The twins didn't come back, neither did Alegra. All trace of them was gone. Orion was the only one that stayed around. He went to work at the café like usual; Sahara didn't. What made it worse was that Terrell seemed to suddenly avoid her too. He was spending his time elsewhere, only returning to the warehouse at random times for very short moments. It hurt Sahara that he was doing it. She didn't know why he of all people was behaving that way.

Not sure what to do, Sahara had tried to take her mind of things. She took her board and went boarding, hoping for the thrill she had felt when racing. However, it never came. For some reason it was hard to keep her balance at all. After almost taking a nasty fall, she decided to leave boarding alone. Instead, she stayed in the warehouse, waiting and hoping for the others to return.

In the end, Orion dragged her to the café with him, saying that Jack had been complaining that no one had been turning up and so was threatening to fire her. Sahara set to work lifelessly, not aware of most of what was going on around her as she worked more like a robot on autopilot than anything.

She didn't know how to handle the sudden loneliness. It was not that she had never felt it before, it was just that days before she had had people all around her, people who cared about her and who she thought of as family. Now they were gone.

"I ordered the tray for two, not almond pie," a customer told Sahara.

She started as she realized she had delivered the wrong dish to the wrong person. "I'm sorry," she murmured before quickly proceeding to deliver the dish to the right customer.

Orion and Jack watched her from behind the bar.

"She okay?" Sahara heard Jack ask Orion. She didn't hear the response as she went to take another customer's order.

The time to clean up came soon enough. Sahara wiped down the tables, not aware of anything else going on. Only when she looked up did she see Jack was standing next to her.

"You sick or something?" he asked.

Sahara shook her head, folding the rag in her hands absentmindedly.

Jack nodded. "Right." He paused. "By the way. That Terrell boy hasn't come in the last few days." His eyes narrowed. "He's got quite a lot of points to pay on that tab of his he keeps talking about. He isn't bailing, is he?"

Sahara didn't reply as she unfolded the rag once more.

"And those other three," Jack added as he watched Sahara closely for a reaction, "Tell em that if they skip much longer I'll be letting them go. Can't do with unreliable staff."

Sahara only nodded as she twisted the rag.

Jack turned to go before he paused. "Everyone goes through a rough patch," he began. "The darker the storm, the brighter the rainbow after." He lifted a hand to scratch his bald head. "I guess what I'm saying is..." He let out a huff of frustration. "Jeeze, I'm no good at these kind of conversations." He turned around. "Lift your head, kid."

Sahara looked up at him.

"Nothing is as bad as it seems...trust me." His eyes met hers. "So stand up straight and lift that chin. Smiling would do you a load of good too...I don't like it when my employees are frowning...it's bad for the customers." He turned and headed back to the kitchen. "I'm locking up in ten minutes."

Jack walked past Orion who had his elbow on the counter and his chin resting on his palm. He wasn't wearing his glasses making Sahara wonder once more if he really needed them. Without them Orion looked...different.

As if sensing her eyes on him, Orion turned his gaze on Sahara.

"You know," he spoke. "You should stop looking so down. It's not like you really did anything that bad."

Sahara shook her head. "They're not coming back. I betrayed them."

Orion huffed. "They're a bunch of fools to leave that easily," he said to Sahara's surprise. "Besides," he added. "Trust me, you've nothing they can hate you for. Some of us..." he trailed off, something flashing through his eyes. Shaking his head he let out soft laugh before looking directly at Sahara. "There are things one can never be forgiven for," as he said those words Sahara felt as though the person she was looking at was someone completely different than the Orion she knew. Everything about him seemed to change for a brief second; and then it was gone. She shivered, not able to explain the feeling that had been radiating from him.

"I am curious though," Orion continued. "You wanted to reach the top to leave. I'm not going to ask why or where, but..." he leaned forward. "Is your goal still the same?"

Sahara blinked. She hadn't considered it in the last few days. The thought of going home had completely fled her mind with the misery that had taken over. She shook her head. "What's the point in thinking about it?" she murmured. "It's not like it's even a possibility now. It's over; everyone left."

