@@@@@ “I think he's got a point,” Jamie
@@@@@
“I think he's got a point,” Jamie muttered“Even if we all want you here, you don't belong until
you decide you do
“I can't ever belongAnd nobody really wants me here, Jamie
I didn't fight with him, but he was wrongNot lying, because he believed what he was saying
But what he really wanted was MelanieHe didn't separate us the way he should
Trudy and Heidi were baking rolls in the kitchen and sharing a bright green, juicy appleThey
took turns taking bites
“It's good to see you, Wanda,” Trudy said sincerely, covering her mouth while she spoke
because she was still chewing her last biteHeidi nodded in greeting, her teeth sunk in the
appleJamie nudged me, trying to be inconspicuous about it–pointing out that people wanted
meHe wasn't making allowances for common courtesy
“Did you save her dinner?” he asked eagerlyShe bent down beside the oven and came back with a metal tray in her
handIt's probably nasty and tough now, but it's better than the usual
On the tray was a rather large piece of red meatMy mouth started to water, even as I rejected
the portion I'd been allotted
“We have to eat all the perishables the first day,” Jamie encouraged me“Everyone eats
themselves sick–it's a tradition
“You need the protein,” Trudy added“We were on cave rations too longI'm surprised no
one's in worse shape
I ate my protein while Jamie watched with hawk-like attention as each bite traveled from the
tray to my m