AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but now school's out for the summer (officially today!) so hopefully I start updating more. This chapter isn't as exciting as others but at least it's an update. Well, happy summer and enjoy!

My alarm rings much too early. It's still dark outside. The dead silence of the house greets me. I'm tempted to roll back over and sleep some more. My bed feels so soft and warm.

But I have to get ready for my flight.

I slam my hand on the snooze button, flip off the switch, and flick on the lamp. The light blinds me and makes my eyes water.

I untangle myself from my blue and green polka dot comforter. I approach my closet with bleary eyes and a heavy heart.

This is going to be the last time I'll be in this room, I realize, at least for a few months. This makes me wonder how long I'll really be gone.

I set my flat iron on my dark wood dresser and let it heat up as I shuffle into the bathroom. I can hear Solomon snoring lightly his room next door. I pluck my toothbrush out of the blue jar and then grab a new one out of the cabinet for Jacob, since he took his other one when he was shipped six months ago. I get a travel size bottle of toothpaste before returning to my room.

I pack the brushes and being to get dressed in jeans, a white tank top, a black long sleeve shirt, and a light jacket even though it's fairly warm outside. Wearing extra clothes will save room in my bag.

I move toward my dresser again and pick up the now burning flat iron. I run it through my hair relentlessly until the blue-black tangles are straight and soft. Then I circle my eyes with black eyeliner and cover my eye lids with sea blue eye shadow. I won't get to pamper myself like this for a while so I take my time.

"Crap," I say under my breath. I forgot to get clothes for Jacob and Josh is still sleeping in their room.

I plunk my makeup back in its basket. I reluctantly tip toe back into the hall and stand in front of the white wood door. I suck in my breath. I can't make a sound. I can't wake up Josh. How would I explain why I'm taking Jacob's clothes?

I twist the knob slowly so it doesn't click and cautiously step inside the room. I don't think I've been inside since the night before Jacob left. It looks the same but a bit lonelier with one of its beds empty.

The ceiling fan whirs overhead, hitting me with a pleasant, cool breeze. Josh is lying on his back, jaw wide open. His arms and legs are sprawled out and he's in only his boxers. I can't help but giggle to myself. He looks so comical. I hope he's as out of it as he looks.

I step carefully over the clothes strewn on the floor and go to the dresser, where Jacob's extra things are kept. I kneel down. The drawer creeks as I pull it open. I freeze, muscles tense, but there's no sound from josh behind me. A shaky breath escapes my lips.

I scoop out the contents of the drawer. I don't want to be here any longer than necessary. Arms overflowing, I shut the drawer with my shin and scamper to the door.

"What are you doing?" I hear a groggy voice ask.

I come to a halt. My mind and heart are both racing.

"Kirra?" Josh asks. I peek over my shoulder and see his silhouette in the gloom.

I calm myself. "I'm just borrowing one of Jake's sweaters. I'm kind of cold."

Fortunately, he's too tired to completely comprehend. "Mhm," he mumbles and falls back on the mattress. "Goodnight," he says into his pillow.

Well it isn't technically night, even though it's dark enough to pass as night. I tell him goodnight too anyway as I close the door.

Once back in my room, I dump Jacob's stuff on my bed. I can't help but hug one of his jackets to my chest. It might just be my imagination but it still smells like him…

I miss him so much it hurts. I want my foster brother back.

I've been wondering whether to still refer to him as that. The whole possible vampire soul mate thing really flips things around and I'm getting really dizzy.

Hopefully I don't fall over.

Over the past months I've been fighting with my feelings. I love him, right? But do I love him like that? For so long I only saw him as my brother and now seeing him in a new light has left me blinded. Maybe I should just see what happens when I talk to Jacob face-to-face. If I ever do.

The sad thing is is that I keep getting my hopes up. I keep thinking all I have to do is get on the plane, go to Maine, meet up with him, talk this over, and then bring him home and everything will be fine.

But no. I have no idea where he is. I'm going to have to search. It could take days, months, years. I could live with this confusion forever, it seems.

