Sorry for the wait. Life has been busy and blah all at the same time. I've had...not writer's block since I have most everything written, maybe editor's block? Is life block a thing? It should be, lol.

Anyway, on to the stuff you really care about. There will be two more chapters in this little road trip story. It was originally only going to be one more, but I didn't want to force this chapter beyond what felt like the natural conclusion. So, two more chapters.

Thank you so much for your feedback and for being so patient with me. I'm going to attempt to get back to a more regular update schedule for this and all of my stories since my brain and muse seem to be working in tandem again. :-)

"What do you think you're doing?"

Angela saw Eric's accusatory finger aimed at her shopping basket. She examined the contents, but saw nothing that should cause offense. "I'm buying food."

He plucked a bag of peaches and a banana bunch out of the basket and held them up. "This is fruit."

"I know."

"Why are you buying fruit?"

"It's food for the road."

"I think you missed the part where I said junk food for the road. You know: chips, cookies, candy, donuts- the good stuff. Fruit isn't what...please tell me those aren't vegetables under the tortilla chips." He covered his eyes.

She pulled out the package of assorted, pre-cut veggies. "What's wrong with these?"

"They're worse than the fruit! Honestly, have you never been on a road trip before?"

"Not really. I've moved a lot, but there wasn't much time for fun, games, and "proper" road trip food. Military moves were the epitome of efficient. My dad would have it no other way." She looked back at the vegetables he was protesting. "They come with ranch dressing for dipping. Does that help?"

"Barely."

"I can't just eat crap. You eat nothing but crap, you feel like crap."

"Says who?"

"Fruits and vegetables are healthy, filling snacks that won't leave you constantly hungry and feeling like you need a nap. I'm not some sort of health food nut, but you need balance: everything in moderation."

Eric stared at her for a minute. "You were the kid who wasn't allowed to leave the dinner table until you ate all your vegetables, weren't you?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I knew it," he said with a chuckle. "How about this: you pick out a couple delicious, junk food items and I'll get one or two things that show up on the good part of food pyramid."

"That sounds like a fair compromise. Just don't try to pass off Raisinettes as fruit with the rationale they used to be grapes."

"What makes you think I would ever do that?" It was his turn to be on the receiving end of a stare. "Okay, fine. But you have to admit when push comes to shove you could totally make a case for it."

/

/

"Sno-Caps as promised," Topanga announced when she entered hers' and Angela's room. "You said no to the movie, but at least come get dinner with Cory and-" She realized that she was talking to herself. Her friend was gone. There was, however a notecard on her pillow.

"Come on, ladies." Cory appeared in the doorway. "I'm starving. I can't decide if I want tacos or pizza, so I'm thinking taco pizza. Some guy in my calculus class said the pizza place will make them if you ask. They put salsa in the place of marinara sauce. That's like a dream come true, right?" He looked around and saw that his fiancée was alone. "Did Angela not want to get dinner with us either? She's been really antisocial lately, constantly turning down our invites."

"Cory, shush." She read the note over again. It was very short. "Angela's gone."

"Where did she go?"

"I have no idea. She left this note, but that's it."

He took the piece of card stock and read it aloud. "'I'll see you when I get back. Angela.' What the heck does that mean?"

"I suppose it means she'll see us when she gets back."

"Well, duh, Topanga. She says that right here. But where is she? How was she acting when you saw her earlier?"

"She seemed fine. Obviously she's disappointed about not being able to see her dad, but she was okay. I think. You know Angela, even when she's upset and miserable she forces herself to power through like nothing's wrong. It's a distraction."

"Maybe she was able to get a flight out? Or a train?"

"I think she'd have mentioned that."

"What if something happened?" His eyes bugged out. "What if she was kidnapped?"

"Wha-are you crazy?"

"No, no, what if a group came and strong-armed her out of the room and this pathetic little note is the only clue she had time to leave?"

"That's the last time I let you pick a movie that involves hostage negotiations."

"Seriously, writing is Angela's thing. She loves it. Why else would she leave a one-sentence note? Try calling that cellular phone her dad got her."

"I'll try later." It wasn't that she wasn't curious, but as usual Cory was leaping to the worst possible- not even remotely plausible- conclusions. "You know what, I bet you're right. She was kidnapped. We should go round up ransom money." She linked her arm through his. "But first: dinner."

"Hey, guys." Shawn strolled into the room. "Are we getting taco pizza or what?"

"You invited Shawn along when you knew I was going to ask Angela to come?"

"Of course! How else will she see that they are-"

"Where is Angela?"

"She's gone, Shawnie."

