Star was sitting on the bed, her legs hanging off the edge, not quite touching the floor. She held a small piece of fabric in her hands, crumpled up, but if she was to open it, it would look as if it had just been made. She opened the fabric, smiling at the little pink octopus in the middle of the soft green fabric. Marco had kept the small scrap in his pocket, as a reminder of his favourite foreign exchange student.

She looked back up to clothes Marco had set aside for her. They were clean, soft, and much nicer in general than the hospital gown Star was sitting in right now. She stood up, her legs shaking from lack of use, the muscles seizing at the sudden strain. She swore under her breath, a single 'shit', before making her way slowly to the clothes, folded neatly on the slightly rotted wooden chair, no creases, and no ugly stains or spots, a pristine condition.

She fingered the fabric, rubbing it between the tips of her fingers, the soft cloth gently brushing against her weakened and sensitive fingers. She slipped off the loose, bleach-smelling hospital gown, exposing her body, only wearing underwear, knowing no-one would walk in for a while as they were dealing with morning chores. She grabbed the bra, and put it on, pulling the straps up her arms. She then took the soft loose shirt, enjoying the way it sagged around her body, giving her no reason to put effort into the way she looked. She then put on the joggers, much too big, but super comfy.

She was given all these comfy clothes as she didn't feel comfortable at all. Any way she set herself, it would be uncomfortable. The camp had guessed it was a side effect to surviving the disease, and tried to make it easier for her, giving her the comfiest clothes they could find.

Star pushed open the flap of the tent, the brighter light of the morning piercing her eyes. The tent was dimly lit, with one lantern hanging from the top bar. She stepped outside, greeted by the sight of the camo sitting on logs around the campfire, eating fish and rice and beans (from their resource runs) from little silver camping troughs. They eat with the occasional praise to Mr Diaz for his excellent cooking, despite having mostly fish for all their meals.

Star slowly walked towards the centre of the camp, everyone turning to her when they heard her. She froze like a deer caught in headlights. She smiled nervously, but then looked down at her feet. She was an outsider to the camp, after just getting back from the hospital. That, and being from a different dimension. She didn't know what to do with the kindness the campers were showing her, as she wasn't sure she even deserved it.

She turned away, and walked a step back to her tent, before Mr Diaz caught her arm. She turned again, looking at Mr Diaz's smiling face, before looking down at his big hand wrapped around her bony wrist, much smaller than it was. Mr Diaz let go of her hand, her arm falling to her side. She turned fully, not quite looking anyone in the eye.

"Please, join us for breakfast?" Mr Diaz asked. Star looked at his eyes. He did care, he did want her to be safe and comfortable, he did want her to join them. She just wasn't ready.

"Can I just…eat in my tent?" Star smiled nervously, before frowning down at her feet.

"Of course, sweetie." Mrs Diaz chirped from her seat on the log. Mr Diaz went and filled a bowl with more from the pan over the fire. He passed it to Star, and she smiled gratefully, whispering a little 'thank you', before turning and walking back into her tent.

She closed the flap, and sat on her bed. Tears starting to fall down her cheeks, the strength she had to keep them back failing. She put the camping trough on the chair where her clothes had been, and collapsed onto the bed in front of her.

"What's up with her?" Brittany chirped, her voice sarcastic and judging.

"She recovering from the disease," Mr Diaz explained. "And is taking time to adjust again to the world around her, after being stuck in a hospital for I don't remember how long."

"We should just give her some space, and she'll be happy and working in the camp in no time." Ms. Skullnick explained.

During this conversation over Star's well-being, Marco was staring at the tent Star had walked into. His mind was racing. Was she okay? Did she want to stay in the camp? Is she healthy enough to be on her own? Does she still like them? All these thoughts scared him. Star, not wanting to be around him? How ridiculous! Star always wanted to hang around with him.

Was it because she didn't see anyone she knew or, more specifically, cared about, for eight months? She was stuck in that hospital, possibly being treated, or just left in quarantine, like all the other early cases. And besides, Star was different. That's probably why she was okay again. They didn't know anyone else who had gotten ill and came back from it.

It's cause she's not human.

That thought hurt Marco. Star was as close to a human than any other alternate-dimension creatures he had met. He had seen her "true" form, when she was going through mewberty, but she looked like a human any other time.

Marco shook the thought from his mind. That wasn't the problem right now. The problem was that Star refused to see anyone outside, she always stayed in her tent. She would barely talk, barely eat (she didn't eat a bite from dinner last night), and she had nightmares.

She needed their help. But she just, wouldn't let them do it. She was too stubborn to admit she needed help.

"I need help"