A/N
In this chapter, Josh introduces himself as Joshua Kennedy. Yes, it's still the Jishwa Dun we know and love.

Slightly awkward silence reigned in the air for a while. Kora tried to strike up a friendly conversation by asking him a couple of questions, but much to her aggravation, Tyler stubbornly refused to speak unless he had to. Eventually, she just gave up on words and cast her eyes down to stare at her tapping feet in boredom.

Tyler briefly scanned the parking lot for the hundredth time after about ten solid minutes of complete vocal silence. Much to his interest, this time he spotted a dark figure stepping into the large lot, glancing around the shadows. Another figure joined the first's side and they stood there for a moment, scoping the lot. The smaller figure simply pointed towards them before both of them started heading in the direction of the SUV.

"What time is it?" Tyler asked, his voice shattering the uncomfortable silence.

Kora looked slightly startled for a moment, he saw it all over her pale freckled face. But she quickly regained her thoughts and leaned through the open window of her car, peering at the clock. Tyler stood, watching the approaching figures as he waited.

"It's almost seven fifty," Kora replied, following his gaze. She saw the figures and turned to yank open the nearby car door and started clearing out the front seat. She leaned out and told Tyler, "I only heard back that about three people were interested in coming. We'll hold out until eight fifteen just in case though."

The figures were close, only about ten parking spaces away. Tyler took a deep breath, preparing for two more people to join this not-so-fun party. Kora appeared by his side again, tucking her shirt into her jeans as she told him, "I'm gonna wake up my little brother real fast, I'll be back and then everyone is going do some talking. Even you, Tinker Bell."

Kora nudged him with her elbow with the last line. Tyler kept his arms folded close and watched in interest as she left his side and climbed into the very back seat of the SUV.

Brother? Tyler wondered, tilting his head as he watched her disappear behind a leather seat. What is she talking about?

"Hey,"

Tyler whirled around and saw the two figures had finally reached them. In fact, they were standing right in front of him, acting almost lost.

He eyed them cautiously, noting the features he could make out in the dark. There was a shorter girl, a young teenager with a gentle face framed with tight, hickory colored curls and curious, secretive eyes that peered out from her thick-rimmed glasses. Her dark mocha skin shimmered softly in the starlit darkness as she stood at a distance, hanging her head in a shy manner.

The other was a guy, Tyler guessed he was around his own age. He stood a tiny bit shorter than Tyler himself with dark, messy hair hidden under a jet black beanie. His kind, sparkling eyes shone with the same tone as a fresh mug of black coffee. He wore a royal blue shirt sporting the Jackson High Jaguar on front. The boy's friendly features were easily blurred by his silvery gauges and single lip ring which gave some people a sense of uneasiness. For Tyler, it was just the fact that he was a strange teenage guy that put him in a cautious mode.

Kora finally emerged from the back seat, a random blond kid following close behind her.

"Uh," the strange guy said, watching Kora in confusion. "Is this the runaway group?"

Tyler looked the guy up and down for a moment before he realized the dude was addressing him. He glanced back at Kora, feeling the strangers' eyes burning into his back. But Kora wasn't going to answer, Tyler knew that from the smirk she sent him as she helped the blond kid down to the asphalt.

"Y-yeah," Tyler slowly replied, shifting his weight and begging Kora to speak up with his eyes. "That's us."

"Sweet," the guy replied, sliding a bag off of his shoulder like he had reached his final destination and wasn't about to move.

Kora ruffled the small kid's hair and led him over to join the little group. She eyed the new arrivals standing unsurely around with their bags sitting at their feet. She gave Tyler a look that showed her disappointment.

"Hey guys," Kora said to the new kids. "I'm Kora Shaw. I'm going to be the driver. You two can put your stuff in the back of the car."

The slightly wild looking teenage guy nodded at Kora before leading the way to the back of the car. The curly haired girl followed him slowly, dragging her stuff along with her.

Kora crossed her arms, glancing at the little blond kid as he yawned before she turned her frequently used unimpressed glance towards Tyler.

"I know you could've said more than two words," she sighed, shaking her head in slight amusement.

"Actually I did," Tyler quietly quipped in a mundane tone. "I said three whole words."

Kora raised her eyebrows in surprise, a slight grin starting to trace her soft pink lips. Tyler leaned slightly forward, tucking his hands into his hoodie pocket and glancing around like he was about to tell her a secret.

"You're welcome," he whispered to her sarcastically.

Kora let out a laugh, shaking her head at Tyler. He ignored her pleasure and glanced unsurely at the new additions to the group as they joined them once again.

"Now that bags are settled let's talk," Kora started her sentence in a manner that radiated demand. "I don't know any of your names yet and I need to know you kids if I'm going to care enough to not leave you behind on one of our restroom stops. So let's get to it, Tinker Bell, you start."

Tyler didn't move his solid gaze, but instead kept it connected to the ground as he tiredly replied, "I'm Tyler."

