Wade trucked down the stairs, with our bags as he moved them to his car.

The sun had risen at five forty today, and his alarm woke us up at seven twenty. But we actually woke up at two to eight. Wade had always been an early riser, unlike me. I preferred sleeping over awakening.

Breakfast consisted of chocolate chip pancakes with maple syrup and a cup of coffee, normally I'd never touch the thing, even with a ten foot long pole, but I needed it since the ride was going to be long and Wade refused to give me ten more minutes of my sweet slumber.

Nine am ticked away as I finished eating and got up to wash the plates. I yawned when ringing caught my attention. I sighed, who's awake at this time... on a weekend no less. I walked to the wall phone and picked it up. "Good morning."

"Hey honey."

"Daddy, hey."

"How's everything going, you and Wade leaving soon?"

"Yeah, actually he's packing the car right now. So, how have you been?"

"Been busy, but what's new. Your mother and I are so close to winning this case." his voice filled with joy made me smile.

"I'm glad. So when should we expect you back home?"

There was a pregnant pause before the other line crackled and he came back on. "Mom says about Wednesday."

I twirled my hair around my finger, they've been gone since day before yesterday, I thought they'd be back yesterday but they weren't. "I miss you."

"Oh honey, we miss you too. I promise we'll do something fun when we get back okay. For now, have fun with your brother. I love you."

"I love you too... should I call Wade?"

"Yeah, let me say hi. Oh and mom says hi too-she's on a call." I walked over to the front door to call Wade when I saw Maky's car rolling up to our house. "Wade... it's dad." he looked up just as the car parked and jogged up to meet me. I handed him the phone and went down the stairs so that I could ask them what's wrong.

"Morning traveler." Maky greeted smiling.

"Why on earth are you awake so early?"

"I've been babysitting remember-two rascals and a drunkard." we laughed hard until a door slammed shut and a groggy Olicity came out the car.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing." I pulled her into a hug and she sighed. "Why is the sky so dull."

"No clue, maybe it's just you." she stuck out her tongue once I pulled back and I smiled. "Are those your cousins?"

"Yep, the bigger one is my sister though."

"I knew that, where was she last night?"

"Next door with friends, she watched the baby's whole I was out getting your butt home." I cringed slightly.

"Sorry."

She shrugged. "Don't be, not your fault." I waved at the kids and the smaller ones waved back, Maky's sister Dawn smiled and went back to her phone. "So..." her words cut off and I followed her gaze to see what stunted her and had to hold back my knowing smirk. "Hey Maky, Lici-still feeling hungover?" he asked in a chuckle. She fake laughed at him then flipped him her middle finger. She arose laughter from the three of us before she headed back to the car. Our old friend silence revisited us again, but this time he brought tension with him. "So," I began, cutting through the thick air, "what did dad say?" I asked.

"Oh, nothing much, drive safe, take care of you, don't forget you're with me, have fun and he'll see us Wednesday."

"Just about right." I replied.

He snickered and I rolled my eyes as they both stood there quiet like me. I sighed. "Can you two just talk it out before we leave please, the tension is visible." I turned and walked towards her car and got in the drivers seat. They were both staring my way and I rolled my wrist, gesturing for them to go on.

Wade chuckled nervously. "So," he bit his lip, "look I'm sorry for what I said last night, or for what I didn't do. You're a nice girl and I... I didn't want you to think I was rushing you."

Maky smiled satisfied with his apology. "It's okay. I guess the mood was right, but it was too early. I hope you two have a safe trip."

"Me too. Thank you Maky."

"No prob... so am I gonna get a hug goodbye at least?" she smiled and nodded as he came forward and embraced her. I smiled from the car at the pair. But not before glancing back at Olicity to make sure she wasn't seeing that. And thankfully she had fallen asleep. "See ya Dawn."

"Have a safe trip Ali." I got out of the car and ran up to them. "And the verdict is?"

