Zoe Roberta Thomas was leaning against the window in her room. Her best friend , Rosetta Marie Abott , or better known as Rose to her friends had been trying to persuade her put of her plan to get to the mountain.

"They just don't get me. I have to get out of here. " she thought to herself.

Zoe sighed and knew that Rose was just doing that to protect her and keep her safe. But Rose just didnt understand it. Zoe couldnt stand living in this miserable , dying and lonely house with her always drunk and short - tempered father. Sure , Rose and her friends had always offered her to stay in their house where their family was whole and happy , but Zoe had put up with her father for 7 years because this house was full of memories of her mother , who had passed away when she was 11. Her mother was the one that had introduced her to dancing and gymnadtics. And whenever she was dancing , it was as if her mom was right next to her , talking and laughing with her. She could escape from all her problems and just be with herself and her mother. But she couldnt stand it anymore. Zoe knew that if she stayed in this house any longer , she would go mad. She had to leave , one way or another.

James Alexander Ryder was also deep in thought at that very same moment. Like Zoe , his family too , were having problems. His parents were getting a divorce and his brother had left them because he couldnt stand them arguing either. Soon , he wouldnt be able too.

Rose and Ethan were sitting Rose's room , brainstorming on how to persuade the others from leaving for about 30 minutes now. At last , Ethan shrugged his shoulders and said

"Look Rose , you've been friends with Zoe probably your whole life. And we both know that once James and Zoe has made up their minds , there is absolutely nothing you can do to change their minds. If you really are Zoe's friend , instead of trying to change her mind , you'd be helping her pack her bags. Now if you excuse me , I'm going to help James now. Good luck trying to persuade her from leaving."

Ethan got up and walked himself out. Rose sat there , looking stunned and sinking in what Ethan had just said. She rubbed her collarbones and sighed. She knew Ethan was right and that she should be helping and encouraging Zoe on her decision to leave. Zoe had complained to her many times about her family , and Rose , had always been the one to stay by her side , and wipe her tears. If not her , then who?

Ethan was walking towards James's house and wondering if he was making the right decision on backing James up on his decision to leave home. It all felt to sudden and unplanned. What if something happened to James and Zoe on their way to the mountain? What if they were attacked? How could he live , without his best friend , his brother? Ethan kicked a stone an tried to push these thoughts out of the way.

Stop being so negative.
, He thought to himself.

But , what if?

All of them had made a pact when they were younger , to grow old together and stay friends.

Little Zoe had giggled and said :
"We nid to sticks together untils we die. We will drip blooooddd into zis bowl to keeps our promize."

Little Ethan's eyes widened but had agreed anyways. "Friendzz for lyfe !"

Ethan stopped daydreaming and snapped back to reality. He knew , but somehow he had always knew that , wherever James went , he would too.

Rose paced around her room. Should she , or should she not go with Zoe to the mountains? Had she not swore to be with her and help her with all her challenges in life? She throbbed her toe on her bedpost.

"Ow ow owwww!" she squealed in pain.

She flopped onto her bed while massaging her toe. If she couldnt stand just a throbbed toe , how could she stand going to the mountains spontaneously? She sighed and cried to herself while playing the piano.

Meanwhile , Zoe was creeping down the stairs of her house to the kitchen to get some food and water supplies she needed on her quest to the mountain. She was just reaching the fridge when she heard a shuffle and a grunt behind her. It was her father.

"Whaddya think you're doin' kid?"
"Just getting some dinner dad."
"Oh really? Just sum dinnar?" growled her father. Zoe shrunk back.

"I've just bin to youre room an' there's a big duffle bag and klothes everywhere"

Zoe racked her brains for an answer that wouldnt rise any suspiscions.

"Im going over to my friend's house for a sleepover" she said firmly.

"I thought we iz going to have a family fun time with mama?" her father asked sadly.

Zoe saw the sadness in her father's eyes and knew that he still could not accept the fact that her mother had been gone for 7 years now. He still thought that she would be walking through the door any minute. All the more reason she had to leave. She softly kissed her father on the cheeks and said

"Mama's gone , she won't come back"

Her father flared up easily.

"GORN? WHADDYA MEAN GORN? DONT TELL LIES. SHE'S HERE! STAY HERE UNTIL SHE COMES BACK"

Zoe swiftly ducked out of her father's reach and sprinted up the stairs to her room. She stuffed her remaining clothes and tins of food into her duffel bag and jumped out the window into the night and ran all the way to Rose's house. Rose probably wouldnt be happy with her there , but it had always been her haven , her safe house. Besides , Rose was her friend. Wasnt she?

Zoe could not think. She ran and cried all the way to Rose's house. For the past few days , she had been planning her escape from this , trapped , terrible life. And now , she was

free.