((Ok guys! here's part 2 of chapter 3! Sorry it took so long! School has me busy and I havent had much time to type anything up. Posting this for the first time really is keeping me on my toes trying to keep up. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. I'd appreciate it if you guys could let me know what you think about it so far.))

"You have got to be kidding me! leave her alone Coner!" Sasha said shifting in her seat, attempting to get a better look at me despite herself.
"No! I swear, she looks just like Ana!" He said looking back at her.
I froze. Did he really just say what I think he said? Well... Now that I was closer and got a better look of what they both looked like, Coner did look a little familiar. As a matter of fact, so did Sasha. I looked closer at them, noteing small little things I hadn't been able to see before, as they continued to bicker back and forth. Why did they seem so familiar to me now? Wait... They were a lot like my old friends from back in high school, what was their names again? I gasped a bit in recognition. Strange as it was, they even had the same names as them!
"Coner? Sasha?" I said looking at both of them a bit harder and realizeing that they even showed the same features, "Coner and Sasha from Long View High School??"
Their eyes got wide as they both looked at me and spoke at the same time, "Ana?"
I couldn't stop myself from smiling, hardly able to believe that these two were in fact my old friends from high school! Coner was always annoying Sasha back then, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that that part about them hadn't changed one bit; but what was really surpriseing is that they were here together! They weren't ones that could be seen with eachother overywhere they went after all. I figured that they would have split ways a long time ago. Well, I guess that wasn't the only thing that hadn't changed much with these two; I should have recognized them right away now that I thought about it. Sasha even had that bit of hair dyed a diffrent color from the rest still. Guess you never could really tell what the future would bring.
Standing from my seat, they both nearly nocked me down as they jumped up from their seats and tackled me in a hug. Guess the only thing that really did change was that they were quick to show that hey missed me!
"Oh my god! I can't believe it's really you!" I exclaimed excitedly.
"What happened to you! You disappeared senior year!" Sasha complained still hugging me tightly and squishing me between the two of them.
I laughed as much as I could a little out of breath, "I graduated early and got a job so I could get some money saved up."
Coner spoke now as he stepped back from the hug; he was never really a huggy person, "Why? You left us!"
"I wanted to get the money to go to Chicago to live with my boyfriend. So I graduated early and jumped into work just as soon as I could."
"Then why are you here? What happened?" Sasha asked curiously.
"Oh... Um... Well, some bad things happened between us and I decided to leave," I laguhed a bit to myself, "Guess that's putting it pretty lightly. Well, anyway now I'm on my way to stay with an old friend."
"Aww, I'm sorry Ana!" Sasha said hugging me tighter than before.
"Yeah... But now it's my turn to ask a few questions," I said loosening Sasha's grip on me just the tiniest bit, "What are you guys doing here so far from home? Together no less."
Sasha finally let me go and looked at Coner who was looking right back at her. Apparently that was a good question. Sasha became a little more serious and Coner, for once, was not being annoying.
"Well, first it started out as just a road tirp," Coner started, "Then we decicded we were having so much fun that we were going to make it into an extended vacation. You know, see the states."
"Yep doin' odd jobs all over the place to pay for anything and everything," Sasha finished.
"That sounds awesome! Though, I figured you would have killed Coner by now Sasha!" I laughed, "I'm surprised you two even stuck together this long. You weren't exactly the ones joined at the hip last time I saw you."
"Well look at you. You're the one who up and left so suddenly. Your mom and brother were worried all to hell when you left. Atleast we stuck together; you cut almost all of your ties when you left home," Sasha scolded me while Coner nodded his head in agreement, sitting down and smiling at the waitress who was now bringing them their food.
"I wanted a fresh start," I replied in my own defense, "Bet you guys wanted the same damn thing. That's why you guys haven't gone home yet."
Sasha turned to her food about to speak then paused and looked at Coner then... "Coner you dirty hoe!" She yelled at him and smacked him as he picked another peice of food off of her plate.
I couldn't help but laugh. These two really hadn't changed a bit. Sasha had been calling him that since freshman year at Long Veiw High School. Things hadn't changed that much since I'd left school. These two proved that.
The waitress walked up as we were still laughing and placed my food on the table, " Hey Ana, why don't you come sit with us?" Coner chimed in as the waitress left.
"You probably only want to steal my food don't you," I laughed as a giant grin spread across his face. I stood up with my food in hand and moved to sit beside Sasha.
Sasha, Coner, and I finished eating and cahtted for a bit. I hadn't seen them in atleast a year, so there was a lot for us to catch up on. Promise was still goofy as always; she hadn't changed almost at all. Of course Coner had decided to bug Sasha throughout the year, as expected. They filled me in on everything, then after a bit we stood, paid for our food, and walked out to our cars.
"So, where to now?" Coner asked.
"I'm heading on out to Florida. What about you guys?" I asked as I turned hopping into my truck.
The both shrugged, "Don't know," Sasha answered for them.
