Lea shuddered as a loud clap of thunder sounded outside the small window. She could hear the rain pouring down, keeping steady with the tears that fell from her pale gray eyes. The room was cold and dark, and she was lonely. She thought of Brian and AJ. Then she felt numb with anger. They were supposed to be her friends. She had trusted them. She had to get out of there. Looking up, she studied the small window.

Brian ducked his head in the rain, as it felt cool against his hot skin. He tightened his rain coat around him, his hair soaked. He didn't care. He would walk all night. He had to find her. He thought of his fight with AJ ealier that afternoon. It wasn't really AJ's fault, but Brian needed somebody to blame. He felt bad for hurting his friend, but he was confused and upset. He sighed, and walked into the small,warm cafe.

AJ sat in his room that night, in the darkness, with the light of the moon and the sound of the rain to sooth his mind. He felt tears spring to his eyes as he heard her voice in his head,over and over,"You promised me!".

Putting his head in his hands, he squeezed his eyes shut as his heard her voice again. But this time, when he looked up, she was there. Standing in his doorway.

"Lea?," was it his imagination? She had been taken from them hours ago... he had no clue what they'd done with her. The figure in his doorway didn't budge. Then he heard another noise in the hallway. She moved, and the light of the moon from his window caught her eyes. It was her.
"I-I didn't know where else to go," she whispered. He could tell by her voice that she was crying. He walked over and realized that she was soaking wet and shivering. He led her into the bathroom as he grabbed his robe and wrapped it around her. He turned up the heat in the apartment as he clicked on a lamp and she sat next to him on his bed.
"I can't go home....," she said softly, her eyes meeting his with a look of desperation and fear," He'll kill me this time. They think it's ok,those people....they think he just punished me. He hurt me."
He wrapped his arms around her,"Shhh....I know," they sat there for the longest time before he realized that she was asleep. He wrapped his blanket around her and walked down the hall, making sure to turn out the light and leave the door open. He was sitting on the couch when the door to the apartment came open. Brian's eyes met his, but they didn't speak. Brian closed the door and took off his rain coat, water falling from his hair.
"It's kind of nasty outside," Brian's voice echoed off the silent walls. AJ turned to him,"Brian,about what happened.I-"
But Brian shook his head,"Forget it,ok?It's over now."
"No,you don't-"
"No,AJ...forget it. She's gone. There's nothing we can do about it now," he said, walking into the kitchen just as a voice in the hall said quietly,"I'm thirsty."
The look on Brian's face was one of astonishment. He clicked on the light in the kitchen and she blinked twice, caught off-guard. "Lea!," as Brian scooped her up in his arms, she laughed and her honey-blonde hair fell in damp curls around her pink cheeks.
"What's going on?," Brian asked,turning to AJ. But Lea shook her head,"He didn't know. I left that place, and then I remembered I don't have any place to go. So I came here."
"I'm just glad you're okay!," Brian said, hugging her again. But AJ wondered how long it would be before Social Services interrupted this happy reunion.

Ms.Romez walked down the hall and opened the door to Lea's room. When she saw that the bed was empty, she clicked on the light. Then she turned and called for Detective Bronson down the hall. "Leave this minute and go to that young man's apartment. She's gotten out of here,and I know that's the first place she'll go," she demanded. He nodded and scurried away, his tires squealing as he peeled out into the nasty weather.

How long will this happy reunion last,and what happens when Social Services find Lea the second time? Find out in chapter6!

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