As soon as I feel my feet on solid ground again my first instinct is to attack. My hands are in fists and once the hand that's on my mouth releases me I thrust my elbow up to try and make contact with a chin or a nose. I feel a hand on my arm so I swing my self around and use my left hand to punch out. My body has adrenaline racing through me and I am too panicked to take in my surroundings. I am blinded with sunlight and my hands fly up to shield my face.

I am stunned. Confused. I look around and see clear waves laping onto fluffy white sand. There are green tropical trees all around me and a strong smell of salt water. The thick humidity makes it hard to breathe and my jeans suddenly feel restricting. My heart leaps into my throat when I hear a voice behind me, "Damn Liam, you didn't say how feisty she was." I spin around and a sob comes bursting through my lips.

Liam is standing a few feet away from me looking as nervous as I do. I quickly fill the gap between us and throw myself into his arms. 

He squeezes me, almost crushing my ribs but I bury my head into his neck and take him in. He kisses me first on the cheek, and then my forehead and eventually works his way over to my lips. I kiss him hard and I feel my tears slide down to our lips. I finally catch my breath and look to him. My legs are still wrapped around his waist and his hands hold my face.

"You look beautiful Ellie. Truly. I missed you so much." He gushes and my heart continues to stay in my throat. I look to his ocean eyes and realize he's lost weight. I can see it in his face. In his cheekbones. He sets me back down onto the sand and his gaze looks behind me. Still holding him, I turn around and see a guy, around our age wearing cargo shorts and a cut off tee looking to us.

"Thanks, Alec." Liam says and I look to him.

"I didn't mean to scare you Ellie. I just couldn't chance anyone seeing me or hearing you." He gives me a soft smile and then heads off toward a small shack behind us. Reality hits me and I look up to Liam.

"Where the hell are we?" I ask him and Liam lets out a laugh. The laugh I have been craving for months.

"Unfortunately, I can't tell you. Alec teleported you here and once he takes you back, we can't chance you knowing where I am." He catches my frown and brings my chin up so he can kiss me again. I grab his face and he pulls me into him. After a few moments, we come up for air and I bite my lip, wondering how much he knows.

"I don't even know where to start," I whisper. I shake my head and fight back tears. I have so many questions and the gnawing at the back of my mind is telling me I can't go missing for long. Harper or Teddy will notice I am not in the basement.

"Come here, let's sit." Liam says to me and he leads me over to a small blanket he has laid out on the sand. It's still sunny here, so I know we are far away from Texas. Maybe Hawaii, or somewhere even farther. 

"How did you find me?" I ask him as we walk to the blanket and he glances back to me before saying, "Harper posted online that you and some others were going to her house tonight. I remembered the guest room so I had a time you would be there and a picture I could show Alec of the room. He did the rest." He never drops my hand and when we are situated he looks to me, "Did Stephanie find you?"

I nod, "Yeah, she filled me in on some of it. I surprisingly don't completely hate her guts. Although you didn't help the matter by not telling me you left with her." 

Liam glances toward the sand, avoiding my gaze and says, "I didn't know she was coming. I found out a minute before we boarded a plane to Virginia. I guess you said something in one of the conversations with Topher that lead him to find her. He offered her the same thing he did to me and she snatched up the opportunity. She wanted to get out of California and she saw this as her way out."

"Funny, she made it sound like you suggested she come. From the sounds of it, it didn't work out for either of you." Liam gazes to the ocean but my eyes remain on his face. His dark hair is longer, but still styled and he's wearing a red cut off shirt with black shorts. He's tan so I assume he's been here for awhile. He's lost muscle mass and he looks worn down. 

"It was hard Ellie. I won't lie. My dad turned out to not be a nice guy. He has power there, at the agency and he likes it. And abuses it. I know he's looking for me, but I won't let him find me. Not until I'm ready." I squeeze his hand and force him to meet my eyes, "I'm so sorry Liam. Stephanie told me what she knew and it sounds horrific."

Liam nods, "It was hard. Mind numbing torture. But the hardest part was not being able to talk to you. I couldn't fight the urge but I couldn't put you in danger either. When my dad started using your safety as leverage, I knew I couldn't protect you from there. That if he wanted to hurt you he'd find a way." I slowly shake my head, overwhelmed by my hatred.

"He hasn't come after me. At least not that I am aware of." Liam looks to me and I can see a struggle behind his eyes. He's hesitant but I see him muster up the courage to ask me about what's haunting him.

"Ellie, who is Teddy Stark?" I stay locked on his eyes because I have to convince him that Teddy is a decoy. That there is nothing more than friendship between us.

