Training is exactly what Sahara and Terrell in the next few days. Sahara would spend all her time either working at the café or training with Terrell. She was getting better at boarding and was even beginning to feel comfortable. Yet every time she asked, Terrell would snort and tell her that she was still a long way from being at a level where she could race.

Every morning it was the same thing. It would be a battle to get Terrell to wake up. Sahara found herself growing somewhat bolder in her attempts to do so. She came to realize that when she tried to get him up, she needed to stay out of Terrell's reach as he would automatically try to grab whatever, or whoever, tried to wake him. How Mo managed to calmly walk up to him and fall asleep on top of Terrell without facing the same fate, was a mystery to Sahara. However, one thing she knew for certain, Terrell liked to sleep. He would often do so in the most random places. How he managed to do so, was a mystery to her.

She was wondering about this as she wiped the counter in Drake's café. Jack was standing to one side, cleaning glasses as he kept an eye on a group of four youths who sat in the far corner. Though he was eyeing them suspiciously, Jack did no more than that.

He had come to a point where he left the customers up to Sahara as he realized that they would not be scared off as easily. Lately it seemed to be working as a few people began to come regularly. Yet despite this, the café was never full.

"We're closing up in five minutes," Jack called out so that everyone could hear him.

Though the sun was setting, it was only six. Yet Sahara wasn't surprised that Jack was already closing. He only kept the café open late on two days a week, and sometimes and extra day on the weekend. When Sahara had asked him about it he had muttered something about the city switching gears when it got dark.

"That's when the boarder crews become most active," he had told Sahara a little later. "I don't fancy staying open and letting my café becoming a hub for their fights."

 It explained quite a bit to Sahara, for she hadn't seen many boarders around since she had come, and especially no crews. Then again, other than the café and the warehouse, she didn't really go anywhere else, Terrell kept her to busy.

Where is he? the thought struck her as she looked around the café. She wiped a hand on the new pair of pants Terrell had bought for her. Of course, he had made sure to let her know that she would have to pay him back as soon as she could.

Customers were getting up and leaving, yet there was no sign of Terrell. While he often was present at the café, he had also been disappearing a lot lately. However, he had always been there to pick her up when she was done with work. He had said something about it being because you couldn't trust anyone in the city, especially at night.

Yet, since he wasn't here, Sahara decided to head back to the warehouse by herself. She grabbed the hovering board Terrell let her use and tucked it under one arm, deciding it would be safer to get on once she was in an area with less people. While she was better at boarding, she still wasn't that confident about not crashing into people.

Sahara took her time. The smell of food mixed with a scent of garbage, drifted through the streets. To the right a vendor was packing up, shooting hurried glances at the darkening sky. Sahara had never been out long after dark. Terrell somehow always made sure she was back at the warehouse by that time. It looked like the street vendor had the same idea.

A boarder, a girl, whizzed overhead, only inches from Sahara's head. Sahara turned, watching as the girl flew off, her hair streaming behind her. She was flying a lot higher than Sahara had gone. Yet Terrell had told her height would come with time. She watched as the girl skillfully turned and disappear around a corner.

"Hey you!" Sahara heard the yell.

Not even a second later, someone smacked right into her.

The force wasn't enough to send Sahara staggering, yet due to the surprise, she dropped her board. Turning around she blinked when she saw no one. Slowly, her eyes wandered downward, only to widen in surprise. There, lying on the ground, was a girl who could be no older than six years. She was the first child Sahara had seen since she had come to Regona.

The little girl's face was streaked with dirt. Her curly brown hair was in a tangled mess. The girl scrambled to her feet, her chocolate brown eyes wide.

"Thief!" the voice from before yelled.

Sahara glanced up to see a teenage girl storming over. When Sahara's eyes drifted back to the girl, she noticed the apple she was clutching in one hand. The girl hid the apple behind her back. She seemed to decide that the best thing to do in her situation was to hide herself as well. And the object behind which she wanted to hide, just so happened to be Sahara.

As the girl clutched her leg and stood behind her, Sahara stood frozen.

"You!" The approaching was fuming as she stormed up to Sahara. "Keep your child under control!"

Sahara's eyes widened.

"You're going to have to pay," the girl spat as she glared at Sahara as if the entire incident was her fault.

"I..." Sahara stammered.

"It's thirty points."

"Thirty points?" Sahara's face paled. "That's..."

