I drag my suitcase down the freshly vacuumed, carpeted stairs.

"Alice." Danny waits for me at the foot of the steps, his arms open.

I walk into them and he pulls me close in a hug. "I'll miss you," he whispers.

"Same here." A lone tear rolls down my cheek.

"You'll comm me, won't you?"

"Of course."

"Every night?"

I laugh. "You're beginning to sound like Mom."

He smiles, sad. "I'm trying."

"You're doing a great job bro." I give him a small peck on the cheek, before stepping away from him. "I'll see you soon." Once this is all over. Once the cure is destroyed forever. And once President White is put down. I have no clue how I'd do this, but I will, if it's the last thing I do.

Derek is waiting outside for me.

"Ready?"

I nod, throwing my luggage into the trunk, and then climbing into the passenger's seat.

The Hullo pulls away from the curb, heading for the airport.

...

I've never been on a plane before. Struggling to place my carry-on into the overhead compartment, I feel Derek come up beside me.

"Here I got it; you go take your seat."

I thank him, before sliding into the not-too-comfortable seat. Derek sits down beside me, fastening his seatbelt.

"Ever been on a plane before?"

I shake my head. "Is it that obvious?"

He smiles. "Your mouth dropped open when you laid your eyes on this baby." He gestures around us.

I laugh. "Yeah, it's incredible."

"We are ready to take off in two minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts and make sure your seats are in the upright position," a lady announces over the speaker system.

"How long is the flight?" I ask Derek.

"Not long."

I nod, closing my eyes, just as the plane takes off, rising above the clouds.

...

"Mom?"

I enter the kitchen, finding her busy kneading the dough for whole wheat rolls. She's been trying to be healthier these days.

"What is it, Alice?"

I get right to it. "I want to go on a plane!"

She looks up at me. "To where?"

"Anywhere. I just want to experience being on a plane." Though deep down I know that I'd love to see our capital, New York City.

She laughs. "You crack me up little one." She then wipes her hands on her apron and walks up to me, now placing them on my shoulders. Unlike my small stubby fingers, she always had petite hands and long piano fingers that I was jealous of. "Plane tickets these days are more expensive than they used to be. That's why people usually travel by Hullo."

"I know, but still it's not fair. I want to go on one!"

"I know baby." She pushes my hair out of my eyes. "Someday you'll be granted a plane ride, okay?"

"When?"

"That I can't tell you."

I nod. "Love you, mom."

She smiles. "I love you too my little Alison."

...

I awake to find that my head is resting on Derek's shoulder. Oh no. Sitting up straight, I rub the tiredness from my eyes. "Sorry for the discomfort," I mumble, embarrassed.

Derek smiles. "It's okay. You were exhausted."

I say nothing, starting to gaze out the window at New York City, which is growing closer and closer.

"It's magnificent," I breathe.

"I hope so since it is the capital."

"The capital," I echo. "I can't believe I'm actually seeing it in person."

He chuckles, just as the ground rushes closer, the bottom of the plane brushing against it. "One-two-three touchdown," I whisper.

Once we can leave the plane, I unbuckle my seatbelt and stand up, stretching my sore limbs.

"Ready?"

I meet Derek's eyes. "Never been more ready before."

New York, you better watch out, because here I come.

...

"Welcome to your new home." Derek pushes the apartment door open and I step over the threshold.

The place consists of four rooms.

1. Kitchen

2. Living room with a nice size DLS

3. Bedroom

4. And Bathroom

I enter the bedroom, my eyes landing on the neatly set single bed.

"I'll sleep on the couch until we get hold of another bed," Derek says.

I nod, rolling my suitcase into the room. "When do we start at this school?"

"Tomorrow."

I groan. "Yay."

He smiles, amused. "Go and settle in."

He then leaves me alone and I begin to unpack.

...

A little while later, I plop the kiwi-mango sushi into my mouth. Yummy!

"Are we going to go out to eat every night?" Please say yes.

Derek shakes his head. "We'll buy groceries tomorrow, so we can cook our own meals."

"Sounds good, though eating out is more fun." I place another piece of sushi into my mouth. "How am I supposed to fit in with the crowd at this school?"

"What do you mean?

"All the people there are troubled."

He smirks. Oh no! "You'll do just fine."

I glower at him. "You're such a pain."

"I know." His smirk spreads.

Why does he have to always be so irritating? Standing up, I go to throw out my plate and then stomp out of the restaurant.

He made it back to the apartment before me, which isn't surprising since I got lost several times.

"Where were you?" He looks upset.

"Out exploring New York City."

"You could've got lost."

"But I didn't." I smile sweetly. "See here I am." I brush past him, heading for the shower.

...

The next morning, I find Derek in my bedroom, rummaging through my things.

"Wear this." He tosses at me a ruffled skirt, ribbed shirt, and tan combat boots.

"Ooookkaaaayyy."

I quickly change, putting my hair up in a messy bun.

Then I follow Derek outside to a parked cycle.

"Meet our new ride." He smiles.

"Sweet."

I climb on behind him and wrap my arms around his waist, feeling his abs rise and fall with each breath.

"Put on your helmet."

I do, just as we drive off the wind blowing in my face. I watch in fascination at all the tall buildings passing by in a blur.

My grip on Derek tightens when we swerve around the next corner, a large building coming into view; two guards perched at the double glassed doors.

"Is this the place?"

"Yup." Derek brings the cycle to a stop and hops off, giving me a hand.

"Thanks."

I feel the guards' eyes on us as we make our way up the stairs.

"Names?"

"Alison Margaret Rose Peterson and Derek Whitherspoon."

The guards let us through.

"Why is the security here so high?"

"It's a juvie."

"Hold on what?" I stop in my tracks, my fingers curling into fists, ready to lash out. Why has no one mentioned to me that this place is a freakin juvie, not a school?

"I advise you to control your anger issues here."

I glare at Derek, baring my teeth. I really can't stand this guy at times. Make that most times. Actually all times.

"Chief Adler's office is right through there. Good luck."

Derek comes to a stop right in front of a white-painted door. Scowling at him, I enter the room.