A U G U S T

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Just do it," Tana breathed as Elise held the scissors to Tana's blonde locks.

"You know I never got my cosmetology license..." Elise began, but she was grinning, clearly excited to be doing this.

"That's okay," Tana assured.

"Okay." Elise cut a good chunk of hair off and Tana couldn't help but let out a squeal. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, keep going!"

It took about fifteen minutes, but Tana was excited to be looking at her now short hair in the mirror. If she was going to go back to Tulsa, she was going to look how she wanted.

Her mother was going to lose her mind.

As she walked out of the bathroom, she immediately caught Winston's gaze.

"Glory," Dallas mumbled.

"You like it?" Tana asked, toying with the ends. "It feels so much better."

"Yeah," he finally stuttered out. "It's very... you."

Tana smiled up at the man.

"I guess I'm ready to go back to Tulsa now," she whispered, her smile fading and a clear look of sadness in her eyes. This was breaking her heart to leave. But, she'd come to the conclusion that maybe Dallas was right. Sooner or later she was going to get out, but this wasn't her time. She had gotten a nice taste of freedom and now she was certain she had something to look forward to after she graduated.

How she was possibly going to go to art school, she had no idea. For now, she'd just have to tough it out.

The bags were already packed and Sunny was getting anxious. He knew they were going to go somewhere because Dallas had been holding his leash for a long time.

"Have a safe trip back," Nathan said, purposely avoiding the word 'home'. He knew they weren't going home. But maybe they would come back home one day.

"Be careful, please," Elise nodded. "Both of you." She eyed Dallas playfully, who actually smiled in return.

"Thank you for letting us stay here," Tana said, pulling Nathan and Elise both into a hug. "You have no idea how much this has meant to me. To both of us."

"It was no trouble at all. I hope y'all find what you're looking for," Nathan nodded.

Sunny let out a whine, letting the couples know that he was still there.

"Of course, we'll miss you, too, Sunny Bear," Elise cooed, scratching the dog's ears. Nathan gave the dog a gentle pat on the head.

"One more thing before we go..." Tana started.

"What's that?"

"I hope we'll see each other again."

"I have the feeling we will," said Elise.

After one final hug, Tana and Dallas turned and walked out the door with Sunny on their heels, Elise and Nathan waving goodbye as they backed down the driveway and drove off.

Tana's head was hurting. She knew it was because she desperately wanted to cry after saying goodbye to their friends, but she refused to let the tears fall. She wasn't a crier. At least, not in front of people.

Dallas grabbed her hand and held it on top of the center console as she drove. She sent a sad smile his way and she could see him trying to return it.

They drove on. Their plan was to drive straight to Tulsa. They'd start to make plans for the future once the got closer but, the closer they got, it seemed the harder it was to talk about how their future would work out.

Dallas wanted to leave as soon as they got back. He owed Buck money, but it wasn't something he couldn't do. Buck was going to be pissed when he saw Dallas again, no doubt. But Dallas knew how to work the guy. He'd do anything if you bullied him enough.

Tana was dreaming about Chicago. The art institute there was something she had dreamed of seeing. She'd seen LA; now it was time for her to see Chicago. And maybe this time she wouldn't come back.

Exactly how she was going to convince her parents to let her go, she wasn't sure. But she knew there was probably going to have to be a lot of threatening involved.

The two shared occasional awkward glances, but it remained silent for a long time. They didn't stop until Sunny started whining, indicating they should pull into a gas station so they could rest for a minute.

As soon as Tana opened the door and got out, Sunny hopped into the seat and out into the cool air. They were somewhere in New Mexico now. It wouldn't be too long before they were back in Oklahoma.

While Dallas walked Sunny around, Tana disappeared inside to use the restroom and buy some snacks.

At checkout, she couldn't help but notice the cop standing by a chip rack, eyeing her suspiciously. Tana thought this odd as she had no reason for the cop to be suspicious of her.

Unless...

Tana hastily paid for her things, not even bothering to take her change from the cashier before walking as calmly as she could outside.

"We have to go, Dallas," Tana said as Sunny was finishing up his business in some weeds.

"Why?"

"That cop in there," Tana said.

Dallas furrowed his eyebrows and looked around her to see the cop she was referring to was heading toward the door. He hadn't bought anything.

"Did you steal something?"

"No," Tana said quickly. "I think he's looking for me."

"Why would he be looking for you?"

"Um, I don't know, maybe because I'm a teenage runaway."

"What, you think your folks contacted the police?"

"Someone had to have," Tana argued.

"Maybe he's just wondering what we're doing at a gas station at two in the morning."

"No, Dallas—"

"Pardon me, folks," came a voice. Tana turned, facing the cop with near tears in her eyes.

"Hello, sir," she greeted smoothly.

"What brings you here tonight?"

"Oh, just getting a little something for our road trip," she said nervously. The cop looked over at Dallas. He seemed to recognize the kid but didn't seem too sure.

I hate the goddamn fuzz, Dallas was thinking.

"Where ya headed?"

"Um, Oklahoma," Tana nodded.

This seemed to set the cop more on edge. "Quite a ways away, don't ya think?"

"Yeah. We wanted to drive all night to get there quicker."

"Why ya in a hurry?"

"Just excited to be getting back home is all."

"Would it be possible to see your license?" the officer said.

"What for?"

"I just like to know who people are if they're traveling. So I can make sure I got people looking out for 'em."

