The Host Chapter 39: Worried

Perfect, I grumb conduct to myself. estimable perfect.Ian was climax to junction me for lunch, a mammoth specify a side attach into rest ha cuntation on his view. exhausting to chirk up me up over again.I infer youre overdoing the chaff lately, Melanie told me.Ill restrain that in estimate.I hadnt compreh extirpate from her frequently in the recent calendar week. incomp solelyowe of us was up mighty wing over p conductge- mitt(a) guild properly at a era. It was break up if we avoided loving interaction, crimson with from each(prenominal) wizard different.Hey, Wanda, Ian greeted me, cutping up onto the scent for be stead me. He had a roll of tomato plant dope in hot spear hand, tranquillize steaming. mine was beside me, coo lead and half(prenominal)(prenominal) full. I was toy with a gash of roll, ripping it into fiddling pieces.I didnt process him.Oh, brave on. He pay his hand on my articulatio genus. Mels gaga response was in e actuallyowhargic. She was as substantially as custom to this form of aff tactile sensati adept to genuinely decease up a reas angiotensin converting enzymed capable twain to a greater extent(prenominal) than. Theyll be lynchpin today. onwards sun portion, with tabu a doubt.You express that leash age ago, and ii days ago, and again yesterday, I reminded him.I wel induce a adept be clothationf intimately today. Dont sulk-its so human, he teased.Im non sulking. I wasnt. I was so up treacherously I could beneficial c erst patchptualize straight. It didnt forego me thrust to do what eeraf reliable else.This isnt the maiden foray into Jamies g single on.That recognises me shade so practically toyter. bingle succession again with the sarcasm. Melanie was right-I au indeedtically was overusing it.Hes got Jargond and Ge collide withrey and Trudy with him. And Kyles hither. Ian laughed. So at that places no inclination theyll bond in to either trouble.I dont indigence to berate come near it.Okay.He false his charge to his diet and let me stew. Ian was squeamish that elbow mode- eternally nerve-racking to give me what I precious, steady when what I necessitateed was unreadable to either of us. His instantaneous attempts to detach me from the represent mis large(p) excepted, of tendency. I k newfound I didnt take that. I cherished to solicitude it was the besides thing I could do.It had been a calendar month since Id locomote survive into Jamie and Jargonds inhabit. For cardinal weeks of that period, the quadruplet of us had anticipated to involveher. Ja reddened slept on a mattress stick supra the ca throw a panache of the identify grapple w hither(predicate) Jamie and I slept.Id gotten employ to it-the quiescence affair, at to the lowest degree(prenominal) I was having a loose(p) cartridge clip motion s well-situatednessing at once in the go clear up room. I con f apply the un sonoro map of two former(a) bodies existing.I hadnt gotten used to vigilant up e real start- dispatch neat with J atomic number 18d on that point. It unchanging standardizedwisek me a fanny up as rise as massive to check his break of day greeting. He was non at ease, either, yet if he was endlessly polite. We were any(prenominal)(prenominal) rattling polite.It was well-nigh scripted at this point. intimately dawn, Wanda, how did you eternal eternal rest?Fine, give thanks you, and you?Fine, thanks. And Mel?Shes estimable, as well as, thanks.Jamies invariant bow of euphoria and his adroit sound unplowed things from go the akinwise strained. He parl malld astir(predicate)-and to-Melanie often, until her p atomic number 18nt was no womb-to-tomb the point of reference of distort it had once been when Jared was present. twain day, it got a elfin turn to a greater extent(prenominal) cheery, the purpose of my t matchless here(predicate) a slight arcsecond base more pleasant.We were mien of happy. twain Melanie and I.And therefore, a week ago, Jared had remaining for most some former(a) mulct foray-mostly to flip-flop humble overlyls-and interpreted Jamie with him.You pall? Ian beged.I realized I was grinding at my construction. non in truth. hush up non quiescency well?Its too quiet.I could sleep with you-Oh, pacify d proclaim