The dark night seemed neverending to poor Tyler. At first, the brilliant streetlights streaking along the black sky's background was oddly beautiful and worked nicely with his upbeat music. But after a while, he grew tired of the repeated fake lights dominating the autumn night and he began to wish for its ending. The lights mostly disappeared when Kora took the route that ended up on the interstate, but then the night was just the silhouettes of shadowy trees, poking up at the navy sky like accusing skeletons. 

When the first lights of the new morning finally began to sparkle on the horizon, Tyler couldn't help but stare at the growing light and grin. Even though he hadn't caught much sleep the previous night he felt suddenly energized as he welcomed the daytime with a gleam in his eyes.

"What are you grinning at?" a soft voice questioned, the tone tinted with the sound of mocking.

Tyler glanced up, unexpectedly meeting Kora's glinting aqua eyes in the rearview mirror. She dawned a tiny smile, causing her tired face to crinkle gently in joy.

"Uh-the sunrise," Tyler quietly replied, glancing out his window at the numerous trees hastily racing by on the roadside. He sat up straighter and removed his tangled earbuds from his chest, wrapping them back around his iPod as he gave the clock a peek, 7:12. "You seem cheery. Aren't you tired?"

He watched Kora shrug a reply in the mirror before returning her eyes to the road. Tyler stretched his arms above his head a little and looked around the car. Shiloh was silent up front and Josh had his back turned, his sides rising and falling rhythmically. Tyler assumed both of them were still sleeping. In the back seat, Orchid had made herself a cozy looking bed with a couple of blankets and was snuggled, head hidden, under a small blanket tent.  

"So, Tinker Bell," Kora said, keeping her voice low. "What are you feeling for breakfast?"

This question surprised him a little.

"I brought snacks to feed myself," Tyler replied.

"Save 'em," Kora answered. "Those could be handy for a quick late night munch. But really, there's an exit up ahead and I brought money to feed everyone with, so what are you craving?"

Tyler was confused. Spending money on their first meal seemed stupid, why wouldn't she save it?

"I can see you're doubtful. Trust me, I brought plenty of money to cover all of our expenses. Maybe even enough to stay in a hotel a couple of nights along the way," Kora sent him an assuring smile. "My family's pretty wealthy and I even have a hefty allowance of my own that I can use as a backup for what I brought. Don't worry."

That still sounded strange. And extremely convenient. 

"I know what you're thinking. Why would I leave a wealthy home just to spend all my money on a strange group of runaway teens? That's a story for another time, Tink. A story I might be willing to share with you if you stick around long enough," She ended her statement with a wink.

"Okay," Tyler said slowly. He still had a lot of other questions swimming through his mind but he ignored them for the time being since everyone was currently sleeping. He decided he could bring it up later.

"So? Food?" Kora urged. "You got up first so you get to choose." 

"I'm good with whatever," he shrugged.

"Well so am I," Kora retorted. "So chose something, kid."

"What're the options," Tyler sighed, glancing up at the quickly approaching exit.

"Sign said there's a Hardees, McDonald's, Wendy's. . ." she trailed off.

"McDonald's is fine." Tyler quietly replied, shrugging again.

"Okay then. When we get there everybody's going in and we can talk some while we eat. We're not considered missing yet so we should all be safe showing our faces." Kora explained.

A single glance in the rearview mirror, however, told her that Tyler wasn't really paying attention as he stared at the green signs rushing by. She muffled her laugh and simply shook her head.

"Instead of drooling over the passing metal signs, could you wake up everyone back there and give 'em a clue to what we're doing?" Kora suggested.

"Sure," Tyler quietly replied, leaning over and watching Josh for a moment as he pondered how to wake him.

Tyler woke up the two he could reach and eventually little Shiloh awoke quietly in the front seat as well. Kora pulled lazily into the parking lot and settled the vehicle down.

"Everyone's going in. I'll pay for your meal so pick whatever you feel like. I better see all of you eat something. This is a good time for a bathroom break too but I shouldn't have to tell you guys that. I need to discuss some things with everyone so whatever you're gonna do, do it fast. Got it?" Kora ended with a head tilt.

Everybody nodded accordingly. With that, Kora poked her little brother in the shoulder and emerged from the simple SUV, shuffling her gently-used Adidas sneakers towards the McDonald's door. Three teens and a kid followed her example and climbed wearily out of the warm and cozy car into the chilly morning air.

Tyler felt the morning's sharp, cold air like a sudden slap in the face. He sighed and let his gaze wander to the pastel morning skies painted with the pink and blue colors of sweet cotton candy. While the others scrambled to ditch the cool air, he took a moment to savor the cold sting on his skin and smile at the ribbon of light spreading across the sky.

"It's so beautiful," a voice awfully commented out of nowhere.

Tyler cut his eyes to his left and caught a glimpse of still sleepy Josh standing beside him. Needless to say, Tyler wasn't thrilled with his sudden company and he showed it as best as he could in his glare. Josh missed the hint and crossed his arms snug around his form, his gaze fixed on the newborn morning.

Josh shook his head slightly, a thin trail of mist floating off his lips, "I want to dye my hair that color." He lifted a finger to guide Tyler's gaze to the gentle sky spanning over the mostly empty highway stop. With a tiny shimmer of curiosity, Tyler turned his wide brown eyes to the blue piece of sky and stared.

"Cotton candy blue?" Tyler heard the words slip off his tongue before he even realized he'd thought it.

When Josh's face lit up at the question, Tyler instantly felt better about saying it.

"Exactly," Josh replied, his mouth slowly forming a half smile. Then he shifted his weight towards the building. "Well, we better go in before Kora comes out to get us."

"Yeah," Tyler absentmindedly agreed.

Josh hopped up the curb and quickly made his way into the restaurant while Tyler stood and watched the exotic creature called a teenage boy enter one of his well know habits, a fast food place.

Tyler wondered how he was ever going to figure out another teenage boy when he couldn't even figure himself out. Then again, maybe--just maybe--he didn't have to figure it out. . .maybe he could leave that to someone else this time.

A sharp chill danced up his skin as he reached down swiftly and fingered the cold, metal pendant hanging around his neck.

"I won't do it this time, Rachel," He whispered, staring back up at the sky. "You promised me a fate fighter so I'm going to wait as long as I have to to find one. And until then I'll enjoy myself as best I can."

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