddded. "Okay. I'm Brenan." He held out his hand.

I smiled at him. "Regan. And this is Jamie." I placed a hand on his shoulder.

Brennan nodded in his direction. "Hey, Jamie. I heard Garrett's here."

He replied without hesitation. "Yeah. He's here."

"Great. I'd better go talk to him." Brennan glanced around.

"Whoa, Whoa!" I caught his arm before he could run off. "How do you know my brother?" It came out a little harsher than I had intended.

He looked at me in surprise. "We both were caught and we busted out together."

"Busted out?" I raised an eyebrow incredulously.

"Yeah. It wasn't that difficult actually. Without the Seekers around, we easily overpowered them."

"That's...interesting." I released his arm. Note to self: Ask Garrett about his capture.

After a moment's silence, Brennan sighed. "Well, I'd better go...." He walked off, glancing back at me hesitantly. It was like he was afraid of me.

I huffed a breath. Good. At least now he won't try anything. I'd seen him glance at me before with hope and desire in his eyes. It was very similar to the way Jamie was looking at me...now.

He smiled wonderfully at me and pulled me close. And I, once again, found myself lost in the fire of passion.

I didn't know how long we were locked together but I could've stayed there, in my personal heaven, forever. All too soon, he pulled away.

"Jamie." I complained with what little air I had left.

"Shush, Regan." He smiled at at me mischievously. "I'll get lunch. Meet you in your room."

I smiled back. "Hurry."

With one quick peck to the lips, he headed off to the kitchen. I sighed anxiously after he had left my line of sight and headed to my room/cave.

When I neared the vibrant quilt, I heard voices emitting from inside the room. Curious, I inched quietly toward the quilt, pressing my back to the cool stone. Hesitantly, I peeked behind the quilt.

Garrett was standing, facing someone I couldn't see from this angle. His face showed a mixture a worry and understanding.

"....tell her?" Said, I assumed, the other person. I just barely caught the end of the sentence.

Garrett shook his head. "No. With you two this close, her memories will start to come back. When she approaches us, then we tell her." Who were they talking about?

A sigh. "I hate leaving her out in the cold." I held a hand over my mouth to muffle my gasp. The second voice was...Brennan.

My brother nodded, understanding. "I know. I would hate it, if I had to lie to Britney." I frowned. Britney? Who was she? "Have you had any visions....lately?" He continued.

"No. Just the kidnapping." Kidnapping? What did that mean?

He sighed, running a hand over his face. "They'll probably start coming back now."

"I know." A pause. "Will hers?"

He nodded. "Most likely, yes."

"We'll have to keep a close watch on her."

Garrett nodded. "That we will."

Sensing that I was about to blow my cover, I edged away from the quilt, heading as quickly as possible (without giving myself away) toward the intersection of living corridors.

There, I waited for Jamie, anxiously yearning to relay what I had heard.

Give a big hand to Paramore for the fluff scenes! I played Adore about 15thousand times to feed my mind. I absolutely looove that song! Anyway, please review! I might I'll update sooner (but I'm not promising anything) Just know this: when I get a review, I get this uncontrollable urge to write! Sooo....fuel my passion and....REVIEW!