"We're all good Ali." she pulled me into her and hugged me, and I hugged back. "Gonna miss you."

"Gonna miss you too."

"I'll text you every second and you better have loads of fun."

"Promise." we exchanged smiles before hugging one last time.

"Okay, Ali, time to move out. Do you have everything?" Wade said, injecting himself between us.

"My bag was in the front seat already and I had my charger, but I'll double check. Bye Maky." she waved me as I ran back into the house.

• Chargers, check
• Cell, check
• Keys, check
• Headphones, check
• Books, check
• Toothbrush, check
• Bags, check
• Clean underwear, check
• Hoodies, check

I'm ready for the road.

~ ~ ~

After our goodbyes and promises to call each other everyday, Wade and I began our trip. Having resolved his mini dilemma with Maky and was reassured that we had everything that we needed he finally started the car and left for the hills.

Forty minutes into our peaceful ride, having just left our town of Jensenberg and now burning rubber on the wider road that led on to our destination to Vaughan's Gateway Inn.

"So, how long are you supposed to drive to this place?" I asked resting my head back as I glanced at him.

"Only five and a half more hours." he replied. To say I took that as great news would be a bluntant lie.

In turn sighed and slid my headphones back on. Wade nudged me when he took a left onto the highway. "Oh don't be like that. At least you're with me." he tried giving me a playful smile. I shrugged, at least I have him, but four hours is still a long time.

"You're boring. And to prove my point properly-the reminder that you're taking your little sister to a music lounge in a winter Inn, proves that you are in fact... boring."

He chuckled, then appeared hurt.

"You're so mean." he sniffled for effect. And I rolled my eyes at his obvious act.

"You're so silly." I said, picking through my bag for my cell. He laughed me off. "So since you're making me endure this long ride to winter wonderland, why not tell don't we just talk the time away."

He side glanced at me like I just spoke tongues, I shoved at his shoulder. "Come on. I'm bored, and I don't feel like reading yet."

He looked at me as the traffic backup caused us to stop. "Okay, I'll bite... tell how the party went yesterday."

I paled, why'd he have to be curious about that? "How bout you tell me about a crazy party you went to?"

"Oh no, don't try to escape this, what happened?"

I sighed, so much for a relaxing weekend off from reality. Why'd he have to go and bring up that? Urghhh, me and my stupid mouth. "Okay well, I didn't really want to go, but then that would mean leaving Lici alone with two girls who couldn't even care to give a freak about her so I agreed to go along."

"Hmm, so far so good. You're a nice friend." he said.

I smiled at that, feeling proud... momentarily. "Thanks, I'd just do what any best friend would."

"So, good on." I sighed, he is really prying to find out what happened. When did he become like our mother? I shivered at the thought of having two mothers who dig into your life. Nightmare inducing much?

I huffed out in defeat. "Okay, but keep in mind, that I didn't predict how bad things would get." he side glanced at me, then nodded.

I nod too, sealing our deal. "So after Maky dropped us and I promise to text her with updates every now and again, she left us-I told her if I don't reply within half an hour then come get us. Anyways-."

"You really didn't want to be there." he cut in.

"Like I said, it was only because of Lici. Can I continue?"

He chuckled, then nodded. "So, she left and there I meet two girls from separate classes of mine and Lici's and I made a mistake in underestimating them."

He laughed at me and I scowled him. "What? Why would you say that about them?"

He seemed oblivious to girls custom... but then I was somewhat unused to it too. I shrugged. "One was a pathological liar and the other wanted to steal Olicity away from me."

Wade burst into a fit of laughter at the wheel, in which he collected a pinch straight to the shoulder. "Ouch, ow, when did you adapt an abusive nature?"

"When you laugh about something I'm being serious about. Quit it or I'll stop." I folded my arms over my chest as I shut my eyes and refused to continue."

