My fingers tap the glass of the window as I sit on the ledge and stare outside, watching as if anything is going to change anytime soon. The grey clouds move fast and boom overhead as the rain falls and crashes all around us, the sound of it on the roof a relentless pounding.

Looks like we aren't going to make it back out today or anytime in the near future anyway. It's been like this outside all day and hasn't let up even a little since this morning.

We didn't get very far in the truck, only a few cities over before we ran out of gas. We ditched the truck and managed to make it a good ten miles or so on foot before the storm rolled in and it started to pour. That was a few hours ago, and it hasn't stopped since. So we've been stuck, holed up in this tiny house, and I already feel like I'm going stir crazy.

My leg shakes restlessly, and I still it with my hand. Not being able keep going, when I feel this anxiousness to get moving, is unsettling. I feel the time ticking, passing us by while we get nowhere.

It's only been a few hours. The storm will let up and we'll get moving again. We just have to wait it out. I repeat this to myself over and over again trying to keep my anxiety at bay.

I catch myself biting my nails and smack my hand away from my mouth, turning my body around to look at Aiden and Alex. Aiden is sprawled across the old sectional and Alex is lying on the floor, her feet resting up against the wall.

"Isn't there anything we can do to pass the time?" I desperately ask them both.

Alex stills her hands, stopping her taps against the floor and looks at me. "Seriously, I'm bored as hell, but I'm too lazy to move right now."

Aiden just grunts in response.

I sigh a, "Whatever," and turn to resume my stare outside. I pull my legs up onto the ledge and stretch them out in front of me, crossing one leg over the other. Pulling my hoodie on, I thump my head back against the wall, groaning out a long sound of frustration.

"Take it easy there. What are you so anxious about?" Aiden asks me.

My eyes don't leave the window as I answer. "I don't know. Don't you feel like we should be moving? I feel stuck, trapped in this tiny piece of junk house."

Aiden laughs. "Relax. It can't stay this way forever. We'll get out of here soon enough."

"I just hate feeling stuck here. It doesn't help that it's so dark and gloomy outside, I can hardly see anything out there." Thunder booms and lightning brightens the sky momentarily. "Freaking creepy," I mutter and push myself up and away from the window.

I stretch and begin making my way across the living room, which also happens to be the dining room and kitchen. I rummage through cabinets mindlessly, finding nothing. Walking to the back of the house and into the four walled box of a bedroom, I find myself staring out of yet another window. There's nothing but a grey stretch of land and sky and clouds, all blurred by the downpour of rain.

I leave the room, running my hands along the walls as I make my way back into the living room. Aiden and Alex haven't moved an inch.

"Come on guys!" I beg.

Alex smacks her hands against the floor and pulls herself up. "Dude, you're killing me. Chill out!"

"How are you two not bored out of your minds?" I throw back at her, feeling frustrated.

"What do you suggest we do?" Aiden asks, tilting his head to look towards me.

"I... I don't know! You two are supposed to come up with that part."

He chuckles but makes no move to help ease my boredom. He just rests his head back the way he had it and lays his hands on top of his chest, sighing.

Ugh. "Tell me a story or something," I plead.

"How about you tell us one," he replies.

"Yeah, perfect. You tell us a story Maddie," Alex says as she resumes her spot on the floor, legs kicked up on the wall once again.

"Umm, Okay..." I reply.

A story...

Travis immediately comes to mind, but I'm sure Aiden doesn't want to hear a story about him. What stories do I have really? I try to remember something, anything. Looking back on my life at home, it was so simple compared to now. I'm having a hard time remembering anything exciting or funny... that didn't involve Travis anyway. Surely my life wasn't that boring when I wasn't with him...

I look back to the window, to the rain pouring down, and a memory sparks. "Okay, I got one," I tell them, moving to take my seat back at the ledge again.

"Go on," says Alex.

"Okay, so my friend Grace and I would walk home from school together every once in a while and this one day, it was pouring rain outside, like today. So that day when I came out of class, I didn't expect her to be waiting for me but she was and she was soaked, I mean drenched. I remember laughing because she looked so ridiculous. Well anyway, she had been hoping that I had an umbrella for us to walk home under, not that it mattered at that point anyway, but I didn't have one of course. So we decided to run home together, and somewhere along the way it became a race. I had her most of the way, but when we were running through the park I almost tripped and ate it, and that's when she passed me up."

