It has been four months since Skylar has found her friend, McKenzie. She has tried her best to support McKenzie's PTSD, but their friendship hasn't been the same. McKenzie is distant, she's not invited to sleepovers, and McKenzie can't sleep inside her own house. Nevertheless, Skylar is looking forward to the summer; no school, no pressure, free at last. That is, until Skylar answers another knock on her door. It's the FBI again, it turns out, Skylar didn't find the leader of the SHAP. McKenzie and Skylar have to go into witness protection, for how long? They don't know.
Skylar smiled as she parked in one of the main parks in the small town, with their food. They settled in a pavilion, the park was nearly empty. It was just Skylar, McKenzie, and a mom observing her kids as they played in the jungle gym.
"So... how is life.?" Skylar asked.
McKenzie shrugged. "The same, I'm happy we don't have school though, it gives me less pressure."
"Enrolling in the academy?" Skylar asked.
"That's the plan." Mac said. "I'm not sure I want to though."
"Oh?" Skylar asked.
"Being the new kid." McKenzie explained. "It's a scary thought, and living on campus? I can't even sleep in my room. How am I going to sleep in a dorm with a roommate?"
Skylar sighed, trying to think of a way to reassure her.
"I'm going to be new too; and you're right. Being the new kid is scary, I remember getting my first job at the diner. I didn't know anybody and I didn't know how to do anything, I hated it. But you know what? I made some really good friends. And now the owner is one of my favorite people to talk to. Being new is scary Mac, I know. But we have to push forward, even if it's impossible."
"I'm not you Skylar."
"I know that," she said. "I know you're not me. I know we're different, but that doesn't mean that going to the academy won't be a good thing."
McKenzie sipped in her drink.
"Are you hungry?"
"Not now, maybe when I get home."
Skylar nodded as she took a bite in her waffle fries.
"Do you have anything planned this summer."
"I'm having a pool party for my rodeo team, it's next week. I'm so excited." McKenzie smiled softly.
"I'm going to a Christian Leadership camp tomorrow. I'm already packed. I'm leaving earlier today! I can't wait, this is one of my favorite things in the whole summer."
Suddenly the two girls felt their phones vibrate. They answered them.
"Hello?" Skylar asked.
"Skylar you need to come home, now."
"Can't it wait? I'm having lunch with Mac."
"No, it can't you need to come home."
"But---"
"Skylar Elizabeth Guitarrezz!"
"Alright! I'm coming, I need to drop off Mac first."
"No, take her to the house her father is waiting for her."
"Is something wrong?"
McKenzie stared at Skylar, full of concern and worry.
"Yes." Her mother replied. "Get to the house now."
"Okay," Skylar said, "We're on our way."
Skylar put her food in her doggie bag and stood up, suddenly McKenzie grabbed Skylar's arm. Skylar sat down.
"What is it?"
"Someone is watching us." She said. Skylar set her bag down and McKenzie pointed to the pavilion. The two girls didn't turn her head to see the man, the sat still, both of them scared.
"S-Sky..." McKenzie said softly. "I-I can't breathe."
"It's okay..." Skylar said as calmly as she could. "Call your dad, get your taser, remember what your dad taught us. We're prepared now."
Skylar saw her friend grow pale, "Here's what we're going to do. You're going to call your dad, we're going to my car, we're going to drive to my house. If he follows us, ask your dad to send a squad car to follow us home."
Skylar stood up, and put McKenzie's food in her bag. McKenzie grabbed her food and drink, and called her dad. She followed Skylar to the parking lot, before Skylar unlocked the car, she checked the backseat, the trunk, and under the car. She unlocked the car, McKenzie got in, tears were streaming down her face as Skylar pulled out of the car. Soon enough they were being followed.
"He wants to talk to you." McKenzie said.
"Put it on speaker." Skylar said. "Richard we're being followed. What do I do?"
"Go to the nearest gas station, stay on the phone with me. Don't get out of the car."
Skylar pulled in the nearest gas station, and stopped the car, the doors were locked.
"Okay, we stopped."
"I'm on my way there, don't move."
"Dad, he's in a red dodge truck, his name is Peter Ritcko, he's..."
McKenzie stopped, and turned to make direct eye contact with the man.
"No McKenzie don't!" Skylar said.
The man quickly turned his car around, but suddenly two squad cars were right in front of him. McKenzie's father grabbed the man and handcuffed him, he threw him to the other officers and ran to Skylar's car. McKenzie rolled down her window, her father unlocked the car and hugged his daughter.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm... fine." McKenzie managed to say. "Skylar?"
"I'm okay, we're all okay. It's all over."
McKenzie shook her head. "No it's not. It's just the beginning."
"Skylar, I need to take you to your house." Richard said. "Follow me."
