It was a long trek back to the Craft. It seemed longer than normal, though I knew it wasn’t. I watched Sofia as she walked, noticing the harshness of her strides. She seemed to be deep in thought, presumably over the conversation we had just had.

                I kept my eyes averted from the cruel glares of the girls along the street sides. My heart beat rapidly in fear.

                Sofia led us out of the city and back to where we had parked the Craft. She unlocked it, walking in first. I closed the door behind me, sealing it shut tight.

                “You ok?” I asked her. Sofia turned to me, her arms crossed.

                She huffed “I’m fine, I guess. I really thought that I would get something out of that lady for Missy.”

                I scratched the back of my head nervously, “Sorry.”

                “Don’t be.” Sofia ran a hand through her hair, looking around. I noticed how she wouldn’t meet my eyes “Girls are too judgmental for you to have been accepted peacefully.”

                “To be fair, I am kind of the enemy…” I trailed off.

                “But they don’t know that.” She crossed her arms. “Look, I need to call Missy so… you kind of have to hide.”

                I frowned, glancing back towards the under of the bench. I groaned loudly.

                She rolled her eyes “That was a split second choice that was clearly stupid. You’re not hiding there.”

                I raised an eyebrow, “Then where do you plan to store me?”

                She nodded her head towards the cut out on the dash board. It was wide, a place to rest your legs while driving the Craft. It appeared that I would be stuck in the fetal position until she was done with her phone conversation.

                “Really?” I frowned, still not liking the idea.

                “Get going.” She held back a smirk as I solemnly walked over to the crawl space. I crouched down, bringing my knees into my chest.

                Sofia sat in the chair before me. She held back a grin, looking down at my pathetic position. I glared at her.

                “You can stretch your legs out.” She suggested “No one can see if you do.”

                I took her advice.

                It felt a lot better than before.

                She rolled her eyes, fingers typing away. Sofia glanced down at me, warning me to keep quiet.

                A few seconds later, I heard the familiar voice.

                “Did you get anything, Soph?” Her sister asked hopefully.

                Sofia’s face was somber as she spoke, “I spoke to her mother. She kind of kicked me out after saying that she hadn’t heard from Zee in years.”

                Missy sighed, “Anything else?””

                “She said that Zee could either be on the Boy’s Side or raising a kid.”

                A heartbreaking groan sounded from the screen, “I knew it.”

                “What is it?”

                “Zee’s on the fucking Boy’s Side.” Missy groaned again, “There’s absolutely no way that she would be able to raise a kid without calling someone in for help.”

                Sofia bit her lip, looking fearful, “It’s been years, Miss, do you think she’s alive?”

                There was hesitation before she spoke, “…No.”

                It was quiet for a moment while both girls sat and thought. I felt guilt pang at in my chest knowing Zee’s true fate.

                I couldn’t tell Sofia.

                Not now.

                Probably never.

                She would kill me if she found out what I had done to her sister’s best friend.

                “Sofia…” Missy trailed off suspiciously

                “Yes…?” Sofia asked

                “Where are you going?”

                “I already told you.” Sofia frowned, crossing her arms.

                Missy sighed, “Yes, yes, London. But, why?”

                Sofia hesitated, thinking about what she wanted to respond with. I held my breath, praying that she would come up with a lie, “I have my reasons.”

                Good enough.

                “Missy, is there anything else you would like to tell me?” Sofia asked after a moment of silence between the two girls.

                “Yeah, you have one week before I turn you on yellow”

                Sofia gasped, “What?!”

                “I’m sorry, Soph, but you can’t expect me to risk this position just so you can accomplish some silly little illegal adventure.” Missy said sternly.

                “But—Missy!”

                “No.”

                Sofia sighed, “Alright. One week and then I’ll head back.”

                “Good.” Missy said, “And would it kill you to visit every now and then?”

                Sofia only laughed, rolling her eyes.

                “I was serious.”

                “Good bye Missy.” Sofia said, reaching forward to turn off the screen.

                “Bye Sofia.”

                Sofia clicked the screen off.

                She moved back, allowing me space to crawl out from under my hiding spot. I stood up, stretching my back. Sofia’s eyes were trained on the window, watching as we whipped past our surroundings.

                “How come other Crafts can see ours?” I asked, walking up behind her.

                Sofia didn’t turn around, “I’ve directed our course to avoid as many Crafts as possible. That and it’s a little hard to see into windows when you’re traveling as fast as we are.”

                “Oh.” I mumbled, feeling stupid.

                She shrugged.

                Sofia stood up, walking around. She ran a hand through her hair, thinking. I took her seat, facing the control panel. I noticed how she kept a cautious eye on me as she paced.

                I guess I still didn’t have full trust.

                Even though I pretended to be a DQ…

                I shook my head, scanning over the front. Something glinting caught my eye. I leaned forward to inspect whatever it was.

                A set of keys rested atop the dashboard. They were silver, rust forming at the rigid edges. I frowned as my eyes studied them. They must’ve been rare. Keys weren’t something everyone used.

                I reached forward, taking them in my hands. The cool metal felt foreign in my grip.

                “Put them back.” Sofia instructed.

                I raised an eyebrow, twisting the chair around to face her. “Have you had these the whole time?”

                She nodded, “I kept them hidden. I didn’t mean to leave them out. Put them back.”

                My eyes moved from her face, down to the keys. Sofia’s hips were cocked, arms crossed sternly. She glared at me, waiting for me to obey her order.

                I smirked deviously, tossing them gently from one hand to the other.

                Sofia took a step forward, “Clayton, put them back.”

