"Why do they always wander off?" Elisay questioned Ianthe and Daphne. Aubrey was in the van preparing it to see if they could drive it to find the two. Maik was helping him, and Myki, Daivi, and Piyteur were cleaning up the area where they'd stayed the night and also all their instruments they'd gotten out the night before. So the three of them had been instructed not to wander far, but to look for them.
     "I don't know if any of you feel this way but…" Elisay's voice trailed off, hesitant to continue. "Well… did any of you notice the friendship between the four of us kind of seems to fade more each day?"
     "Yeah… I kind of noticed that too."
     "I mean, now that we're 'pairing off' so to speak…" Elisay held up her hands indicating quotation marks around the pairing off. "Not that I mind too much…" Elisay's voice trailed off as she looked at Piyteur.
     "Would you guys mind if after we find Naomi we sort of have a sleepover that night? We'll have to check with Naomi, but it's just kind of not the same anymore. I mean I didn't even have a chance to tell you guys I really liked Piyteur before you found out!" she explained. Daphne and Ianthe were shocked.
     "I thought maybe you did, but I didn't know," Daphne added. Ianthe who had said nothing this whole entire time said, "You do?" It was a meek question. Elisay thought maybe Ianthe liked Piyteur but then quickly diminished the thought because Ianthe was dedicated to her wonderful Aubrey.
     "We think she's all ready guys, come on back!" yelled a loud Aubrey and Maik. The three cleaning the instruments were almost through so the rest of them climbed on as they brought the instruments to the bus. Elisay looked out the window and noticed Piyteur was the last one carrying a guitar. Myki was in front of him with a big case containing their music, stands, and other assorted stuff. Daivi was in the lead holding red maracas and a tambourine.
     Daivi and Myki walked in followed by Piyteur who accidentally hit a button. The colors began to swirl as if they were in a Swirl Art machine.
     Elisay and Daphne closed their eyes from dizziness and they both realized they weren't moving. This time the transition didn't involve movement, just color swirls. When the transition was over with they all realized two things: 1. Naomi and Blake were back (phew! I thought y'all had left without us!); 2. Piyteur was lying on the floor because of the big shake before the bus became still. It all happened so quickly, and when they noticed they went over to him. Once again Maik took control.
     "Myki get the kit!" Maik yelled. "Naomi, take Blake, Ianthe and Daphne, see if you can find help, go!" Maik continued. "Aubrey and Daivi go out to the wild and see if you can find anything useful, especially in medicine." They left, leaving Elisay with Maik and hopefully an only unconscious Piyteur. Elisay's world seemed to have come crashing down. Horrible thoughts ran through her head: What if he died?! Would she be able to tell him she loved him? She was hardly paying attention to Maik's instructions, but she knew it was just her and him.
     So she asked, "Is he going to be okay?"

