Jake and Marley stayed in Virginia for a little less than a week, they headed to Pennsylvania and had been staying there for two nights. They had become friends, close friends and they both cared about each other a lot, it was like it was them against the world. Marley liked to spend time with Jake, he made her happy and made her laugh, something she hadn't genuinely felt or done since before her mom. Jake was someone who she could talk to and she was grateful for him, they had spent everyday together yet she still didn't know exactly how his mom died. She could tell it was a touchy subject so she didn't bring it up, all she knew was that his mom had an overdose and he found her. He said that he felt useless and couldn't forgive himself for not being able to help her, Marley knew the feeling. Marley was still questioning whether she wanted to go back to Ohio one last time for her mother, or head somewhere new. She had to tell Jake today since they were planning on leaving tonight. Marley walked across a bridge that was not to far from the hotel. She closed her eyes and listened to the water flow underneath her, she felt peaceful.

"I'm coming home mom, one last time."

Jake knew that Marley was going for a walk but she had been gone for almost an hour and he was starting to get worried. He considered calling her, but he didn't want to interupt her time thinking about her mom, he just really wanted to know she was okay. He grabbed his phone and right before he pressed the call button. she walked through the door.

"How was your walk?"

"Good. I want to go back to Ohio, this will be the last time I will be able to do this and I want to."

"We can head there tonight, it shouldn't take that long for us to get there. If we leave a little early we could be there before it gets too late."

"We can leave early, I want to get there and check in somewhere so I can get some rest before I go to the house. We have to be careful, I don't want to run into Nick. I know his usual schedule so if we time it right I could have some time to say goodbye one last time."

"What time do you want to leave?" Jake checked his watch before looking back up at her. "It's almost 4:30, Marley."

"How about now?"

"Let's go then." Jake walked across the room and picked up his already backed bag and Marley grabbed hers.

They drove from Franklin Pennsylvania to Lima in just over seven hours, including stopping to pick up some dinner. They arrived in Lima at 1:00 am and checked into a hotel, quickly falling asleep. Marley woke up around 8:00 and put on a hoodie before walking to a small diner to get her and Jake some breakfast. She got the breakfast and started walking back to the hotel until she saw Matt, luckily he didn't see her but it hurt her a little to see him again. She wasn't sure what he would be doing out so early on a weekend, but she just left the thought alone and walked into the hotel. Marley went up to their room and saw that Jake was still sleeping, she set the breakfast down and went to take a shower. When she got out Jake was still sleeping so she started to eat her breakfast, she turned on the tv and turned the volume down. She flipped through the channels until she came to the news, which was on a commercial break. When it came back on her eyes widened with shock.

"Local girl of Lima Ohio, Marley Rose, as gone missing. Her step-father filed the report Wednesday afternoon, the police seem to think that she has run away. If anyone has any information on where she is you are urged to call the number below. Such a sad story..."

Marley turned the tv off before the reality hit her. "Dammit!"

Jake woke up when Marley yelled. "What's wrong Marley?"

"Nick filed a missing persons report, the cops are looking for me!"

"What?! How do you know?"

"It was on the news. I'm going to have to hide."

"Look all you have to do is be careful when we go out. Cover your face, that sort of thing."

"Okay, sorry I woke you up."

"It's cool, this is a pretty tricky situation, I understand that you're pissed."

"It's more than that, it's the fact that he would go to all that trouble just to find me when all he does is beat the hell out of me."

"Don't worry, we can get far enough away that they won't find you."

"Here I got some breakfast." Marley handed him the bag.

"Did anyone see you?"

"No, I had a hoodie on. If anyone saw me it would be the cashier who wasn't paying attention to anything but the money and her nails. I did see Matt, though I didn't talk to him."

"Matt? Your ex?"

"Yeah, he didn't see me which is good but it was kind of weird to see him after everthing that happened between us. He was really upset about us the last time I saw him and now he looks happier. I'm glad that he is, he was a great boyfriend but we weren't meant for each other."

"Well it's good that you feel that way I guess. So what time do you think is good to go to your house?"

"If Nick is still working, and I assume he is since he needs money to stay there, somewhere around four. I just want to make sure his car isn't there before I go in."

"You're going in?! Isn't that dangerous?"

"If he's not there, no it isn't. I want to see if there is anything in my room that I want. I wasn't exactly planning on traveling with someone, I thought I woud be alone and most likely on foot so I grabbed the essentials. I just want to be sure there isn't something important that I need."

"Okay."

Jake and Marley finished their breakfast and Jake checked them out of the hotel around 2:00. They drove to Marley's house and parked a few houses down on the side of the road.

"He's not home."

"Are you going to go in now?"

"Since he's gone I have to."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, I'm going to go around back first. Then I'll go into my room and throw a bag out if I find anything. Can you grab it when you see it?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you, I'll be right back." Marley walked around to the back of the house and saw that there were a few flowers that had bloomed. She picked them and sat next to the garden, speaking quietly.

"I miss you everday mom, I want to cry but I have to be strong because I know you're with me. I know that you're watching over me, I hope you've seen Jake. He's my family now, I care about him so much and I know you would've loved him. I know I could've said goodbye to you anywhere, but I feel closer to you here. Sometimes I would wish I could come home from school and walk into the back yard and see you in the garden. I wish you were still here with me. I came here to say goodbye but it doesn't feel that way. I know you'll always be with me and that means the world to me. I can't see you but I know you're there. I love you mom, so much and nothing and no one can ever change that. You'll always be the mom who made me cookies when I lost my favorite teddy bear, the mom who held me when I cried, the best mom anyone could ask for and I am so thankful that you were mine."

Marley wiped the tears she had shed off of her face and stood up. She walked through the back door and into her room, she grabbed another duffel and threw some clothes and books in it. She went through her closet and founf the blanket that she and her mom made, she stuffed it in the bag before grabbing the rest of her childhood photo albums from the shelf in her room. She then threw the bag out the window and Jake came over to it.

"Almost done?"

"Yeah, I'll be out in a few minutes."

"Take your time." Jake walked back over to the car with the bag and set it in the back seat.

Marley wanted to see if there was anything she wanted in the livingroom until she heard a bedroom door open.

"Hey, Marley. Would've thought you'd never come home." Marley turned around to come face to face with Nick.