"You guys really are just wandering around all over the place arent you?" I said smileing from my seat.
"Yep!" Coner exclaimed with a big grin.
"Why don't you tag along with me for a little while?" I returned the smile and leaned back against my seat still watching them, "I have no doubt that you guys could help keep me from getting lost and there pretty quick anyway. You know how bad my sense of direction is."
They both laughed and looked at eachother.
"So? What do you think?" Sasha asked eyeing him a bit.
He grinned even wider than before, "Are you kidding me!? I have a years worth of bugging to catch up on!"
"Then maybe you'll leave me alone..." She grumbled lightly.
"Haha not likely!" Coner poked her in the nose. Sasha nearly fell over as she took a swat at him.
Coner and I started laughing and soon she joined in, "Alright then. It's settled. You guys are coming with me!" I said closeing my door and putting my seat belt on, "Just gotta call Tyler real quick and let him know that I should be there a lot sooner than I initially expected; and with firends too!"
"Tyler?!" Sasha asked smiling, "As in Tyler who you've known for god knows how many years and talk about constantly Tyler?"
"It's been about eight and a half years," I said blushing, "And yes, THAT Tyler. I didn't talk about him that much!"
"Oh yes you did!" Sasha teased, "Yay! we finally get to meet the famous Big Bubu!"
I couldn't help but laugh, "How is he famous? I didn't talk about him that much!"
"Oh yes you did. Now shut up, get in your truck, start it, and lets drive!" Coner said walking to their car.
"I'm already in my truck!" I yelled at him chuckleing.
"Okay then all you have to do now is shut up, start your truck and drive!" he smiled laughing.
I stuck my toung out at him and started my truck, and Sasha rolled her eyes walking back to the car and stepping into it. A moment after she started it Coner jumped out of car and ran over to me smackinng right into the truck hood.
"What in the world do you think you're doing you idiot?" I honked the horn at him.
"Trying to stop you," he grinned jumping off the hood and walked to the window, "Forgot to give you something."
"Next time I'm going to run you over."
"Yeah yeah yeah, whatever you say Ana. Here," he handed me a peice of paper.
"What is it?" I glanced over the paper. It was blank.
"Other side Ana," he said walking away and back to the car.
I turned it over glancing over it again, seeing a phone number neatly written, "Oh. Thank yo-" I stopped seeing he had already gotten back to the car and inside.
I flipped open my cell phone and entered he name and number; then clicked call after thinking for a moment.
"Yo, Damino's Pizza, how can I sevice you today?" Sasha answered in a fake professional voice.
"Hahaha very funny. What do you say to one last stop on our way?"
"Yeah sure, not a problem. We'll follow you. Where to?"
"... Troy, New York," I answered a bit hesitant.
"Sure. Let's go."
"Wait, where are we going?" Coner asked grabbing the phone from Sasha. I could hear an irritated huff in the background and then what sounded like Coner sticking his toung out at her. Sasha answered him impatiently before smacking him for taking the phone from her, "Ow! Wait! Why are we going to New York? That's a little out of the way don't you think?"
"Um... I want to stop and see someone... You know, since I'm near by," I answered biting my lip.
"Near by my butt! And who is this person anyway? Do we know them? Do we know them? Huh, huh, huh?"
"Shut up Coner. And no, you don't know him. His name is Dan," I growled a bit at him, he really hadn't lost the art of kung- annoying.
"Fine then. Be that way!" He continued on, but I tuned him out for a moment rolling my eyes.
"Good bye Coner."
"Huh? Wait, wh-" I hung up on him.
I saw Sasha laughing as I drove past the leading the way. As I thought she would, she'd gotten a kick out of me hanging up on him.
I must have been crazy to want to travel all that way to Troy, but as they say, "Curiosity killed the cat." I had looked at the map numerous times while I had been staying with Corey. It was something I'd been thinking about for a while, but didn't actually think that I would do it. The trip was bound to take a few days if we constantly drove, but that was bound to be a bit difficult with only three of us and two vehicles. Plus, with my sense of directions, I was bound to get us lost and off track more than once through the entire trip.
A few hours and a few phone calls later and we were well on our way. The entire day was etremely exhausting, and I had to call my old friend Jenna who happened to live in the same town as Dan. Well it wasn't exactly a coincidence that they lived in the same town. I had actually met her through him! I had been a few years since I'd talked to either of them, so it was just luck that she stuill had the same number; especially with how often the two of them changed their numbers.
Jenna said that she wouldn't tell Dan that I was on my way out and that it was bound to be a very pleasant surprise. I guessed that she didn't know what I did. And that was that the last time we had spoken, we parted on bad terms. We had gotten into a huge fight. So what really made me curious was whether he'd yell at me and leave the second he saw me, or would he gladly give me a hug and as me how I was? I was afraid to find out.
