Peter pionted to a tree. "I thought I saw someone behind tha tree!"

Logan peered out the window at the tree in question. He couldn't really see anything. "That's weird..."

After diner, he still hadn't returned home. Maybe he was drunk? Hopefully he was. Maya needed to get out of here, and soon. She ran up the stairs to her bedroom and shut the door. Pulling out the duffel bag again, she looked at what she had stuffed in ealier--three of her favorite jeans, most of her T-shirts, her only jacket, and an extra pair of sneakers. She heard the door downstairs open and slam shut and knew that her father was home. She heard him walk through to the living room and fall into his recliner.

She crept down the stairs and peeked around the corner of the kichen to see if he was drunk. From were she stood, she could smell the alcohal. Tiptoeing across the floor to where he was, she leaned over him and made sure out, then scampered up to her bedroom.

Crossing to the other side of the room where her mattress lay, she pulled it out of the way. Kneeling on the floor beside to wall, she pulled the baseboard from the wall and pushed her hand in and pulled out what she sought--a wooden box with a carved rose on the lid.

Peter turned to Logan"It is. Do you you think she could have seen me, then ran away?"

Logan shrugged. "Maybe. Do you know who it was?"

Emmy emptied her tray in the garbage can, and then discarded it. She turned and saw Jen, Peter, and her brother all staring out a window and talking about something. She considered joining them, but didn't feel like it. Logan had unintentionally made her lunch unpleasant, laughing at her love of reading and her quiet nature. He often did that; trying to make himself look cool at her expense. She was used to it by now.

Peter shook his head. "I don't. I don't even know where she came from."

Opening the beautiful wooden box, Maya tipped it up side down and a silver oval-shaped locket slipped into her hand. Opening it with her fingernail, she looked at a gorgeous womans' face--auburn wavy hair, sparkling green eyes, and an elegant jawline. She was her mother, and she missed her so much. Mamma, I'm goin'. Jest lack ya wanted me to. I'm gettin' away 'fore he kills me too.

Slidding the locket into a small leather bag and slipping in into her pocket, she pushed the bed back, zipped her duffel bag up, and slipped it on her shoulders. Opening her bedroom door one more time, and closing it for the last time, she walked down the stairs, through the dining room and into the kitchen, stopping by the frig.

Pulling a Wal-mart bag out of the bag holder, she pulled all the apples, pears, and oranges that where on top of the frig and pilled them into the bag. Next she took out two loafs of homemade bread and also stacked them in the bag. She would have to buy the other things she would need for the trip with the money. Ahh! The money. Where did Dad put it? Where would Dad put it? In his pocket? Too obvious. She leaned against the frig, deep in thought.

Suddenly, a fire alarm went off. Jen looked at her friends, believing Peter. "Wonder if we will see her when we go outside?"

Brian deposited his few articles of garbage in the heaping school trash can. He didn't bother commenting on the smell having smelled worse Like that kid named Logan... he thought. It wasn't so much the words they had exchanged that had made him not like him, it was his whole manner, and mind set. Peter had been his friend first and Logan had no right to but in, even if he was the most popular. He's acting more like the school Jerk...oh maybe I shouldn't be so mean. I guess I'm just in a foul mood shoving his hands in his pockets he said Emmy standing alone by herself. Putting on a smile, he came to her and said "Do you like to be alone Emmy? I just noticed you standing by yourself...I couldn't help but notice it" He thought she was a pretty girl, but very timid, but that was only a first impression he had only met her ten minutes ago

**

Ian enjoyed his steak dinner and wine very much, the savory tast of sime real food staid in his lips, as he leaned back in the chair. "Thanks for the dinner Milania. This is the best I've had in months. I can't give much credit to jail food." he patted his stomach and looked around at the quiet place, romantic music playing sweetly in the backround

"I am glad you have enjoyed yourself. I thought it was a fitting reward for you, having to suffer through those months in jail. Tell me....did you ever think about me while you were there?" He voice was laced with expectancy

"Well actually no....I dreamed a lot though. About a strange girl, named Susan. But I'd prefer not to talk about those. They were sad" Ian said sitting forward again

Milania seemed offended, but said no more and stood grabbing her leather purse "Come...we must go now. It is getting late" she said clacking away with her high heels

Ian was slightly taken aback, not realizing he had offended her so by saying what he had "Milania I!" but she didn't stay and he followed her

Abigal slept for hours on the couch, Amanda reading quietly in the corner. The whole house was peaceful and serene, except the occasional dolling of the grandfather clock in the corner. The creak of the rocking chair, going back and forth could also be heard, it's rhythm perfect with Amanda's rocking. Suddenly there was a wrap on the front door, breaking the silence, but not awaking Abigal. She stirred, and shifted her position, but didn't open her eyes

*

Melisha Ryner cowered behind the large oak in the school yard of Ditto towns High school. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably and her eyes were filling with large tears. Bruises on her arms ached terribly, and her face held countless evidence of her Father's cruel abuse. Last night he had beat her again, and she couldn't have staid any longer. Though she knew her Mother must be worried sick, and her brother too, she just couldn't stay. With nothing but a sweat shirt and some apples as her supplies, she wasn't well prepared for the mission before her. She had ran in fear, and had not been prepared at all. She suddenly burst into tears, and sobbed into her dirty hands, wondering why the world had to be so cruel. Wondering why her father had to do what he always did....she couldn't live with him anymore. He just wasn't nice. Hearing a sound behind her she gasped and looked up her tear stained face a mask of fear. Had someone seen her here? She didn't dare looked behind her, dreading what she might see. Was her Father? Had he come looking for her "No no..." she cried and hugged her knees trying to stay in the shadows that the dark clouds over head had cast....

***

Peter noticed Brian and Emmy talking during the fire drill. He quietly said, "We have to go outside!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jen was already outside and noticed a girl who looked quite bruised and battered behind the tree, looking scare. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you. What's your name?" She let the wind blow her gorgeous locks around the middle of her back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amanda could hear the wrapping too. She tiptoed towards the door, hiding behind it. Hopefully, it was someone they knew.

Rosamunde shoved her sketchbook into her bag as she made her way outside. She found fire drills slightly annoying, but she obeyed the rules and followed everyone else.

After going down the stairs in front of the school, she walked up to a girl of about fifteen with brown hair. "Fire drills always seem to come at the most inconvenient times, huh?"

Evven though she looked fifteen, Miley was really almost seventeen. "Tell me about. I was just about to finish my homework in study hall. I'm Miley. What's your name?"

"Rosamunde." Rosamunde said, tugging on one of the pink highlights in her hair.

Miley let the wind blow her brown hair around her waist. "Nice to meet you. What do you have next?"

"Hmm, good question." Rosamunde chuckled as she looked at her hand. In marker, her class periods were written on the palm of her left hand. "Oh, yuck. I have math..."