Heimat AU: Mikey's Rescue

Chapter Nineteen: We're Running Away

Maia looked at Jesse and he looked at her. They were both smiling and nervous. They had just snuck out of Maia's window. Neither had ever done something like this before, and they both were feeling a mixture of guilt and excitement.

"Should we have done this, Jess? Mikey's not feeling well...and what if ma puts him to bed? She'll see my bed is empty. We should have waited until they were asleep."

"Then Olive would have left without us. She promised a quick adventure, she lives here so she knows all the best spots, Maia." Jesse said, hopping every third step.

Maia grimaced. "Yeah..." Olive was a local girl that lived her year-round and had a major crush on Jesse, even if she didn't know it. Maia didn't know if she liked it.

"It will be fun; we won't get into trouble."

"Yeah, sure." Maia said, but she couldn't help the smile that came to her face. Jesse's smile was infectious.

They walked down the beach and seen a light ahead. Olive was there. She had short blonde hair, green eyes, and pale skin covered in freckles.

"Finally! I thought you both weren't going to show." Olive said, she had a large gap in between her teeth and when she smiled, her tongue poked out. There was something friendly about her, even if she did have a crush on Jesse, Maia thought.

"We just had to wait. How did you sneak out?"

Olive shrugged. "My parent's don't care where I am or what I do."

Maia looked at Jesse, in concern. "Really?"

She was instantly reminded of Mikey when Olive nodded, sadly and a little fearfully.

"Let's go! I want to show you this cool boat." Olive charged ahead and the other two followed. But worry was nagging at Maia. She was torn. She was adventurous but if her parents found out they would be so worried. And now what Olive had said was making her worry.

Her parents didn't care?

Jesse looked troubled as well, but he seemed to brush it off easily. Olive kept up a constant flow of conversation as she led them to the docks. It was lit by lamps and Maia thought it looked eerie to see all the boats bobbing up and down in black water. She felt a chill go through her.

"This boat used to belong to my uncle and then he died." Olive said, pointing at a large fishing boat. "He used to take me on trips with him and my auntie and taught me how to fish. And they were great. I never wanted to come home."

Maia looked at the small girl standing in front of her. She was smiling, but it was sad. And she clearly missed her uncle and those fishing trips. "Olive..."

"I'm okay. Let's climb on and I'll show you around." She said quickly, using the rope to climb up and onto the boat. Jesse looked at Maia.

"Should we?"

Maia sighed and nodded. She didn't want to look cowardly next to Olive and she didn't want Olive to get hurt either. Though, she looked like she knew what she was doing. She went after their small friend and climbed onto the boat. "Olive?"

"Over here, come on." Olive said impatiently. "Let's go to the cabin, that's where all the cool stuff is."

"Olive, isn't this someone's boat, though?" Maia asked as she helped Jesse climb on board. "Won't they mind if we go into their cabin?"