I didn't sleep all night, I couldn't, my mind was too busy turning over what I had found out to even try and get some rest. When the sunlight started to show on the other side of my curtains I realised it had been weeks since I'd been awake during the day.

I pulled the curtains back and immediately put a hand above my eyes to shade them, it took them a few seconds to adjust enough for me to see the streets outside. The sun wasn't even that bright, the sidewalks and road were still damp from the rain the night before and there were only a few people walking up and down the street, cars drove past lazily every few seconds. The clock on the nightstand told me it was just approaching midday, I had a few hours to get ahead.

My bags were always ready to be grabbed whenever we were leaving, but I needed to cut back on my luggage. I emptied out all the clothes and took only the essentials, the few pieces of clothing I was always wearing, and two pairs of shoes. The rest I was prepared to leave, until an idea struck me. I quickly packed the disgarded clothes into the larger bag and slung the other over my shoulder.

There was no way I could leave without any indication to Rachel as to where I had went, she'd worry something had happened. I managed to borrow a pen and some paper from the front desk and took them upstairs, sitting at the small table in the room as I drummed the pen trying to think of what to write.

How do I tell her?

After a deep breath I let my thoughts flow freely, writing down all I could to tell her why I was leaving, how sorry I was to come all this way only to change my mind. I grabbed my bags and left the note on the bed.

I quietly walked up to the door to Rachel's door and crouched down, sliding my key under her door. I couldn't wait until she was awake and tell her, she'd never let me go. I wouldn't get to say goodbye this time, but hopefully my note would do that for me.

Rachel

I have to go back. It's hard to explain but I can't turn my back on what I want, no matter how long I'm away from Santa Carla, I will always want to go back. I know what this means, and I'm prepared to accept whatever comes out of my decision. I'm sorry we can't spend more time together, these last few days have been amazing getting to know you. And we will see each other again, Max will not keep us apart.

I'm sorry. I love you, Mom.

Bryn

I dropped the clothes I wasn't keeping off at a thrift shop, pocketed the small amount of change my contributions had won me and set out towards the outskirts of town. I had my thumb out for a lift for about twenty minutes when a small family picked me up and agreed to take me to the next town, it'd take me a few days to go back, but I'd get there.

"Hey, rise and shine Sleeping Beauty."

I jolted awake to see the girl I had begged for a ride back into California smiling at me, I sat up from where I had slumped down in the seat and looked around, not recognising where we were but I assumed since she had woke me we were back in California.

"Sorry for falling asleep." I apologised, the last two days had been spent travelling non-stop. One person dropped me off and another picked me up shortly after, I hadn't slept at all until I got into this car, the soft blanket over the back of the seats was just too inviting and I dosed off fairly quickly.

She waved her hand in dismissal, "It's no big deal, you didn't snore so that was good. Where did you say you were heading again?"

"Santa Carla."

"I better drop you off pretty soon because I'll be going in a different direction, do you need money for some breakfast?"

I shook my head, a lot of folks picking me up had assumed I was running away from home and was broke, so a few of them had offered money. Not that I needed it, a coffee here and a candy bar there had kept me going, I still had some more change to spend so I could take care of that before I looked for another ride.

"Yeah I'm totally fine, I really appreciate the lift, Molly." Her name had vanished from my mind for a second but I managed to recover it just in time, a lot of new names were thrown at me in every car, usually I was picked up by families travelling between towns or packs of teenagers on a road trip somewhere. Molly was the only person so far that had been in a car by herself.

"No problem, Bryn. Good luck, and stay safe!" She called as I got out of the car, now it was really sunny and I ducked into the first diner I could find, slumping in a booth and scouring the menu for what I could afford. I had just enough left for a soda and a bowl of soup, so I lay my head on the table while I waited.

A nervousness was building in my stomach about going back, the closer I got the more real the idea of seeing Dwayne and Paul again became. I didn't know what I would say to them, how I'd explain coming back, I just hoped they hadn't left or anything.

After leaving with a half-full stomach I walked a little through the town and eventually caught a lift, it would be a few more hours until I got back to Santa Carla.

It was nighttime by the time I got back to the familiar town, I was dropped off just outside the town but I knew my way in easily enough. I got a small sense of happiness as I passed the sign to the town, continuing past it towards the boardwalk. I didn't know if any of the guys would be there or at the caves, but I figured seeing as it was closer I might as well start there.

After going through the boardwalk with no sign of them, I resorted to searching the small alleys that the lights didn't reach, odds were one of them might be hanging around.

I ran a hand through my hair and sighed, deciding to give up and go back to the main part of the boardwalk. I could start making my way towards the caves and hopefully find one of them there, if not I had no clue what to do next.

I walked towards the entrance to the alley I was in and just as I was about to step out into the light I saw him.

Dwayne.

I stood frozen taking in every detail, he looked the same as when I had left, and I found myself letting out a relieved sigh, my shoulders feeling lighter somehow now that I knew he was here. He looked around the boardwalk with an empty expression, his eyes flickering here and there. Every once in a while his eyes would move over to where I was but he didn't see me, I was still in the shadows, my feet still hadn't taken it upon themselves to move any closer.

I took a deep breath in preparation, my mind picturing the next few seconds. He'd see me and his expression would change, whether to happiness or anger I wasn't sure, I was hoping for the first option. I just wanted to tell him I was back, and that the time spent away from him had killed me and I'd never do it again.

I raised my foot to step forward, but I was abruptly pulled back with such force my breath left me in surprise, I had no time to take in another as a hand clamped over my mouth and an arm around my torso, it felt like an iron bar and the body I was now pressed back against was like a brick wall.

I struggled to look around but couldn't move even an inch, I didn't need to see who it was after all because the bent down to my ear and spoke.

"Bryn, how nice of you to come back to us."

Max.

I tried to scream and struggle, draw attention to us, but it was no use. We were concealed in the darkness and Dwayne had turned and started to walk away, completely oblivious to my presence. I watched his retreating figure with increasing dread, and Max dragged me further back down the alley.