"What are you talking about?"

"She's not here. The coup has been flown. Goodnight, Philadelphia, you've been a beautiful audience. Elvis has left the building."

Topanga rolled her eyes at her fiancé's endless euphemisms. "Look, she probably-"

"Oh, gone gone. But I thought she couldn't get a flight out to see her dad? Where did she go?"

Cory handed the note over to his best friend. "Topanga thinks she may have been kidnapped, but I'm trying my best to keep her calm. You know all the hysterical theories she can come up with."

She yanked Angela's note back from the guys. "Let's go get dinner."

"But-"

"I will call Angela later and find out what's going on. Do you hear me? I will do it. I'm sure part of the reason she left was to get away from you two anyway."

"What the hell do you mean by that?"

"Nothing-just…taco pizza, right? Let's go. I'm excited. Olé!" She stood in the doorway, waiting for them to follow. "Now!"

/

/

"Do you think anyone knows we're gone yet," Angela pondered. They'd been on the road for a couple hours now. That was more than enough time for Topanga to come back after going to the movies with Cory. "And that we left together?" She'd taken just enough time to scribble a note for her roommate. It was brief and vague, just enough to let her know that she was okay.

"I have no idea. If they talk to Feeny or the Dean- yes. All my parents and Morgan know is that I was helping out a friend."

"What about Rachel and Jack? Didn't they see you leave?"

"Jack was out with Shawn and Rachel had one last test this afternoon. I don't know if they'll even notice I'm gone, to be honest. They barely make time to come up for air. They're not going to miss me."

"I sincerely doubt that. You make an impression when you enter a room…or trip into a room. Your absence will definitely be noticeable. Now, me on the other hand, I'm only going to be missed if Topanga needs an opinion on a wedding thing or help with her philosophy paper. Cory and Shawn will notice if they come up with a new matchmaking scheme."

"Nah, trust me, they'll realize you're gone. They'll miss you. They're your friends."

Truth be told, the more time that passed since Christmas the less Angela felt like she belonged in her little group. Her so-called best friends didn't seem to understand her and kept trying to force her into a situation and romantic relationship she no longer desired. Topanga was better than the guys, but she was Cory's fiancée and often got roped in with him. It was exhausting to constantly be on guard. They now acted as though she was the one who ended her relationship with Shawn, like she was the one who broke his heart. Facts had become twisted over time and Shawn was now made out to be the poor victim because she stood up for herself and refused to be jerked around by his ever changing emotions any longer. She would love to be able to hang out with Topanga, Cory, and even Shawn again and have fun like they used to. She missed them. "I guess time will tell."

"So what did you notice about me first, huh," he teased in a joking manner. "Start with my eyes."

She laughed- Eric always seemed to give her a reason to laugh with him instead of at him like others did- and lightly hit his shoulder. "Shut up."

/

/

"I don't even know what to make of this, do you?"

Rachel sat beside Jack on the couch in the Student Union and scanned Eric's letter again. "I'm stumped."

"I mean, Eric's been weird before, but this?" He read aloud. "Don't worry about me. I decided to join the space program and will send you a postcard from Neptune. P.S. I hear it rains diamonds there. I'll try to smuggle some back for you." He shook his head. "This is out there, even for him. And I'm not even talking about the outer space part."

"He probably just went on a drive. He said he wanted to check out some amusement parks during break. I know that's what he had planned for Tommy before his adoption happened. He probably decided to keep his plans to stay distracted."

"It's Eric. He probably went to Disney World. Barring the Mother Ship ever coming for him Space Mountain is the closest he'll ever get to the final frontier."

"Knock it off. Things have been weird lately at home. Maybe he needed to get away. We still haven't talked with him about us being together and how it shouldn't affect the roommate dynamic. It's been a while and you said you'd handle it."

"I try, but he's hardly ever home. I've tried to talk to him, but he bolts. He says he's working here or at the wilderness store or studying with a friend, but that one is a tough excuse to swallow."

"Actually, it may not be an excuse. I saw his last English paper before I left for my class. He got a B+."

"Really? Wow, okay, maybe he is studying."

"That still doesn't help us find him."

"Didn't you see him when you saw the paper? Any hints?"

"I didn't see him. His stuff was there but I think he was in his room. I figured he was taking a nap to recover from midterms. There was no hint that he was taking off."

"Who took off?"

Rachel and Jack turned around and saw Cory, Topanga, and Shawn entering the Student Union. Jack held up the note. "Your brother's gone."

"Huh?" He read over the piece of paper. "Well, this evening just took a turn for the weird."

