Wilbur just kept running, as fast as his legs would carry him. He couldn't stop or he might return. He needed to get away; his stomach ached; yet he willed himself to keep going. He finally found a nice hidden area in the forest to hide and rest for a bit. Wilbur laid down, when suddenly.

"AHHHH" he screamed loudly and winced at the surge of pain he felt streaming through his body. Wilbur lifted his shirt to examine the bruise again, and what he saw made him quake. The bruise was getting bigger; Wilbur put down his shirt and laid on his back. He was tired and weak, all he wanted to do was close his eyes and have it all be over. No one knew how hard it was to be Wilbur Robinson. Everyone thought he had it easy, but it wasn't true. Wilbur thought back to all the fights he has had with his father and he believed that no one had it as bad as him.

Wilbur began to sit up when he heard a rustle behind him. His heart began to race. Is it my father? He wondered. I'm going to be in so much trouble. Wilbur sat there preparing himself for the argument he would inevitably have with his father. He looked into the bushes as a silhouette of a young girl came rising up. She had dark skin, brown eyes, and black hair. She smiled at Wilbur and stuck out her hand and helped Wilbur to his feet. Wilbur had seen this girl around school, but he never actually talked to her.

"Uh thanks" Wilbur said, looking away from her.

"You're welcome" She replied. "You are Wilbur Robinson, are you not?" she asked, her eyes began to sparkle. Wilbur wondered why she was talking weird. She had an accent and her sentence structure was a bit off, but he thought it would be rude not to answer.

"Yes, I am" he answered. She just smiled and laughed to herself.

"My name is Leyla Costas, I go to your school," the girl said still smiling.

"Why do you talk so weird?" Wilbur asked realizing how inappropriate his question was.

"Oh, I am from Brazil, my family moved here two years ago, so I still have my accent" She replied. She didn't seem offended, which was good for Wilbur.

"So, Wilbur Robinson, what are you doing out here all by yourself?" Leyla asked.

"I needed to get away from my family. I can't be around them right now" Wilbur responded, looking at the ground to avoid eye contact with Leyla.

"Oh why is that? I always thought it would be great to be a Robinson" Leyla responded with a look of concern on her face. Wilbur sighed.

"My father and I don't get along. He hates me and I don't want to be around him. I was thinking of taking a trip," Wilbur said honestly. There was no point in lying.

"I can understand, my Papa doesn't love me either. He is very angry and likes to take control of me" Leyla said, with tears filling her eyes.

"I'm sorry Leyla" Wilbur said reassuringly and placed a hand on Leyla's shoulder.

"It's okay, I probably deserve it. Hey would you mind if I continue with you?" she asked hopefully.

"What?" Wilbur responded.

"May I continue with you on your trip, or no?" Leyla clarified. Wilbur thought for a moment. Sure he did not really know this girl, but at least he wouldn't be lonely. Also he thought she was really pretty.

"Hmmm, well….. why not" Wilbur answered with a smile on his face.

"Yay! Estou tão feliz" Leyla said gleefully.

"What did you just say?" Wilbur asked.

"Oh sorry, I said I am very happy. Sometimes when I get very excited I speak in Portuguese, since it is my native language" Leyla responded. For some reason the word Portuguese reminded Wilbur of something, but he couldn't remember what.

"Oh well alright. Follow me, we better hurry up". Wilbur said, and the two teens started wandering down the long forest path in the hopes of finding something new and exciting.

Cornelius exited his son's room, his eyes still swollen from his tears.

"FRANNY! FRANNY!" he shouted and his wife came around the corner to greet him.

"Cornelius, honey, what's wrong?" Franny asked, she had never seen her husband this upset since Wilbur had left the garage door open and almost altered the time stream.

"He's gone" Cornelius whispered.

"Who's gone, Cornelius, who are you talking about?" Franny asked, Cornelius noticed his wife's voice begin to tremble.

"Wilbur…. Wilbur is gone. I don't know where he is" Cornelius said and hung his head and wept some more.

"He can't be gone, Cornelius, where is he? This is not funny." Franny demanded, as a tear fell from her eye and down her cheek. Cornelius took his hand and wiped away her tear from her face.

"Franny, this isn't a joke. He's gone, but listen to me. I am going to do whatever it takes to find him. I promise you that Franny. I will bring our son home" Cornelius said in a very stern voice. Franny just nodded as more tears fell from her eyes. She laid her head into her husband's shoulder and cried loudly. Cornelius wrapped his arms around his wife and tried to comfort her.

"I want him back Cornelius. I need him home" Franny cried.

"I know darling, I will bring him to you. Everything will be okay" Cornelius said. Powerful words, if only he had believed them himself.