My legs were already squeezing up with the lack of exercise I had received over the last few days.

Everyone was running at full speed while I slowly made my way over, panting and wheezing.

Jesus, I'd become so, so unfit so quickly.

I looked down at my legs and realised that over the time that I had been held captive, my legs had become sickly and my arms were sticking out at the elbows.

I definitely did not look like my normal, sexy self, oh no.

I looked like a horror movie version of myself. Not a good look to say the least.

"Guys.... Wait for.... Me."

"No, you hurry up." The blonde girl said. I just scowled at her before I jogged to catch up.

It actually lowkey p'ssed me off how the other three of them looked almost radiated by the running however, I must have looked like a literal hobo. I could actually feel my hair sticking up in a way that did not comply with gravity.

Why couldn't I have the supermodel glow that Zara was sporting right about now?

Scowling, I fast-walked past the three of them.

"Just tell me where we're going."

"Well..." Derek began.

"...We're not sure." Jacob finished.

I would have nearly saw the whole finishing sentences thing cute if I wasn't dying of lactic acid build up in my legs and hunger eating away at my stomach.

'You must be kidding me.' escaped my lips before I could stop myself.

"Actually, my brother has a hideout where he is right now. We could go over there."

"How do we know your brother isn't another psycho?" Jacob asked this time, obvious suspicion lacing his words.

"Well, unless you're planning on sleeping outside here in the woods, I'd come along. It's actually be better for me really!" Derek exclaimed, sounding a little to excited about the whole ordeal.

"What, and leave poor Maya with you? She'd want to burn her eyes and her eyes by the time you'd be done with her."

"I guess we'll see about that, won't we."
Derek finished, sending a wink my way.

I never would have said I was a complete innocent kid when it came to boys but the way Derek worded the whole thing made me feel like hell was burning up in my cheeks.

I just ran towards Zara and stood next to her while the boys carried on bickering it out.

"Wow, imagine having two boys fighting over you."

"I mean, I wouldn't put it like that as such...."

"Ok then Maya, how would you put it?"

I thought for a few seconds but no other answer came to mind.

"Nevermind, it's complicated."  I said instead.

She snorted and just said "Yeah, right."

"Anyways, how far until we get to the safe house?" I asked because honestly, if I ran anymore, my legs would spontaneously combust.

"Only about 10 more minutes."

"ONLY ABOUT TEN?!" What the hell?

"You'll survive, just imagine a hot pot of mac and cheese waiting for you in a fat bowl. Homemade."

"If you don't give me this when I actually get there, you are aware I will sue for fake news and wasting my time in the process."

"Ok, deal."

After another few minutes of light jogging, we all came across a little clearing where the trees just seem to create a cult-ish circle.

With leaves and branches in every direction just after the cleaning passed, I could feel warm liquid running down both my arms and legs.

"Goddamit, your brother could actually trim this area out you know?"

"That would literally destroy the purpose of the safe house. No ones meant to be able to find it, silly." Jacob whispered from behind me whilst grabbing my shoulders.

I felt myself tense under his touch but then I remembered how he had literally saved my life a few too many times now and so I relaxed.

A small groan also came from Derek behind me and Zara leaned in again. I could already guess what she was going to say.

"Told you, Derek's jealous."

"I call your bluff." I hugged before fighting my way through the seemingly never ending rose bushes and thorns that kept tearing up my arms.

After what seemed like a good hour or two but was probably closer to two minutes in reality, we had managed to dominate the thorn bushes that were out for our blood.

I'd been to engrossed in the tiny cuts in my arms to notice the grand beauty that stood in front of us.

It only hit me once I'd hit the back of Derek.

Grumbling, I raised my head to give Derek and earful for getting in my way but the words got stuck in my throat as my eyes took in as much of the pure white majestic palace that stood infront of me.

Ok, calling it a palace was a bit of a stretch but I honestly would not have been surprised if I saw the Queen on her throne with her millions of dogs surrounding her.

Wait, how many dogs does the Queen actually have?

That's a question for another time.

I must have been standing there, wide eyed and open mouthed because Zara was now stood infront of me, shaking me so hard I was surprised how my weak body hadn't fallen yet.

"Wow, when you said hideout, I was expecting more of a like, big shed maybe? You could have given us some prior warning that you were taking us to a bloody palace!"

"Sorry, might have slipped my mind."  She chuckled.

The boys seemed to be just as awestruck as me as they stood there, their eyes glued onto the beautiful the way the ivy twisted up the side of the house.

"Jakey, Der, we actually need to get in the house for it to become a safe house for us." I teased in my baby voice.

The boys just seemed to stand there in silence and I decided it was time for them to wake the hell up.

Walking up to each of them, I tried all the non violent ways I could think of to make them move but with all the waving of my hands and clicking of my fingers, the boys stayed mesmerised.

So then I did what I knew would work.

I nodded to Zara and we both ran up to the boys with battle cries and our fists raised.

The alarm that seemed to light up in the boys faces was to die for. I honestly wish I had a picture to show you. Actually, I'm quite happy I don't have a picture actually, I would have had an actual heart attack if I saw those faces again.

Billowing with laughter, the four of us walked towards the grand doors that taunted us behind the blue marble stairs that lead up to said door.

We approached the door and for once, I really felt like I didn't belong with such luxury and comfort.

Before I could actually turn back and start running, the grand doors swung open and for the second time in a few minutes, my jaw hung open as I watched who opened the door.

No. Freaking. Way.

———
a/n: I am definitely going to die of sleep deprivation lmao why am I doing this to myself🙄.

This was definitely more of a filler than the rest of the chapters butttttttttt who knows, maybe (most definitely) it's just the calm before the storm.... tehee.

turn that little hollow star solid pleaseeeeee if you think i deserve it :)

other than that, have  good nights sleep my lovelies

Lolaalvilivi