Into the Light

67 Anna's POV

Colby laughed along with us, but I could see the suspicion in his eyes. He knew that I had been talking about us. Or, at least, he suspected, but if he could talk to Sam about these things, then I could talk to Katrina. "We all ready to go?" Sam asked, picking up his bag. "Finally!" Jake exclaimed, standing up with Tara still wrapped around him. She giggled as he let her slide to her feet. "Road Trip!!" he exclaimed. I grabbed my bags that had my new clothes in them and followed everyone out of the room, with Colby by my side. "Let me just sweet through the rooms one more time to be sure that we aren't leaving anything," Sam said. He ducked back into the room, leaving us waiting in the hallway. "This is going to be a long drive," Tara said, tapping away at her phone. "Yeah, but it'll be fun!" Jake exclaimed, picking her up from behind. She squealed and let out a peal of laughter. "Put me down, you big dork!" Sam walked out then, and closed the door behind him. Jake set Tara down on her feet, and took her hand in his. "We're all set," Sam replied. "Great, let's get a move on. I feel like this is taking forever," Brennen replied. It felt that way to me too. I wasn't sure why but I was excited to go back home. Home...was Colby's home mine too? I guess it was for the time being but what was going to happen about that? I had to find a job. One that wasn't too over the top with this updated crazy technology, that I had no idea how to work. What skill set did I even have? I didn't even get the chance to finish college. I had no way of getting a copy of my high school diploma or anything. Coming back to life was much harder than I could have imagined. Colby draped his bag across his uninjured side, and took my hand in his. It felt perfect there. The perfect fit. I smiled to myself at my childish thoughts. We were just holding hands, so why did it feel like so much more? Once we made it outside, Colby walked me to the car and opened the door for me. I slid inside and smiled up at him. He closed the door, then walked over to talk to Brennen. I heard the back doors open and assumed that Corey and someone else was getting in, since Brennen was still outside talking to Colby. I saw him put something in Brennen's hand but I couldn't see what it was. Then they walked around to the driver's side. When Brennen slid behind the wheel, I just stared at him confusion. "Be safe," Colby said, before smiling at me, then shutting the door. "Wait, where's he going?" I asked, following him with my eyes. "He and Sam have to do something, so we're gonna go ahead. They'll meet us at the store across from the rental place," Brennen answered, and started the car. "Why didn't he tell me?" I wondered, staring at the Audi as we pulled out and drove past it. Colby waved his fingers at me, and smiled. "I don't know. They shouldn't be long though. "Don't sweat it, Anna. They're always doing something extra," Tara replied, from the backseat. I glanced behind me and was surprised to see Jake, Tara, and Corey piled back there. So, that meant that Sam, Colby, and Kat had left to go do whatever it was they were doing. Strange. Something was definitely up. "What are they up too, Brennen?" I asked again. "You know something." He laughed and held his hands up, still propped on the steering wheel. "No clue, sweetheart. I was just handed a set of keys and told to drive. So, that's what I'm doing." I wasn't sure if I believed him or not. "Are you sure you don't know?" I asked. "On second thought, never mind. You probably wouldn't tell me, if you did." He just laughed again, turned the music up, and kept driving. I stared out the window and watched the world go by, still pondering what Colby was up too. If it was something to do with his and Sam's work, then he would just tell me. Obviously, it had to concern me. Right? I hated being out of the loop. Maybe it had something to do with me being completely invisible for the past 3 decades. Either way, I didn't like it. It didn't take us too long to make it to the store across the street from the rental place. "You want a drink or anything?" he asked. "I'm sure we'll probably hit a drive through for lunch in a little while, but if you want something to hold you over, I can get it." "Hey, I want Doritos!" Corey exclaimed, waving his hand at Brennen. "I got you," Brennen replied. "Jake?" Jake answered with something, but I didn't hear what it was. I had checked out of the conversation, and was watching the people going inside the store. I had always loved to people watch. I would make up scenarios with Holley, about who they were and what they were doing. It was just a fun little game. "Anna?" Brennen called my name. "Yeah," I asked, turning my head towards him. "Did you want anything? Do you want to come in and pick something out?" I shook my head. "No, thank you. Just a water will be fine." "You sure?" he asked. I nodded. I was too nervous to eat, thinking about what Colby might be planning or doing. "Okay, I'll be right back." He closed his door and sauntered into the store. I went back to thinking about the little game with Holley. What would we have thought of Brennen going into the store? What scenario would we have picked out for him? Thinking of Holley and I from back then, made me sad. She was so much older than me now. Things would never be the way that they were. She had a husband now, and kids. I vaguely wondered if she had married Kris. I couldn't believe that I hadn't asked. For the first time, I started wishing for one of those tiny computer phones. I would have loved to call and ask her right then. Or send her one of those short letters through the phone. A text. Yeah, that's what they were called. Brennen opened his door, and startled me from my thoughts. He got in and passed Corey and Jake their food and drinks, then handed me my water.