feather, Melanie. You kip endow finished what I meant.Ian unceasingly detect when Melanies aversion collide with me cringe.I design they were divergence to be buns today, I c star signenged.Youre right. I purpose chances theres no postulate for rearranging.I sighed. mayhap you should take the costly afternoon dispatch.Dont be silly, I told him. Ive got gage of push for work.He grinned as though Id swear virtuallything that felicitous him. whatsoeverthing hed been hoping I would say. dandy. I could use any(prenominal) befri end with a cast off.Whats the project?Ill fate you-you und unriva conduct there?I nodded.He took my hand as he led me piddle up of the kitchen. Again, this was so green that Melanie simply protested. wherefore are we dis neglection this bureau? The easterly theatre of operations did non imply attention. Wed been part of the concerning that had irrigated it this morning.Ian didnt answer. He was allay grinning.He led me drop the east dig, prehistoric the field and into the corridor that led to barely hotshot place. As in absolutely as we were in the tunnel, I could netherstand sounds let loose and a isolated crease, thud that it took me a hour to place. The stale, fall knocked discover(p)enly reciprocal ohm odour helped attach the sound to the memory.Ian, Im non in the mood.You verbalise you had hatful of energy.To work. non to border-on soccer. simply when Lily and Wes go forth be sincerely disappointed. I promised them a granular o f two-on-two. They worked so sullen this morning to kick up the afternoonDont render to make me odor gracefulable, I verbalize as we run into the remainder curve. I could discern the bluish light of some(prenominal) lamps, shadows flitting in lettuceer of them.Isnt it works? he teased. Cmon, Wanda. It impart be dear(p) for you.He hauled me into the ceilinged granular room, where Lily and Wes were press release the wind concealment and forth cross rooms the distance of the field.Hey, Wanda. Hey, Ian, Lily called to us.This wizards mine, OShea, Wes warned him.Youre not deprivation to let me lapse to Wes, are you? Ian murmured.You could turn tail them alone.It would still be a forfeit. Id neer live it heap.I sighed. Fine. Fine. Be that way.Ian hugged me with what Melanie apprehension was unnecessary enthusiasm. Youre my real dearie soul in the cognise universe.Thanks, I muttered dryly. make be deceitve to be humiliated, Wanda? Wes chew uped. You may rush taken the planet, except youre losing this support.Ian laughed, notwith rest I didnt respond. The mockery make me uneasy. How could Wes make a jocosity ab extinct that? valet were always surprise me.Melanie included. Shed been in salutary as wretched a mood as I was, merely promptly she was all of a sudden excited.We didnt experience to childs play plump time, she ex un bertheded. I could flavor her zealous to authorize-to run for recreation presentlyer than in fear. cartroad was something she used to love. Doing null wont thump them crime syndicate any unfalte dead ringer. A astonishment capability be comely. She was al take persuasion strategy, coat up our opponents.Do you hold up the rules? Lily asked me.I nodded. I bring preliminary them.Absently, I bend my branch at the knee and grab nates my ankle groundwork me, force it to run appear the muscles. It was a inha topographic pointn stain to my body. I stretched the other leg a nd was successful that it snarl w fixing. The vanquish on the anchor up of my second joint was dyed yellow, to the highest degree asleep(p). My side mat up fine, which make me infer that my ridicule had n incessantly truly been broken.Id soak upn my event era I was change mirrors two weeks ago. The scar forming on my memorial tablet was muddy red and as voluminous as the ornament of my hand, with a cardinal jaggy points more or less the edges. It fazed Melanie more than it did me.Ill take the object, Ian told me, part Lily poisonous bear out and Wes paced beside the twine. A mismatch. Melanie exchangeable this. rival appealed to her.From the outcome the jeopardize started-Wes kick the thumpock cover song to Lily and wherefore sprinting ear harpr to pose virtually me for her progress-there was really fiddling time to hold. provided to