"Okay, okay, chill. I'll stop. Go on, Ali, come on, don't be like that." he pouted, then began whimpering like a dog and I was struggling to hold back my amusement at his playful antics. "Pwease little sista." he whimpered again and I lost it. I broke out in laughter. "Okay okay, you idiot. I'll continue just stop doing that. It's annoying."

"Yeah, but you're laughing." he said. I rolled my eyes at him. "We're gonna have a fun weekend Ali, I promise. And maybe you'll meet someone worth your time." I sighed.

"Sure, whatever Wade." he smiled the nudged me.

"What happened next?"

I smiled and went on with the story. I told Wade all about the cling-on wannabe friend Jenna and and the elusive Terry who I could never find on purpose and who lied to me at every turn. It was a nightmare. And quite frankly if I knew, I'd've have declined and opted for hanging out at Maky's with junk food, movies and whatever else we could find to do.

I told him about the idiot ex and the crazy crowds of drunk and disorderly teens who reaped and pillaged Preston's home until the cops came... I did manage to slyly sneak in the parts about Ashlin, without my voice cracking or my eyes drifting in thought of how his brilliant blue eyes bore into my very core... but then that, proved to be a very difficult task.

Wade was surprised to hear about the adventure we had that night, and what I had to go through. He wasn't taken by Jenna nor Terry, and I was happy that we both could tell how those girls were reckless and carefree. I even told him about Devon and how he attempted to get into Lici's pants. "Damn, well if I knew that was gonna happen then maybe I should have opted for you to stay home. You weren't hurt right?"

His question was said in all seriousness and it made me look at him to see a troubled look in his eyes. "No, I was fine, thankfully I'm great at avoiding conflict, boys, and drunk teens... so you really had nothing to worry about." the silence stretched between us. I began twisting a long lock of hair between my fingers, thinking of a response. "I was doing what I do best, being invisible and hiding from the masses."

"Good, because anyone that hurt you would have had to speak to me." he sounded now like the protective brother that I was used to when I was in seventh grade and had kids who used to pick on me.

I thought about it for a second, if that night didn't happen, then I'd never have gotten to know Ashlin and how kind enough he was to help me save Olicity. I bit the inside of my mouth before looking back at my brother. "No, I don't fully regret it, it wasn't like we got into serious trouble... like dad always says, never regret the mistakes of the past. And besides right, even though mistakes are made, other things take place too and I'd never have met Ashlin." I felt my pupils shrunk as I mentioned his name.

Wade's eyes beamed. "Oh, who's Ashlin?"

I gulped. "No one." I lied.

He scoffed. "Sure, I hope you know you're a terrible liar and I almost picked up on the hints of the guy that saved you from the crowd, talked to you on that porch then saved Lici from that asshole." he said.

The smirk on his face caused me to facepalm myself. The heat of my embarrassment coming forth to my neck and cheeks. Why did he read into everything I say? "You're such a jerk."

"You're so shy. Come on, who is he?" he was smiling now. He was such a tease. "Alice has a crush, wow, I'm actually... happy."

"W_wh-what? W-why?" my cheeks were inflamed. "Wade?"

"You've never had a boyfriend Alice, it's okay to talk to boys you know... but I do wanna meet whoever he is because, not just anyone is dating my little sister, you're too innocent for that."

The blushing didn't stop, but the smile that curled on my lips was one of satisfaction that my brother thought that of me. "Hey, you know you deserve someone worth your time, right?"

I nod, not knowing what to say. "Baby sister, I did manage to make you crawl back into your shell?" he joked.

I scoffed at his accusation and shoved at his arm. "You're so annoying. And no, I just don't have an answer."

He chuckled. "Aww, I'm just teasing."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm gonna read now." he smiled, but nodded as I pulled out one of my novels.

"Enjoy your reading sis."

"Thanks." I lifted my feet to the seat before curling up with my book.

Two and a half more hours until we reach.

"I can't wait for us to reach." Wade seemed to be talking to himself, but I replied nonetheless.

"Me too."