"Got a last name, 'Tyler'?" Kora prompted.

"Joseph."

"Awesome. I think I'm still gonna stick with Tinker Bell though. I think it's more fun." Kora sent him a teasing grin. He didn't return the gesture so she just continued. "Okay, what about you True Blue?"

The other teenage guy gave everyone a quick look over before assuming she meant him.

"Name's Josh," he spoke up, his words seeming hesitant. "Joshua Kennedy."

"Nice to meet you, Josh," Kora nodded, sending him a friendly smile.

Josh awkwardly stood, running his hand down his neck and averting his eyes. No one seemed to want to be there except for the young kid and Kora herself.

"Uh-I'm Orchid Richards," the small girl replied quietly, tucking a piece of her hickory curls behind her ear.

"Hello, Orchid." Kora nodded. Then she leaned down to get her face closer with the little blond kid beside her. "This is my little brother, Shiloh. He's only ten so you better watch yourselves around him."

"Hello!" Shiloh eagerly chirped, waving his hand at everyone.

Orchid meekly waved back as Tyler gave a short, quiet huff of a laugh at the child's excitement over meeting new people. He had to admit, with wavy blond hair and big round baby blue eyes, Shiloh was a pretty innocent and adorable looking kid.

"Don't breathe a sigh of relief yet, Tinker Bell," Kora stated, obviously catching onto Tyler's slight relaxation.

Of course not, Tyler thought, rolling his eyes. This girl just can't be easy, can she?

A mighty gust of cold wind blew over the top of their heads and everyone slouched deeper into their clothes, trying to avoid the chill that ultimately crept up their skin anyway. Tyler sent his eyes up to the sky and saw the soft stars had been completely blocked out by the coming cloud front. Rain was obviously thick now in the dull black sky.

"Alright," Kora sighed, her face heavy with her new disdain. "I think we should continue our conversation in the car. It's obviously gonna rain. At eight fifteen we're gonna head out. Until then, we can hang out in the car and wait for any latecomers, understand?"

"Got it," Josh verbally agreed.

Everyone else nodded along with him.

"Good. Now let's see," Kora squinted her eyes and looked closely at everyone for a silent minute. "Seating arrangements are next. Shiloh, how about you get in the front with me? How does that sound, bud?"

"I thought I was too young." He replied, looking up at her with wide eyes.

"Nah," she shook her head. "It'll be alright."

"Yay!" the blond kid leaped in the air excitedly.

Tyler watched this scene with a slight worry lifting in his mind. He didn't like how attached Kora was to her brother. That could end up badly later on.

He quickly shook his head and disagreed with himself, Surely it'll be okay. She just loves him, that's all.

"You're more important than the siblings' love," The lying voice told him. "You need to look out for yourself."

Tyler was so confused. I thought I was leaving to help others! Not myself! That's what you said, remember? I'm leaving for Rachel. And Zack. And even to help mom.

"You left to help your family. You don't even know these people! Why would you care about them more than yourself? If the whole world thought about everyone else first then no one would ever get anywhere!"

Tyler softly sighed as he thought, You're right. Out here, I come first.

"Of course I'm right! Now don't forget it."

Tyler came back to reality and his thoughts stumbled a bit as he got out of his head. It seemed that seating was already decided by then: Kora and Shiloh up front, Tyler and Josh in the middle, and nerdy Orchid in the very back.

Everyone began climbing into their seats, getting situated before Kora joyfully called out, "Now I wanna know your ages. I'll start. I'm seventeen and will be eighteen in a couple of weeks."

Everyone gave their answers quickly and quietly, Shiloh was ten, Josh was sixteen, Tyler was fifteen but he'd be sixteen soon enough, and Orchid was fourteen.

Kora eventually figured out that in all honesty, the only one who wanted to talk was herself. Shiloh has almost fallen back asleep when the rain started to pitter patter gently on the car and everyone else just stared out the window.

The clock finally reached 8:15 and Kora glared at it and shook her head.

"Well," she sighed, shaking her head and running a hand through her straight black hair. "It's time. You guys are so freaking boring."

Of course, no one answered. She sighed louder and rolled her eyes.

"I guess we are leaving now," Kora said, lifting her eyes to the dark sky and frowning. "I'll just sit up here silently and turn on the radio. You're free to do whatever you boring people like."

Tyler gently exhaled, silently thanking her for finally shutting up. Kora gently cranked up the radio to softly play some popular music as Tyler fished around in his pocket for his iPod. He turned and glanced at Josh, seeing the sixteen-year-old's face contort to a slightly more nervous expression in the dim car lights.

In spite of himself, Tyler quietly asked, "You okay, man?"

Josh looked surprised at the question. He simply shrugged in return, softly saying, "I don't know. I guess so."

Tyler wasn't convinced but he thought Josh maybe just needed some space. So he tucked his red earbuds in and hit the shuffle button as he felt Josh's eyes linger on him for a moment longer.

And suddenly everything but the music coursing to his ears ceased to exist.

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