Ingenious

Chapter Eighteen

 "Raegan?" Kacey says hesitantly. "What is it?" I pull on my fingers again. I do it when I'm nervous. I explain to them my plan. The first step... and the back up step. I thought this out about a month ago, but I hoped we wouldn't have to do the first step... let alone the second step. This wouldn't give us a normal life. It would mess up a lot of lives and start a lot of controversy. But if we want to be safe and not live life on the run... I feel like this is the only way.

We agree I'll go for 4pm. I don't want to do it, but I have to. I repeat this to myself over and over again in hope it'll actually change my mind.

"How about this?" Kacey asks, holding up a light blue long sleeve shirt with buttons down the front. I nod and take it from her changing into it along with my leggings.

"That's good," Maia says. She knows the most about this place out of any of us. "You'll blend in. You just need to get the bag from Ryan and Everett and it'll be perfect." They are out getting the last aspect I'll need, before Shawn and Ryan drive me down there.

"Got it!" Ryan exclaims, tossing it at me. I catch it and sling it across my back, cell phone in hand. That's the other thing Maia's dad gave us. One of Maia's old cell phones. I'm afraid it has a tracker, but Maia assures me it doesn't. Either way, if you listen to my teenage theories, our chips have trackers.

"Good?" I ask them biting my lip as I pose.

"Look more confident," Maia tells me, "they all are there." I nod and then start walking towards the door. I need to be there in an hour but it's a half hour drive away. Yeah I'm aware that doesn't add up, but if there's traffic I can't be late. Early I can deal with. Kacey holds her hands out for a hug. I embrace her,

"You got this Rae," she tells me, "you were made for that place, you'll blend right in." I nod and take deep breaths. I hug Maia and Everett goodbye and get in the car with Ryan and Shawn. Shawn drives while Ryan and I sit in the back. The half hour drive feels much longer than it is, but Ryan holds my hand the whole way. I shouldn't be this nervous, yet I am. The chances of me getting caught here are high. It's risky for all of us. But it's our only choice. It's our only choice, it's our only choice, it's our only choice.

"Raegan," Ryan whispers, "we're here." I open my eyes and release the thoughts. I need to be confident and act like I belong. That way I won't get caught. "You can stay another couple minutes but you don't want to miss her." I nod and I kiss Ryan quickly.
"I'll text the phone as soon as I'm in the clear," I tell them, "you guys go home and I'll text you when you should come back." They are nervous about leaving me here but it could be hours and I don't want them sitting in the parking lot risking getting caught.

"You got this Rae," Ryan tells me as I climb out of the car and put on my brave face. I feel confidence flood through me and I glance appreciatively back at the car as I head to the field. With Maia's help I figured out exactly where to find her.

I stand leaning against a tree glancing between my phone that's off and the building she is about to come out of. The clock strikes 4 and I'm getting nervous. The bell rings right on the dot and students start to file out. All of them are living a normal life I wish I could be in. I should've been in right now. When I see her walk out I almost don't recognize her. Her brown hair is shorter than it used to be and ends just below her shoulders. She's grown a couple inches and now is only one or two shorter than I am. She is somehow tanned despite it being the middle of April. Yet even though she looks different as she walks across the field closer to me and her stunning green eyes peer up at mine and fill with the joy and laughter I've always admired about her. A smile spreads across her face and she drops her napsack on the grass and she sprints towards me. She basically jumps into my arms making us both almost fall down. Her arms wrap around my neck and she hugs me tight. I can barely breathe, but I don't mind. We get weird stares, but no one really cares. I feel her tears of happiness stain my back.