Hey guys. I've had a little free time scattered throughout the week, so I did indeed get time to finish and post this chapter. We had a band competition which was a lot of fun and my cousin showed me this site that teaches you how to draw, so maybe I'll have some of my own pictures of my characters up in the future. Okay, well anyway, back to business. I got a lot of good reviews. Some positive feedback and comments on my writing (Thanks Talon666.) made me very happy. In this chapter things get even more interesting. Mel, Skye, and Jewel run into someone and… you'll see. So, read 'NeoFlock' and 'Deadline' by Talon666 and be on the lookout for some more fanfics from him. Also, read 'Dark Blue' and 'Maximum Ride: Wings vs. Wands' by Madeline Cullen. Both of Maddy's stories are nominees for some fanfiction awards. Alright, without further ado, I give you the latest chapter. Enjoy. I'm sure you'll love it.

Memphis Tennessee, the River City. This was the place that all of our flying took us. I decided we should stay within the state because I figured Tanner would expect us to get as far away from there as possible and, therefore, would not think to look for us there. Jewel agreed with me right off, but it took a little while to convince Skye. So, after much coaxing on my part, we were there.

We had started walking around the city, looking for a hotel somewhere, when Skye suddenly nudged me in the rib with his elbow. I turned to him and he nodded his head to the left of us.

"What?" I asked, getting a little paranoid. What could Skye possibly have seen? Was it Tanner?

"There's some kid over there staring at you." he informed me. "He just stopped dead and stared at you. It's freaking me out."

I looked in the direction Skye was motioning towards. A kid, a boy from the looks, was standing on the other side of the road. When he caught me looking at him he waved at me furiously. "Melody Smith!" he shouted.

Oh my goodness. Cory Reynolds was just across the road. The Cory I had known since first grade who I had recently found out had a huge crush on me.(Well, actually, my suspicions of the crush had just been confirmed recently.) I was afraid that Skye was going to kill him.

"Who is that?" Skye asked, clearly confused. "Do you know him?"

I noticed Jewel smirking and stammered, "Yeah. He… he's my… Cory. I m… I mean he's my… friend Cory." Real smooth Mel. Nice. You handled that one really well. Terrific.

To make matters worse, Cory was making his way across the street. Huge red flag. What was I going to do? What could I do?

It didn't take long for him to reach me. "Hey Mel. Nice to see you." Cory told me, shaking his dark hair out of his eyes.

"Hey Cory." I mumbled. I looked to Skye. His eyes were locked on Cory. He was probably assessing him as a possible threat. Joy.

"So, what're you doing here?" he asked me, clearly excited to see me and clearly not noticing Jewel or Skye.

Before I could answer, some person shoved past me and knocked me off balance. Cory managed to catch me and help me stand up before I fell. I was grateful, but I was also wishing he had just let me fall.

"Uh… Mel?" he asked after I stared at him stupidly for another minute. "Gonna answer me?"

"Huh?" I asked, shaking my head. "Oh, well…" I needed to come up with a lie fast. "Our school got shut down for a week. Sewage problems. So, Aunt Val drove me and my friends up here to see the sights and have some fun."

"Cool." he said, acknowledging Skye and Jewel. "I'm Cory Reynolds. I've been Mel's friend since elementary school." Then he added, "Hey, Mel, remember that time I beat up those two third graders for messing with you."

I nodded wondering why he brought that up. "Yeah. You got suspended for a week." I had always felt bad about that. I could've handled those clowns myself.

"Hi. I'm Jewel." Jewel spoke up to release some tension. "This is my cousin Skye." Did I mention how much I loved this little girl? She was as good at coming up with stories as I was.

"Nice to meet you." Cory said sweetly to Jewel. He had always been good with kids.

"So, what brings you here?" I asked, striking up a conversation. Anything to keep focus off of me.

"My birthday. Mom pulled me out of school to see Keith Urban in concert." Cory was a huge country music fan.

"Right." It was hard to remember birthdays when I didn't even know what day it was.

Everyone stood silent for a second. It was really awkward. No one quite knew what to say. People kept shoving past us and stepping on us. I finally got sick of it and got an idea.

"Hey Cory." I said, getting his attention. "Can I talk to you for a second? Alone." I stressed that last part for Jewel and Skye.

Cory shrugged and we went off a ways. I turned to him and looked into his familiar, dark brown eyes. It pained me to tell him that I didn't love him back.

"So…" Cory began.

I sighed and jumped in head first. "Felecia told me."

Cory's eyes darted to the ground. "Really?" he asked quietly. I nodded and he mumbled, "I should've known better than to have told her."

I chuckled. "Actually, it's been obvious to me for awhile." I admitted.

"How long's awhile?" he asked, shoving his hands into his pockets.

I sighed again. "Since first grade. I mean, why else would you get suspended for me?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I guess." He chuckled nervously.

