36 hours, four minutes, 23 seconds and 12 milliseconds , but whose counting. That's how long it's been since Alex or Luke has talked to me. I've tried, oh I've tried.
"Just give them time, they both hold grudges." Reggie advises me. I roll my eyes. I don't have time for grudges. I need to know where Laken went.

"How's your shoulder?" He asks. I jolted it pretty bad when I fell but I haven't told anyone. I don't need pity and I don't need sympathy.
"Fine." I deadpan.
"You know I could hear you crying last night." He says.
"That was about something else." I quickly cover up. "I got mad I couldn't figure out physics."
"Oh." He doesn't believe it and I can tell.
"Just leave it Reg. I don't want to talk about it."
"I'm worried about you."
"I know. Just drop it." I tell him again.
"I don't understand."

"Understand what?" I hear a voice behind me. Alex.

"Nothing." Reggie coughs, clearly doing his best to cover for me.

"Lies Reg. You're a terrible faker."

I wait for any sort of recognition and receive none. Great."

While they get into an argument, I manage to slip away. Walking to the house, I head up to the guest room, where I've been staying. I grab my backpack and fill it with some clothes and my hammock and pop it on.

"Where are you going?" A voice startles me. I turn around to see Carlos, looking worried.

"I'm just going to go lay in my hammock for a while on the beach." I tell him.

"Why bring extra clothes then?" He asks. Smart kid. Dang it.

"In case it gets windy and I get cold or in case the bugs come out." I cover. He nods, moving out of the doorway.

I leave, shutting the door behind me. I walk the mile to the beach in my own world, filled with regrets and things I wish I could change. Getting to the beach, I find a couple of trees near the sidewalk and string my hammock up as well I can with one arm and a little bit of my hand. I get frustrated halfway through, and a voice breaks into my thoughts.

"Here, let me help." 

There's a younger guy there, probably 12 or 13. He helps me get it up, and before I can even say thank you he just nods, smiles, and walks away. I shrug and climb into my hammock, letting the swinging motion rock me to sleep. I wake up when something hits the hammock, sending me flying.

I never hit the ground, I land on someone first.

"OOF!" They groan as I land. Their fault, not mine.

"What the..." I'm about to go off on them when I realize it's Alex. No. Not dealing with this today. I came here to be alone. 

I shove myself up off of him and scramble backward. He shoots me a glare and then as quickly as he fell he gets up and walks away. What a jerk. Doesn't even make sure I'm ok.

"ALEX! HURRY UP!" That's when I hear Luke. Unstringing a hammock is always faster than stringing it. I quickly get it down and shove it into my backpack, and walk away. I end up wandering the streets of LA until about 1 am.

I walk back into the house to see the boys all sprawled across the living room, snoring. My heart feels like it's getting ripped out, but I make up my mind on what I need to do. Going to my room, I grab a few essentials, including my wallet. I write a quick note and leave it on my bed, explaining that I need space and that I'm going to be gone a few nights, but I will be back by Sunday. 

As I'm about to head downstairs I hear shuffling coming up. I decide against the stairs and slip out my already opened window. The west side of the house is built into a hill, so it's easy to drop down. I do so and proceed to start walking.

I end up about three miles away, at the start of a hiking trail. Is this ideal? No. But I can sleep in the woods easily. I end up about halfway up the trail before stringing my hammock up. This time, I don't even need help because of the size of the branches on the trees. 

Falling asleep, I wake up to quiet for the first time in days. Those boys are always loud and rowdy.

Checking my phone, I see several missed calls from Tio, Tia, and Julie. They got me a new phone because the makeshift one I had was honestly the worst piece of junk I had ever had. 

They're all from last night, which shocks me. How did they know even then?
"Hey, kiddo. I don't' know what made you overwhelmed but just check in every couple of hours so I know you're safe ok? I know you need to work through this and we're here for you." The message from my uncle states.

"Mija, call me when you wake up, just so I know you're ok."

And then the call from Julie.

"Yo, Emmie, I don't know what's going on but Reggie is beside himself so if you could call back and talk to him that would be fabulous." Julie's voice comes through and I can hear arguing from all three of the boys in the background about who's fault it is.