The monsoon seemed to last for ever. But I loved every minute of it. The rains had brought moisture into the air and I loved lying next to Ian and falling asleep to its soft pitter patter. But soon the rains would pass and everyone would return to their original rooms. This made me very nervous. I had decided early on that I would stay in Ian's room with him, but with the rain season coming to an end I began to doubt my decision. I loved Ian with my whole being and I wanted to spend the rest of my last life with him. But there was one human experience that I hadn't had yet. Just thinking about it brought a warm blush to my face. Its not that I didn't want it, I was scared out of my senses. I knew I needed help on the subject, badly. Finally the day before we were going to move out of the game room, I decided to ask Mel for some advice. We were alone washing clothes in the bathing room when I got over my embarrassment and asked her some questions.

"So Mel, are you excited about moving back into your room with Jared?" I asked timidly, keeping my face down even though she couldn't see my blush in the pitch dark.

"I guess. Are you?" She asked as she scrubbed at a stubborn stain. I paused for a few seconds trying to find the right way to word my problem.

"It's just," I paused again "I don't know how Ian and I are going to spend our private time." I let it all out in a rush trying to bottle up the tears that threatened to explode. My new body hated embarrassment and cried easily. Melanie's loud snort bounced of the walls of the cave magnifying itself. She started to laugh uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry…I'll stop…it's just …awkward." She said in between snorts. I tried to stay indifferent because I knew I would be laughing later but at the moment I was mortified.

"Well when a man and a women love each other very much…." She trailed off as if she could see my angered face through the dark.

"Okay sorry. I just had to get that out of my system. Let's start off with how much you know about sex already. And yes we are going to call it sex." I blushed whenever she said the word out loud. She took my hand and led me out of the water. We sat down cautiously aware that we could sit on a sharp rock. I started to talk slowly and with a hushed tone.

"Well I know the mechanics of…sex. I'm just afraid of being good at it." I closed my eyes wishing I could take back the whole conversation. Melanie sighed and patted my hand.

"Do you Wanderer love Ian?"

"Yes." I said simply.

"Does he love you?"

"Well I guess." It felt weird answering a question that only Ian could truly answer.

"Then you have nothing to worry about. Everything will work out. I promise." She said as she wrapped he arm around my thin shoulders and gave me a quick squeeze.

"The first time is always scary but it is going to be special. No come on and get up. I'm starting to feel like a mother and we both know that is never going to happen. We have work to do." Melanie rose quickly dragging me up with her. We both picked up the laundry and hung it to dry. The smell of gourmet T.V. dinners filled in our noses and our stomachs growled.

"I'll race ya'!" Melanie yelled over her shoulder already sprinting to the dining hall, forcing me the chase after her half heartedly. She of coursed was going to win. I was sometimes overcome with jealousy towards Melanie. I had become so used to her body and its strength, now this new body was weak and frail. Nobody treated me the same as they had used to. But my jealousy always faded quickly and in its place was guilt for all of the pain Melanie had gone through because of my parasitism. I eventually came to the dining hall panting and tired. Melanie apparently had gotten to the hall before everyone and was sitting down at a table with two plastic containers of food. Everyone in line glared at her. I sat down next to her and we laughed. Well she snorted and I giggled.

"I'm guessing this one is for me." I said eyeing the container with the macaroni and cheese.

"Actually I was planning on eating both. Kicking your ass yet again has got me a little worn out." Melanie said pushing the macaroni back in front of me. I dug in before glaring at Melanie. But my glare quickly turned into a smile that she returned. Melanie was the closest thing to a sister I would ever have, she was my best friend. My smile turned grim when I remembered the time when we hated each other for the body we shared. Electricity sent a shockwave through my body when a very large hand engulfed my shoulder. I turned around to smile at the miracle behind me. And there he was, my partner, my savior and hopefully my lover. Ian bent down and gave me a quick peck on the lips. He knew that I didn't like him to draw attention to us so he kept the kissing to a minimum. But every once and awhile we would pass each other in a dark hallway and he would kiss me eagerly in the shadows. He sat down with a steaming container of lasagna.

"Do you know how many people I had to fight off to get this?" he asked rhetorically.

"No, but please Ian enlighten us." Melanie said sarcastically. But before Ian could shoot back with another sure to be childish comeback Jamie sat down and started to babble about his day.

"I think to day is the worst day ever." He declared crossing his arms like a toddler. We all rolled our eyes because Jamie had been saying that a lot lately. He had been rather dramatic the passed few weeks.

"What happened little buddy?" Jared asked as he joined us.

"Well first of all I'm not your little buddy. Might I remind you I am fourteen years of age?" Jamie said getting redder and redder as the moments passed.

"Hey don't get your panties in a bunch little man." Ian said. I elbowed Ian in the ribs at the same time that Melanie kicked him in the shin.
"Hey what was that for?" he said rubbing his shin. His shin would defiantly bruise tomorrow. But I think his rock hard muscles did more to my elbow than vice versa.

"Apparently no one cares about my problems." Jamie said as he stormed off, food in hand. Jamie was definitely not acting like himself. We all shrugged at each other and continued eating. Jamie would come back if he wanted dessert.