We left the platform not long after Chance had pulled on another shirt. We now had to hike sixteen miles down the mountain before we could get in the car and drive even farther. Going down is the easy part, leaving everything we've ever known is the hard part. But, we need to get away before they separated us. Even if they tried, they should know that we're not going down without a fight. When we were within a mile of the car, Chance came barreling past me with Maverick on his shoulders and yelled
"Race ya!"
"You're on!"
I grabbed Adeline while Eclipse grabbed Melody. We went down the mountain racing each other and when I reached the car first Chance walked over and pecked my lips.
"Congratulations" he murmured before his lips were pressed to mine again.
Soon, Adeline came tugging at the hem of my shirt. I broke away and looked at her, waiting for her to say something. She nodded toward the car and I realized she was saying we should get going. Everyone else was already in the car. I said to Chance:
"I call dibs on driving first."
I grabbed the keys from his pocket and walked over to the drivers side. I got in and soon we were off on the best adventure of our lives. It's weird how much you realize you love someone when you're about to lose them. I was the first kid Chance ever rescued. I pull into a gas station real quick before we literally hit the road. Chance gets out to pump gas and the kids go inside to use the bathroom. I'm sitting behind the wheel, thinking about the first few months after Chance rescued me.
The hot chocolate runs, the late night movies, ordering food, exploding soup in the microwave, when my room was redecorated, all these things just come rushing into my head without any reason. I keep remembering the time I laid my head in Chance's lap while I waited for him to get off the phone so we could play the movie. I now realize that was when Chance first kissed me. Like a real kiss, not a little peck on the cheek. I can't believe I had forgotten that!
Chance tapped on the glass so I would roll it down. When I did, he said:
"I just remembered something from when you were first rescued."
"Would it be the time I exploded soup in the microwave, by chance?"
"No, before that. Do you remember that one time I was on the phone while we were watching a movie?"
"Yeah."
"Do you remember what happened after I got off the phone?"
"Yeah."
"Do you happen to know what that was?"
"Yes because I was thinking about it before you knocked on the window."
He smiled and said:
"You were thinking about me?"
"Not you in particular, but another thing about that time."
"You're blushing."
"Shut up!"
He held his hands and asked:
"Do you remember what movie we were watching.?"
"King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable."
"I can't believe that you remember the title."
"It was a good movie. Why are you asking, anyway?"
"There's something I need to tell you later, but not here."
"Why not?!"
"Because it has to do with the promise I made to you seven years ago."
Right then the kids all walked out and got in the car while Chance went and paid for the gas. He came back out after a few minutes carrying a couple of bags of stuff and a paper in his hand.
"What's all of this?"
"Stuff we're going to need to get to our destination."
"And where would that be, my good sir?"
"Ireland."
"Why Ireland?!"
"We need to get to Stonehenge before the police figure out where we're going."
"But, why?"
He looked at me then with his midnight blue eyes and said:
"Because it's the only place we'll be safe."
⬖⬘⬗
I glanced around the car at everybody sleeping while I crossed the border of Montana into Wyoming. Chance especially looked exceptionally peaceful. I take a sip of soda that Chance got me and stretch to keep myself from getting all cramped up.
In order to get to Ireland, we have to drive to upstate Maine to take a ferry to Ireland where we'll drive to Stonehenge to the only place we'll be safe. I have no clue how the only place we could be safe is Stonehenge? But, I'll trust Chance to tell me when he wakes up. We reach Cody, Wyoming without any hitches and it's my turn to sit in the passenger seat.
Chance wakes up and directs me to a gas station where everyone can get out and stretch. Chance rubs his arm from where Adeline was laying on him. I get out and lean against the car while Chance fills up the gas tank. It's completely silent as he fills the tank. After he puts the pump back, he turns to me and says:
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions…"
I interrupted:
"Yes. I do."
Chance glared at me so I kept my mouth shut.
"...And I will answer them, but not until we get to where we're going. I understand you're confused, but I need you to trust me."
I don't know why he's expecting me to just be silent, so I ask:
"Is this about the kids?"
"Yes and no."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean that there are things that they need to know before I tell you everything you need to know. You know?"
"No, not really."
"I want you to understand that the only reason I keep or have kept things from you, is to protect you."
"You were protecting all of us."
"No, not really."
"What are you implying.?" I ask.
"That you were the only one I wanted and that everyone else I rescued was for you."
"Why would you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Rescue the others."
He looked at me then. He reached a hand forward then thought something different and his hand returned to his side like a dog does when trained properly.
"Because I love you."
Right then the kids came out to the car holding even more bags of stuff. Adeline spoke:
"We got the things you asked us to get."
"Can you guys put it in the trunk?"
Adeline nodded and with the help of Eclipse, opened the trunk and put everything inside. I leaned against the driver's side door, when Chance walked up and said:
"Can you move so we can get going?"
"Now why would I want to do that?"
"Melyssia…"
"What?"
"Why do you have to be this way?"
"What way?"
"The stubborn girl who won't do as she's told until she gets what she wants."
"Well I'm sorry I wasn't raised by a spoiled rich family."
Chance grabbed my wrist, pulled me back, and pinned me against the car.
"What are you…" was all I could say before Chance aggressively pressed his mouth against mine. I shut my eyes and wound my hands up to his neck. Chance's hands went to my waist and I could feel the warmth of his hands through my shirt. We were like that for a while before we heard:
"Eww!"
"Gross!"
"Since when have they been a thing?"
And my personal favorite:
"Momma and Papa have always had feelings for each other, but were too awkward to show it till now. Especially Momma."
We broke apart and were both laughing too hard when Maverick said:
"We need to get going if we wanna make it to Ireland."
With that he ducked into the car with Eclipse and Melody right behind him. Adeline stood there smiling extremely wide, especially when Chance leaned down and pecked my lips. When I came around, her face fell and she said:
"Tell him to watch out, 'cause if he hurts you then he's in for it."
She smiled at me then and climbed into the middle seat so we could get going. I shut the door behind me as Chance started the car and soon we were on our way again. Next stop, Maine.