Journey Home

Chapter Two

Nancy just stared at me, her thin cheeks paling slightly at she soaked this in.

On the other hand, Clare jumped up, in excitement. "Really, Zoey? That's sooo great. Finally!" She started asking questions at a thousand miles an hour, but I got her to calm down.

Finally, when she stopped to take a breath, I burst in, "So. Will you guys help?"

"Well, duh!"

"Fine," Nancy said softly. "Are you sure your going to be able to find your parents, Zoey?"

I nodded slowly, glancing at the door to make sure Miss Flavrin wasn't there and spoke in a quick, low tone. "Yeah, Nance."

"We should tell the other girls, they'll all want to give you good-bye presents-" Clare butted in, but I cut across her voice.

"No. I don't want people to find out, Clare. And I'm not sure I want presents."

"Fine," Clare huffed. "Okay, we'd better start packing before free time runs out."

Nancy immediately got up and started getting some of my things around. Clare started to help, but she didn't talk much, and I could tell the reality was sinking in.

I was really leaving.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I looked at the others in a new light. I could tell you that I saw Miss Flavrin in a new light, too. Yeah, I guess I did. She looked worse than ever.
I got a little more research done and was able to steel some books from the library to read on the trip.

Finally it was time. I didn't put on my pajamas - not that Miss Flavrin noticed or cared - and when it was darker I grabbed my bag and opened up the window.

Nancy hugged me tightly, but she didn't cry. She just looked proudly at me, not saying anything.

Clare, however, almost sobbed over me. Dear Clare, who I had never seen cry now looked the picture of sorrow. "Hurry up and get out," she said through clenched teeth. "See you l-later, Zoey."

"See you, Clare," I replied, also choked up. Then I looked away from the both of them and quietly propped open the small window and slipped through the closing it silently behind me and clutching my bag tightly. I turned toward the road and lifted my head.

This is when my journey began.