We all gathered around the main cave to say goodbye tho those going on the raid. I stood on my tiptoes looking around the crowd for Freedom. Once I found him near the front with the rest of those going on the raid, I went up to him. I looked around the others preparing to go. I saw Kendall, Uncle Jared (of course he was going to go if his son was), Uncle Kyle, Jamie, and always together, of course, Mom and Dad. Sunny was hugging Kyle with a sad face, still not used to him leaving her for long periods of time. Mom, Dad, Uncle Jared and Aunt Melanie were conversing with each other, used to all the fuss a raid implied. Jamie was encouraging Kendall and talking amiably with him. He still looked a little nervous. My heart reached out to him.

Ever since I can remember, I have always thought of Kendall as my older brother. I looked up to him like no one else, except maybe Aunt Melanie. She always seemed like such a badass. Whenever I got hurt or didn't feel well, he was always there for me, protecting me. I bet that if there was a large selection of students in the caves that he would have growled at any boy who tried to flirt with me... kinda like he does with Freedom. He is sometimes even worse than my Dad.

I left Freedom behind where he was and said goodbye to my parents and Aunt Melanie and Uncle Jared. Next, I moved on to Uncle Kyle and told him my farewell, while at the same time assuring Sunny that he knew how to handle himself and that she shouldn't worry. Finally, I approached Uncle Jamie and Kendall. I made Jamie promise to me that he would keep Kendall safe, only half joking. Kendall started to protest saying he wasn't stupid.

I removed a stray piece of hair blocking his eyes. He was much taller than me. I said, in all seriousness, "I know that. I just don't know what I'd do without you. Besides, what would Aunt Melanie do to Uncle Jared if you didn't come back alright?" Before he could respond, I embraced him tightly which took him by surprise. Nonetheless, he quickly responded back with a hug. I pulled back and smiled at him before going back to Freedom.

"I hope you get back safely. Life's gonna be really boring without you, Freedom." I flirted.

He smiled and replied with, "Likewise, about the boring part I mean".

"I have something for you. To think of me while you're away." I pulled out a thin, hard-cover book. The cover itself was ripped and dusty. The binding was old and barely worked its purpose anymore. "Do you remember what it is?" I took it from me, passing his hand on top of the front of it.

He smiled and took it form me. "Yeah, I gave it to you for your... tenth birthday I think it was. The Lorax! But, I can't keep it. I gave it to you because it was one of my favorite books as a child". He extended it back towards me. I shook my head.

" I knew you would say that. I don't want you to keep it. I want you to take care of it for me until your return." I pushed it back toward his torso. He smiled my favorite smile and said, "All right". Uncle Jared called out to the raiders to huddle up as they were going to start moving out to where the Jeep was hiding. Freedom took his bag and slung it over his muscle-defined shoulder.

"Bye, Amy" he called out while starting to turn around.

'Wait!" I exclaimed, stopping him. He stayed still but didn't turn around completely. I ran up to him, stood on my tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek. It was more than what I expected. His cheek was soft because of his skin. No longer rough because we were able to replace the stingy soap with the normal kind. But, it yet contained the slight prickle of a man who hasn't shaved in several hours. It was a touch I hope to remember and come back to at later times in my life. Once done with my mission to show him my affection, I ran back to the throng of people waving to the raiders. I hid behind Jeb who was at the front because this was "his house". I gave a final look around the group of people exiting. Kendall was the only one who looked out of place, not because he was young. He was looking down at his feet with a scowl marking his face as if it were to stay there permanently for the rest of his life. When he did look up, my eyes widened. His eyes showed malice, evil. The kind that I only imagined from the books I read that Mom brought me from the outside that she could find hidden in houses since most of the ones with evil were exterminated. The rest of his face besides his eyes were pale, dead looking. Somehow, my worry for him increased ten-fold.

After they left, I seemed to be the only one who noticed the change in him. I let the feeling go, thinking it must have only been my imagination.

Disclaimer: I do not own the original characters of The Host. They are part of Stephenie Meyer's imagination. I do own Kendall, Amy, and Tommy.

Bob (the very feminine voice inside my head)- I LOVE TOMMY!

Me: Don't we all? Enjoy and review guys!