The truth is, I have no idea where Seth could be, but I do know some universal things about being homeless. A fresh runaway's first priority is shelter/safety, followed closely by food and water and finally all the other little luxuries you take for granted when you have a place to sleep: soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorant, clean clothes.

So if Seth left just last night, he's looking for shelter first. But not just any shelter... somewhere safe. What place would he think is safe? Certainly not under a bridge or in a homeless shelter.

If I was a thirteen-year-old-kid with limited experience of being on my own in an urban  environment, I would go somewhere familiar first. If not the girlfriend's then maybe another friend's place or his school.

"Where does he go to school?" I ask Rory.

She looks surprised. "West Oaks Middle. Why?"

"I think I might have an idea. It's just a hunch, but we might as well try."

———————

Thirty minutes later we're parked in front of Seth's dark middle school. It's a sprawling campus with several different buildings. Looking for an opening will take awhile. Luckily no one is in the parking lot. If I was Seth I'd be hiding out in the cafeteria, close to the food. That's where we'll look first.

I tell Pixie to stay in the van as Rory and I get out to scout around. I have my hood on just in case there are cameras.

"Do you know where the cafeteria is?" I ask Rory softly.

"Yeah. I went to school here too. This way," she says.

Eventually we find an unlocked door that leads to the kitchens. The lock looks like it's been badly picked with marks and notches all around the metal keyhole, which might mean my hunch was right.

"I think your brother's been here," I say, pointing at the lock.

Rory nods and carefully pushes open the door.

Inside the vast dark kitchen, we listen for sounds. Light from the street lamps glints off the metal appliances. There's an unpleasant smell of bleach, Lysol and old cafeteria food.

At first it seems like nothing is moving, but then we hear a soft clank of metal from the other end of the room, followed by footsteps. My heart is pounding at the thought of who might be here when Seth walks around the corner of the refrigerator, an open box of cereal in one hand and a big kitchen knife in the other. The hand holding the knife is trembling.

"How the hell did you find me?" he asks, lowering the knife as relief floods his eyes.

His face is pale, and I can tell we scared him as much as he scared us. Rory throws her arms around him.

"Oh my God, Seth! Don't do this to me anymore!" she cries, tears streaming down her face.

When she pulls away, Seth looks surprised, then guilty.

"I'm sorry," he mumbles, turning red.

"I was worried sick!" Rory shouts through her sobs.

"I wasn't running from you, Rory, and I didn't mean to make you worry. You're the only person who gives a shit about me... I didn't mean to hurt you."

"What are you running from?" she asks.

Seth shakes his head. "Can't say."

Rory sighs heavily and leans against the refrigerator. I can see my reflection beside hers in the metal doors, warped beyond recognition.

"Seth," I say.

Seth looks at me. "What?"

"I'm running from someone too. If you tell Rory the details, I can help you figure out how to survive," I say.

Seth stares at me for a long time, then looks back at Rory. His eyes dart to the door behind us and I think he's about to bolt, but then he puts the cereal box and knife on the counter and takes a deep breath.

"You can't tell Dad," he whispers.

"I can't promise that," Rory says. "But I can promise to protect you. No matter what."

Seth looks down at his feet, tears filling his eyes. He's trembling all over. For the first time since I met him, he seems much younger than his thirteen years.

"Okay... the truth is I do remember what happened when I was gone. All of it," he mumbles.

Rory lets out a slow breath. "Seth, why did you lie to everyone?"

Seth's tears spill over onto his cheeks. He angrily swipes at them. "Because I was scared shitless. The people who had me... they want me dead. I got away, but that doesn't mean they're not hunting me. The night I got away, I stole some cash and ran for it. I was over in Mexico and had to buy my way back into the U.S. with a bunch of illegal immigrants in the back of a truck. Then I just set out in the direction of home. That's how I ended up in the desert."

"You could have died!" Rory exclaims.

"I had nothing to lose," Seth says.

I know exactly how he feels. Sometimes death is the better deal.

"So why are you so afraid now? It's been more than half a year! There's no way they can find you!" Rory says.

