The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (110 page)

             
“I wish you didn’t have to go.”

             
“I know, but I do. I want you to know I love you and I’ll be watching over you as long as I can. I also want to tell you how proud I am of you.” I squeezed him harder, holding on for as long as I could.

             
“You were there that night. That night on the balcony when my parents told me what I was. I felt you. I knew it was you,” I told him, remembering the way I felt.

             
“Yes. I was there. I couldn’t be there for you in person, but I was there with you in spirit.”

             
“Which is more than I could ask for,” I said.

             
“Before I go, can you do me a favor?”

             
I looked up at him. “Anything,” I said. I owed him more than I could give him.

             
“Please be more careful and stop running head first into dangerous situations.”

             
“I can’t promise, but I’ll try.”

             
“Oh how I missed your stubbornness,” he said, kissing me on the lips and holding me in his arms one last time before he disappeared. I sighed at the emptiness I felt when he faded away. My arms still hung in the hollow space where he just was. This wasn’t fair. I needed more time. I was getting tired of people leaving me.

I had a hard time pulling myself back together after Kyle left. I decided to lie back down until Josie came back to get me. I thought it be wise to get as much rest as I could. I was physically feeling better but I knew I wasn’t at full strength yet and we had a long night ahead of us.

              “Ella?” Josie whispered, shaking me gently. “Here, I brought you some clothes to change into.”

             
I sat up and saw we had some company. “What’s Billy doing here?”

             
“I figured we could use some extra muscle and plus who else better to help us find Tristan than his best friend?”

             
She did have a point. “Alright, give me five minutes.”

             
“Make it quick. We don’t have a lot of time.”

             
I headed into the bathroom to change. I took a look at myself in the mirror and wished I didn’t. I looked like I hadn’t slept in days. I had dark circles under my eyes and my hair was a mess. I also noticed the new blue streak Sienna was talking about. This one was on the top right side. There was no way to hide them now. At this rate if I kept getting them all my hair might turn blue and that would not be cool.

             
I washed my face and managed to brush my nappy hair back into a ponytail. I came out of the bathroom where Josie and Billy were waiting. “Okay, I’m ready,” I said.

             
Billy stepped out into the hallway first to make sure it was clear. Then we quietly made our way outside. Billy told me he found a way out in the back where the guardians had already canvased the area so there wouldn’t be as many there. If we stuck to the shadows we would be okay.

             
When we got to the wall, I wondered how the hell we were going to get out. I didn’t see any entrances or exits. “Umm… how are we going to get out?” I asked, staring at the eight foot gray stone in front of us.

             
“We’re going to climb,” Billy said. I looked at him like he was joking, but he clearly wasn’t. Billy placed his one foot against the side of the building and the other against the wall. He climbed it with ease like he was Spiderman. When he got to the top he took the backpack off of his back and pulled out a rope. “I’m going to drop this down for you and Josie to use.”

             
I made Josie go first. She looked at the rope, then back at me, and smiled. I blinked and she was on the top of the wall. “That’s not fair. I don’t have special angel powers,” I said.

             
“Oh Ella, just grab the rope,” she said.

             
I mumbled to myself as I pulled myself up the wall. When I reached the top, Billy packed up the rope and hopped down with no problem. Once again I blinked and Josie was at the bottom. “Okay, how the hell am I supposed to get down?” I complained, feeling like the weak link.

             
“Jump,” Billy said.

             
“What!”

             
“I’ll catch you.”

             
“You better or I’m going to be really pissed off,” I said, praying he didn’t miss. I closed my eyes and went for it. Thankfully he caught me.

             
“Okay, this way,” Billy said once my feet were planted safely on the ground.

             
We walked about a mile through the woods and then headed to the road where there was an SUV parked on the side. “How did you guys manage to get a car?” I asked.

             
              “From me,” Cameron said, jumping out of the driver side. I looked at Josie pissed that should would involve anyone else.

             
“Hey, don’t look at me. It wasn’t my idea,” Josie said.

             
“Don’t get mad at them it was my idea,” Cameron intervened. “I went to your room to ask Josie how you really were and I overheard what they were talking about and thought I could offer my services.”

             
“Cameron, I really appreciate it, but I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

             
“Please, this is nothing. Besides, you need me. How else are you going to go on this little adventure without my funds?”

             
“Umm, Cameron, no offense but between Josie and I we have more than enough funds.”

             
“Actually, you don’t. Let’s not forget that Josie is supposed to be dead and if you use your accounts it will be easy for people to find you and I take it you’re not looking to be found.”

             
“Huh, I hadn’t thought of that.”

             
“That’s where I come in,” Cameron smiled.

             
“Cameron, I can’t ask you to do that.”

             
“You’re not. I’m volunteering.”

             
“What about school and Austin?”

             
“School can wait and as far as Austin, I’ll deal with him later. You’re a friend who needs my help and that’s more important.”

             
“Thank you,” I said, giving her a hug.

             
“I hate to break up this little girl bonding moment, but we need to go before someone realizes we’re missing,” Billy said.

             
“So where we off to?” Cameron asked.

             
They all turned to look at me.

             
“Ireland,” I said.

