September 1st 1996, 1:00pm.

Michael takes me around the ranch. We've been walking around for about an hour now only halfway through, but it's fun. Of course I've been my awfully quiet self with the occasional nod, and a "yes" or "no" or "that looks interesting" throughout the whole thing.

"Do you want to head back down?" he asks as we stop near a lake.

"Whatever you want."

"You know, you're very quiet. Is there anything wrong?"

I shook my head no.

"Are you sure? Because if anything is wrong, you can alw-"

"Yes, I'm sure," I cut him off.

"Alright then, let's go see where everyone else is at." I follow him back.

♔

We go back and join the kids playing on all the rides after a little while of exploring the ranch – well he did anyway. My stomach started grumbling, and I can't believe I hadn't eaten since this morning. Evening arose quicker than I thought, and I see Michael leading the kids back inside.

"Thank you all again," says Michael. "We'll do it again as soon as I come back, I promise."

"Michael we don't want you to leave!" a little boy shouts. All the others agree.

"I know, I know. But I'll be back."

"You promise?" a little girl with pigtails says as she looks up at him with her brown eyes.

He kisses the top of her forehead. "I promise."

I smile at how cute the scene before me is. I suddenly feel uneasy as Francesca is nowhere to be seen and hasn't been all day, and I'll admit no matter how rude to me she was this morning that I'm beginning to get worried. After all, she is the only person I know. Just then, Francesca comes walking down the stairs.

"Carmella, looks like you'll be staying the night here because Francesca will be here too," says Michael.

Oh great, my heart was already beating 100 beats per second, and now he's asking me to stay the night? I can't handle this amount of pressure. I want to go home, but I'm here. And I'm stuck with no way out...so far.