"Let me see." Topanga read over his shoulder. "Ooh, there's a planet where it rains diamonds? Why can't it do that on earth?"

"Topanga, focus!"

"You guys haven't seen him, have you," Rachel asked.

"Nope."

"No."

"I saw him yesterday, but nothing since then."

"Have you seen Angela," Shawn questioned the pair on the couch.

"She's gone, too?"

"I did see her this morning when we were both grabbing coffee before class," the redhead answered. "We only had time for a quick hi."

"Wasn't she supposed to go see her dad anyway?" Just earlier today Jack had to listen to his brother vent about how he wouldn't be able to try to win Angela back when she was away with her dad. He called it a wasted vacation. "Give her a break, man. Clearly bombarding her isn't working. All you're doing is pushing her farther away."

"How can you say that?"

He looked around the room in an exaggerated fashion. "You don't see her around anywhere, do you? How many times has she declined when we all go to the movies or get dinner?" He frowned. "Come to think of it, Eric hasn't exactly been Mr. Social either lately. Normally he races us to the car when we grab ice cream, but last week said no."

Topanga dug Angela's note out of her purse and took Eric's from Cory. "Hmm, so they've both been rather anti-social."

"Yes, honey, that's been established. Try to keep up, will ya?"

"And they are both nowhere to be found."

"Again, Topanga, duh."

Her eyes darted back and forth between the respective letters. Whenever Angela didn't want to tag along with whatever activity was planned for the night she said she was doing something with Eric; going to the museum, movies, the aquarium, helping him study- there was always something. Topanga thought it was lie. She thought her friend was going for a cheap excuse that no one would ever believe. Either that or she had a new guy she wasn't ready to introduce to the group yet. She'd never imagined Angela was actually spending time with Eric.

"Good evening, everyone," Mr. Feeny exclaimed as she entered the lounge area with Dean Bollander. "My, I would've expected everyone to have cleared out by now and commencing on Spring Break celebrations and relaxation."

"We're trying. How about you, Mr. Feeny?" Cory walked over and nudged his teacher with an elbow. "Commencing on some Spring Break celebrations of your own with the Dean?"

"We've been working." And it was true. They'd been discussing how to handle a few students who were doing poorly in his class yet had scholarships that were dependent upon their grades. He wanted to give them an opportunity to do better and pass. She, on the other hand, while sympathetic to his point of view, said they'd had all year to seek help for any shortcomings. She had a school to help run and budgets to keep. There were hundreds of students on the wait list ready to learn. If you bent rules for one student you'd be expected to bend them for everyone and that wasn't a practical way to run things. The numbers were on her side. They'd agreed to get coffee when talks started turning contentious. "What are you up to?"

"You haven't seen Eric by chance, have you?" If he told anyone what he was up to, Cory was certain that person was Mr. Feeny. "Or Angela?"

"Yes, we actually saw them a few hours ago as they were leaving," the dean answered.

"Oh, okay, you saw them when they…what do you mean as they were leaving? They as in they just happened to leave at the same time for different locations?"

"No, they as in they got into the same car and left. Together."

"They were together," Shawn parroted.

"Eric was driving your father's car, Cory," Mr. Feeny added.

"Wow," Topanga began, "I guess Angela wasn't lying."

"Lying about what?"

She gave a brief rundown about everything that's been going on with Angela and the weird things she's noticed. "I don't know. I assumed she had a new boyfriend she wasn't ready to introduce us to."

"What new boyfriend? Who's she dating?"

She glared at her friend. "You're actually going to try and get jealous now, Shawn? Really? You lost that right the day you told Angela you wanted to see other people and not miss out on anything."

"I don't think she and Eric are dating," George continued.

"But that hug we interrupted did seem cozy."

"They were hugging?!" Cory rushed the dean and grabbed her arm. "And you didn't think to mention that earlier?"

"Cory, do I need to remind you that you are still on probation for physical violence against a teacher and subject to expulsion at the next probable cause?"

He loosened his hold. "This blouse is really nice. What is it, silk?"

"Polyester blend."

"Well, it's just lovely. And the color…wow. Who knew Pepto-Bismol pink could work for a person?"

"Stop now before we're all standing in the hole you're digging for yourself."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Did they say where they were going," Rachel asked, trying to get the conversation back on track.

"Eric said they were-"

"You know," Mr. Feeny interrupted, "don't you think if you were supposed to know- you'd have been informed?"

"But, Mr. Feeny-"

"When you need to know- if you need to know- I'm sure Angela and Eric will be quite happy to fill you in." He wasn't big on keeping secrets, but there must've been a reason the two snuck off without telling any of their friends. Plus the nosiness was becoming bothersome.

