I pull my humongous suitcase and two carry on with me to the gate. Boarding isn't for five minutes. I text Josh, telling him I'm getting ready to board. There's a snapchat from Caleb. I open it and it's a video of him and the guys. "We miss you Mia! Have a good flight!" They chant, with crazy grins plastered to their faces.

I stick out my tongue and make a funny face. I send it to him with the caption: "Love my weirdos❤".

They announce that my flight can now be boarded. I throw the carry-on bags over my shoulder and climb on board. Alan and Josh got me an aisle seat, and they even told the flight attendant I'm flying alone for my first time. She immediately approaches me.

"Hi, are you Mia?" She inquires. I nod, "Yes." She grins, "I'm Hattie. If you need anything, just let me know, sugar." I nod again, and she moves on. I see an elderly couple stop next to my seat.

"We're supposed to be sitting next to you," the man informs me. I nod, "Of course," and move so they can get in. They introduce themselves as Erick and Grace, and they've been married for fifty years.

"What's a pretty young lady like yourself doing on a flight all alone?" Erick asks. "It's a long story," I sigh. Grace pats my arm gingerly,"It's okay, dear. We've got time."

I explain the whole story. Erick and Grace nod along, truly listening to every word. I tell them that I'm doing my last two semesters of high school in Missouri, then I'll be off to whatever college accepts me.

"Mia, would you mind if we prayed for you and your family?" Erick asks. I shake my head, "Of course not. I'd appreciate that." He grins, "I figured you would." The three of us spend the rest of the flight chatting. They have several children and several grandchildren. Grace even wants me to stay in touch with her. I'm thankful that my neighbors are such kind, Christian people.

"Mia, call us if you ever need anything," Grace says, hugging me. This is where we part ways. "It was so nice getting to know you. I'll be praying," Erick says, placing his hand on my shoulder. We bid our goodbyes and I pull my phone out and call Alan. He answers on the first ring.

"Hey Mia," he says. "I'm here Alan. Let the others know," I tell him. "Okay, I will, my girl. Thanks for calling," he says. I giggle, "No problem. Well, I'm gonna get home. Love you dude." He sighs, "I love you too princess."

Josh is waiting at the gate. I see him, and practically knock him over with my hug. He holds me very close. "I missed you, Mia," he whispers. "You too Joshy," I breathe out.

He helps me get my suitcase, and we go out to his car. "Welcome home, kiddo," he says, as he begins the first drive to our house. I grin. "How was your flight?" He asks. "Good," I nod, "I sat next to a really nice couple."

We talk all the way back to the house. Jaxon's home today. He talked to all his professors, and he's allowed to be home. He's waiting for Josh and I on the porch, I don't bother to grab my bags, I just run up on the porch.

"Bubby, I missed you so much," I sigh, as he pulls me in for a hug. "I missed you too baby sis, glad you're home," he says. He helps Josh, and they manage to get all my stuff up to my old room. It's exactly like I left it.

"You call Alan yet?" Josh asks. I nod, "Yeah, I called him from the airport." They go back downstairs, and leave me to get settled in.

I shove some stuff away, and get out my phone. I FaceTime Alan. He answers on the first ring. "I know I've only been gone for a bit, but it calms me down so much to hear your voice," I sigh.

He grins, and blows a kiss into camera. "Alan, what do I do if I start to get bullied again?" I ask, genuinely scared and concerned. "Tell somebody. You've got six amazing guys who care about you. If something happens tell one of us. We'll help you out," he says.

I grin, "Alan, you are absolutely the best." He smiles too, "No, honey, you're the best. Now go spend some time with your family, I'll talk to you later." I nod, "Okay. Love you dude."

"You too, baby girl," he says. "Tell the other weirdos, your girls, and the wives that I miss them all already. And give them my love," I tell him. He nods, "I will babe. Talk to you later."

I put my phone away, and walk downstairs and into the kitchen. "Can I go to the store and get some of my food?" I ask nobody in particular. "I'll take you later Mia. Let's all do something together. What do you want to do?" Josh asks.

"Silver Dollar City?" I ask. He grins, "Somehow I knew that was coming." We go to the theme park for a few hours, buy some food for me, and then go home. It's late.

"I gotta text the guys," I say, dashing upstairs to get my phone. I pull up out group text and send a message.

M- Miss your weird faces
Ch- Wow. You're so nice to us.
M- I know.
Ca- How's Branson?
M- The same. Missing my lunatics
A- What did you just call us?
J- I believe the answer would be lunatics.
A- Just know if you we're here I'd be tickling you right now.
M- But you can't haha
Ch- But at some point we will
Ca- Haha
M- Is there any chance one of you guys could come out before I graduate?
A- We'll see my dear.
Ch- You haven't even been gone 24 hours
M- IS IT A CRIME TO MISS MY BESTIES?!
J- No, it's okay love.
M- Good. It better be.
Ch- Chad's going to bed. Night little sis.
M- Night Chadster, love you.
Ch-You too.
J- HE'S GONE! Let's plot our demise.
A- Ooh demise. Big word.
Ca- I got him a word-of-the-day calendar.
M- You guys are such dweebs.
Ch- And you said you missed us.
J- CHAD!
Ca- I thought you went to bed.
Ch- I did, but then I saw a text about plotting demise, and I wanted to join in. Whose demise are we plotting?
M- Now's as good a time as ever to leave. Night guys, love you all.
A- Love you too princess
Ca- Sleep tight babe.
J- Stay strong, love.
Ch- Miss your face.

I log off of the group chat. I blink back the tears. They're such weirdos, but they're my weirdos and I'd give anything to have them here with me. There's a knock on my door, I open it to see Josh and Jaxon standing there.

"You okay sweetheart?" Josh asks. I shrug, "I'm glad I'm home, but I really miss the guys. They were my support beam after mom and Meg died. You guys were an important part of it too. I just miss them so much."

Jaxon nods, "I know how much you love those guys, baby sis. They love you too. You know that, right?" I nod, "Of course I know that. They only tell me everyday." Josh smiles, "Mia, dear, I'm so glad they took you in." They both wrap their arms around me, and I feel so loved that the pain of missing them doesn't hurt as bad.