The punishment for a seventh-grade dropout runaway is probably pretty harsh, but Ash Barker doesn't care. She can’t waste time or emotions on anyone but her brother, Matt. They were placed in separate foster homes, so Ash runs away to find him. If she fails, she’s headed back to juvenile detention. Everything is going right on schedule until two kids, Dayna and Kevin, barge into her hideout -- which just happens to be in their house. She ditches the pair fast, but can’t stop thinking about those bruised, skinny kids. Dayna and Kevin live with abusive parents who force them to stay in their room most of the time. If they go to the authorities for help, they’ll be split up, too. Ash knows how that feels, and she goes back to help, taking the two with her. With any luck, they’ll all help each other along the way. Meanwhile, as Matt waits for Ash, he can’t resist telling his foster brother and best friend, Jon-Allen, about the plans. They stash food, earn money, and keep watch for the night Ash appears at their bedroom window. Ash is so happy to be reunited with Matt and to discover she’s falling in love with Dayna that, at first, she doesn’t worry about what they’ll do next. But life on the road begins to take its toll -- they have to resort to shoplifting and scavenging to survive. Ash feels a growing sense of guilt at the disaster she’s made of everyone’s lives. Can she somehow keep her newfound “family” together despite hunger and sickness? Or will she be able to find the strength to reach out for help?

No Turning Back

“Dayna, help me.” He sat up and peeled off his shirt. “I think if I move too much my skin will tear apart like a piece of paper.”


Dayna rubbed sunburn ointment on Kevin’s back, neck, and shoulders. He sighed and smiled. The gel was so cold. It smelled good, too, like some kind of mint flavor maybe. Dayna put some on Kevin’s hands so he could rub it on his arms and stomach. He coughed and Ash awoke.


“We can’t leave today,” Ash said as soon as she looked over at Kevin.


“Your skin is fried and you’re still sick. We’ll stay one more day. If we leave today your sunburn is just going to hurt more; trust me. And you need rest so your cold goes away.”


“Can I go swimming again?” Kevin asked. The water would feel so good.


“The reason you’re sunburned is because you spent all day yesterday swimming,” Dayna said. “Ash is right; we’ll stay in here and rest.”


Chapter 38