Chapter 4!

This is my way of saying sorry for having to wait so long, two updates in one day. Who's amazing? That's right! Me! (Just kidding)

As you can sense, this story will be longer than the last one but it won't be over 10-15 chapters.

Thanks for reading!

Enjoy!

Michael followed Clarissa backstage, trying to reign his anger in and stay behind her instead of going back there and punch the bastard in the face.

During their run, Sara had told Michael more about Clarissa and how she was. He was told about how she was as a child and a teenager. How dedicated she was to school. She always wanted to become an engineer but because of her own rape, she chose a different path which she was happy with until a few months ago. She started second guessing her career choice for a bit longer than since she had met him but didn't find the courage to try all over again. Seemed she did now. Sara had even told him about that night and what happened or at least, what they think happened as she was passed out due to the drug that he had given to her.

But he didn't think of that, all he could do was try and reign his anger in instead of going back and hitting the guy in the face like he so wanted to do. He knew he couldn't because he had just gone free and he was in the middle of the crowded arena. He also knew that Clarissa wouldn't be happy with him if he did.

"Michael!" She snapped, waving her hand in front of his face.

He blinked, looking at her. "What? Is som-"

"Michael, I've been trying to catch your attention for 3 minutes now. What's wrong?" She asked, searching his eyes. "Where were you? It wasn't here, are you okay? Is something wrong?"

"No, no. Don't worry. Nothing wrong, my head's still on the run."

"Well, it doesn't have to be anymore. You're free. Home. No more need to run. No more need to play and manipulate people. Michael, you are free." She said, averting her eyes. "Come on, I don't want to hear about you guys on the run..."

"Clarissa, I have to explain. Please, let me." Michael begged.

She sighed. "Michael. Not now, I want to hear it all. I do but you got to understand me as well. Just not now, okay?"

"Then when? I want to explain now... well, not now but I do want to explain as soon as possible." He said. "I'd be really happy if you'd let me."

"I will. You'll let me explain as well, right?" She asked.

"Of course."

"Good. Wait here." She said, before quickly dashing into a room before reappearing a moment later with a coat and a bag and a bottle of Iced Tea in her hand. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's go."

He nodded and followed her as they walked to the parking lot behind the arena. As they were nearing her car, Michael only furrowed his brow while Clarissa was looking in her bag. "I don't see your car anywhere, where is it?" Michael asked, still looking around in the hopes of finding her Fiat.

"Right here." She said, opening her new car.

After her father died, he left her his car which happened to be a jaguar. She never thought he ever mentioned her in his will as she was always blamed for what happened years ago by him and yet, she had gotten a letter from his lawyer, expecting her in his office three days after his funeral. She learned she had gotten his car, a house in Panama he owned and another house he owned in France and some money as well. Sara got all the rest and she also heard he had started a college fund for her son.

That had been the biggest surprise.

Michael frowned down at her. "Where's that little Fiat you owned?"

"In the garage at home. This was father's. He left it to along with some estate... in Panama."

"Panama?" Michael repeated with a smirk.

"Panama. You know,-" she said, handing him the keys. "-I always wanted to go there. These days, I'm afraid to go. Well, go back."

"Why? What's holding you back?" He asked, opening the door for her before getting in himself. He looked at her as he started the engine. "It's a beautiful country, I definitely reccomend it."

"I'm sure you will but it's just... With you guys being on the run there and father's estate... I am not sure anymore. I am not afraid of the country, per say, but more of what I will find in the estate. Of what I will find out about you which I'm quite sure I will." She shrugged. "I did go back during Linc's school break but I didn't even step foot inside of father's estate, too afraid to face anything that could be inside."

"I'm sure you will find out things about us too but it shouldn't hold you back from going. What was it like after we escaped?"

"Sara ended up in the hospital and I stayed with her for the entire time, Linc stayed at my side. She found father dead and called me, by the time I got there she was gone, running. I arranged father's funeral and quit my job. This semester I went back to school, I'm studying to be an engineer and I am teaching at the dance school to make money as well."

"Were you alone?"

"In what?"

"Your father. Were you all alone through the proces of grieving for him?" He asked, suddenly aware of the effect his escape had on her life.

She slowly shaked her head. "Michael... I wasn't alone, in the beginning. I had Lily by my side for a while but she lives in Seattle so she needed to go back and I needed some alone time as well. I won't say it wasn't hard because it was and I could've used my sister but I understand why she ran as well. Somewhere."

"She's married now."

"What?!"

"Yeah, she fell in love with Linc while we were running. Before our final break, they married." He sighed as he pulled up to her house. "Don't th-"

"I know I'm not staying here." She said, looking at him. "I'm well aware I am going to stay with you. I may not know you nearly enough but I do know you well enough to know you're not going to let go until you're sure I'm safe." If you even let me go at all. "You like to take care of people you care about, I like to think you care about me."

"I don't, Clarissa. I don't care about you." He looked into her eyes, full of tears now. "I love you, Clarissa. If I even thought you'd say yes, I would prove that by marrying you."

She closed her eyes and got out of the car. Before she closed it, she leaned down and smiled at him. "I'd say yes."