After the last period bell rang, Jason waited patiently for his brother in the van. It had been a long day and he needed to get home and type a report on his computer. He was about to go hunt for Adam when he spotted a blond haired boy walking with a young girl out of the side doors that opened up to the parking lot. It was Adam and Alyssa. He had to chuckle at his love struck brother. It was the first time he had seen Adam carry that many books home since junior high.

"Do you care if we drove Alyssa home? " Adam asked Jason. "I hated to see her ride the bus home on her first day of school here."

"I really need to get home and get started on my report, but I guess we could if we make it quick", Jason replied.

"Thank you Jason. What is you report on?" Alyssa asked as she buckled her seatbelt in the front seat.

"Architectural designs of the Roman period. It is for world history," Jason answered.

"Please tell me about it. I love history," Alyssa said with a smile. " I have read many books about the Romans."

As the conversation continued, Jason could not help but to think that maybe Alyssa was going to be all right after all. He had a slight grin when he noticed his brother's bored face in the rearview mirror. Adam was not a fan of history, but Jason thought that maybe Alyssa might change his mind. That would make their mother very happy.

Jason turned down the last road that led to Maple Hollow Road. It had been awhile since he had been out that way. He forgot about how curvy the gravel road was until that day. It was a beautiful sight though. The road wound around the plateaus and offered an excellent view of the countryside. He could see the old church camp cabins in the distance on the next hill. As he rounded the bend, he caught sight of a small shack beside the road and two men standing with guns in front of two wooden barriers. He didn't remember the church camp having a guardhouse and it gave him an uneasy feeling.

"Just pull up there. My uncle likes his privacy and he feels better when he likes to provide protection for our congregation," Lays said, noticing the look on the brothers' faces. "Not everyone respects the freedom of religion."

The guards walked up to the blue van just as Alyssa leaned her head out the window.

"I met some friends today. They offered to give me a lift home," Alyssa explained to the guards. "This is Adam Kramer and his brother Jason. Adam and Jason, this is Cyrus and Jacob."

Jason and Adam both gave a little wave as the guards nodded their head and moved the barriers from the road. Jason pulled forward up the drive past the cabins and to a large house on the very top of the hill. As they pulled up the horseshoe shaped driveway, a man stepped out of the front door. He had a dark complexion and short black hair. His mustache hid his mouth and he wore a purple robe over his jeans and white collared shirt.

"Hello, uncle!" Alyssa announced as she hopped out of the van. "I met some new friends today. This is Adam and Jason Kramer.

"Welcome boys, you can call me Ashita," as he extended his hand to Adam through the window and nodded at Jason. "Thank you for driving my Alyssa home."

"The pleasure was all ours,"Adam replied, grinning at Alyssa. Her blue eyes twinkled back at him.

"I told you I would meet some nice people. I also met some other students too. I hope that you are still allowing me to have some friends over for our big celebration this weekend," Alyssa asked as she affectionately grabbed her uncle's arm. "You did give me your word."

"Yes I did. I guess a few would not be a problem. Would you boys like to attend our homecoming celebration with us this Saturday? "Ashita asked. "We will have a small band made up of our members and a huge feast."

"That would be great!' Adam said, answering for both brothers. " We will be here for sure."

Adam could almost feel Jason's stare cut through the back of his back, but he didn't care. He could just go on a date with Kara. Adam wanted a chance to get to know Alyssa and this was the perfect way, no matter how weird her uncle and "family" may be.

"Great, I will talk to you about it tomorrow," Alyssa said with a big smile on her face.

"I am sorry, but we really have to be going. It was nice to meet you," Jason interrupted. "I have to type a report tonight.

"See you both tomorrow and be careful on the way back," Alyssa said as she waved to the brothers. She especially seemed to have her eye on Adam.

Even as they pulled away, Alyssa watched the van until it was no longer in sight. Jason really did like Alyssa and was happy that his little brother had finally found someone to hang around with of the female species. However, he was still very uneasy about the environment that she lived in. Even worse, he wondered what his father was going to say when he got home from Sacramento on Thursday night. He knew his mother was very open minded when it came to things like this, but their father was a little more leery. Probably because of all of the people he had to deal with over the years as an investigator.

"Okay Jason, spill it," Adam said, crossing his arms in his usual defense stance.

"Huh?" Jason replied, waking out of his thoughts.

"I can tell you have an opinion. Let's hear it. Let's get the big brother speech out of the way now,"

Adam muttered looking out the passenger window.

"Lays seems like a great girl and she is beautiful. I can understand why you went after her," Jason said, carefully watching the curvy and steep road.

"But----", Adam said, almost sarcastically. He was waiting for the usual second sentence that was not what he wanted to hear. Jason always started with a good sentence before hitting him with the main point.

"It is just everything else. Her uncle, her house or houses, her security," Jason stated. He did not want to get Adam on the defensive mode yet, but that is usually what happened in these types of conversations. He loved his brother dearly, but he could be extremely stubborn sometimes.

"You should not judge people that way," Adam said in a defensive manner.

"I know that Adam, but I know ----"Jason started to say, but was cut off.

" It is always what you know, but for once I wish you would not be so critical! It is well known to me that you are the oldest. It is also well-known to me that you are the honor student with a great American girlfriend by your side," Adam ranted. Jason could hear and feel the tension in his voice. "I know Lays is not the typical girl, but I really like her. For once let me just enjoy the moment without the big brother speech."

"I just don't want to see you get in over your head," Jason replied as he pulled the van onto the country road that led to the Karma's' two story home. " Besides I am not the person that you need to convince anyway."

"What do you mean by that?" Adam asked quizzically, as Jason pulled the van into the driveway.