You.

Chapter 23 - Desperate searches

Madrid drives Rose back to the boy's mansion, and Rose grows nervous. Madrid notices.

"Is something on your mind?" He asks.

"I feel like he's gonna hate me." Rose looks down and fidgets with her hands.

"Who's going to hate you?"

She sighs, "Lonokai."

"Lonokai? You got feelings for him or something?"

Rose keeps her eyes forward, "... Yes."

"Why do you think he'll hate you?"

She looks out the window, "Because I've run  away before, and it scared the hell out of him. I know he can't be happy that I decided to do it again. I mean, would this ruin our friendship?"

"Well, why did you run away in the first place?" He questions, one-handing the wheel.

".... It's a long story, but... pretty much, Zoya and I ran away because of something Lonokai and Zach did, which scared us. They wouldn't tell us their reasoning, but Zoya and I still felt that we could trust them. And we can. They've been great to us. I've missed them so much and thought I'd never see them again.."

Rose rambles on, and Madrid smiles in admiration when she brings up Lonokai because he knows she has fallen hard for him.

After arriving, they knock on the door and seconds later, it opens, and Zach appears.

His eyes widen as he stands frozen, "Rose?"

"Hey.."

"What happened? Why did you leave? Hold on, let me get Lono-"

Zach has them come in and then goes to get Lonokai. A few seconds later, they hear loud noises and hear quick footsteps down the stairs. Sure enough, Lonokai appears. Once he sees Rose, he stands still and stares at her.

Rose smiles sadly. "...hi." And slowly waives her hand.

Lonokai's eyes still linger on her for a little too long before rushing to embrace her, "What the hell, Rose! You scared me!"

Madrid smiles and leaves to give them privacy.

Rose starts crying in his arms, "I'm so sorry." She sniffles.

Lonokai breaks the hug and cups her face, "Why?" His face saddens while looking at her.

"I left you... not once, but twice. I just couldn't handle things anymore and got too scared. *sniffle* And I know that means you hate me and -"

"Woah, stop!" He holds her shoulders and makes eye contact. "Rose. I may have been upset that you left which made me worried, but I could never hate you. Understand?"

Rose nods her head and they embrace again.

"By the way, what happened to you out there? You look like you need a change of clothes!"

"I...it's a long story... I just want to forget about it." She closes her eyes.

~~

After Rose comes downstairs in her nightgown from washing up, she goes into the large living room to find Madrid, Zach, and Lonokai sitting on the couches. She hears them talking and then it becomes silent once they see her.

"Oh, don't mind me. Keep talking." She motions with her hands and goes to sit down on an empty couch near them.

"Rose?" Zach clears his throat. "Where is Zoya?"

Rose's expression darkens and it's silent for a moment. Lonokai cuts in.

"It's okay Rose, you don't have to-"