Now Tana was stuck. She knew if she gave him her license, he'd know exactly who she was. But if she kept refusing, she'd earn even more suspicion. She turned to Dallas who looked half tempted to just take off and run. But Dallas knew better.

He knew if he got shot again, he wouldn't make it. Last time, he'd been lucky.

"Ma'am?"

"Um, we don't need anyone to look out for us. That's a very kind gesture, but we'll be okay. There's three of us."

"Three of you?"

Tana realized then that he probably hadn't seen the dog.

"Um, my dog. Our dog."

"Where is the dog?"

"I have him," Dallas said, adding the dumbass part in his head.

"Would you step over here, sir?"

Dallas walked around the car. Now in the light, the officer could see him a lot better.

"You two look awful familiar," the cop said.

"Don't know where you would have seen us at. We ain't on TV or nothin'," Dallas said, his face starting to go red.

"No, you know what? I have seen y'all on TV," the cop said. "Are you Tana Thompson?"

"No," Tana said quickly.

"Tana," Dallas said warningly. He knew it was too late. These cops were crooked. They didn't have to abide by the law, it seemed. This man could arrest them both if he wanted to. "Just comply."

Tana turned back to the officer nervously. "Yes, sir."

"And you're Dallas Winston?"

Dallas nodded. Just then, another cop car pulled into the station.

"Son of a bitch," Dallas cursed.

The cop calmly took the leash from Winston and handed it to Tana.

"Mr. Winston, you are under arrest."

"What?" Tana shrieked. "What do you mean?"

"For transporting a minor across state lines." Dallas put his hands in the air and turned toward the car obediently, something he never would have done a year ago. He always liked to give the cops a little trouble. The officer listed off the Miranda rights before he took both hands and cuffed Dallas behind his back and lead him into the backseat of his car.

The new officer walked up. "Come with me, miss," he said gently.

"No, Dallas—"

"Miss Thompson, it's only going to make this harder if you resist." Tana turned to the cop and nodded. He didn't cuff her, but he helped her into the back seat. Sunny climbed in after her and the cop shut the door.

The ride to the station was only a few minutes, but it felt like hours. Tana had never ridden in a cop car before. She never planned she would.

"What about my car?"

"It's all taken care of, Tana. The important thing is that we get you home safe."

"Dallas didn't kidnap me," Tana said.

"Miss Thompson, I strongly suggest you save any arguments for a judge or for your lawyer." This shut Tana up. Her dad was a lawyer. If she played the right cards, she could get Dallas out.

When they arrived at the police station, she didn't see Dallas or the other cop at all. The one who had assisted her led her into the station and into a back room. Tana was still holding the bag of chips she'd bought, but she wasn't even hungry now.

"Take a seat," the cop said. "Sheriff Douglas will be in shortly.

Tana found a place to sit on the bench and Sunny, ever so naive, sat down happily on the floor next to her. She petted Sunny's head subconsciously, worried about what was going to happen.

It wasn't until a few minutes later that a bigger man walked in.

"Tana Thompson, I'm Sheriff Jeff Douglas. How are you?" Tana shrugged. "I understand you're probably angry and confused, but we need to make sure that you know you're going to be okay."

"I'm not worried about me," Tana said impatiently. "What's going to happen to Dallas?"

"Right now he's going to be holed up here until we can get a shuttle to take him to Tulsa. Then we'll begin proceedings for court and all that."

"But why?"

"Because Mr. Winston has been accused of assisting a minor— you— across state lines. Among other things."

"But who would do that? My parents don't know I was with him."

"Someone tipped Tulsa police off about it a couple of weeks ago."

"Who?"

"I cannot disclose that information. There's also a threat on kidnapping, but that one might be a little easier to get him out of."

"But Dallas didn't drive me across state lines," Tana lied. "I drove. The whole time. I drove. Whoever tipped you off was lying."

Sheriff Douglas frowned. "I'm sorry, Tana. Unfortunately, right now, it's out of my hands. We have to proceed with the investigation. And considering Winston has a long criminal record, it's going to be a tough one."

"But I'm telling you! As the supposed victim, I'm telling you that he's innocent!"

"Tana, why were you running away?"

"Don't turn this on me! He's in jail!"

"Tana, please cooperate. We have to get to the bottom of this. Your parents are on their way—"

"My parents? No. Tell them to go home. I can drive myself."

"Miss Thompson, please—"

"No, you listen to me, sir," Tana snapped. "I dragged him with me on this trip. If he had kidnapped me, do you think he would bother taking my dog? My dog loves him! And he's picky about people he doesn't know. Ask the officer that arrested him. Sunny was letting Dallas walk him with no problems!"

"I understand, Tana. Trust me, I do. But I have to do this. I have to interview you. Dallas is being interviewed as well. We're going to straighten things out. It's just going to take some time and patience."

Tana nodded and heaved a sigh.

"I don't want my parents here."

"Why is that?"

"They don't give two shits about me. They're just worried about their image. Did my parents go to the police too?" Douglas nodded. "How long did it take them to notice I was even gone? A week? I guarantee you their first thought that I was gone wasn't that I was kidnapped."

Douglas wiped his face with a handkerchief he'd pulled from his uniform pocket.

"I wasn't running away," Tana said after a moment of silence. "I was getting away. Dallas was the one to convince me to come back. If he hadn't been with me, I'd still be in LA, living under a completely different name."

"Why did he want you to come back?"

"He wanted me to finish high school."

Douglas nodded. "Don't worry, Tana. We'll get this straightened out."