                “Why?”

                “Because I ordered you to.” She said with a harsh tone, “Return them, boy.”

                I raised an eyebrow, “Oh we’re back to calling me ‘boy’ now?”

                She took another step, “Hand them over.”

                I rolled my eyes, continuing to toss them.           

                Sofia whipped her hand out at an attempt to catch them in mid air. I smirked when she missed, loosely holding them in my left hand. I raised them up, tempting her to grab them.

                I moved them away before she could reach.

                Sofia frowned, making another attempt.

                Yet again I moved out of her way.

                I pulled them back behind my head, stretching to keep them out of her reach. She leaned forward, her fingers brushing my wrist.

                I laughed, leaning back farther.                

                “Knock it off and give me my keys!” She frowned, her body nearly the whole way on top of mine.

                I only laughed, keeping them out of her reach.

                Sofia lunged quickly with a desperate attempt to grab them. I felt the chair tip back, dragging our bodies down with it. She screamed as we went down.

                I landed painfully on my back, her head bouncing off my chest.

                I groaned painfully, rolling to the side. Sofia hissed when her body connected with the ground. I grabbed the back of my head gingerly, still holding onto the keys.

                “Ouch.” I groaned.

                Sofia sat up quickly, grabbing for the keys in my hand.

                I pulled them behind my back, laying on them.

                She crossed her arms, sitting on her knees in front of me. “This isn’t funny.”

                “I think it’s hysterical.”

                She groaned, “You’re such a jerk, just give them back, Clayton!”

                I laughed, “Nope.”

                She pouted, “Please?”

                I pretended to think for a moment, “Hmm… Nope.”

                She groaned, trying to reach her hand underneath my back in a desperate attempt to get her keys back. I rolled my eyes, preventing her from doing so.

                I grabbed her wrists away, holding them together in my hands.

                With a smirk, I said, “Nope.”

                She growled, struggling to break free of my grip. I tightened my hold to prevent her from doing so.

                “You’re just awful.”

                “I know.” I grinned.

                Sofia pulled away roughly, shooting me a look, “Whatever. I’ll just wait until you’re ready to return my property to me.”

                I stretched out, resting my hands behind my head, “Alright then, you have fun waiting.”

                She glared at me as I spoke.

                I closed my eyes, keeping my body alert. I wasn’t about to let her take advantage of me when I was mocking her.

                Sofia waited silently next to me though, determined.

                After a few moments, though, she spoke.

                “Clayton.”

                “I’m not ready yet.”

                A minute passed in silence.

                “Clayton.”

                “Be patient. I’ll give you them when I’m ready.”

                Another minute.

                Sofia slammed her fist onto my stomach. I groaned, my muscles tightening up. I curled my body into a ball, arms wrapped tightly around my torso.

                She grinned victoriously, holding up her prize.

                I closed my eyes, groaning again.

                “Please, that didn’t hurt.”

                “Like hell it didn’t.” I mumbled, sitting up.

                She rolled her eyes, tucking her keys into the front of her shirt. I raised an eyebrow, not realizing they had a pocket there.

                She only blushed, looking away.

                “Can I ask you something?” I asked after a moment of silence.

                She nodded, not meeting my eyes.

                “Why are you ok with me?”

                “What do you mean?” She frowned, staring at the ground before us.

                “I mean, I know we’re enemies. Enemies don’t help enemies.”

                “Technically, I’m not helping you. I’m using you to get rid of an enemy.” She argued. “I could still kill you when this is all over.”

                I shrugged, “I know you can. You could kill me now. But before we were messing around.”

                She didn’t say anything. I continued with what I was saying.

                “I mean, this is the kind of thing I used to do with El…” My voice cracked as a pang of guilt flooded my heart. She was dead and I was enjoying myself with another girl. I was horrible. I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath. With a shake of the head, I continued “Err…anyways, we aren’t supposed to act like that. It’s against everything we’ve been raised.”

                So was falling in love with Ellie…

                She raised her eyes to meet mine, all kidding gone. “Have you ever heard of the Island?”

                I frowned, shaking my head, no.

                “It’s rumored that in between Sides, there is a place you can go. None of the governments will tell you about it because none of them want people there.” She said, “It’s where people who are against the war can go.”

                “Neuterus?” I asked

                She nodded, “Exactly. They believe in pro-war relationships. It’s a small place, hidden by a vast ocean, but it’s a haven nonetheless. I want to go there.”

                I raised an eyebrow, “But, why?”

                “Because I think this is pathetic. Our bodies are physically made of each other. Why are we letting some century-old conflict split us? Genetically, we are the same race. Animals have never done this in nature. Why should we?”

                I listened intently, taking in all her words. We weren’t as different as I had once assumed, “But why were you so against me when I first came here?”

                She snorted, “I may be against the fight, but how was I supposed to know if you were too? I’m not an idiot, Clay.”

                I rolled my eyes, “I beg to differ…”

                “Shut up.”

                I grinned innocently.

                “Anyways, once we find your friend, I intend to find the island.”

                “He’s not my friend.” I corrected angrily.

                She rolled her eyes, “Whatever. The point being as soon as this is done, I’m gone.”
                I hesitated, “Can I come with?”

                Sofia seemed surprised by my question. She hesitated before answering, “Maybe.”

                “Maybe’s good enough for me.” I smiled gently.

                She returned the smile, laying down on her back. I slowly followed her motion, lying next to her. We turned our heads to face each other, staring quietly.

                “We’ll be in Tatiana soon.”

                I nodded silently, wondering what would happen once we were there.