"Leaving?" Hadley echoed in disbelief, "Leaving to go where?"

"I..." Will seemed to consider the question, "I don't know."

"Liar." Hadley called his bluff.

"I'm not lying! I know it's somewhere in the city but I don't know exactly where. And I'm not supposed to be telling you this." Will looked nervous.

"So now you don't trust me." Hadley looked up at him reproachfully.

"Of course I do." Will looked exasperated now, "I'm just so nervous I'm going to do something to mess this up and I really want to make a difference."

Hadley nodded numbly.

"So that's it then. You're leaving."

"I'm sure I'll be back." Will said gently.

"When?"

"Well...I'm not exactly sure but I will be back Had, I promise."

Hadley felt like crying. They were taking her best friend away from her. What would she do without Will? How would she survive? Life would be so boring.

"When are you...going?" she asked finally.

"At midnight."

"Is someone taking you or?"

"No apparently they didn't have anyone to spare so they gave me instructions and," Will swallowed, "I'll figure it out." He looked around furtively the spoke quietly, "Let's walk through the fields for a minute okay?"

Hadley nodded and followed in silence until they were at the base of the mountains where the trees began at the back of the farm fields.

"I have to find a girl called Gemma. They said since I got my Power back, I can be of use in the city, where they're larger units are. And this girl apparently leads one. They said she'll know how to use me for the most impact."

"The most impact? Will what does that mean? Isn't this dangerous? Something could happen to you! Something bad!" Hadley was agitated now, gesturing wildly.

"Hadley I'm going to be fine. I won't lie to you and say it isn't dangerous, but I'm a smart guy. I know when to run. I promise, you will see me again, don't worry!" Will put his arms around her and as much as Hadley wanted to fight it, she relaxed into him, feeling the security in his embrace.

"Will?" she said after a moment.

"What?" she felt his chin shift as he looked down at her.

Hadley looked up into his eyes, "Promise you'll come back?"

"I promise Hadley." and then, before Hadley even knew what was happening, they were kissing.

His hands were in her hair and Hadley's heart soared. She hadn't even known she'd wanted Will to kiss her until he had, and now she could feel her addiction to the sensation beginning. As they came up for air Hadley teased him, "You're going to leave me with that!?"

"I don't know," Will was grinning now, he looked truly happy, "I always say go out with a bang!" and he kissed her again, quicker this time.

"I wish I could just stay here with you, like this, forever." she told him longingly.

"I do too Had. But the world needs us...both of us."

"It seems like the world needs you a little more than it needs me." Hadley grumbled.

"That's not true!" Will insisted, "I heard about what you're doing after school! I know you're plotting something with that Powers Practice club Had! Just because you're making a difference in a different way than I am, doesn't mean it doesn't matter!"

"Yeah well, no one wants to hear what I have to say there. I'm not even sure it's worth trying anymore."

Hadley explained what had happened with Bryan.

"Don't let that get you down!" Will was adamant, "Just because one person won't listen doesn't mean others won't! You have to keep trying!" Will surveyed her for a minute, "Look, if we are going to do this, we are gonna need every person we can get. Each and every individual person is going to matter. And I know you can get a lot of people involved in this! You just have to keep working on it!"

Hadley nodded reluctantly, "I guess so."

"Good. When I get back here, I expect to hear about your progress!"

Hadley nodded.

"Now," Will looked at his watch, "Unfortunately, I have to go pack. But not before I do this:" Will bent down and kissed Hadley again, a long slow kiss that made Hadley's toes tingle.

"Remind me again why we haven't been doing that longer?" Will said, still holding her.

"Good question." Hadley couldn't keep the smile off her face.

After a few more minutes of kissing, Will walked Hadley back to her house and gave her a goodbye hug.

"I'll miss you," he whispered, and Hadley tried not to cry.

"You too," she said into his shoulder, and watched him walk away.

When he was gone, she ran up the stairs to her room, not stopping to speak to her mother, who was still in the kitchen.

She cried on her bed for about twenty minutes before she suddenly sat up, an idea forming.

Who said Will had to be the only one to go on this mission? Who were they to say it was too dangerous for girls. Hadley could be helpful too, she just knew it. And clearly the city units were allowing girls to join. If she could just get to the city, she could help Will find this Gemma girl, and she could even finally visit Althea! All she had to do was follow Will in secret until they were too far for him to make her turn around!

Excited, she started pacing her room. This could work! She could have everything she'd ever wanted!

Then with a jolt, Hadley thought of her family, downstairs, completely unaware. What would they think when she just disappeared. They'd be heartbroken. Completely. And furious. They'd have no idea what had happened to her.

Unless....she left a note. She would just tell them in general where she was, so that they couldn't send anyone after her. She'd apologize and promise to come home. They'd still be furious, but at least they wouldn't have to worry about her. As much.

Still feeling bad, but not bad enough to call off her new plan, Hadley began throwing things in her duffel bag. She usually used the bag when her father took her and her brothers on hunting trips. But today it would serve a different purpose. Hadley threw in her hiking boots, and her various dresses. She'd have to go steal food from the kitchen later on, when her mother had gone to sleep.

When Hadley finally finished packing everything from her room she thought she'd need into the bag, she sat down to write the note.

Dear Mama and Papa and Mark and Terrence and Harriet and Hayden,

I'm very sorry about what I'm about to tell you. I have decided to go on a trip with Will. I can't tell you the exact purpose of the trip, but I will be making a difference in the world, making our world a better place for all of us. I will not be in danger, and I promise, I will come home soon. I know you will be furious at me, and I understand that I am leaving my responsibilities and leaving you to worry about my whereabouts and my safety. But I feel I have no other choice, as my heart calls me to do this, and I know you would not let me go. Again, I am so, so sorry, and I love you all so, so much.

Love,

Hadley

Hadley reread what she had written, and the guilt crept back in. She was an absolutely horrible daughter for doing this to her parents. But what she'd written was true, she couldn't not do this.

Hadley lay in her bed with her eyes wide open for the next two hours, until she heard the squeak of her parent's bedroom door closing. She listened until she thought she could hear her father snoring, and then slowly crept out of her room.

It was time.

_______

Author's Note

I hate to do this, but Collective is on hold until My Kidnapper's Wife is off of the hot list! As long as TKW is on the hot list, I am going to focus on writing that one in an effort for it to stay there as long as possible, but I promise that as soon as it is no longer on the hot list, this book will be updated! Sorry, and thanks for checking out Collective!

If you read this book, and enjoy it, I would really appreciate if you would comment letting me know! Likewise, if you have any suggestions on improvements, I am all ears! This book isn't as popular as TKW so I am working on making it even better!