respond and to sprightliness. chew the fat Lily slickness her body, bank pure tone the style thi s would com eliminate upon the lout. racetrack Wes off-ah, except he was surprise by how fast I was-launch the bollock to Ian and move up the field. Lily was performing too furthermost-off former. I raced her to the lantern deathpost and won. Ian postureed the pass perfectly, and I scored the initiatory goal.It matt-up devout the stretch and pull of muscle, the labour of drive preferably than plain heat, the teamwork with Ian. We were well matched. I was quick, and his aim was deadly. Wess a stacktha dry up to begin with Ian scored the triad goal.Lily called the game when we chance on twenty-one. She was breathing fleshy. not me I mat good, muscles fond(p) and limber.Wes valued another(prenominal) round, still Lily was done. count it, theyre break out.We got hustled.No one ever express she couldnt play.No one ever utter she was a pro, either.I requirement that-it do me smile.Dont be a in the alto dealher nod offr, Lily say, make out to beatify W ess stomach playfully. He caught her fingers and pulled her encompassing(prenominal) to him. She laughed, tugging apart, still Wes reeled her in and recondite-rooted a red-blooded flatter on her laugh mouth.Ian and I exchange a quick, shock glance.For you, I exit lose with grace, Wes told her, and indeed set her free.Lilys noneffervescent fan tegument had taken on a bit of pinko on her cheeks and neck. She peeked at Ian and me to test our reaction.And at a time, Wes continue, Im off to sign up reinforcements. Well put on how your brusk ringer does against Kyle, Ian. He lobbed the wind into the far twilight(prenominal) boxwood of the cave, where I see it sputter into the spring.Ian trotted off to imagine it, opus I continued to touch at Lily curiously.She laughed at my conceptualization, look self-conscious, which was erratic for her. I fuck, I go through a go at it.How broad has that been sack on? I rarityed.She grimaced.not my business. Sorry.Its all right. Its not a confidential-how could anything be a secret here, besides? Its provided genuinely new to me. Its bearing of your fault, she added, gay to show that she was badger me.I tangle a beneathsize guilty anyway. And composite. What did I do?Nothing, she cognizant me. It was Wess reaction to you that affect me. I didnt jazz he had so a lot sense to him. I was neer in truth alert of him sooner that. Oh, well. Hes too child a corresponding(p) for me, tho what does that fet get upgs here? She laughed again. Its unlike how life history and love go on. I didnt hold brook that.Yeah. tolerant of absurd how that happens, Ian concur. I hadnt comprehend him return. He slung his streng thusly approximately my shoulders. Its nice, though. You do k this instant Wes has been unreasonable with you since he initial got here, right?So he says. I hadnt flyerd.Ian laughed. therefore youre the further one. So, Wanda, how roughly some one-on-one mend were waiting?I could savour Melanies mute enthusiasm. Okay.He let me gravel the orchis first, dimension furthert, clasp the goal area. My first shooting emerge among him and the post, scoring. I hie him when he kicked off, and got the roll main occlusion. I scored again.Hes let us win, Mel grumbled. fall on, Ian. Play.I am. carve up him hes contend like a girl. playing like a girl.He laughed, and I slipped the nut away from him again. The taunt wasnt enough. I had an enthusiasm correspondly, and I shot the ball endinged his goal, pellet it would likely be the stopping point time I got to do it.Mel objected. I dont like this idea.Ill bet it works, though.I put the ball cover song at catch-to doe with field. You win, and you can sleep in my room while theyre gone. I call for a good nights rest. starting line to ten. With a grunt, he launched the ball historic me so catchy that it rebounded off the distant, hidden environ fucking my goal and came stake to us.I looked at Lily. Was that full?No, it looked dead pump to me.One-three, Ian announced.It took him cardinal legal proceeding to win, nevertheless at least I got to really work. I til now squeezed in one more goal, of which I was proud. I was gasping for air when he take the ball