So... heh... sorry about not updating a lot and stuff. I have just had some crazy weeks, very crazy, ANYHOW, I have a new chapter to this story which I am pretty confident was worth the wait (or at least I hope)... It's long-ish. It is also one of the more angsty chapters. Now I have to post this quick because I have to go to IKEA.

xoxo Jules

MWAH

Converses rolled down is the love of my life! ;)

Chapter 8: "Because I'm easy come"

Seth's POV: Everyday

It's been three weeks since we left the church and we're running fast to nowhere. Summer wanted to head out to the east coast, something about intellectuals. Everyone seemed in agreement until one day we stopped off at a diner and were watching the news only to realize that there was a huge cold front hitting the east bringing never ending snow along with it… so we opted for the warmer climate. There was no way that I was going to be homeless in eight degree weather. It's just not happening.

"Do you want a refill of your coffee?" The waitress at the diner where we currently are stopped and asked Summer

"No I'm fine thanks." She said smiling. "I think that my friend here would like a refill of his milk though." She said shooting me a glare.

I had never seen someone so objected to a man having milk with every meal!

I smiled at Summer and polished off my third glass.

"Sure I'd like some more!" I said as the waitress walked away. "It does the body good." I said as I winked at Summer.

She looked at me with mock disgust. I know she wants me, it's just so obvious. But she's wanted everyone else too, she wasn't after them, she was after their money, and after… well I'm not sure but whatever she took from them I'm not sure that I want.

"What's up with you?" Summer asked swinging around on the stool to face me.

"Nothing." I said "Why?"

"Because you went all space cadet on me, like staring off into space and stuff." Summer said looking away from me and back to her toast which only the crust was eaten off.

"I donno, I was just thinking I guess." I said as the waitress brought me my next cup of milk.

"What do you think you're going to do when you get to California?" She asked me

"I don't know. I guess we can all get jobs, save up for a place-"

She looked amused as she cut me off

"Do you really think that we're all still going to be together when we get to California? Please!" She said with a chuckle

"What do you mean?"

I never really thought of us splitting up. I'm not too keen on the idea of being alone.

"Well think about it Cohen. Once we pass the "Welcome to California" sign Marissa is going to run to the nearest crack house never to be seen again, Ryan will ditch us because he never wanted us around in the first place, and you will go off sailing or whatever it is you do." Summer said all in one breath

"What about you?" I asked

"What do you mean what about me?" Summer asked as she turned away from me and stirred her coffee.

I never met a girl who had completely no faith in others or themselves. Summer really honestly thinks that I am going to leave her? It's just not happening.

"What will you do?" I asked her

"I don't know, go hook up with a Hollywood producer or something." She said shrugging

"Oh, the best way to catch syphilis." I said smirking. Summer looked at me amused by the fact that I was teasing her. "Or you can hop on my boat with me, we might catch some crabs but that's a risk I am willing to take."

Crabs? Shit, where the hell did that come from?

"I like those odds." Summer said with a smile

Oh my god! Is she flirting back with me! Is a GIRL actually flirting back with me?

"So where are Ryan and Marissa anyway?"

Ryans POV: The Same Routine

Sometimes I've gotta wonder if my life is going to be more than this, more than saving people. So yeah I get that that sounds selfish but I'm not sure how much longer I can do it. I look at Marissa and see my mother, the one person that hurt me more than anyone else in the world.

I turned to look at Marissa who was sitting next to me. I think we're in Nevada or something now. It's a pretty warm day considering it's winter. We've been sitting on this bench outside of some small town diner for like hours. The bus hasn't come yet… I don't even think Marissa knows what we're waiting for.

"Are you okay?" I asked Marissa as I watched her eyelids flutter open and closed.

"Yeah." She said slowly and the let her lips rest back together.

I'm kinda worried. She hasn't had a fix in nearly a week, she's not looking too good. Sometimes people die going through withdrawal. If Marissa doesn't get into a detox center it will happen to her.

Her skin had lost all of it's color, mind the freckles, and her hands were pale and shaky. Her skin was clammy with perspiration.

"You don't look too good." I said feeling her head.

She was burning up… It looked like it took all of her strength to stay upright on the bench while her hands trembled. She had dark circles under her eyes.

"I'll be right back." I said heading into the diner for a moment where I found Seth and Summer in a conversation about boats or something "Guys." I said interrupting

"What's going on man?" Seth asked me

"Nothin', I gotta go somewhere for a minute, can you and Summer watch Marissa. She's not doing too well." I said not meeting their eyes

"Yeah, no problem." Summer said heading outside right away.

"Where are you going?" Seth asked

"Don't worry about it. Don't leave until I come back, got it?" I asked

"Yeah." Seth said following Summer

I threw my hood over my head as I began to walk. It didn't take me too long to find a bad part of town. Guy sat on the porch stoops, weapons exposed, girls lined the street corners.

"Hey man." I said walking up a guy on one of the stoops. "Look I'm looking to get some coke or something." I said keeping my head to the ground.

"How much you need?" He asked me standing so he cowered above me. He pulled a bag from his pocket. "This is all I got, but my -"

"This is straight." I said looking at the baggie. "This laced with anything?" I asked

"Nah baby, this is the pure shit right here."

It took me an hour to walk back to the diner, not quite sure how to feel about what I just did, but if you think about it, Marissa could have died. When I got back to the diner they were on the same bench, but this time Marissa was asleep and her head rested in Summers lap.

"Where they hell did you go! We were waiting forever!" Summer asked

"Come on." I said to them helping Marissa off of Summers lap and leading them to the woods right behind the diner. "Do you have a make up mirror or something?" I asked Summer

"Oh no, you're not-"

"GIVE IT TO ME!" I yelled for no reason. Summer tossed me the mirror and the backed up beside Seth.

Marissa was sitting, leaning helplessly against a tree. I pulled the bag out of my pocket and cut it into lines.

"Oh man I can't believe this." I heard Seth mumble

"Take it." I said to Marissa. She looked at me hesitantly "TAKE IT!" I ordered again handing her the rolled bill.

Without looking up she devoured the lines. And when she was finished every bit gone, I collapsed against a tree sobbing like a child.

Sometimes sacrifice is the greatest gift.