Another few hours and we stopped for the night. We still had another day or two of driving ahead of us, so it was probably best that we got some sleep now while we could; or atleast while I could. I'd also completely forgot to tell Tyler what was going on and that I was bringing some friends along with me for the time being. When I did call him I ended up never getting around to the main reason why I'd called him. That was normally how it went anyway. He always side tracked me and made it so that I was unable to keep my mind on track.
The next few days of driving was slow. There was little sleep to be had and we were alwasy on the road. Not something I was used to either; but we drove on, stopping only when we had to. Into the dusk of the second day we finally made it to Troy, New York. I made a quick call to Jenna, finding out the exact address of where it was that they were.
Even with my horrible sense of directions we still made it to the destination with almost no problems at all. Dan was home and Jenna was waiting outside for us.
The instant that I stepped out of the truck Jenna attacked me and nearly nocked me over, "Ana, is that really you!?"
"Yes, its me Jenna," I laughed hugging her.
"Oh my god you have changed so much from the picture that Dan has on his computer!" she squealed gleefully hugging me tighter than before.
I laughed a bit at her enthusiasm, "He has a picture of me on his computer? That's a bit of a surprise."
"How is that a surprise? He still loves you ya know," she giggled a bit and looked me straight in the face as I froze.
"Does he um... Know I'm coming?" I stammered though the question
"Nope! he's totally clueless! My god is he going to be surprised and happy to see you here!"
"Yeah... Sure," I mummbled to myself biting my lip and glancing back just in time to spot Sasha smacking Coner for another unknown reason, "Jenna, these are my friends Coner and Sasha. I've known them since I was in my freshmen year of high school. Bout' as long as I've known you and Dan acctually. Maybe a little longer."
"Oh hello. I'm Jenna Het. Nice to meet the both of you," She smiled at them and began pulling on my arm, "Now come on Ana! I can't wait to see his face when he sees you! If he even recognizes you that is!" She giggled more at herself. She was as gitty as could be. She'd always been a high energy girl, but this was really somthing for her.
I hesitated for a moment before I let her pull me up the stairs and onto the porch. Motioning for Sasha and Coner to follow, I stopped outside the door. Jenna was smiling like a fool as she walked in the door and called for Dan, aparently not knowing where exactly he was in the house. I froze in place as I heard his voice, so familiar and yet so alien to me, and Jenna gave me a small cue and motioned me to enter the house.
"Hey, guess whos here. I'll bet you'll never guess in a million years who it is!" Jenna exclaimed happily.
"Oh come on now Sis, stop being stupid," he said, his voice not that far away.
"No, I'm serious!" she said motioning for me to come in again.
I hesitated again and stayed where I was. I wasn't so sure Iwanted to go inside for fear that I'd be trapped witha pissed off Dan, which I knew very weill by now and didn't intend to see in person. Jenna went farther into the house and brought a grumbling Dan to the door.
He stopped in the door way and examined me, giving me a small window to examine him as well and see the changes that had occured in the last few years or so. Last I'd known he was clean shaved and had his hair cropped short, almost to a buz cut. Now he had shaggy hair and what looked like the begging of a gotee. He'd always been in fairly good shape for the simple fact that his dad had always pressured him to keep it that way so that he'd be able to join the military with no problems what so ever; and, of course, with the drinking habits that he'd happen to have fallen into, he now had a beer belly. It was a Dan I wasn't quite sure I really knew. He was in a kind of second skin. Though, that seemed to be something that was to be expected after not seeing someone for several years; even if you'd only seen pictures.
Dan was quite as he looked at me. Not a single sign of realization as to who I was crossed his face. He just stood there looking me up and down, completely clueless.
"Sis... who's she?" Dan finally asked after a few more awkward moments of silence.
Jenna grinned and I stayed still where I had been on the porch for the last ten minutes, "Ha! I told you he probably wouldn't recgnize you! Dan, It's Analiss! It's our little Ana from North View, California!"
He froze and looked long and hard at me. Slowly he stepped closer as I stayed unmoving, frozen myself. So this was it. I had been waiting for his reasction and here it was; I just wasn't sure how to interprate it. He looked confused. Not sad; not happy; just confused.
"Ana?" he asked still looking hard at me.
"Y-yeah. It's me Dan..." I stammered carefully being sure to keep my gaze away from his.
His face turned hard in a split second and he stepped forward grabbing me up in a hug, then roughly pushed me back out the door. I ran into coner and sasha and nearly fell over. He definetly had caught me off guard.
"Don't come back you whore," he said coldly and closed the door after looking longingly at me for a moment. I had just enough time to spot Jenna's face drop as he closed the door.
"Well... That was fun," Coner said dryly.
Sasha smacked Coner again and looked at me curiously, "You have some explaining to do."
I grimaced, "Not tonight please? Let's just concentrate on finding somewhere to stay. It was a mistake coming here."
"Okay, let's go then," Sasha said putting her arm on my shoulder and walking with me to my truck.
"Ana!" Jenna called from the doorway.