Almost a month had passed without incident, except for the fact that Max could not get Dana out of his head. Despite only having known her for a few hours there was so much intriguing about her. He longed for a friendship with the woman, one that wouldn't be possible due to current circumstances. Of course his parents both noticed his being lost in thought when he should have been studying. Naturally when questioned he constructed a false story to tell them rather than the truth. He didn't want any suspicion drawn on him as was often the case of easterners who ventured into the west. There were so many fears of defection.

Despite Max's birthday coming and going he was still disappointed that he had not yet heard from Dana. Perhaps she hadn't found the note he had left him? That possibility crossed his mind, but there was also a much grimmer possibility; what if she just didn't care to talk to him? He knew that he would have to try to move on. Besides, exams were within a few months and Max hoped to go to school to be an engineer. He felt fortunate at least as schooling in the west seemed so much more difficult to get into.

((Yea, decided to do a bit of a time skip there.))