Wesley looked shocked as he processed Alliots words, "Missing? What do you mean missing?"

"Missing. As in no one can find him," Alliot grumbled as she shuffled around for her jacket and shoes. "We should go help find him. Jacky is in hysterics right now, it's the least we can do."

Wesley got up and began packing everything in record time. His keys jingled in his hand as he loaded everything into the truck. Alliot gestured towards Venice's passed out, drooling figure "What are we going to do with him?"

Wesley gave Venice an amused smile before turning to look at her, "We can't leave him here, so I guess we bring him."

Oh boy....

After Wesley finished packing the truck he joined Alliot, who was standing over Venice.

"On three?" Wesley asked.

Alliot just shrugged, "Sure."

"One..."

"Two..."

"Three...!" They both dragged him up by his arms, his head fell backwards with his mouth gaping open and he lead out a loud snore.

Wesley burst out laughing, taking most of Venice's weight from Alliot.

Ugh

It took almost ten minutes to drag Venice's unconscious body from the living room and into the garage. They both stood in front of the open car door, "How are we going to do this again?" Alliot shot Wesley a worried look, he shrugged, "I could look for a rope or something?"

Alliot nodded taking Venice's weight and leaning against the truck. Moments later Wesley returned with a rope in hand.They tied a slip knot underneath Venice's arms. Wesley got into the back seat with the other end of the rope.

"Ready?" he asked. Alliot nodded.

"One..."

"Two..."

All of a sudden, Venice awoke with a snort, startling Alliot causing her to drop his body on the garage floor.

"Yowza!" Wesley smirked, "That's going to leave a mark in the morning!" Venice groaned and glared at Wesley who flipped him off.

Alliot sighed and rolled her eyes, Boys!

Suddenly, Wesley's face grew very serious as he filled in what had happened in the past half hour. Alliot watched as Venice's expression changed from confusion to shock and finally anger.

"We have to go find his sorry butt!" Venice bolted into the passenger seat and impatiently waited for Alliot and Wesley to get in. In minutes they arrived at the Millers residence (with Venice driving over the speed limit.)

Jacky greeted them at the door. Her black hair was a rats nest and her mascara was smeared. When she spotted Alliot she threw her arms around her neck and buried her face into her shoulder. Alliot tensed for a split second before returning the gesture.

"Thank god you're here! Come in, come in." She ushered them inside and led them into her very large, designer furniture clad living room.

"Jacky, we came as soon as you called. Have you heard anything from Ash yet? Do your parents know?" Alliot wasn't comfortable with seeing her friend so upset.

Jacky gnawed at her thumb nail anxiously, "No to both of those. There has been no word from Ash and my parents left last night for a conference in Hawaii."

"When was the last you saw him?" Wesley asked coaxing Jacky to sit on the couch.

She shrugged, "At school I guess. He usually goes out with his football buddies but I tried calling them and they haven't seen him."

She stood up, her oversized Rolling Stones sweatshirt lifted up a bit to reveal ripped up denim shorts.

Thank god! I thought she wasn't wearing any pants!

She sighed, "I need something strong," Jacky began to walk out of the room. "No no no no no no you don't! There is no point in getting wasted over this! If he doesn't show up in twenty four hours then call the police."

Jacky nodded, "What time is it now?"

Alliot checked the time on her cell phone, "Almost eight. Do you need us to hand out until he shows up?"

Jacky sniffed and wiped her nose on the back of her sleeve, "That would help, thanks." Alliot smiled, "It's the least I can do."

Jacky eventually fell asleep with her head on Alliots lap. Alliot murmured words of comfort and stroked her friends head.

Venice was sitting on the couch across from them with his arms resting on his knees and he tapped his foot anxiously as he lent forward.

Wesley settled on pacing around the house with occasional worried glances at the girls.

Soon enough, Alliot fell asleep with her head resting on Jackys stomach. Her dreams were filled with every possible scenario that could have happened with Ash.

He needs to come home, was her last thought before her mind went completely blank.

<*><*><*><*><*>*<><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*<>*<>*><*><*><><*><*<><*<

The sun burning against Alliots face eased her out of sleep. Groggily, she sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes.