"I can make it forty," the girl added threateningly.

"Uh..." Sahara shot a glance at the girl behind her. She wasn't saying a word. "I don't have that..."

"Are you saying you won't pay?" the girl's eyes narrowed.

Sahara opened her mouth to reply, yet another voice beat her to it.

"Five. That apple is worth only five."

Sahara turned to see a figure approaching. Her mouth dropped. It was a gorgeous girl with stunning electric blue eyes. Her long blond hair was pulled back into a neat high pony tail and her hips swayed with every step she took. She wore black boots with a slight heel. Her shorts revealed her stunning long legs and her shirtless black shirt her athletic arms. Around one upper arm she had tied a red bandana. A full backpack was slung over her shoulder.

She was currently staring challengingly at the other girl.

"I said thirty," the girl from before wasn't about to be put off.

"And I said five," came the confident reply. The blond haired girl's lips twitched upward. "Or...I could make it zero."

The other girl looked furious.

Sahara watched the exchange in awe. There was something about this newcomer which radiated not only an air of confidence, but she also made Sahara feel intimidated. For some reason, it felt that as soon as the girl had appeared, Sahara had become nothing more than a shadow. A few guys in the area were shooting curious looks over, all of them aimed at the newcomer.

"Fine," the girl, who had been trying to get Sahara to pay, grudgingly concluded.

With a smile, the blond haired girl held out her hand. The other did the same and they exchanged points.

"Nice doing business with you," the new girl told the other.

The reply she got was a snort before the other girl turned and walked off.

The blond haired girl turned to Sahara. She barely even spared her a glance as her eyes drifted to the little girl behind her.

"Naomi," her voice was dangerously low. "Naomi, come here." She dropped her backpack and it landed with a 'thud'.

The little girl slowly edged out from behind Sahara and walked towards the newcomer, her hands behind her back.

"Where is it?" the blond haired girl asked.

Slowly Naomi held out her hand with the apple in it. All the time she avoided the other girl's eyes. Sahara watched as the blond haired girl took the apple.

"Now, what did I say about stealing?" she asked as she tossed it in the air and then caught it.

At least she's teaching her morals, Sahara thought.

Naomi lowered her head and mumbled something.

"I didn't hear you," the older girl told her.

"Don't get caught," Naomi's voice was a bit louder.

Sahara blinked in surprise. Don't get caught? Shouldn't it be something like 'don't steal'?

A smile spread over the older girl's face and she tossed the apple back to Naomi. It was then that she seemed to notice Sahara for the first time.

"Who are you?" she asked, suspicion laced her voice.

Sahara pointed at herself in surprise. The other girl just watched her with raised eyebrows, waiting for a reply.

"S...Sahara," Sahara got out.

"I like her," Naomi said as she bit off a chunk off the apple and began to chew loudly.

"Really?" The blond haired girl looked surprised.

Naomi nodded as she happily continued to munch away. For a moment the blond girl simply stared at Sahara, and then she suddenly held out a hand. Sahara stared at it in surprise.

"Alegra," the older girl said. "The name's Alegra."

Slowly Sahara lifted her own arm and the two shook hands.

"Thanks for not making a fuss about the earlier matter," Alegra added as she let go of Sahara's hand.

"N-no problem," Sahara replied.

Alegra shot her a dazzling smile. It made her look like one of those models Sahara had seen on the fashion magazines her classmates had always pored over.

"Alright, Naomi." Alegra suddenly turned away from Sahara. She reached down and picked up her backpack, shooting a glance at the setting sun. "We'd better find a place to put up for the night." She reached out a hand.

Naomi nodded enthusiastically. She took Alegra's hand. Alegra smiled down at her as she began to turn.

Sahara realized they were going to leave. "Wait!" she spoke before she was sure of what she was doing.

Alegra paused and turned back to her, a questioning look on her face.

"Are you two...perhaps looking for a place to stay?" Sahara asked as she bent over and picked up her board. What are you doing? They're strangers! her mind screamed.

Alegra and Naomi exchanged unsure glances.

"And what if we were?" Alegra asked.

A picture of the big warehouse flashed through Sahara's mind. There's room for more, she told herself. She took a deep breath. "I know a place."

Alegra's eyes narrowed. Suspicion was written in her eyes. "No thanks." She turned to go, yet Naomi stayed rooted to the spot. Alegra turned back to her. "Come on Naomi. It's getting dark. You know that means bedtime for you."

