I have been having a terrible writers block, wrote 3 different versions of this chapter, finally found one I liked, my computer deleted it, AGAIN!, had a bad case of sore throat, finally sat down to write this. How's that for Christmas miracles?

I'd like to thank Pixie once again for giving me this great idea.

I want to dedicate this chapter to my sister if she ever decieds to read this.

BANG! BANG!

Shots rang through the desert. I fell to the ground clutching my knees to my chest. Allen, who thankfully was next to me, placed a sturdy hand upon my shoulder.

"Get up you freaks," A frightening voice called out. "I ain't gonna hurt ya."

Allen stood up and held out a hand to pull me up. I gratefully accepted it allowing myself to be pulled up to safety; of course a light pink spread across my face.

The man began speaking to my father with words I didn't feel like listening to.

"I know that man," Allen whispered in my deaf ear.

"Who is he then?" I desperately wanted to know.

"Victor." Allen replied. "He used to attend school with our dads. The three of them were best friends until your dad did something to upset Victor."

"What did he do?" I was very curious at this point. Who doesn't like to dig up dirt on their parents?

"That's the thing, my father doesn't know. He said that he started dating your mom and Victor soon went off on him. He would bully him and sometimes even beat him up."

This was way better than the hat currently sitting on top of my head.

"That's weird. I have never heard about this before."

"Maybe your dad didn't want to tell you."

"Maybe, I've seen him as a rock. Ya know, emotion-less."

I watched the car fly off into the sunset, wondering what just happened.

"Is everyone alright?" My dad called out.

Everyone called back saying they were okay.

"Okay then. Go to your tents and head to bed. We will discuss matters in the morning."

I began walking to where my dad said my tent was with Allen trailing close behind. I see my grandfather and run towards him.

"Good night grandpa," I speak to him. Normally I would want to hug him but I must remember that I am a guy.

"Night Hen," He smiles at. I can feel as though he is proud.

I run away quickly hoping not to run into my dad. I don't feel like facing him right now after everything that has happened today.

Allen and I enter our tent to find that it is pretty simple. Nothing more than two cots each equipped with a trunk for our belongings. I like that it is not pink.

I unpack my items, placing them in the trunk. I had packed a bunch of plain shirts including a few plaid ones. I had a few jeans but only some had holes from running outside and scrapping my knee up pretty good a few times.

I pull out a frilly, pink journal a secret admire had given me long ago back when I was in the 5th grade. I later found out who the boy was and he now goes out with every pretty girl that walks by. I shake the thought that I used to be pretty and begin scribbling jot-dots down not wanting to forget the details of the day. This adventure could one day make me famous.

"Whatcha' writing down so quickly?" Allen voice ruined my creative moment.

"Nothing much; just a few thoughts off the top of my head that I later make into an entry. I want to have an accurate memory." I don't look up from the page.

"Fun," he replied and continued unpacking.

I grabbed my grandfathers hat off my head and let my brownish hair fall loose.

"Ah…" I sighed, "Relief."

Allen tried to muffle a laugh.

"What's so funny?" I questioned.

"Oh nothing." I hated when people tried to cover up something.

"Oh obviously something. Tell me." I commanded harshly.

"Nope." He was just as stubborn as me, my father, and my grandfather. And if I personally know my great-grandfather, I'm pretty sure he would even more stubborn then the three of us combined.

"You forced my hand." I then jumped on him and pinned him to the ground.

"Whoa! How ya do that?" He tried to hide his shock but it was as easy to read as a child's book on his face.

"Something my grandmother taught me a few years ago in case any boy tried to mess with me." My grandmother was known for her toughness. She was always showing me new things.

"Well how 'bout you let me on up?" Allen tried to mossy his way out of under me.

"Not until you tell me what you were laughing about 'cause obviously it had something to do with me."

"It's just that you went through all that trouble just to come to this crummy place to look for things that we may never find just so you could show how tough you are. And yet at the end of the day you still write in a pink journal with ruffles just like every other girl."

"Well let's just say I'm not your average girl." I stand up and lend out a hand to pull him up. He gratefully accepts grabbing my hand sending a shock through my body.

"I can tell." He pushes a piece of my hair back behind my ear.

"What are you doing?' I ask. He pulls his hand back. Blush becomes him.

"Sorry. I didn't really…I mean…you're so…" he just can't stop rambling.

I giggle a bit. "That's fine." I wish he would do it again.

The moment becomes uncomfortable and I quickly sit down on my cot.

"So why ya here?" I wondered.

"Well my dad is a college professor…"

"I all ready knew that," I interrupted. "Your dad comes over sometimes. I never knew that he had a son though."

"Well he does, so shut up and let me explain." He continued and I laughed. "So he works with your dad. He was coming on this dig and asked if I wanted to join him and I eagerly replied yes."

"Neat-O." I stared up at the top of the tent.

"So why are you here?" He questioned me the question I had been dreading.

"My dad," I replied.

"But obviously you weren't invited," he recalled from earlier in the day when he discovered me.

"Yup, I snuck in there and rode all the way there by myself. See me and my dad are in opposite sides of the universe. He is always working and pushing me away or so it seems to me. My grandparents say that he loves me but I have never experienced that love. So when he told me he was going on this dig, I thought of this idea. I ran it past my grandmother and she helped me with everything."

"So you really trust your grandmother?"

"Yep but not with all my secrets; those things I have kept to myself."

"What about your grandfather? He seems like a nice guy?"

"Oh he is. I'm not picking favorites but if I did have a favorite, it would be him. He has always been supportive of me and I love him."

"I'm glad you have someone in your life looking out for you."

"Thanks. You know no one understands me like this. Not even my grandparents. I just can't talk openly to them about all this."

"What about your dad?"

"That's really funny. Haven't you've been listening to our conversation?"

"Of course I have but let me get this straight, you don't love your dad but you don't hate him either?"

"Yeah that's it. He has never said 'I love you' and I have never said it back. I don't think I ever will. There aren't too many people who love me. Just my grandparents, that's it."

"I'm sure that will change soon."

"Hopefully; I feel so close to you, closer than a friend."

"Same here and it's only been like 20 minutes." We both laughed a flirtatious laugh. It was so weird this feeling I had for him.

"We should really be going to bed. Tomorrow gonna be crazy." Allen insisted.

"Yeah I guess so…" I didn't want to. I wanted to stay up and talk to him some more.

"Well good night." He turned off the light and I crawled under the blanket.

I feel asleep quickly but was awoken to the roar of an engine.

It took me a moment to realize my hands were tired along with my feet. I began to struggle relentlessly. I wanted to scream but a gag muffled the noise.

"Will someone shut the chick up?" A man's voice that sounded a bit off to me; almost as though he had been drinking.

"Keep it down, will ya?" This voice was directed towards me. Then out of nowhere, a hand came and knocked up the side of my head. I could feel a warm substance roll down the side of my head: Blood.

I stopped squirming, realizing what these men were capable of.

"I hope her daddy gets the note we left for him or else this plan is gonna back-fire."

'My dad,' I thought. I was now completely regretting all the things I had told Allen earlier.

'Please dad,' I pleaded, wondering if telepathic communications could work for me. 'Save me. I'm sorry I never said I love you 'cause I do.' I hope everyone had a amazing holiday. Ho ho ho *cough, cough* Stupid hairballs.