To be continued…

Reborn

Playlist

Chapter one

Pictures of you
(Opening sequence) * Alicia Keys – Like you’ll never see me again

Sweet dreams are made of this
(Ella awakes) * Noah Gunderson – Family

By my side
(Josie’s grave) * Ryan Dan – Tears of an Angel

Chapter two

Reflections
(Journal entry) * Zola Jesus – Skin

I never told you
(Xander’s talk with Ella) * Daughter - Medicine

Chapter three

All I need is you
(Ella dreams of Tristan) * Youth Group – forever Young

Wishing on a star
(Dean’s gift to Ella) * Glee Cast – Silent Night

Chapter four

Bright lights
(Walk in snow) * Cary brothers – O Holy Night

First Love
(Danni’s confession) * The Gaslight Anthem – National Anthem

Secrets
(Ella’s talk with her mom) * Kopecky Family
Band – Change

Chapter five

Best thing I never had
(Farewell to Tristan) * A fine Frenzy – Almost lover

Everything I can’t have
(Ella’s hissy fit) * Of Monsters and Men – Dirty Paws

Chapter six

Last Friday Night
(Playing pool/Dancing) * Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – Thrift shop

That’s not my name
(Bar fight) * Fidlar –White on White

Chapter seven

What Doesn’t Kill You
(Punishment) * Delta Spirit – Parade

Road to Nowhere
(Arrival of School) * The Neighbourhood – Female Robbery

Wish I could
(Tour of School) * Pink – Sober

Chapter eight

What doesn’t kill you
(Ella by the fountain) * Oberhofer – Away From You

Chapter nine

Welcome to the Jungle
(Party) * Jay Z Ft. Justin Timberlake – Holy Grail

What you know
(Catching up with Dixon) * Radical Face – Glory

Chapter ten

Running up that hill
(Walk to Dining hall) * Grouplove – Don’t say Oh Well

Happiness is overrated
(daydreaming on the field) * Radical Face – Welcome Home

Chapter Eleven

Feel Again
(Talk with Aidan) * Blue Fountain – Eyes on fire

Blurred Lines
(Lost in the maze) * Birdy – The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

Chapter twelve

Chapter thirteen

Wake Up
(Dream in maze) * Garbage – Control

Resistance
(Working on project with Roman) * Morning parade – Speechless (acoustic)

Then he kissed me
(Aidan’s Office) * Sky Ferreira – Obsession

Chapter fourteen

Where are you now
(Reflection in mirror) * Cary Brothers – If you were here

Walk the Line
(Ride to Mall) * Fort Lean – The Mall

You give me something
(Aidan’s Office) * Charlie XCX – Stay away

Chapter fifteen

Bad Romance
(Dean gives Ella pep talk) * Daughter – Smother

Remain nameless
(Library) * Laura Veirs – Little Deschutes

Chapter sixteen

Feeling good
(Aidan’s room) * Des’ree – Kissing You

I put a spell on you
(Fight with Aidan in quad) * Mona – Shoot the Moon

Chapter seventeen

Missed the boat
(Time Alone) * Cat Power – Keep on running

Roll away your stone
(Roman apologizes to Ella) * Mindy Smith and Mathew Perryman Jones – Anymore of this

Chapter eighteen

Wake me up
(Trying to un-glow) * Damien Rice – The Blowers Daughter

Kiss with a fist
(Ella and Roman’s kiss) * Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball

Patient love
(Journal entry) * Noah Gunderson – He got away

Chapter nineteen

I’m gonna be
(Journal Entry) * Young Summer – Why try

Set it off
(Roman talks with Ella) * Yeah Yeah Yeah’s – Tick

Rain over me
(Roman explains) * Olivia Broadfield – Happening

Time after time
(Kissing outside) * Israel Cannon – Letting Go

This nowhere
(Basement) * Wild Belle – Keep You

True colors
(Party) * Icona Pop – I love it

It doesn’t mean a thing
(Fight) * Aidan Hawken and Carina Rownd – Walking Blind

Chapter twenty

Who will save your soul
(Dream in class) * Lana Del Ray – Young and Beautiful

Don’t let go yet
(Confesses to Roman) * Dave Baxter –Whispers

Roar
(Training) * Kardinal ft. Dr Dre & the Clipse – Set it off

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter twenty-two

Blow me one last kiss
(Afternoon with mom) * Passenger – Patient Love

Chapter twenty-three

Skinny Love
(In the morning with Roman) * Ed Sheeran – Kiss me

When the night comes
(First time) * Ray Lamontagne – Let it be me

Chapter twenty-four

Wake me up before you go-go
(The morning after) * Amy Stroup – Wait for the Morning

Stronger
(Fight with Roman) * The Lumineers – Stubborn Love

Timeless
(Enter Josie/Billy) * Robyn – Be mine (Acoustic)

Chapter Twenty-five

I want you to
(Catching up with Josie) * Marina and the Diamonds – Fear and Loathing

Don’t let the sun go down on me
(Ella falls apart) * The National – Terrible Love

Chapter twenty-six

Such great heights
(Heaven) * The Quiet Kind – Arms and Enemies

It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to
(Getting ready for the dance) *
The Airborne Toxic Event
– The kids are ready to die

Young at heart
(At the dance) * The Airborne Toxic Event – Timeless

It’s all coming back to me now
(Ell and Roman’s dance) * David Roch – Don’t let go yet

From the start
(The Attack) * Imagine Dragons – Radioactive

Chapter twenty-seven

Hold on to what you believe
(Jack draining Ella) * Ellie Goulding – Dead in the Water

Chapter twenty-eight

Endless love
(Kyle says goodbye) *Luke Sital-Singh – Bottled up tight

She holds a key
(Leaving) * Talking heads – Road to Nowhere