DATE: July 10, 3035

LOCATION: New York City, New York

The next morning, I slowly open my eyes to the sight of numerous trees looming over me. Frantic, I sit up quickly, wondering where I am. It isn't until I see my short, dark brown hair barely falling over my shoulder that yesterday's exciting events come back to me. Jackson is still fast asleep, just a few feet to my right. Looking to the east, I see why; the sun is just beginning to rise. I'm used to getting up at dawn, however, so this doesn't phase me. I always awake at sunrise so I can keep an eye out on my surroundings, should anyone discover my identity, as they did yesterday. At this point, I'm usually walking around New York, doing whatever I can to entertain myself, but obviously, there's nothing much to do in the woods. So, I do the only thing I can think to do; I begin to pace. This is the only time I've had to myself in quite awhile, and I'm not exactly sure what else to do.

I must have been pacing for longer than I imagined, because the next thing I know, Jackson is groaning as he sits up and stretches.

"Okay, sleeping on a forest floor is new to me. It's a lot more uncomfortable than I thought it would be," he says, running his fingers through his hair, which only messes it up more.

"I found it extremely comfortable," I counter.

"How?"

"Try sleeping in an alley for six years. Sleeping here feels like a memory foam mattress."

"Oh," he mumbles, staring down at his hands, "How long have you been awake?" he asks, finally standing up and growing to his full height, which is at least six inches taller than me.

"Since dawn," I answer, shrugging my shoulders.

"You've been up since dawn?!"

"Yeah," I sigh, "I'm used to it."

He whistles. "Man, that's something. You are just full of surprises, Lacey Bennett."

"So it seems," I say smugly, a smirk curling its way onto my lips. Jackson just looks at me, shoving his hands into his pockets as he shakes his head and chuckles softly to himself.

"So how do you suppose we take down the government?" I question.

"Okay," Jackson starts, "So I figured that the best place to start is by making Them think you're dead."

"And how do we do that?"

"I know a guy-"

"Here we go," I groan.

"What?" Jackson asks in a tone that shows offense.

"Every time someone says they know a guy, everything usually goes awry and nothing works out the way you plan it."

"I see where you're coming from," Jackson acknowledges, "But just hear me out."

I let out a long, forced sigh. "Sure," I shrug, "Go for it."

"Alright," he sighs in relief, "I know a guy that had a son who was blonde. He makes wigs and does makeup for stage productions, movies, stuff like that. He could give you a blonde wig and do some makeup on you that makes it look like something happened and you bled to death. So, what do you say?"

"Where does this guy live?"

"California."

My eyes widen and my jaw drops to the ground. "California?! Are you out of your mind?! That's all the way across the country! We don't even have the money to get there!"

Jackson laughs. "You're cute when you're mad, you know." I only glare at him. "Okay, okay, lay off on the death glare!" he says, holding his hands up in surrender.

"Why should I?"

"Because I'm paying for your plane ticket to Cali."

"No, you're not. There's no way you have that kind of money."

"Apparently you don't know me too well. I know people. I can get money. Remember, we're not the only two people that are against the government."

"Then where is all this money you speak of?"

"Well," Jackson begins, "I had it in my pockets when you ran into me yesterday, but-and I hope you don't mind-I put it in your bag last night."

"I guess I don't mind," I answer, putting emphasis on 'guess'.

"Cool," he smiles, "Let's get to the airport!"

When we arrive at the airport, Jackson gets us tickets for the next flight to San Fransisco, which is where his 'friend' lives. We sit in the waiting area for about half an hour before an announcement is made to start boarding.

"That was fast," I say.

"You're telling me," Jackson sighs, "Normally I sit at an airport for at least two hours before they let us board. If we had gotten here any later, we probably would've missed the flight."

"Well," I start, "It's a good thing we got here when we did."

"You can say that again."

"Well-"

"Don't actually say it again! It's just an expression."

"Oh, I know," I tell him, "I was just messing with you. Besides, I'm not one to follow orders or ask for permission."

"Really? You give me more of a 'good girl' vibe than anything else."

"How?"

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," Jackson reassures me, "I can already tell you're not a 'goodie-goodie'."

"Good," I nod, sending him a glare, "But don't ever use the term 'goodie-goodie' again. It makes me want to vomit."

"Okay. Whatever you say, your Majesty," he laughs.

I shoot him another glare, and he immediately backs down. "That's better."

Not five minutes later, we board the plane and find seats. Jackson apparently bought tickets for a nice airline that allows you to choose where you sit on the plane, so Jackson and I find two seats next to each other and I sit down in the window seat as Jackson places our bags in the storage above our seats. After doing so, he sits in the isle seat beside me and makes himself comfortable. (I should point out that even though we are on a good flight, it's always difficult to make oneself comfortable in an airplane chair.) I watch through the window as the plane takes off, and once it does, I let out a huge-and loud-sigh of relief.

"What's up?" Jackson questions.

"What do you mean?"

"Why did you just sigh so loudly?"

"Oh, I um-"

"Is this your first time on a plane?" he asks, shocked.

"Yes," I admit.

"Okay."

"Okay? That's it? Aren't you going to make fun of me for not having been on a plane before I was fifteen?"

"No," Jackson shrugs.

"Why not?"

"Because I understand why. You have your reasons, and I have mine. I know I don't need to know every single detail about your life. Some stuff is private, and I respect that."

"Really?" Now it's my turn to be shocked.

"Yes," he replies in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

I turn back to the window and gaze at the Big Apple getting smaller and smaller beneath me, until the plane reaches the clouds and is entirely engulfed in them. I watch as smaller clouds drift past my window, while others form a barrier around the plane because of their great size. Moments later, I'm fast asleep.

^^^^^^^^^^

Another chapter up! 😄

Okay, so I know I said I was going to update only on Wednesdays, and even though it is a Wednesday, I'm just going to let it be known that I'm ditching the schedule. I was going to do a schedule so that I could write chapters and update a different one, when I was probably ten chapters ahead (example: say I published chapter five, when I was in the middle of writing chapter eleven), but that didn't work out, seeing as I'm only on chapter four....

Either way, I'm getting rid of the schedule idea, and I'm just going to post when I'm ready, or when I feel like it.

~Tiffani

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