----Jacob----

As the sun rises, it's bright rays seeping into the car, Jay rolls over, avoiding it's light. I brush a strand of his hair away from his face, but it falls back down.

"Jay, you have to get up at sometime."

"Yeah, sometime includes next millennia," Lily says.

"That's true too."

She sits up, stretching her arms, then says, "Business."

The way she pronounces it makes Sam, who I didn't know was up, and I laugh. "Bus-ee-ness?"

She looks at me. "Don't question it. I say things weirdly in my head, It helps me spell things right."

"Out loud is not in your head," Sam says.

"Shut up. I just woke up, give me a break."

"I like it. Bus-ee-ness," I say.

Jay sits up, the spot he was laying on cold from his absence.

Lily sighs. "That was a weird dream."

"What about?" Sam says, raising an eyebrow.

"You know, you were in it!"

"You were dreaming about me? Guess I'm that handsome."

"Shut up. We were arguing about who's smarter and I won."

"Too bad dreams don't come true."

"And you agreed that math was better than biology," she says, smirking. He throws a pillow at her, making her giggle.

"Can I go for a walk to go stretch?" I ask, and Sam nods. As I get out, Jay follows. "Man, you're like a puppy now, following me everywhere."

"I'm not staying with those nerds alone."

I laugh quietly. We walk into the woods silently, the trees engulfing us.

After a while, Jay says, "So, what's your story?"

"Hm?"

"What's your past?"

"Well, I had a perfect family, then one day, I didn't. We were always happy, always smiling, then my parents got into a fight. My father walked out the door, and he never came back." Tears sting at my eyes, but I blink them back.

"That's it?"

"Yes, that's it. He had a choice, and he left. At least your parents didn't choose to leave you. Ever since that day, I swore that if I ever got engaged, I would never give up. I stay loyal to every friendship I have until they leave."

----Lily----

"Sam," I whisper. "We're alone."

"Ok, and?" He says, folding a blanket.

"And that means I can ask you a question."

"I never saw that in the rule-book, but ok." He tosses the blanket in the back, grabbing another to fold.

"Do you like me?"

The tips of his ears turn scarlet red, but he acts like it doesn't bother him. He folds a thin, blue blanket. "Why?"

"You're blushing, so yes."

He shakes his head so that his hair falls over his ears. "No, I'm not."

I grin. "Just admit it. I got the leading nerd to like me."

The blush spreads to his cheeks and he stares at the blanket, hiding it. "You just admitted to me being smarter than you."

"You're avoiding the topic." I walk next to him. 

He continues folding, not daring to meet my gaze.

"You're so cute when you blush. You try so hard to hide it, but get nowhere."

He tosses the folded blanket in the back, finding something else to fix up to ignore me.

"You can't ignore me forever. Be glad I asked you when Jacob wasn't around. I already know the answer, so there's no use acting like you don't."

"Lily," He says, getting annoyed.

"What?"

"Why does it matter?"

"We're alone," I say, a smirk finding his lips as he finally realizes what I'm saying.

----Jacob----

When we get back to the car, the first thing we notice is the blankets are folded neatly and put away. Second, we stop dead as we find Sam pinning Lily against the side of the car, their faces pressed together.

"Oh--My eyes are burning," I say, hiding behind Jay. They jump apart, Sam pulling Lily behind him.

"We weren't doing anything."

"You look like worms or something, what on earth?" Jay says, making me burst into a fit of laughter.

They turn red. "That's because you're giant and everyone seems tiny to you."

"No, you're wiggling against the car and...Whatever," he goes in the car, me close behind, still laughing.

Simon comes in next after five minutes, Sam and Lily after him.

"If either of you two say a word," Sam warns, and I laugh quietly. "Jacob, I swear to--"

"Swearing is bad."

He steps on the gas.

"Say one word about what?" Simon asks.

Lily clamps a hand over my mouth.

"You're still worms," Jay says.

Jay and I tease them the whole car ride, until finally, we reach the mountain. Mount Deadly. It takes the rest of the day to climb up it, and once we reach the cave, we stop for the night. As soon as we're up, we take in the portal in front of us.

A blood red ring surround swirling, black particles. Engravings of skulls and tears decorate the ring.

"Jay, you don't have to go," Ty says, but Jay shakes his head.

"I have to do this."

"Are we ready?" I ask the rest of us, and they nod.

With a deep breath, we all step in.

OK! IK THIS SEEMS RUSHED!

I just wanted to get to the part in my head ok? I'll fix it later. I'm sooooo close to the end, I HAVE TO!

The next chap is going to be emotional, so just...Prepare yourselves. It's going to be a lot to take in...

Anyway!

Vote, comment, share, etc.

~Mc out