I pause and snort, chuckling at the memory before continuing, "Anyway. So she comes racing by me, laughing and calling me a sucker, not paying any attention to what was in front of her-- which was a huge, muddy puddle by the way. So she runs, sliding right into it, and somehow..." I cover my mouth with my hand, suppressing my laughter. "...she slips and like, flies up into the air," I motion with my hand as if it was Grace, "and her entire body came down and smacked right into the puddle." I clap my hands together, not even trying to hold back my laughter anymore.

Aiden smiles and Alex gives a tiny breath of laughter, "Funny," she says, and I can tell she only half means it.

"Well it was funny, funny as shit," I reply. "Guess you just had to be there."

Looking back out the window, I find myself smiling. I don't think I've ever laughed as hard as I did when I saw the look on Grace's shocked face.

I stare at the rain hitting the asphalt, losing myself in the memory and the rest of what happened that day.

Grace had hopped up and come straight for me, embracing me in a huge, muddy hug.

"You punk!" I yelled as I pushed her away.

She just laughed and told me to come home with her, that she'd let me borrow some clothes. Of course I couldn't let it end there though, so I had picked up a handful of mud and chucked it at her, which led to a full on mud war, only ending when we were both completely covered in mud from head to toe.

We sloshed our way back to her house and she'd run straight in when we got there. I laughed, knowing Mrs. Brennan was not going to be happy about the mud Grace had just tracked through her home. Not wanting to add fuel to that fire, I took a seat on the steps outside her front door instead.

I was pulling off my second boot when I saw Travis walking up, umbrella in hand.

He laughed as soon as he saw me.

"Forget one of these?" He lifted the umbrella up and then closed it, taking a seat next to me. His eyes crinkled in amusement as he reached out and rubbed his thumb along my cheek, "What's up with the mud Mad-dog?"

"Your evil sister is what," I replied. "She ate it in a puddle of mud and thought that maybe I could use some too, and then things kinda got outta hand from there."

He chuckled, "Sounds like you two alright. Put you two pain in the asses together and who knows what'll happen."

"Ha! Oh really? You want some of this?" I taunted him with my muddy hands.

He grabbed my arms and held them down. "See? Pain in the ass," he said, making his point.

I laughed. "Grace said I could take a shower and borrow some clothes, but I don't want to get mud all over your house. Well, more mud anyway. Grace didn't seem to care."

He shook his head, amused. "Of course she didn't," he said in mock irritation. Travis never actually gets mad at Grace. He stood and moved to open the door, gesturing me to get up too, "Well, come on."

"I just said-" I tried to answer, but in the next instant he hauled me up and over his shoulder. Hanging upside down, I squealed a, "What are you doing?!"

With his hands holding me up by my thighs, he marched us inside and down the hall, setting me down on the bathroom floor. "Problem solved." He smirked, shrugging his shoulder.

Oh man, he is so hot, I thought to myself. I stared at him, lost in that thought, lost in the feelings stirring deep inside me.

His features smoothed and his green eyes met mine as he reached forward, lifting my chin. "Still pretty, even with all that mud on your face."

His words lit me up in excitement and anticipation, but then he winced as if he regretted his words, and my stomach dropped.

At the time, I thought that maybe he meant it but in a friendly way, that he probably felt bad for saying it because he hadn't meant to lead me on like that.

It's only now that I know he really meant it. I know he liked me too. Funny how some separation can bring clarity... Or not funny at all, not really.

"Anyway... get to it Ryan, you stink," he said, releasing me and breaking our connection. He retreated back down the hall and I stood there, watching as he disappeared around the corner, listening as his footsteps carried up the stairs. I was mad at myself and embarrassed, because I realized then that he probably knew what a huge crush I had on him. How could he not?

After showering and getting dressed, I came out of the bathroom pulling up on Grace's too tight shirt, feeling exposed, but then I tugged it back down wanting to cover my stomach too. It settled somewhere in-between and I thanked God that they weren't around to see how ridiculous I looked in her clothes.

"Bye Grace! Bye Trav!" I yelled before quickly closing their front door behind me.