Noticing she was in unfamiliar surroundings she was immediately awake. Around her were pale white walls and she was under beige sheets.

"Oh good youre awake," Alliot turned and spotted Wesley in the doorway holding a plate. "You didn't eat last night, so make sure you finish all of it." The bead dipped as he sat down and handed her the plate of food.

Alliots mouth watered as she gazed at the plate of pancakes and freshly cut fruit. Syrup ran off the sides and whipped cream and powdered sugar topped it all off.

"Wow, I've never had anyone make me breakfast in bed before," she admitted. Wesley gave her a goofy grin and handed her a fork, "Well, then I'll try to make this one extra special."

She blushed and began to cut into her breakfast, the minute the fluffy pancake touched her tongue she moaned. "Where did you learn to cook? This is amazing!"

He smiled, "I taught myself when I was fourteen."

She nodded, and took another bite of pancake. How many girls has he cooked for? She felt jealousy course through her and shook her head to rid of it. I shouldn't get too attached, I'm not staying long anyways.

"Hey," she whispered softly, "How is Jackyholding up."Wesleys smile vanished, "She's still asleep. She kept waking up screaming so Venice fell asleep on the floor next to her."

Alliot felt a pang of sadness for her friend, she shouldn't be going through this. If Alliot could take away the pain, she would.

Alliot sighed and finished her plate of pancakes before sliding out of the bed. "Can you make sure that Jacky gets something to eat?"

Wesley furrowed his brow, "Sure...I will. Alliot, where are you going?"

Alliot zipped on her sweater and refused to meet his eyes, "I have to do something." Wesley nodded and did not question her.

Good. I don't want to be the one to tell him.

"I want to say goodbye to Jacky before I leave." Wesley led her out of the guest room, down the hall and into Jacky's room.

As expected, her room was decorated with band posters, dirty laundry, and CDs. Jacky laid on her her side on the edge of her bed, her legs were tangled in the sheets and her cheeks were tear stained. She stared blankly at the wall with her cell phone in her hand.

Alliot's breath caught in her throat as she took in the scene before her. She moved forward and knelt in front of her. She brushed the sticky hair away from her face, "Jacky, i'm going to go away for awhile."

No answer.

"But i'll be back....promise."

Still, nothing.

"Venice and Wesley will call the police for you. They will find him."

As Alliot stood up a hand darted out and grasped her wrist. Jacky's voice was soft and raspy, "Just hurry back...please. Don't, don't leave me alone."

Alliot tried her best to force a smile and pried Jacky's hand from her wrist. "Ill be back."

Alliot left the house before she let the tears fall. Wesley let her go without a second glance, and Venice just sat on the counter drinking orange juice from the carton.

It wasn't long before she was walking by herself and the expected phone call came.

"Hello?" she asked, praying her voice didn't give away her emotions.

"Good morning Ms.Ayven. This is your new Social Worker Cassandra Clark."

"Hi."

"This is your months notice, if we don't hear anything from your Foster parents then we will be forced to relocate you to a new family."

"Have you heard anything from them lately?"

"Only to inform me that you've been skipping class," she could hear Ms.Clark huff over the phone.

"Oh yeah, that was totally worth it!" She smirked.

"Alliot," Ms.Clark grumbled, "If you continue this behavior and once the list of Foster families run out we might have to put you into a community home. You wouldn't like that would you?"

Alliot decided not to anger her more and responded with a "Yes ma'am."

"Good. You better get your game up." With that she hung up the phone.

Alliot sighed and slipped her phone back into her pocket. She knew that if she didn't get her game up she would be transferred out of town and to a new family. That meant leaving.....

What's going on with me?

She had made friends whenever she changed families but she never got...attached.

With Ash missing and Jacky about to crumble she had no choice but to stay. Her thoughts wandered to Wesley.

Wesley...

She couldn't get the image of this brown eyed boy out of her mind. She just met him! She shook her head and paused, tilting her head up to the sky and breathing in the crisp air.

It smells like it's gonna rain.

Sure enough Alliot could feel a light drizzle falling upon her face. But she continued to stand there, with her faced turned to the sky as the fat droplets rolled across her cheeks.

Thats it.....wash everything away.