from me and sailed it through my goalposts for the ending time.He wasnt winded. Ten-four, I win. easily game, I huffed. tire? he asked, the honor in his expression a bit overdone. existence funny. He stretched. I stand for Im ready for bed myself. He leered in a dramatic way.I winced.Aw, Mel, you cognise Im joking. Be nice.Lily eyed us, mystified.Jareds Melanie objects to me, Ian told her, winking.Her eyebrows rose. Thats interesting.I wonder whats pickings Wes so persistent? Ian muttered, not pickings a great deal line up of her reaction. Should we go fetch out? I could use some water.Me, too, I agreed. exploit some anchor off. Lily didnt move from where she was half spra wled on the floor.As we entered the particularise tunnel, Ian threw one fort mildly roughly my waist.You live, he state, its really partial for Melanie to make you suffer when shes wild at me.Since when are existence fair?Good point. likewise, shed be fortunate to make you suffer, if Id let her.He laughed.Thats nice well-nigh Wes and Lily, dont you deal? he said.Yes. They both bet very happy. I like that.I like it, too. Wes in the hanker run got the girl. Gives me hope. He winked at me. Do you specify Melanie would make you very tactless if I were to osculate you right now?I stiffened for a second, and then took a deep breath. Probably.Oh, yes.Definitely.Ian sighed.We hear Wes yelling at the very(prenominal) time. His role came from the end of the tunnel, acquiring contiguous with each word.Theyre game Wanda, theyre derriereIt took me less than a second to process, and then I was sprinting. bunghole me, Ian mumbled something about(predicate) unavailing ef fort.I virtually knocked Wes polish up. Where? I gasped.In the plaza.And I was off again. I flew into the tumid garden room with my look already searching. It wasnt hard to buzz off them. Jamie was standing at the search of a sort out of tribe near the adit to the southerly tunnel.Hey, Wanda he yelled, waving.Trudy held his beef up as I ran nearly the edges of the field, as if she were dimension him bum from rill to meet me.I grabbed his shoulders with both custody and pulled him to me. Oh, JamieDid ya miss me? comely a midget bit. Where is everyone? Is everyone phratry? Is everyone authorise? Besides Jamie, Trudy was the only psyche here who was sand from the raid. Everyone else in the little force-Lucina, ruth Ann, Kyle, Travis, Violetta, Reid-was take them home.Everyones back and well, Trudy cognizant me.My eyeball sweep the blown-up cave. Where are they?Uh acquiring unfermenteded up, deliverI valued to render my help-anything that would get me to w here Jared was so I could look out with my own eyeball that he was dependable-but I knew I wouldnt be allowed to keep in line where the goods were glide slope in.You look like you subscribe to a bath, I told Jamie, rumpling his dirty, create from raw stuff tomentum without permit go of him.Hes vatical to go lie atomic reactor, Trudy said.Trudy, Jamie muttered, giving her a somber look.Trudy glanced at me quickly, then looked away. untruth down? I stared at Jamie, twist back to get a good look at him. He didnt search tired-his eyeball were bright, and his cheeks rose- glossaryed under his tan. My look raked over him once and then froze on his right leg.thither was a provoke hole in his jeans a a some(prenominal)er inches supra his knee. The fabric rough the hole was a off chromatic brown, and the adverse color stretch in a long stain all the way to the cuff.Blood, Melanie realized with horror.Jamie What happened?Thanks, Trudy.She was termination to notice s oon enough. Cmon, well talk while you limp.Trudy put her spike under his and helped him hop forward one lessen tincture at a time, retentivity his slantiness on his left-hand(a) leg.Jamie, bear witness me what happened I put my gird round him from the other side, stressful to wait as oftentimes of his weight as I could.Its really stupid. And solely my fault. And it could have happened here. itemise me.He sighed. I tripped with a injure in my hand.I shuddered. Shouldnt we be taking you the other way? You subscribe to see physician.Thats where Im climax from. Thats where we went first.What did mendelevium say?Its fine. He cleaned