Naomi didn't move. Her chocolate brown eyes were watching Sahara. "Is it a safe place?"

Sahara wasn't sure what to make of the question. A picture of Terrell flashed through her mind. He wasn't dangerous...or at least she didn't think so. "Yes," she answered, though somewhat uncertainly.

"Naomi!" Alegra squatted down before her. "What's the most important rule I taught you?" Although she murmured it, Sahara still heard every word. "We don't trust anyone in Regona, especially strangers."

She sounds just like Terrell, Sahara thought.

"But, I like her," Naomi replied stubbornly. She peeked around Alegra. "Miss, you're not a bad lady, are you?" she asked Sahara directly.

"Me?" Sahara replied in surprise. "No...I'm not bad...I think." She wasn't sure what to make of Naomi's directness.

"See?" Naomi turned to Alegra.

Alegra put her hand to her forehead and pressed against it, as though suppressing a sudden headache. Letting out a sigh, she got to her feet. "One night, that's it," she said. She turned to Sahara. "So...where is this place of yours?"

Sahara lifted her hand and pointed in the general direction. "It's a bit out of town."

Again Alegra's eyes filled with suspicion. However, she said nothing. Instead, she motion with her fingers. A hover board shot out of the shadows. Alegra got on it and then waited a moment for Naomi to scramble up behind her. The little girl clung on to Alegra and then peaked around her to smile at Sahara.

"Well...lead the way," Alegra spoke.

Realizing that Alegra wanted to board there, Sahara switched her board on a carefully got on. She shot a look around only to let out a sigh of relief. The area had emptied quickly of its occupants, so it looked like she would have room to board without hitting anyone.

She took off slowly, not speeding up too fast as she didn't want to fall off. Though she didn't look behind her, for fear of losing her balance, Sahara knew Alegra was following.

Are you an idiot? she thought to herself as she boarded back towards the warehouse. You don't even know them. And yet something told her it was alright. Then a new thought hit her. What's Terrell going to say? She gulped. Surely he won't be that mad...I mean, there's so much space in the warehouse. Besides...Naomi's only a kid. I couldn't just leave her... She swayed dangerously as she broke concentration for a moment. Recovering, Sahara didn't let her thoughts wander after that.

They boarded in silence and it didn't take too long for them to reach the warehouse. Sahara got off and switched the board off before tucking it under one arm. She turned to see that Naomi had enthusiastically jumped off the back of Alegra's board. Alegra followed, though somewhat more cautious, her eyes glued to the warehouse.

"This it?"

Sahara nodded. She turned and walked towards the door. Her stomach was in a nervous knot as she tried to decide how she would explain bringing two strangers along, to Terrell. She paused with her hand on the door. Calm down, she tried to tell herself.

With a tug, she pulled the door open. To her surprise, it was pitch black inside. It looked like Terrell wasn't home.

"Lights," Sahara commanded as she walked in. The room lit up at once.

Sahara walked towards where all the boards were stacked and put down her own beside them. She turned around to find that Alegra and Naomi had paused in the doorway and were staring around. Naomi had a look of wonder on her face while Alegra's face still showed traces of suspicion.

Mo peaked around a counter. Seeing Sahara, he padded over and began to rub against her leg while purring.

"Kitty!" Naomi exclaimed as she rushed over. She scooped Mo up before the poor cat could run for cover. He let out a strangled 'meow' as Naomi squeezed him in a tight hug.

"Uhhh..." Sahara felt like she should say something as Naomi rocked back and forth with the cat in her hands, rubbed her face against his soft fur.

"Nice place." Alegra walked towards the couch. She dumped her backpack down on it and motioned for her board. When it reached her, she switched it off and leaned it against the couch. Putting one hand on the back, she jumped over and settled on the couch. She leaned her head back, letting out a satisfied sigh.

It used to be a whole lot more messy, Sahara thought dryly as she remembered all the trash Terrell had lying around when she had first come. It had been something she had taken care as soon as she could. She watched Alegra get comfortable in silence.

"You live here alone?" Alegra asked.

Sahara opened her mouth to reply, however, someone else beat her too it.

"No, she doesn't."

Whirling around Sahara saw Terrell standing in the doorway. A hover board was tucked under one arm. When her eyes wandered to her face she gulped. He looked far from happy.