"Mia, love, please stop running so we can talk!" Joey exclaims. I know this town better than them, I can easily lose them.

I take off down a side street, and I continue twisting and turning down different streets, trying to lose them. It doesn't work, one of them is always right behind me.

I give up. I hurl myself into one of the alley walls and collapse. Of course, they crowd around me.

"You okay, honey? Please talk to us," Alan says. I stand up, despite the pounding pain, and brush myself off. "I'm fine. I'll be getting home now. It was great seeing you guys again," I say, walking towards my house.

I can see the pain in their eyes as I walk away, and I hope they don't sense all of my hurt. They won't let me go. Somebody's gonna come after me any second now, and I anticipate that second.

I've been walking for fifteen minutes, I'm home, and nobody has stopped me. I guess they have given up on me.

Alan's POV

"Dude! What're you doing? We've gotta go after her! You just gonna let her get away?" Caleb asks. "Let her go. She obviously doesn't want us to help her. We just need to let her go," I say, on the verge of tears.

"But we had her," Chad says. I nod, "Yeah Chad. We did, we had her."

~*~

"So she just ran away?" Josh asks. I press the phone closer to my ear, and nod, "Yeah. I did everything I could, man. She's completely changed. I can't count the times she yelled at me, but she's broken. She's hurt. I want to help her heal, but she won't let me in. I'm sorry."

"You did all you could, Alan. Don't be sorry," he says. "Okay, bye Josh. I'll call you if I hear anything else," I say ending the call.

"Why God? Why me? Why us? Why them? Why her? Mia, she showed me so much. It hurts me so much seeing how hurt she is! Why did you take her from me, God? I had to explain to my kids where this girl, who was like their sister went! I'm hurting God, I need her back in my life. I know I probably took her for granted, but I need her. Why did you take her?! Why from me?! I've trusted you God! I've given you everything! And this is how you treat your messenger? I think you could show me a little bit more respect! I was taking care of her to protect her, and now she rejects me!" I cry. I'm not sure who to direct my emotions at or why I directed them at Him.

I guess I'm hurt that she won't talk to me, or maybe I'm still mad at myself for letting her go that night, and again tonight. It's not too late, I can find her before we leave town. I slip on my jacket, and get into our rental car.

I drive around town, stopping and asking a few people if they know where a Mia and Josiah live. Nobody does.

"God, give her to me now, and I promise I'll never, ever let her go again," I pray.

I drive around a few more streets, scanning the various teenagers, and twenty something year olds walking.

Mia. There she is, walking along with Josiah. I carefully maneuver the car close to them, and roll down the window.

"Mia, sweetheart, would you come with me?" I ask. "You gave up on me. There's no way I ever even wanna see you again," she says.

"I didn't give up on you, smiley, if I did I wouldn't be here right now, would I?" I ask, using my calmest possible voice. "I guess not," she still looks kinda unsure though. "Letting you go was the worst mistake I ever made," I whisper.

She shrugs, and her and Josiah climb into the backseat of the car. I shake my head, "Mia, you will sit in the front seat." I notice both Mia and Josiah roll their eyes.

"Come on missy, move up here," I say. She reluctantly moves forward. "Alan, you don't have to be so strict," she says.

"Look at me. I don't like this attitude. You will respect me, do you understand?" I ask. "Yes," she mumbles, not looking at me. I tilt her chin up to see me, "You know I love you, right?" I ask. "Yes," she says again.

"Good. You trust me, don't you?" I ask another question. She nods again, "I do Alan, with all my heart." I nod, "Good. I love you kiddo." She smiles, "You too Alan."

"Mia! What're you doing? You don't love this Alan guy, you love me, remember? We're dating, and we live together," Josiah says, getting mad.

"Si, you don't know what Alan has done for me! Far more than you ever did or even could. He's a great guy, Si, he really is," Mia says. "But Mia, he's one of those "good-two-shoes Christians". You don't wanna go with him do you?" Josiah asks. Mia nods, "I do actually, because I'm a Christian too. I've made some mistakes, but Alan still accepts me, and God will too."

Josiah rolls his eyes, and climbs out of the car. "Call me if your ever in town again, Mia, or if you wanna get back together," he mumbles, closing the door.

"I'm proud of you, Mia!" I exclaim. She grins, "Really? After all I've done, your proud?" I nod, "Sure am honey! You're a strong warrior for God."