I looked up to find Travis walking towards me and when he saw me, he stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening. Oh Great, I thought, but then his eyes lingered on my body as he rubbed his bottom lip with his fingers. When his eyes finally snapped up to mine, I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering if he had really just looked at me like that.

I could have sworn I saw a fleeting look of embarrassment on his face, but it quickly turned to one of annoyance. Clearing his throat, he muttered a, "What the hell was Grace thinking? You're gonna freeze in that." He charged past me and into the house. "Hold up a sec!" he yelled from the entryway. My eyes followed him as he paused to grab something. Turning back to face me, he tossed me a sweater and I threw my arms up to catch it.

"Put on the damn jacket. I don't-" he took a deep breath. "You don't want anyone seeing you like that," he said, visibly irritated.

I pulled on the sweater, smiling to myself. He might not like me like that, but I saw the way I affected him. The thought made me smile brighter. "Bye Trav," I said as I crossed their lawn, heading home.

If I could go back to that day for even a minute, I have no doubt about what I'd do, what I would change.

When he looked at me for those few seconds like that, like he might have liked what he saw, I'd push all of my doubts aside and rush him. I'd reach my arms up and around him, pull him down to me, and crush my lips against his. No second thoughts, no second guessing, I'd just give in to what I've always wanted to do. He might have kissed me back or he might not have, but at least I'd know.

In my wildest dreams, he might have hesitated but only for a second before grabbing me by the waist and pulling me close. He'd groan in satisfaction, in the realization that this right here is what he's always wanted too. Then he'd pull me even closer, bringing my body flush to his as he opened his mouth to mine, tasting me for the first time.

I just know that it would be perfect, kissing him would feel so right.

I clear my throat, a little embarrassed at where my mind has wandered, and it's then that it hits me. The thought of him doesn't hurt as much as it used to. I can live in this daydream of what I'd do, look back on it without so much pain. Our friendship, with those first love feelings simmering beneath the surface, was something special. How could I ever want to forget that?

It's only now that I understand why it's been impossible for me to let him go. He was my best friend and the closeness that we shared, the bond that we had, it was real.

I smile, finally feeling okay about it.

It's still raining out but not nearly as much as before.

"The rain is letting up a little," I say as I watch the clouds slowing, thinning out as they move closer.

I blow a breath against the glass, drawing a heart in the frost, and a movement in the distance catches my eye. I immediately crouch down in the alcove. "Guys," I say quietly.

I look over to see that they've both fallen asleep.

"Guys!" I say louder.

Aiden pops up, "What...what?" he asks, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Alex sits up too, yawning.

"I just saw something outside," I whisper.

They both straighten. "What was it?" Aiden asks at the same time that Alex asks, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," I answer, "and I'm not sure, a car I think."

Aiden stands and walks the perimeter of the house over to me, Alex following behind. We all take a peek out the window, and I already know what it is. It's a Hunter's vehicle, stopped in the field just across from us. Shit. What if they're looking for me because of what I did?

"Fuck!" Aiden says quietly, a little panicky.

"You think they're here for us?" Alex asks, worried.

"I don't know, but we need to get the hell out of here," he answers.

"It's just the one car, there's no one else," I comment.

The car sits idle only a few hundred feet away. The headlights turn off, but I can see the heat coming from the exhaust, mixing with the cold air.

We watch in silence and wait... and wait.

"What are they waiting for?" Alex asks.

"Hell if I know. If they get out of that car though, we need to find somewhere to hide," Aiden answers.

"Or run," Alex adds.

"You really think we could outrun them?" I ask.

"Well if it's just that one car, yeah." Aiden pats his coat, reminding us of the gun he's carrying. Alex nods in understanding.

I swallow thickly, hoping it doesn't come to that.

Another tense ten minutes go by with nothing, no movement from the car. The sun has set and it slowly gets darker outside, and then we hear it, the loud purr of helicopter blades getting closer and closer.

The helicopter flies overhead and circles back around as we all watch in shock.

"What the hell is going on?" Alex asks, her voice shaky.

We don't answer and my heart beats heavily, fear weighing down on my chest. The roar of the helicopter becomes louder as it nears and hovers above, slowly making its way to the ground by the black car. The sound of it is so loud that I can't hear my own breaths.