And then there's the fact that he's a criminal now. They might not be looking for him now but by the time I reach him they surely will. They'll take him to prison.

Nothing will ever be fine now.

I sigh heavily and fold up the jacket. I grab a pair of his jeans, a shirt, some boxers, socksm and a pair of basketball shorts. There's an extra pair of his shoes downstairs that I'll pack too.

I shove the clothes into the bag, smashing it down as much as possible so I have enough space. I still need to bring emergency food.

Before leaving my room for the last time, I give it one more longing look. Then I grab my turned off cell phone, not that I'll use it or have signal. But there might be an emergency so might as well. I take my mom's journal too and close the door behind me.

I soundlessly descend the stairs, leaving my slumbering family behind. I drop my bag next to the door and Jacob's shoes. I dig some crackers and water out of the pantry. This is pretty much the last thing I have room for. I zip the finally packed bag.

An idea pops into my head. I should leave a note. I fish out some paper and a pen from the drawer. I tap the pen on my lip, thinking of how to word this in the least alarming way.

Jacob's in trouble. I can't really explain how I know but I do. I have to go fin d him.

I'm sorry if my disappearance scared you or anything.

There's not much else I can say. I'm sorry. I'll try my best to keep in touch but I can't make any promises.

Some police may come to the house soon…

I'm going to try to fix this, even though it's not really in my power.

Stay safe. I love you all. –Kirra

I tape the note to the fridge and head out the door before I can second guess this plan. Logically, it's stupid and practically suicide but emotionally, it's the right thing to do.

It's humid outside. Dew clings to my shoes, soaking my socks as I trudge through yards to the bus stop. I wish I could just take my mom's car but I can't just leave my mom's car at the airport. So I'm stuck with the bus.

Its already pulling up as the stop comes into my view. I break into a jog, the heavy bag slamming into my back with each step. I bound up the steps, throw some change to the driver and take a seat in the back. The driver smiles at me behind his stubby grey beard. We're the only ones on the bus.

"Where are you headed?" the driver asks.

I try to catch my breath. "Airport."

"Okay, we're probably not going to have too many riders at this time of morning so we'll get you there in a jiffy!"

I nod a thank you and watch out the window as the street lights flash by. I hope Jacob hasn't left Maine or the general area of where he was yesterday. It'd just make my search so much harder.

Maybe I can ask.

I mean, I did it yesterday, I can do it today. Now how did I do it…?

I picture Jacob in my mind again. I can almost see his short, slick black hair, thin lips, brown eyes. He's smiling at me. I open my eyes with a sigh.

Suddenly my head crashes against the window. The bus driver glances up briefly but dismisses it, thinking I'm only sleeping.

I can still hear the sounds of the bus but I also hear birds chirping. I'm in a forest, surrounded by tall trees and darkness. I'm lying in a bush, getting pricked by sticks and leaves.

"Jacob?" I ask but there's no sound yet he hears me. My body's moving. It's like I'm hiding in his head.

"Hello?" he says out loud, sleepily. "Who is it? I don't see anyone…"

"I'm not actually here, I'm…I don't know. I think I'm in your head."

I feel his face crinkle up. "I think I'm going crazy."

"I know how you feel. I'll explain soon, once I get there."

"Who are you? Are you the same one that was talking to me yesterday?" he asks, sounding kind of afraid.

"Yeah it is…" I begin.

"Well who are you?" he demands.

I'm hesitant to tell him. He would ask too many questions that I can't answer until I see him in person. It would take much too long. "Like I said, I'll explain once I get there. Just do what I said yesterday and stay there."

He sighs. "Fine."

I hear the bus breaks squeak. "I have to go. I'll try to keep in touch and I'll try to get to you as fast as possible."

His head nods. I wish I could actually see him instead of just being in his head.

I pull myself out of the vision and slowly open my eyes back to the bus in the sticky air. I feel better, knowing how to talk to him now and knowing he's okay.

I glance towards the front window and see the airport looming ahead.

My journey begins now.