Several voices yelled my name, but I cut through the crowd and made it outside. Right before I completely broke down and sobbed.

"Harper! Wait!"

Tripp had some sizable meatballs, following me after he single handedly tore my heart into pieces.

I ignored him, wiping the moisture from my eyes. Until a hand grabbed my upper arm and twirled me around to face an angry looking Tripp.

I'd never actually seen him angry. Granted, I'd only seen him a handful of times. He always had an air of disappointment or disapproval, but not actual anger. It was almost scary.

I didn't have any more control in me. "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, TRIPP?!"

At the sound of my screaming, his expression actually gentled. I had no idea how to process all of this.

"Look, I know I'm making a complete ass of myself. What I said before, well, it was true. But I didn't have to tell you like that. You just-" He ran a hand through his hair, " You're unsettling. And I've always been the level-headed one. But you make me crazy! I don't feel in control of anything around you. So I tried avoiding you.

"Needless to say, I can't do that. Which infuriates me. Nothing is as it normally was. I knew where I stood in life. I knew my place. I had a routine. Then Thane finds you and won't shut the fuck up about it." He pressed his forefinger and thumb onto the bridge of his nose.

"That's why I didn't even meet you until they said there was an attack. We were already on patrol, and they were so worried. I couldn't help but worry, too. And now," Tripp laughed humorlessly. "Now this fierce little girl takes up the majority of my brain. I see you when I close my eyes. If you're not within eyesight I feel… on edge. I didn't ask for this anymore than you did."

That was the longest speech I've ever heard from him.

"Didn't ask for what, Tripp? Because you're making it seem as though I've done all of that to you just to mess with your perfect little world. News flash, GI Joe, I've been trying to escape you four since minute one! But there you all were. At the coffee shop, at the repair shop, in the alley… and then the one time I decide to tell my insecurities to take a flying leap you act like a flaming sack of cow dookey!"

Tripp clenched his teeth. I was about to continue my rant when the other three ran out of the club and spotted us. So I decided the conversation was over.

"I'm done, Tripp. You can have your perfect little life back. And I'll go back to being worthless and alone." I took a step back. "If you follow me I'll yell rape. Think I won't."

Before I completely crumpled on the pavement, I turned my back on the Clones and walked away. Thankfully no one followed.

I was proud to say that I made it to my bedroom before I started crying again. One blessing was that Mother wasn't awake when I got home. I ignored my makeup and clothing and curled up in my bed. Where I stayed for the next three days.

I was an idiot. With the exception of Ava, no one cared enough to stick around. Why did I delude myself into thinking the four of them would be different?

So I locked myself in my bedroom, calling in sick to work on Monday. I only emerged from my sanctuary to grab bottles of water from the fridge and a few tubes of crackers. Mother never bothered to check up on me, but honestly why would she?

Monday, day three of my self-imposed solitary, my door swung open to reveal Ava and her scowling face.

"I have been trying to reach you for three days, Harper! You escape the club, don't even tell me about it, and then remain radio silent for three fucking days! Do you know what was running through my mind? That you were dead. Kidnapped. Butchered and sold for parts on the black market."

"I'm sorry I didn't call, Ava."

Her jaw dropped, and I swore I saw smoke pouring from her ears.

"That's all you have to say? You're sorry? I have been in hell these past three days and that's what I get?"

Ava lunged toward the bed and yanked my blankets to the floor. "You're done with this pity party, or whatever this is you have going on here. Get up. Take a shower, for the love of my olfactory system. And get dressed."

"Why?" I sat up in bed, wondering if I could get my blankets back without losing a finger or two.

"Because if it were up to you, you'd pity party yourself into an early grave." She grabbed my hand and pulled me to stand. "Get." Then she smacked my peach to get me moving.

I supposed I could use a washing. There were cracker crumbs in my hair.

So off I went into the bathroom. I showered in record time, feeling quite a bit better. Ava physically tossed clothes at me when she heard I was out of the shower. Which I slid into without even really looking at them.

No sign of Mother as we exited the house, Bixby waiting in the driveway. I opened the passenger's side door and hopped in.

"Where are we going?"

Ava just smiled and backed into the street.

About forty-five minutes later we arrived at our spot, a bench overlooking a small cliff. Everything always seemed so serene here. Large evergreen trees as far as the eye could see.

I exited the car and walked over to lean on one of the trees. Just taking in the quiet peacefulness.

Unfortunately that peace didn't last long.

A sharp stinging sensation ran up the left side of my neck. My head turned to see what it was, and there was Ava. Syringe in hand. A blank expression on her face.

"Ava, what…"

My vision began to blur, my head spinning, and all of a sudden I was on my knees.

"Nothing personal, Harper. It's just a job. For what it's worth, it's been fun." I fell to the ground on my stomach, struggling with all I had to keep my eyes open.

Ava turned away from me and spoke. "Here she is. As promised. Where's my money?"

That was the point I lost the battle with whatever she injected me with, and I fell headfirst into the darkness.