"But-"

"Now go on your way. Commence your Spring Break celebrations." He clapped his hands together when no one made a move. "Go! I can always find more homework for you if you'd prefer that." They nearly tripped over themselves to evacuate the area. "I figured that would do it," he said to Lila.

"George, why didn't you just tell them?"

"Because apparently one lesson they still need to learn is respecting the privacy of others'. I seem to have failed them at that." He shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets. "And they were getting on my nerves."

/

"Now what," Shawn asked. He simply couldn't imagine Angela going along with Eric. "Should we quiz your parents?"

Cory checked the time. "I think this is when Josh's bedtime routine starts and I don't think mom and dad would be happy with interruptions right now. She was just saying the other night that he still isn't sleeping much and how tired they all are."

"They have to know what's going on if Eric has your dad's car."

"Let's get dinner," Topanga suggested. "That was the original plan after all."

"But-"

"Shawn, Mr. Feeny's right. If Eric and Angela wanted us to know they'd tell us."

"But what if they're like…" He scrunched up his face, not wanting to picture it. "I mean, he's insane and she-"

"We're getting dinner," Rachel spoke up, standing beside Topanga. "If there's something to know, we'll know eventually."

"I just-"

Cory's gaze went from Topanga to his best friend and it was very clear to him whose side he should take if he wanted to avoid an argument. "Shawnie, let's just go. We're not finding anything out tonight."

"Fine," he mumbled. "This taco pizza had better be worth it."

/

/

"Orange car," Eric exclaimed. "I get one of your points."

"Man, how did I miss that one? It was right next to us." She squinted and looked out the window. "Ha, pink car up ahead! I get my point back."

"I think we need to stop this game. It's getting too dark to play."

"Sure, say that when I'm finally getting my points back."

"Do you want to license plate poker again or- hey, what are you doing? It's not time to switch to your music yet."

Angela held up her wrist, showcasing her watch. "Um, yes, it is. The clock in here is three minutes slow."

"Maybe your watch is three minutes fast."

"I was raised by the most punctual man ever born. My watch is not fast."

"How about we rebel and go by this clock?"

"But-"

"It's one more song. What's the big deal?"

She realized she was being silly trying to stick to such specific time constraints. "Sorry. You're right. I am acting a little ridiculous."

"That's okay. It's your first real road trip. I'll grade you on a learning curve."

"I'm being graded?"

"Uh-huh and you should know that I'm very tough. I learned it all from Mr. Feeny."

"What's my grade right now?"

"Yeah," he scoffed, "like I'm going to tell you."

"Do you accept bribes?"

Eric glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "What did you have in mind?"

"How about we get something to eat at the next exit? My treat."

They were almost halfway through their journey. Stopping now could slow them down. "I thought we got food so we wouldn't have to stop?"

"I know, but we've been driving for hours. I need to get out and stretch my legs. We haven't stopped since we first hit West Virginia. Plus, isn't eating at a potentially sketchy roadside diner late at night part of this whole experience?"

He patted her leg. "Now you're getting it! Someone wants that A."

/

"So, how does this compare with what you were expecting from a diner," Eric asked. The waitress had just taken their orders and disappeared into the kitchen.

"Are you kidding me? There are semis parked in the lot, desserts in the display case that look like they've been there since before disco died, and our waitress has a beehive and was smacking her gum. It's everything television promised it would be!"

"Now you're laying it on a little thick." Angela checked her phone. "Topanga calling you?"

"Twice. I'll call her after we get to my dad. My note is enough for now."

"What's your dad like?"

"I've told you about him."

"Not really. All you've said is that to you he's a teddy bear and to everyone else gets the grizzly bear. What kind of guy is he? What are his hobbies?"

She snorted. "Hobbies? My dad is an army man through and through. He talks about things he'd like to do, but he can't resist when the military calls. Guilt eats at him if he dares to take personal time. He's been promising me forever that it's just going to be another couple years, but then something comes up and he says that they need him. But I need him, too. I'm going to be done with college and out in the real world before I know it. How much time am I going to get to spend with him then? It always feels like we need to squeeze a lifetime of memories into each visit. Whenever he goes off somewhere dangerous I never know if he's going to make it and…" Angela stirred her water with the straw, the clinking of ice against the glass almost hypnotic. "His dream retirement is to buy a fishing boat and spend his days on the open water, enjoying the quiet."

"I think he'd get along really well with my dad. They sound a lot alike. My dad loves anything outdoors and he was in the navy when I was really little."

