Darra was outside the gates of the Roberts' mansion after talking with Coal and forming a plan. He knew that he wouldn't be back at daybreak and pretended nothing ever happened when Laura wakes up, so he told Coal he should cover him.

"How exactly am I supposed to do that if you're to be gone for more than twenty hours, which I'm sure your mission takes longer." Coal pointed out as he found it almost impossible to fool Laura for longer than a day. He knew she wasn't the smartest of people, but even a person with levels of IQ in range with hers could be able to pick up something wrong. 

Besides, what excuses were he to come up with while Darra was away, that he left for school when it is literally as early as 7:00 pm when even Laura knew Darra woke up late. "I have a plan. I am planning to make it out of...wherever I was going...in three days, by then Laura should be able to pick up something when she calls the cops, and BAM! 

I appear magically and point out that I was spending some time over at Lilly's cause I wanted to expand our friendship or some lame excuse like that, knowing all too well Laura will forget all about the fact that I was missing for three whole days with the thought in mind that I was spending extra time with Lilly." 

Coal began to see another whole side of Darra. He couldn't believe it, no matter how hard he tried Darra seemed to surprise him most especially that night. He could feel this odd sense of being in a conversation with Darra as his peer, his reaction and reasoning corresponding to that of a 25-29-year-old. There was something special about Darra, he just couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.

"I know...it's not exactly full-proof, and there's a chance of it falling apart right after its execution, but I know we can do this, we have this...in the bag, if I was to say so as a fellow American myself. I believe in you and our plan, and most of all I am deeply grateful for your trust. I just wish I could somehow repay-"

"Do you read books?" Coal said interrupting, not willing to hear Darra beat himself up over nothing, the other part of him though, never going to admit it. So he used this as a distraction. "Of course, ever so much. But I do not understand how that is beneficial to"

"In our story, this is the part where you go out scouting for an adventure. Meaning you're supposed to be out the gates by now. Plus there's no time to waste you need to be on your way!" Coal said as he shuffled Darra off his bed, pushing him towards the doors and giving him "Do you read books?" Coal said interrupting, not willing to hear Darra beat himself up over nothing, the other part of him though, never going to admit it. So he used this as a distraction. "Of course, ever so much. But I do not understand how that is beneficial to"

"In our story, this is the part where you go out scouting for an adventure. Meaning you're supposed to be out the gates by now. Plus there's no time to waste you need to be on your way!" Coal said as he shuffled Darra off his bed, pushing him towards the doors and giving him

"Do you read books?" Coal said interrupting, not willing to hear Darra beat himself up over nothing, the other part of him though, never going to admit it. So he used this as a distraction. "Of course, ever so much. But I do not understand how that is beneficial to"

"In our story, this is the part where you go out scouting for an adventure. Meaning you're supposed to be out the gates by now. Plus there's no time to waste you need to be on your way!" Coal said as he shuffled Darra off his bed, pushing him towards the doors and giving him

"Do you read books?" Coal said interrupting, not willing to hear Darra beat himself up over nothing, the other part of him though, never going to admit it. So he used this as a distraction. "Of course, ever so much. But I do not understand how that is beneficial to"

"In our story, this is the part where you go out scouting for an adventure. Meaning you're supposed to be out the gates by now. Plus there's no time to waste you need to be on your way!" Coal said as he shuffled Darra off his bed, pushing him towards the doors and giving him

"Do you read books?" Coal said interrupting, not willing to hear Darra beat himself up over nothing, the other part of him though, never going to admit it. So he used this as a distraction. "Of course, ever so much. But I do not understand how that is beneficial to"

"In our story, this is the part where you go out scouting for an adventure. Meaning you're supposed to be out the gates by now. Plus there's no time to waste you need to be on your way!" Coal said as he shuffled Darra off his bed, pushing him towards the doors and giving him multiple clues that he was telling Darra to go away, now! "Okay okay, I'm moving. So...I'll see you when I get back then?" 

Darra said as he turned around facing Coal, stopping him from being shoved out the door, a gentle smile adorning his face as he felt a small tugging at his heart. A feeling he hasn't had quite in a while. "Imma give you a big hug when you get back, then scold you on how you managed to trick me on letting you go like that, for all we know you could-" 

Coal stopped dead in his tracks, not wanting to result to that conclusion as Darra felt the pit in his stomach beginning to grow bottomless. "Well then let's hope God answers your prayers, after all, you will be praying for me won't you?"