"Teddy is a plan Stephanie and I concocted. Stephanie told me that the best way to keep Topher away, is to convince him that you are no longer a part of my life. Teddy is a really good friend that is helping me out. He knows our relationship isn't real." Liam's eyes narrow and I close my eyes. I grab his hands and replay him some of my memories, like when Topher sucked them from my head. I show him Stephanie and Teddy. Our talk in the diner, and Teddy's ex Callie. I open my eyes and Liam slightly smiles at me.

"I promise you Liam, there is nothing real there but friendship. It was all to keep you safe."

Liam nods and replies, "I saw you two kissing in one of my visions. On Halloween. At the time I didn't know it was an act and that was the final straw for me. Once I thought you might be moving on, I knew I had to get back to you. To tell you I hadn't forgotten about you. I went to Stephanie, we hatched a plan and a week later we left. I tried calling you, to stop you from kissing him but...I guess you didn't get my message." My stomach sinks and I don't know what I would do or how I would feel if I found out Liam was making out with some one other than me. Even if it wasn't real.

"I'm sorry Liam. I did get your message. Just a few minutes too late. We were trying to make his ex jealous and..."

With a wave of his hand Liam cuts me off, "It's fine Ellie. I get it. Thank you for looking out for me."

"It sounds like we've been looking out for each other," I rub my thumb over his hand and after exhaling I ask, "So what now, I don't want to leave you but Harper will get worried if I'm not back soon. I can't explain this to anyone, maybe Harper but certainly not the others."

"I'm getting in touch with some other people with talents. We are trying to figure out a way to get Topher out of the picture. He's scary Ellie. Ryan was right in that everyone with an ability needs to stay away from him. This one girl was at the agency, that he recruited shortly before I got there, same talent as Stephanie, could shape shift into other people. She was eager and ready to help so he sent her on some mission to Bosnia. I don't know the details but she ended up dead, in an alley. My dad didn't even blink. He immediately wanted Stephanie to take her place and she refused. She was scared and I don't blame her."

"That's horrible Liam. I'm so sorry." Liam finds my eyes again and tucks my hair behind my ears.

"I like this look by the way. I've been wanting to tell you for months. You're gorgeous."

Swarms of butterflies fill my stomach and I can't help the smile that takes over my face. My heart is on the verge of bursting open and I don't want to leave here.

"Oh, I'm not a Kappa," I say when I realize he left before he knew if I made it. I catch his smirk, "I know."

"You do?" I ask him and he nods, "I saw a vision of you enjoying the carnival, not working it like all the Kappa's do. That's how I knew you didn't join."

I smile, "I turned down their offer. I figured you'd be proud that I rejected the mean girls." He laughs and then takes a small section of my hair and twirls it around his fingers, "Is that what sparked the sudden makeover?" I look to him and nod, "Yeah, some things Heather said to me when I declined their offer rang true. I needed to make some changes." He smiles to me and kisses the top of my forehead. He pulls me into him and I lean against his shoulder.

"So do you have any kind of plan yet?" I ask him and he nods.

"Yeah, we are working on something. I can't tell you, for your own safety right now. But I need you to continue to do what you are doing. Pretending to date Teddy is smart. As long as he is into it, keep him as a decoy. I'm staying with Alec and he can teleport me to you when it's safe. I'll try and come to Highland Park one more time before you leave back to Malibu." I nod and he pulls me into him again. I kiss him, hard and he pulls me onto his lap. I pull away and whisper, "Alec can't see us can he?"

Liam slowly shakes his head and I warm at the sight of his wicked grin. My hands fall to his waist and he immediately flips me over so my back is against the blanket. 

******

I'm adjusting my shirt when Alec comes strolling back outside. I smooth my hair out and watch as he approaches us. Liam looks to me and my heart sinks, knowing it's time to go.

Liam helps me to my feet and we leave footprints in the sand as we meet Alec. Liam still has my hand when Alec says, "I gotta take you back now. Do you have a clear image of where I can take you so no one will see us?" I nod and close my eyes. I show him an image of Harper's pool house and I know no one will be inside. I squeeze Liam's hand again as I fight back tears. I don't want to make this harder but it's not easy on either of us.

"Ellie, I will come to you. At least one more time while you are home for break okay? I promise, this is a short goodbye." He uses his thumb to wipe the tear off my cheek and he pulls me into him again. He wraps his strong arms around me and I bury my face into his chest. I inhale deeply, trying to remember every detail of his chest, of his smell, of his warmth.

"I love you Ellie. I'll see you soon okay? I love you baby."

"I love you Liam." He drops his arms and before I can say anything else, I feel Alec's arms around me and then comes the blinding light.