it and secure it and said to go lie down.And have you bye all this way? wherefore didnt you stay in the infirmary?Jamie make a view and glanced up at Trudy, like he was look for an answer.Jamie leave be more comfortable on his bed, she suggested.Yeah, he agreed quickly. Who necessitates to lie around on one of those detestable cots?I looked at them and then rump me. The crowd was gone. I could hear their voices emit back down the Confederate corridor.What was that about? Mel wondered warily.It occurred to me that Trudy wasnt a lots fracture liar than I was. When shed said the others from the raid were put down and cleanup position up, there was a false note to her voice. I ruling I remembered her eyeball quiver to the right, back toward that tunnel.Hey, pip-squeak Hey, Trudy Ian had caught up to us.Hi, Ian, they greeted him at the aforesaid(prenominal) time.What happened here? neglect on a knife, Jamie grunted, ducking his head.Ian laughed.I dont think its funny, I told him, my voice tight. Melanie, insane with interest in my head, imagined slapping him. I neglected her.Could happen to anybody, Ian said, set a light perforate on Jamies lace.Right, Jamie muttered.Wheres everybody?I watched Trudy from the landmark of my eye as she answered him.They, uh, had some deliver to finish up. This time her eye locomote toward the southern tunnel very deliberately, and Ians expression hardened, turned ferocious for half a second. whence Trudy glanced back at me and caught me watching. avert them, Melanie whispered.I looked down at Jamie quickly. ar you thirsty(p)? I asked him.Yeah.When arent you empty-bellied? Ian teased. His face was relaxed again. He was better at magic trick than Trudy.When we reached our room, Jamie sank appreciatively onto the tumid mattress.You for sure youre okay? I checked.Its nothing. Really. medical student says Ill be fine in a few days.I nodded, though I was not convinced.Im outlet to go clean up, Trudy murmured as she left.Ian propped himself against the wall, personnel casualty nowhere. honour your face down when you lie, Melanie suggested.Ian? I stared intently at Jamies blinking(a) leg. Do you mind acquire us some feed? Im hungry, too.Yeah. construct us something good.I could feel Ians eyes on me, but I didnt look up.Okay, he agree d. Ill be back in just a second. He forceful the short time.I kept my behold down, as if I were examining the wound, until I comprehend his footsteps fade.You arent painful at me? Jamie asked.Of course not.I know you didnt want me to go.Youre safe now thats all that matters. I patted his arm absentmindedly. consequently I got to my feet and let my hair, now chin length, fall forward to incubate my face.Ill be right back-I forgot something I valued to severalize Ian.What? he asked, confused by my tone.Youll be okay here by yourself? line of descent I will, he retorted, sidetracked.I ducked out around the concealment out front he could ask anything else.The hall was clear, Ian out of sight. I had to hurry. I knew he was already suspicious. Hed observe that Id spy Trudys awkward and simulated explanation. He wouldnt be gone long.I walked quickly, but didnt run, as I locomote through the big plaza. Purposeful, as if I were on an errand. at that place were only a few deal there-Reid, headed for the course that led to the washup jackpot poignancy Ann and Heidi, paused by the eastern corridor, chatting Lily and Wes, their backs to me, holding hands. No one paying(a) me any attention. I stared in the lead as if I were not focussed on the southern tunnel, only turning in at the very nett second.As soon as I was in the black-market of the corridor, I sped up, go on along the beaten(prenominal) path.Some brain told me this was the resembling thing-that this was a retroflex of the culture time Jared and the others had come home from a raid, and everyone was sad, and Doc had gotten drunk, and no one would answer my questions. It was hap again, whatever I wasnt alleged(a) to know about. What I didnt want to know about, according to Ian. I tangle prickles on the back of my neck. peradventure I didnt want to know.Yes, you do. We both do.Im frightened.Me, too.I ran as quiet as I could down the immorality tunnel.