"Always, every single second." (lol not sure if that is possible though) "But you might not need my prayers, cause o' that big brain o' yours, that is." Coal smirked. "What do you mean?"
"Your mind is much older than you think, so you should always rely on it, it's pretty handy.

 Although don't rely on it too much, it may end up leading you into dead ends...been there..." He scoffed the last part out under his breath, making it near to impossible for you to understand them, the words just hitting your ears like muffled sounds. "Well then...I best be off. Good luck Coal."

"Same goes to ya Darra, handle yourself well out there, kay?"
"I'll do my best, same goes for you..." You waited on instinct, not really knowing exactly what you waited for, but you still stood there, your heart aching with longing. "...Shouldn't you be..."
"R-right, sorry lost it a little there." 

Darra turned around and began to make his way to the elevator, ready to go find his adventure, yet he finally realized what he wanted to hear from Coal, making him tear up. Those 3 words, those small little 8 letters, not too much taken out of you in his perspective, so why didn't Coal say it, why?

'I love you, Darra.' Coal mentally thought as he was too scared to let the words roll off his tongue in Darra's presence, yet keeping hurt him more than it wouldn't have if he let it all out. Why didn't he just take the chance?

Darra sighed recalling the entire scene, hoping that Laura would be a fool just for these three days. Though to be honest, Coal was right about one thing. Darra's brain was certainly not like any 10 years old you'd ever meet. His mind was much more advanced looking at everything from a different point of view. 

That's probably why he's among the best students in his class, but this development was too overwhelming, having the thought that his mind could be at least 6 years older than his own being shaken him. What exactly was he? From this point, he didn't consider himself a human being for sure. 

The things that his mind could reason out and analyze were certainly not like anything else. The thought that there was much more he could be thinking, feeling, seeing, many more doors in his brain were yet to open and he didn't look forward to what was behind those doors. This made him confident about his journey, yes, but all the more scared.

He found himself walking that one straight path that led to the park, knowing he'd have to follow the same route as they did that snowy day and find lake Nava. He only wished he could say goodbye to Lilly. The thought of leaving her behind without so much as a farewell would be as close as unfair to her. 

"Ready to go already." Darra's eyes widened in shock as he could recognize that determined yet soft voice anywhere. "I'm so glad I went out early, otherwise you would've left me behind." She commented with a smile on her face as she bent down to fix her laces. She was dressed in a red shirt with white polka-dots and army shorts with the same styled sneakers, a bag on her back, Darra assuming it had everything necessary for the trip she was now invited to it seemed. 

"Go back."
"No." Her sweet tone was now filled with determination and tenacity Darra didn't think existed in her. She looked back at him, her dark blue eyes looking a little darker even under the sweet caress of the moon's luminous light. "Why? What exactly do you think I plan to do?"
"I don't know."
"If you were to come, do you even know where we are going?" Darra said as light as ever but agitation slowly grew on his face.

 "I don't know."
"Do you know the aim? Did you ever stop to think if this was a do-or-die situation?" The tone in his voice was now beginning to rise slightly as he tried his best to stay composed, not to let all the emotion out.
"I don't know-"

"THEN WHY AREYOU COMING WHEN YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?? YOU AREN'T EVEN AWAREOF THE RISKS OF THIS MISSION. YOU AREN'T EVEN SURE IF YOU'LL COME BACK HOMEAFTER THIS. WHY LILLY?!?" 

Darra couldn't hold back anymore. He simplydidn't understand why Lilly wanted to do this. What exactlywas she to gain? Except losing her life that is! No one would be that crazy tojust run into a situation where they don't know the risks, the outcome of whatthere doing, or the entire point of the mission. 

That would be bonkers! Andhere she was doing just that...
"Because you're doing it too. You're not a dumb person so whatever you do,you do it for a reason. There's no way I'm letting you go and die that easilywhen there's so much we have to do see and learn in our lives, and who knows,maybe if you stick with me we might live for a few more days." 

Lilly saidas she smiled, not that bright, but wide enough for Darra to understand thatshe was just as scared as he was. No one really knew if smilescould show that much emotion. "Turn around Lilly, go back home."Darra simply said as he walked away from her, turning to his left as theentrance of the park was open, as always. 'Aren't Americans afraid of thieves?Maybe they just don't have any?'