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Chapter 3

Evan and Ava had been with the resistance for five weeks. During that time, Ava and Jimmy had grown really close. The two young teens spent most of their spare time together. As soon as Evan's leg had healed he joined up with the soldiers promising Ava that he would find Chance and Ryan. That had been over a week ago. Ava couldn't help but worry about him getting hurt again or even killed. She just hoped that they returned soon. Jimmy had been told he wasn't able to go with the group of soldiers looking for her brothers.

Ava had been hiding out in a quiet corner of the building all morning. She just really felt crappy today. She was sitting with her knees drawn up to her chest and had her arms wrapped around them. She just really wanted Evan to come back. She heard someone approaching her, looking up she saw Hal standing there.

"Hey, you okay, Kid?" he asked her as he squatted down in front of her. Hal noticed that she was paler than normal and how she had bags under her eyes. "Jimmy's been looking all over for you."

"I don't really feel good." She told him as she lay her head back down on her knees. Hal sat next to the girl. He wasn't sure what to do. If it had been Ben or Matt he would know what to do but girls were so different.

"What's making you feel bad?" reaching out to feel her forehead for a fever. She didn't feel warm.

"I don't know." Ava answered but she wouldn't look him in the eye. Ava knew he didn't really want to know what was wrong. He was just being nice to her since Evan was gone.

"Come on kid out with it. What's going on? I know that you and Jimmy haven't spent much time apart since you met. So what has you hiding out today?"

"Nothing!" She raised her voice and could hear. Ava looked into Hal's eyes. She saw that he didn't appreciate her attitude. Hal was about to reply when Jimmy showed up.

"Hey I've been looking all over for you. Oh hey Hal" Jimmy said looking very anxious. Ava could tell that Jimmy had something to tell her but not with Hal around.

"Yeah I've been kind of tired today. You want to go for a walk to see if it will wake me up some?" she asked her friend, giving him a look that said help-me-now.

"Yeah let's go." Jimmy told her while helping her off the ground. Hal looked at the two with suspicious eyes.

"Don't wonder off to far., guys. Evan would kill me if he came back and you had disappeared on us." Hal warned them as they walked off.

Once they had walked a safe distance from anyone's prying ears Jimmy whispered "Ava, I have an idea."

Ava gave Jimmy a questioning look. "What kind of idea?"

"I think we should go find your brothers on our own. They have been gone over a week." Jimmy said looking around to make sure nobody heard them.

"I don't know. Mr. Mason and Evan told me I had to stay here and listen to Hal and Dr. Glass. I don't want to get in trouble with Evan." Ava said while biting her lip. She really wanted to go look for her brothers but she wasn't sure if Jimmy's idea was the best idea.

"Are you always such a goody two shoes? Who cares if your brother gets mad? All he's going to do is lecture us on the safety in numbers crap that we are always hearing. Come on Ava please! We can sneak out while Hal is distracted by Karen." He said as he saw the blonde kissing Hal.

She felt indignation as he called her a goody two shoes. But what he said about Evan only lecturing her, well she wasn't too sure about that. Her southern upbringing was a lot different than most kids. Of course Evan had never done anything more than scold her but her daddy and Chance both had done a lot more than scold when they felt like she needed it. No she told herself Evan wouldn't even think about it besides she wouldn't dare tell Jimmy about that. That was way too embarrassing. Even though she had a nervous feeling in her stomach she decided to go along with his hand she headed for the nearest exit. "Let's go before I change my mind."

Jimmy glanced around to make sure that they weren't being followed then proceeded to follow Ava out the doors.

They walked for about an hour before stopping to rest.

"Jimmy, I think we should have brought some water with us." Ava said sitting in the shade under an oak tree. Jimmy reached into his cargo pants pocket and pulled out a bottle of water. He handed it to Ava before saying "I snuck a few things out without looking too suspicious."

Ava took the bottle gratefully and began sipping it. She and Jimmy had been resting for about fifteen minutes when they heard something and the ground began to shake.

"Oh shit, Ava gets into the bushes, Macs!" Jimmy said pulling Ava along behind him toward the bushes. They hid in the bushes being as still as possible. The Mac stopped near the bushes looking around then continued the other way. Ava and Jimmy neither spoke nor moved for at least an hour. Finally Ava turned to look at Jimmy and said "I think we probably should have stayed with the group. I'm scared and want to go back"

"Come on Ava we didn't get caught. It's ok. I think we should keep going." Jimmy said giving her that look he gets when he wants to prove himself.

"You only wanted to do this because you wanted to prove yourself to Mr. Mason and Weaver!" Ava shouted angrily. "I can see it written all over your face!"

"No, that's not true. I wanted to help you. I know you haven't been sleeping much since Evan left. It doesn't hurt that it will help me prove to them I'm not just some stupid kid" he says with an angry tone of his own.

"But we are just some stupid kids, Jimmy. I don't like being told what I can and can't do any more than you do." Ava said crossing her arms and stamping her foot. Jimmy smiled at her and sat on the ground with a huff.

"Well let's show them that we aren't kids, and can take care of ourselves."

They sat there in silence for a long time before Ava replied "Okay, Lets show them then"

Jimmy smiled really big then jumped up pulling Ava with him. They started walking once again. Ava still couldn't help but wonder if they were making a mistake by getting even farther away from the group. What Ava didn't know was Jimmy was thinking the same thing.