"Navy? Oh, I'm sure they'd get along, but competition would be off the charts."

"What do you mean?"

"My dad is insanely competitive, especially with other branches of the military, always has been. He wants to show who the best of the best truly is, you know?"

"Yeah, my dad gets like that with his old friends, too. It sounds like our dads could turn a relaxing day of fishing into seeing who can catch the most in ten minute."

"With no bait", she added with a smile.

"Right." Eric thought carefully about his next questions. It was something they had never really discussed before. "Do you have any other family or is it just you and your dad?"

"I have some, not many, no one I really know too well because of all the traveling. My dad has a sister who lives near Las Vegas. That's where he grew up. I have a few cousins, too. Dad's parents died when I was young. I barely remember them. My mother was an only child and her dad left the family before her first birthday. I did live with my grandmother while I was going to John Adams'."

"You lived with your mother's mom?"

"Yeah."

"Wasn't that weird after she took off?" He winced, realizing how it sounded. "Sorry."

"No, it's okay. It was awkward and we were never all that close. I know she loved me, but she didn't know how to talk to me most days. I think she felt guilty, like she was responsible for her daughter bailing on her husband and kid."

"Why would you want to live with her?"

"Honest?"

"Of course."

"Two reasons: one, my dad was being transferred somewhere he didn't feel was safe for me and gave me the choice between my grandmother and my aunt. I thought if I lived with my grandmother I'd get to see my mother again." Angela's gaze fell to the table. "It never happened. They were careful to only see each other when I was in school or visiting my dad."

"Your grandmother still saw her? That seems wrong."

"We got into this huge fight about it when I found out. I didn't get it. She said it was something I wouldn't understand until I was a mother. But still…I haven't really talked to my grandmother since I moved out after graduation." When she finally looked to Eric again she nearly cringed at the look on his face. "Please don't."

"Don't what?"

"This is why I don't tell people things," she muttered. "Please take that, 'poor, pathetic Angela,' look off of your face. I don't need or want your pity. It's life. You have to play the cards you're dealt. Unfortunately my hand happened to be a little shittier than the average person so far. I'll survive. I always do. Nothing's knocked me out for the count yet." He was still staring. "Seriously, stop it."

Eric shook his head. "I don't pity you. I admire you."

"Please."

"I mean it. You've got this inner strength that I just don't have." He caught her eye roll. "You know you're going to be okay. You just know it. No matter how many times people disappoint you and let you down you keep going. You deal with it and come out stronger. I wish I had that kind of faith in myself. I don't. It's not in me. There's not a day that goes by where I don't wonder if I'm going to blow it and ruin my life and waste all this so-called potential people claim I have. What do they see that I don't? I'd love to go one day without that voice in my head."

"I wish I could believe in other people the way you do. I envy that. You know even if you have a setback there will always be family and friends right by your side to cheer you on. You will never be alone. You have a support system that you never have to question and you're a better person for it." Angela twisted her napkin in her hands. "Do you want to know why I believe even if I end up all alone in the world I'm going to be okay? It's because I have to believe it. I learned a long time ago there is no guarantee that somebody will be there to catch me when life knocks me on my ass. If I couldn't even count on my own mother to love me, I don't have a choice but to get up and keep fighting."

"Angela…" Eric could see that she was doing her best to not break down in the middle of the diner. He got up, slid next to her in the booth, and wrapped his arm around her. It was a surprise that she didn't resist and instead leaned against him. "You're not alone."

"Don't."

"No, really. You ever need a friend, or a cheerleader, or just someone to give you a great pep talk when you're feeling down, you know where to find me."

"You don't have to do this. Sure, we've been hanging out for a while, but-"

"Hey, I believe in other people, remember? I don't give up on them. You count, too. Once you've got Eric Matthews as your friend you are in for life. The next time you feel like you're falling just give me a call and I'll run over with a giant net and your favorite ice cream. Or- you know- at least your favorite veggies and ranch dip."

She laughed quietly and squeezed his hand. "Thanks, Eric."

"Anytime."

"And you don't have to worry about ruining your life. You've let fear get the better of you and you made some mistakes, but you're trying. You're resilient. I don't think you'd still be determined to find your path if you didn't have at least a little confidence in yourself. You'd have rolled over and surrendered by now otherwise. "

"I never thought about it like that." He saw the waitress coming back towards the table carrying a couple of large plates and moved back to his side of the booth. "I might need you to make me a self-help tape so I can remember that when finals come around and I'm freaking out."

"You got it."

Next chapter: It's not all fun, games, and a little bit of soul searching on the road. There's some drama, too.