When it finally lands, a man jumps out of it, making his way towards the car. The tall, dark man rounds the Hunter's vehicle, leaning down at the driver's side as the window rolls down.

They stay like that a few minutes and the man from the helicopter straightens, stepping back. The front doors of the car open and two men in uniform exit, moving to open the back doors simultaneously.

It's too dark now to make out any faces, I just see their bodies move as they open the doors and two girls get out.

I gasp, "Oh my God..." ...one of the girls is pregnant.

The driver of the car grabs his girl by the shoulder and leans down, saying something into her ear. She nods and holds her nightgown down over her swollen belly, the wind from the blades trying to force it up on her. They all run towards the helicopter and the girls are helped in, the man from the helicopter jumping back in last. Then just like that, it lifts and takes off. All is quiet again except for our heavy breaths.

We watch as the men walk back to their vehicle and hop inside. The car turns around and speeds off in the direction that it came.

"What the fuck did we just see?" Alex asks, her expression one of confusion and shock. I imagine my face mirrors hers as I turn to look at Aiden.

He looks between the both of us. "I have no fucking clue," he answers.

Some time goes by, and we're still quiet. The sun is long gone and though it's only sprinkling now, I know we'll be staying here for the night.

I wrap my arms around myself, trying to warm up. "It's freezing," I say, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, it is," Alex says.

"We'll have to layer up, it's only gonna get colder," Aiden replies.

"Can't we start a fire? There's hardly any blankets." Alex says.

"Yes, please," I second, shivering.

"You guys really want to send up a smoke signal right now? After what we just saw?" He asks with eyebrows raised.

"It's freezing. Look at Maddie, she's shaking. And you saw them take off, they did what they came for. What are the chances they'll be coming back through this exact location?" She asks as though it's an obvious assumption.

"She's right and there's no way we're going to get any sleep tonight if we don't," I add, rubbing my hands up and down my arms, trying desperately to get warm.

He shakes his head but gives in, "Fine." With that, he gets up and walks to the kitchen, suddenly kicking in the door of the nearest cabinet and continues down the short line of them. Picking up the splintered pieces, he makes his way back over to us and tosses the broken wood into the fireplace.

"Did you see the pregnant one?" I ask as he attempts to light a fire, still not believing what we just saw.

"Yeah," Aiden answers quietly.

"Crazy," Alex adds and I nod my head in agreement.

A few minutes later, the wood starts to catch fire and I watch the orange flames grow brighter. The warmth finally finds me but my chills won't calm. Aiden stands and walks over to the sectional, plopping himself down on top of it. I get up and find my own spot in the corner of the couch, suddenly feeling exhausted and ready for bed.

I pull my hood back over my head and lie down, yawning. "Night guys."

"Night," they say together.

I lie there awhile trying to fall asleep, but it's still so cold. My feet are a little warm from the fire, but the rest of me is freezing and I can't seem to stop shivering. Alex has taken up the spot on the floor near the fire, so I blow on my hands, trying to warm them up.

Aiden shifts and lies down so that his head is near mine. Reaching for my hands he says, "Let me."

I hesitate for a moment too long.

"Relax," he chuckles.

"I never know with you," I reply.

"I mean, I could come over there and keep your whole body warm if you'd like," he says suggestively.

"Shut up," I whisper, laughing quietly.

He takes my hands and rubs his around mine, blowing on them to create some warmth. "Your hands aren't even that cold." He reaches out and touches my forehead. "Shit Maddie, you're burning up."

"No way, I'm so cold," I say, my teeth chattering.

He gets up and moves over to me, slipping behind me on the couch. "I'm not trying anything," he warns. "I think you've got a fever. I'm just gonna try and help you get comfortable, okay?"

I nod, feeling so cold I don't care what he does as long as it helps me get warm. He wraps his leg over mine and pulls me close. I'm so tired that I fall asleep just like that, wrapped up inside the arms of Aiden.

***Author's Note***

Did any of you want that imaginary kiss between Travis and Maddie to be real as much as I did?

Thank you just for being here! Don't forget to vote and comment if you liked this chapter. Your feedback is much appreciated!