Houston (ON HOLD)

Blake

That night, Joshua and I don't speak again. I pass him in the hall once, and he doesn't look at me. We've both suddenly taken a disliking to each other, and I'm not too sad about that. I just want to get out of here and get home as fast as possible.

Lacey tries several times to reconcile with me. She corners me in the bathroom, scaring me because I didn't know anyone else was in here with me. I was washing my face in the sink quickly with a little water, and when I straightened I saw her in the mirror behind me. I whirl around. "Don't do that!" 

"Why are you so protective of the Federation?" She asks without hesitation.

"I'm not talking about this now." I reply, trying to leave the bathroom.

Lacey intercepts me, blocking me from the door. She crosses her arms. "Yes, you are."

I sigh. "Fine, I was born there. How would you like it if I went around bashing Ireland in front of you?"

"Ireland is nothing like the Federation." Lacey says. "And you haven't seen the Federation I've seen."

"You haven't seen the Federation I've seen." I argue. "Sure, it's not the best, but it's my home, and I just want to get back there as fast as possible."

"Blake," Lacey says softly. "We're not going to the Federation."

It feels like my heart drops into my feet. I stare at Lacey, who is looking at me nervously. She looks up at me through her eyelashes.

"What?" Is the only response I can muster.

"I'm so sorry," she says. "I know I should've told you a long time ago, but I knew that if you knew we weren't going back to the Federation, you wouldn't come with us."

"And you thought telling me now was going to help?" I sneer, my fists forming tight balls. 

"We can't go back into the Federation." She says. "They'll kill us the moment they see us. The whole reason why I'm here is because of the Federation."

"Then I'll go by myself." I say, pushing past her and out of the bathroom.

"Blake!" Lacey shouts as she walks on my heels. "Please, I talked to Joshua. He said he could sneak us into Mexico and we could find a boat there to take us to Ireland, away from all this fighting. Don't you want to be free from this place, from the killing and the fighting?"

"My family is here," I say, turning to face her. "Can you promise me that you'll get them here to leave with us?"

Lacey stays silent. Her lips tighten and she looks away from me. The message couldn't be any clearer.

"Then I can't go," I say. "I won't without them."

"Fine," Lacey snaps. "Stay here and die for all I care."

A sudden whirring sound fills the air. Lacey's face blanches and she hurries out of the bathroom. Curious, I follow after her and go into the living room. Lacey crouches near the window, peering out without being seen.

I crouch next to her. "What is it?"

"Helicopter," She responds. "They just passed over. I think they're looking for us."

I look up through the window and see a helicopter flying into the distance, the sound of its rotors fading.

"Do what you want," Lacey says, still looking at the sky. "I'm not going back to the Federation."

She stands and walks away, leaving me frustrated and tired.

I resist going after her and continuing the argument, because where would that get us? Arguing would be like going in circles, because neither of us will ever budge. We can fight all we want, the end result will never change.