Seth shakes his head. "I thought that too for while. But then on Friday, I saw this van in our neighborhood driving really slow past our house. I know it was them because I've seen that van before. That's why I ran. I knew you would think I ran because of Dad, and that's what I wanted you to think. If they know where I live, I'm not safe and neither are you guys."

"Who's looking for you?" she asks, holding his shoulders tightly, her face white.

Seth looks away. "Bad people. Really bad. If they catch me again they'll take me back over the border to Mexico. I won't be able to escape again. They'll make sure of it. That's why I told everyone I couldn't remember. I knew Dad would want to find them and press charges, and I couldn't take that risk."

"Why?"

"Dad being who he is just makes things worse! If I was just a nobody's kid they probably would have let me go and just forgotten about me. But Dad has a lot of power, and they know it now. When I first got taken I told them my name was Mike, because I was scared they kidnapped me because of Dad, but they were clueless about Dad. That's not why they took me. But now they know who I am, that I'm the son of a politician who could destroy their entire network! I think that's why they're hunting me down."

"Who are they?" Rory asks softly, looking bewildered.

Seth shakes his head. "I heard some things when I was over there. I learned a lot of Spanish. That's why it's the only class I'm passing. I know there's a big boss everyone calls Diego, but I never saw him and don't even know if he's just one person or a lot of people. Over in Mexico, things are different. The gangs there have a ton of power. They have thousands of people working for them. The cops are basically worthless and can be bribed to do pretty much anything."

"Why did they want you?" Rory asks.

I see Seth's eyes dart to me, then back to Rory.

"I don't want to talk about that," he says.

"Seth-"

"I don't want to talk about it!" he shouts, shoving Rory away from him.

"Hey!" I yell, stepping between them, "Calm down, Seth!"

He clenches his hands into fists. "I'm sorry, Rory. Are you okay?"

"You can't hide in this school forever!" Rory shouts, ignoring his apology.

"It's the safest place for me. During the day I can hide out in a janitor's closet, and nobody gets into the school without a visitor's pass, so I know grabbing me from here would be too much of a risk. Too many cops, teachers and witnesses around."

"Seth, I promise I'll protect you. I'll tell dad," Rory says. "You have to come home."

Seth looks down at the floor. "Telling him will make things worse."

"The more people who know, the more people who can help you," I say. "Believe me. Especially if your dad is a powerful politician, he could take them down and you'd be safe forever."

Seth looks at me. I can tell he's considering my words. Then he finally nods, just once.

"Fine. I'll come home, but you've gotta promise to protect me."

"I promise," Rory says, "I always will."

Outside in the parking lot, after Seth has climbed into Rory's Mustang, she leans in and kisses me.

"Thank you," she whispers against my mouth. She holds the strings of my hoodie, twisting them around her fingers.

"It was just a hunch he'd be here. If I was him, this is where I would have gone," I say.

"Come home with me," she says, "Please."

I sigh, glancing at the van, where Pixie is watching me from the passenger's side window. "Rory... I..."

"Was it all a lie? Everything? Did you really like me?" she asks, choking back tears.

"Of course! That's not why I left!"

"Then why?"

I look into her eyes. I try to think of some excuse but it seems so pointless. Might as well just tell her the truth. "I don't know, Rory. I've never felt like this about anyone before... it scares me, I guess. I don't like to get close to people."

Rory's eyes soften. "It scares me too, Austin. We're from two different worlds. I don't know how it's gonna work or even if it can work... but I want to try."

She reaches up a hand and brushes my hair out of my eyes. I desperately need a haircut. I cover her hand with my own and kiss her palm.

"Okay. I'll try. But can we take it slow?" I ask.

"Yes," Rory says, "But I want to know where to find you. I hate not knowing if you guys are safe."

"Do you have your work schedule?" 

"Yeah."

"Are you working tomorrow night?"

"Of course. Closing shift," she says.

"Then I'll come by at closing," I say, "And I'll find out when you're working next. We can hang out when Pixie goes to sleep."

She smiles a small smile then. "It's not as good as you staying with me, but I guess I'll take what I can get."

I lean in and gently kiss her mouth. "Thanks for being patient. I'll see you tomorrow."