Orion cocked his head to the side. "Not as far as everyone else in Regona knows."

Sahara furrowed her forehead.

"According to the records we're still a crew," Orion pointed out. "We can still race."

Sahara shook her head. "We don't have enough members."

"The other crews don't know that," Orion replied with a shrug. "We've gotten this far on a bluff that you can race, what difference does it make adding in another?"

"I don't think I can race and win at this level." Sahara remembered what Terrell had told her.

"Let me handle that," Orion replied as he stood up. He walked out from behind the counter but kept his distance. "I didn't bring it up yet because I wasn't sure...but we received a challenge from the next crew up. I can make sure it's a one on one race..." When Sahara didn't reply he leaned back. "You've come this far. Are you really going to give up now?"

For a moment, Sahara stopped playing with the rag. "It wouldn't feel right without the others," she finally murmured.

"It would take your mind off things," Orion pointed out.

Sahara looked up to meet Orion's eyes. She smiled weakly. "Thank you, Orion."

"I mean it," Orion told her. "We're close. Don't give up now. Let's go for the top. That way, when the others come back they can see how hard you worked for them, that you didn't just give up and do nothing."

Sahara let out a long sigh. She put the rag to the side. "No matter how you look at it...it's impossi-"

"If it's a racer you need, mind if I help?"

Sahara whirled towards the door to find a familiar pair of twinkling blue eyes staring at her. She blinked as she took in the red hair with platinum blind peeking out of it.

"Yo," Noah said with a grin.

"Y-your hair..." she said the first thing that popped into her mind.

"Yeah, after being named after a whale by a certain kid, I kind of decided to change it," Noah ran a hand through his hair. "Got to say...it doesn't seem to be working as well as the blue though. Maybe I should change it back..."

"We're closed," Jack spoke as he came into the room.

Noah lifted a hand. "I know."

Jack eyed him, obvious distaste on his face. "You look like trouble," he said.

"So I'm told," Noah replied.

Jack turned to Sahara. "A friend of yours?"

Sahara nodded, still surprised at Noah's sudden appearance. She hadn't seen a sign of him since he left.

"Thought so," Jack murmured. "Well take it outside, I'm locking up."

"Fine with me," Noah said as he turned and opened the door. He stood, holding it open. Sahara didn't say a word as she walked out. She shot Noah a grateful smile. He let the door fall shut, almost hitting Orion, who was following, in the face.

"Thanks," Orion told him sarcastically.

"Sorry, dude; I only hold doors for girls," Noah told him.

"Can't argue with that," Orion murmured. "If you're looking for Terrell, he isn't around at the moment," he added.

"I know," Noah told him calmly. He turned to Sahara. "How are you doing?" he asked.

Sahara blinked. "Fine...I guess," she said as she tried to smile convincingly.

"Hmm, that's what I thought," Noah murmured. He waved a hand dismissively. "So, how about it? Need someone to help you out in a race?" he threw an arm around Sahara's shoulder. "I'm not all that shabby with a board."

"Why are you really here?" Sahara asked.

"Awe, come on. I was bored when walked in on you talking about wanting to race. It perked my interest, you know?" Noah nodded his head to himself while Orion watched, not saying a word. "I could use some action. Besides, my board's been getting rusty thanks to the whole lie low and do nothing thing I'm going through. It's hard on a man, you know what I mean?"

Sahara shook her head.

"Seriously, you can only keep someone from boarding so long." Noah sighed. "That idiot's going to drive us all crazy," he added under his breath, "he needs to snap out of it already."

Sahara didn't have a clue as to what he was talking about.

"What's the catch?" Orion spoke up.

Noah looked up at him, as if only remembering he was there at that moment.

"He's not from our crew, it's not possible," Sahara protested as she realized Orion was actually considering this.

"A small detail," Orion waved her protest off. "What do you get out of it?" he rephrased his question as he continued to stare at Noah.

Noah's face split into a grin. "You catch on fast."