     "Gee, I sure hope he's okay," Blake said. "He seemed like a nice guy."
     "Yeah," Daphne agreed. "If not for him, also for Elisay. I think she likes him."
     Ianthe was silent because for some reason she kind of took it harder than she thought she would.
     "Well. I don't see anyone around," Naomi started. "I know what wandering off can do to you."
     "How'd you guys get back to the Applebus anyway?" Daphne questioned.
     "I don't know," Blake said. "One minute we were trying to figure out a way to get back and the next, we were in the middle of a transition between worlds on the bus," he explained.
     "Yeah, we were just about to find you by driving the Applebus…"
     "And then Piyteur hit a button with the guitar," Ianthe finished.
     Daivi and Aubrey wandered looking for herbs or something that would be of any use, but they couldn't seem to find anything.
     "Hey, do you think a shamrock would be of any use?" Aubrey said examining the one he'd picked up.
     "Does it have four leaves?" asked Daivi.
     "Nope," replied Aubrey.
     "Well then not unless that one will bring us good luck," Daivi said.
     "It might," Aubrey said cheerfully. He tucked it behind his ear in hope that it would and they began heading back to the van/bus empty-handed. When they were about halfway there, they saw part of the crew (Ianthe, Blake, Naomi, and Daphne).
     "Did you find anyone?" questioned Aubrey to the gang.
     A unison of 'no's came from them.
     "How about you? Did you find anything?" Ianthe asked.
     Aubrey's reply was, "Unfortunately, no." But to keep things high spirited, he added, "But I found this great shamrock!" He smiled.
     "I like it. It's you," Ianthe said.
     Myki and Maik decided to start a fire, for it was soon to be dusk and they had yet to eat their dinner. Inside the van Elisay laid with an unconscious Piyteur. Maik had said there was nothing more to do except wait, pray, and unless they got more materials, he didn't know what he could do. So Elisay decided to pray on Piyteur's stomach. She closed her eyes and began.
     God, all I need is another chance. He doesn't know I love him, if only he knew. I need you now more than ever. What if we can't find the right medicine. Please don't let him die. He doesn't know yet. Why? Because I waited for the right time that never came and now it's too late, too late to tell him. Please just another chance to tell him I love him. I also want to thank you for this wonderful trip. Amen.
     When she was finished she picked up her right hand, held up her index finger, solemnly touched her forehead, the center of her chest, then left then to her right. Saying silently in her head: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. She again opened her eyes to find Piyteur awake. She wanted to scream with delight! He was alive! She couldn't believe it! She was about to yell to the rest of them, but then she realized, he heard, he knew! He was smiling at her. His dimples were really showing. She meanwhile was horrified. She'd made a fool of herself. What would he say? she wondered. And even worse, how could she face him? She didn't know why, but she ran off, ran from the bus past everyone outside.
     While she was in the bus praying, the group that went looking for stuff had just come back. They were all talking joyfully till she ran through and they realized she was upset. Daphne went after her. She wanted to make sure she was okay. She knew she hardly ever cried or got upset, but was always there to listen. Then thoughts ran through her mind. If something happened to her who would be there to criticize her pictures? Who would put up with her Whose Line (a new television show) quotes? And how would she learn Ever After, Elisay's favorite movie, by what she told her? When she realized this she ran faster. Then someone caught up with her, grabbed her arm and said to her, "No. She'll come back. She's just upset."
     "Okay," Daphne agreed, "but I want to find her. I don't want her going too far. She could get in trouble out there!" she exclaimed.
     "Yes." Maik contradicted, "But, if we go after her, she'll just run away. Besides, we have the food. Also, I have a plan. Let's get the others," Maik said. When they reached the others, they found them discussing what happened. Things got even more intense when Piyteur stepped out of the bus and said, "Hi guys!"
     "You're alive!" Ianthe cried.
     "If you're alive then… why did Elisay leave?" Naomi wondered out loud.
     Piyteur blushed and looked as if he was getting ready to tell a whole big story before Maik started.
     "I have an idea. Early tomorrow morning while it's still dark we will go looking for her. She couldn't have gone far and maybe then we can talk her into coming back. Besides, she needs some time to get her thoughts together. But Naomi did have a good point. If you're alive, Piyteur, what made Elisay run off?" Maik asked. All eyes turned towards Piyteur and he began to explain.
     At the same time this was going on Elisay ran to the edge of the forest. She didn't hear or care what they were saying. When she saw them finally go to bed everything seemed scary to her. The new sounds and noises, owls and other animals. She didn't like it so she decided to go back, facing him would be better then being scared to death. She headed back and when she opened the door she saw Piyteur was laying closest to the door. She didn't want to face him. Or even talk to him. Unfortunately for her he awoke and whispered, "You came back! I wanted to tell you before you ran off that I like you too." He gave a warm smile.
     "It wasn’t supposed to happen this way though. I was supposed to tell you when we were close and-" Piyteur put an index finger over her lips indicating for her to be quiet.
     "I'm actually glad it happened this way, because if it hadn't would you have told me?" Piyteur asked.
     "Of course not, I would have-" Elisay started and stopped just as quickly realizing what she'd said. They both giggled as quietly as they could and eventually fell asleep waiting for morning.

     

Chapter Notes

     An ingenious (tho poorly planned!) attempt at renewing friendship