Lily ran to the barn as fast as her legs could carry her. She didn't know for sure what her mother's message meant, but she knew it couldn't possibly have been good.
"What do you mean she's gone?" exclaimed Dan. "What's that supposed to mean? What kind of message is that to leave on a machine?"
"I don't know," replied Lily on the verge of tears, "that's all she said. I hope she didn't mean- Oh God..." She buried her face in Kevin's shoulder.
"Shhhh..." said Kevin gently stroking her hair, "we don't know anything for sure yet. We'll just have to wait for them to call again. We'll get this sorted out; you'll see."
They all walked back to the house to sit anxiously in comfort. Cody and Wendy went to the kitchen and Dan once again took up residence under the table. Minutes passed and still there was no call. Then there was a knock at the door. Everyone jumped, including Dan whose mouth emitted a short spout of profanities as he rubbed his head and sat on the couch. Lily ran to the door.
"Flynn!" she shouted hugging her sister.
"What?" Flynn shouted back.
"What are you doing here?" Flynn laughed.
"Now, where have I heard that question before" she asked.
"Sorry," said Lily, "It's just that, well, Mum left a really weird message on the machine saying you were gone," by now the other five had gathered at the door. "I supposed we'd all just assumed the worst." Everyone else nodded in agreement.
"Now Lily, what have I told you about that?" said Flynn.
"What?" Lily asked.
"When you assume you make an assumption," Flynn said laughing. "Anyway," she continued "I just came by to get some stuff." She entered the house and went up the stairs to what used to be her room.
"You- you're not staying?" Lily asked, obviously shattered.
"No. Sorry," Flynn replied shortly and continued to fill a duffel bag with various articles of clothing and items from a cardboard box.
"But- But-"
"No buts Lily. I said I'd try it, no promises-like. It's already not working."
"But you just got here!"
"But I can't stay here," said Flynn zipping the bag. "I'm sorry Lily; I really am. I just can't take it- I can't take them. I wasn't recovered for more than an hour or two when they started the lectures 'how could you do this to us?' and 'what did you think you were doing' and all that. They'll never change; I just don't know why I didn't see it before." She turned to Dan. "Let's go. I don't want them to get back before I'm gone." She put the box back in the closet and walked out.
Tears streamed down Lily's cheeks as she looked out the living room at Flynn riding away. It wasn't just that she was going away again that hurt Lily, it was that her parents didn't try to keep her; didn't want to keep her. She watched her only sister turn her back on her in attempt to keep her parents at a distance and she couldn't take it any more. Even Eddie's comfort, the caring of a true friend, couldn't ease Lily's pain, not this time.
"Kevin, would you happen to have room for another lost soul at your house for a little while?" she asked without changing her fixed gaze.
"Uh... sure. Yeah, I guess so, why?" he replied.
"I just need some time away," said Lily. She went to her room and came back minutes later with her pack in one hand and her book in the other. "Maybe Flynn's had the right idea all along." They headed out the back door leaving Cody alone in the living room void of understanding and utterly speechless. A car pulled in the driveway, but Mr. and Mrs. Brown were far too late to stop either of their alienated daughters leaving.

Alright. That's all I've got. That's the whole thing as of August 17th 2002. If anyones actually read this far, I'm thrilled. I guess I'll have to get back to writing! : )
**Kisses**
~Starry