I kicked the ground with the toe of my shoe. "There's something else you should know." This was going to crush him.

He looked up into my eyes. "You're dating Skye right? He's your boyfriend right?" he asked sadly.

I nodded. "I'm so sorry Cory. If… if I hadn't went to live with Aunt Val then maybe we could've been something. But Skye's just… you know?" I wasn't quite sure how to put this.

He nodded. "I understand. Stupid dream huh?"

I looked at him appalled. "Are you kidding? Cory, you will make some girl very happy someday. You're sweet, funny, you play a mean guitar, you're excellent at baseball, and you care about people. You helped me through some rough times."

"Huh. Yeah, I guess I did." He sighed. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I will find someone just as great as you someday."

I shook my head. "She'll be better." I told him.

He sighed and I could tell he didn't quite believe that, but he didn't want to argue with me. "So, I guess this is it then."

"No." I told him. "I wanted to say something else."

"What?" he asked curiously.

"You have always been and always will be my best friend in the world. Not Felecia. When I was feeling sad I always called you. Even when we weren't hanging out if you noticed I was upset you'd talk to me. I do love you Cory Reynolds. It's just a different kind of love."

At this he hugged me tightly. "You're my best friend too." he whispered in my ear. "As long as you're happy, I'm okay. I'm just glad you love me, even if it's not quite the way I want. I'm fine. Just remember that I'm always here. All you have to do is pick up a phone."

I felt like I was going to cry. "I know. I know." I whispered. I was afraid to let go of him.

We held on for a second longer and then pulled apart. "Bye." I whispered, wishing things weren't the way they were.

"Good bye Melody." He started to turn around and walk off, but stopped. "Hey Mel. Skye's a lucky guy. I hope he knows that."

I nodded. "He does. And I hope whoever you end up realizes she's a lucky girl."

He just nodded. "Well, I hope we see each other again one day."

"I hope we do too." I said, turning around and walking off. Oh God I hoped we would. I never realized how much I'd miss someone that was not in my family.

As I walked away, I could've sworn I faintly heard someone humming 'Heart Like Memphis' by the Carter Twins. It was a song that Cory had played for me back in sixth grade. I began humming it too as I walked along.

"So, you okay?" Skye asked me when I got back to him and Jewel. "What happened?"

I breathed in and said, "Well what was said is between me and Cory, but everything will be okay."

Skye nodded and we started walking again. Soon, Jewel asked, "He loves you doesn't he? Cory loves you, right Mel?"

I sighed and nodded. "Yeah, he does. And I love him… in a way." I looked to Skye, who seemed to be okay with this. "He said you're a lucky guy Skye."

Skye grabbed my hand and laced my fingers with his. "Yeah, I am."

We walked around for a little while longer before we stumbled across a Holiday Inn. We walked inside and went up to the front desk.

"How may I help you?" the manager asked, eyeing us suspiciously. He looked very prim and proper and was probably a clean freak.

"I was wondering if we could have a room." I told him. "Just for the night. We'd be leaving in the afternoon."

He looked at me for a minute and then said, "Well I'm sorry but I cannot just give a room to three minors. I'd need to speak with your parents."

Well, crap. I guess Jewel's plan of forcing me and Skye on an 'actual' date had been foiled. Just as I was about to turn around, Skye slipped the guy a fifty dollar bill. Where had he gotten that from?

"One room coming up." the manager said in a much more upbeat tone. He turned around and typed some things into a computer. He then turned around and handed me three room keys. "Room 401 is open. Enjoy your stay."

"Thanks." I muttered. Looked like Jewel's plan was back on.

As the three of us piled into the elevator I whispered to Skye, "Where'd you get that money from?"

"The guy who knocked you over. I figured he owed us." Skye smirked.

It took all my strength not to crack a smile. "Well, I don't approve of your methods, but they are effective." I told him. He just smiled.

We went up to our room and Jewel immediately flopped down on the bed. "No watch tonight." she said with delight.

I smiled. "No, no watch. However, I think we need baths." I tossed the bag in the floor and then sat on the edge of Jewel's bed. Skye sat next to me.

Jewel smiled. "Yeah, especially you and Skye. You two have a date tonight." she said in a sing-song voice.

Skye grimaced. "I was hoping you'd forgotten."

I pretended to look offended. "What, you don't wanna go out with me?"

"No, I just don't want to 'go out'." Skye said hurriedly. "People make me nervous."

I put my hand on his and squeezed. "I'll help you."

"Fine." he gave in. "But one hint of trouble and we take off into the skies and come back here. Deal?"

I rolled my eyes. "Deal."

Well, that's the end of this chapter. I thought it was sort of cute. A filler, but a good chapter nonetheless. I have no clue when I'll get to update again, but you can be sure Mel and Skye's date is going to be full of surprises. Well, I'll catch you guys later. Don't forget to review.