"It's Regona," Orion replied as thought that explained all.

"Yes, it is," Noah agreed. He turned to Sahara, his arm still around her. "How about this...I'll win the race for you in any style you want. Whether it be slow, painfully slow, just plain painfully..."

What's up with all the painfuls? Sahara wondered.

"...Or in the blink of an eye. You say it, I'll do it," Noah told her.

"In exchange?" Sahara asked as she caught on.

Noah's smile grew. "You do a little something for me."

Sahara's eyes narrowed while Orion looked like he was thinking it over.

"What kind of-" Sahara began, yet she was cut off as Noah clamped a hand over her mouth.

He pulled her closer. Orion moved forward, as though to try stop him, yet seeming to think him not a threat, he paused.

"That you will know after the race." Noah took his hand off Sahara's mouth and let go of her, a satisfied look on his face.

Sahara had to admit; she was curious.

"And to be honest, I kind of really want to race," Noah admitted as an afterthought.

Sahara gave him a skeptic look. "Can't you just race for your own crew?" She was taking a wild guess that he had one.

"Tch. My crew? They're the problem right now. Thanks to our idiot leader...plus, I'd rather race for you. I really like you," Noah added.

Sahara's mouth formed an 'oh'.

"So, what do you say?" Noah asked.

Sahara looked over at Orion.

"Please?" Noah asked.

"I don't see how it would hurt," Orion spoke up. He narrowed his eyes. "But then again, it depends on what that favor is."

"Nothing hard, trust me." Noah winked at Sahara.

"If it is I'll kill you myself," Orion said without any emotion.

"Is that a yes?" Noah looked excited.

"I'm not so sure..." Sahara murmured. Noah's hand landed on her shoulder. "Don't think about things too long. Sometimes you just should go with the flow...like helping a guy out when he wants to race."

How exactly would it be helping if he wants a favor in return? Sahara wondered. "Doesn't it go against the creed?" she asked out loud.

"Screw the creed!" Noah exclaimed. It made him sound just like Terrell.

"If that's how you feel," Orion shrugged. "It's fine by me."

Noah looked at Sahara.

She hesitated. "If you really want to..."

Noah nodded his head eagerly.

"I guess there's no reason why not." Sahara sighed.

"Yea!" Noah pumped his fist in the air, yet then he froze. "Um...maybe we could find some way to cover my face somewhat...for safety reasons."

"Good idea," Orion agreed. "We don't the other crew to realize you aren't with us..."

"Actually, I was thinking more along the lines that my leader and crew would kill me if they found out," Noah muttered. "But I guess your reason works too."

Orion ignored him as he talked to himself. "Then again, we could just make you a mysterious new member..."

"Whoa! Hold your hover board there!" Noah protested as he held up his arms to form a giant X. "No adding me to a crew. That's a definite no no." He shook his head firmly.

Orion waved him off. "It's not like you really joined, you'll just be a made up new member..."

"Who doesn't exist?" Sahara asked in confusion.

Orion nodded.

Noah shook his head in wonder. "Boy...you really are a bunch of cons." He grinned. "No wonder I felt the urge to come by. I love it!"

Sahara stared at him in disbelief.

"So, about that mask thing," Noah turned to Orion. "It just needs to be something that doesn't quite make it too easy to recognize me."

"The hair will be a problem," Orion told him.

"Hmm, you have a point," Noah agreed.

The two boys fell into conversation, seeming to completely forget Sahara was right there. She rocked back on her feet, her mind wandering. For once in the last few days she wasn't thinking about her crew leaving, instead she was filled with curiosity.

Just what is this favor Noah wants in return for racing? She eyed him for a moment as she tried to guess. However, her mind came up blank. Letting out a sigh, Sahara shook her head. Guess I'll have to wait till later to see.

"How about pigtails?" Orion asked.

"Put a wig like that on me and I'll kill you," came Noah's reply.

Sahara shook her head. She was beginning to think that no one in Regona was anywhere near sane. For the first time in a while she felt a smile tug at her lips.