Much thanks to all of you who have been reviewing this story- I clap and squeal like a little kid every time a review alert shows up in my inbox.

This chapter ended up being a little short, I tried to make it longer but it didn't really work out. I might add in a few sentences here and there if I get any ideas later on.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Host. Though I do own a grapefruit-sized pikachu doll, so I guess it evens out.

Chapter 7

It was the middle of the afternoon when we reached Seattle. There were a few clouds scattered across the sky and it was pleasantly warm. There were lots of souls outside, enjoying the weather. We found another park and let the car sit under the shade of a tree.

I was hopeful that we would find the right body here- there were lots of girls about the right age talking and laughing in the sun. There was a pretty girl with very short, straight coppery hair talking with a taller girl with brown hair that fell to her waist. Either one would do, but they just didn't look quite like what we wanted. We kept watching, occasionally pointing someone out.

"What about her?" I asked, pointing towards a dark-skinned girl with raven-black hair.

"She looks a little older- like she could be your age," Jared pointed out as we watched her wave to someone. "Oh, ugh... see? She has a boyfriend. I don't think we should..."

"Yes, of course you're right," I said quickly, as we watched her embrace a young man who appeared to be her partner.

More time passed. There had been a few more girls we considered, but they still weren't exactly right. This was one decision I was okay with not rushing.

The sun was just beginning to lower in the sky when Jamie suddenly broke the silence.

"There, look!"

He was pointing towards a swing set not far from us. There were two girls on the swings, but I immediately knew which one he was pointing to.

She was beautiful; angelic. Her body was tiny, but something about the way she was shaped made me think that she was at least in her teens. Her complexion was bright, and her long golden hair swished around her as she swung forwards and backwards on the swing... and her beautiful face was so sweet that I automatically wanted to comfort if she was ever frightened and help her in any way that I could.

I heard Jared exhale- a sigh. I knew what he was thinking. She was perfect.

Jared voiced what I was thinking. "Look at her face, could you ever distrust her? It's like everyone would just naturally want to protect her."

"What do you think, Jamie?" I asked.

"Yes!" he said excitedly. "She's definitely the one."

We began to plan exactly what to do as we kept our eyes on her- she was still laughing on the swings with her friend. Once she was on her own, I would approach her and ask for directions. I could lead her near our car and then Jared could handle the rest. She would never suspect a thing, all we had to do was make sure nobody saw us.

A few minutes later she and her friend left the park. It looked like they were walking home- we followed them from a distance. They separated a few short blocks away from the park, going into houses across the street from one another... they must have been neighbors, then. We stayed in the car, which we had parked in front of a house on the corner of her street. I was suddenly worried- what if she didn't leave the house again? Would we break in and grab her in the dead of night? At least we knew where she lived, now. We could come back if we had to.

"Let's drive around a little," I whispered to Jared. "We should probably get a little familiar with the area."

Jared nodded and put the car in drive. We drove slowly down the block, taking in our surroundings. I made a mental note of a narrow alley that appeared to lead to another street. I directed Jared to turn right at the end of the block, and then turn onto the next street. I noted the street name.

"Wait, stop here for a sec," I said. I quickly slipped out of the car and jogged over to the gap in between two houses. Yes, it was the same alley. A plan was already half-formed in my mind as I peered down the narrow space. I hurried back to the car.

"That alley leads back to her street," I explained to Jared and Jamie as soon as I closed the car door. "We can keep the car here and go down there to see if she comes out again."

"Okay," Jared said. He maneuvered the car so that it was parked right next to the alley, then we all got out. I fished around in the trunk until I found the right crate- I opened it and retrieved a little spray bottle.

"She'll have to inhale this, just spray some in front of her face," I told Jared as I handed him the little bottle. He nodded and slipped it into his pocket.

We didn't have to wait long. The sun was beginning to disappear when we spotted her leaving her house, walking with her back to us. Alone.

This was it. I turned to Jared and Jamie.

"Just try to act naturally. I'll lead her over here and introduce you and then... yeah. Be quick and try not to scare her. She looks so... fragile."

They nodded, and I turned away from them and began heading towards her. I walked quickly, soon I had caught up to her. The rosy orange sunset was reflecting on her hair, making it a strange pinkish color. I took a deep breath.

"Excuse me?" I called out to her. She stopped and turned around. She was even prettier close up- her eyes were a soft gray and there was a light scattering of freckles across her little round cheeks.

"Hi," she said, looking surprised. But not suspicious. Her voice was high and sweet.

"Hello. My name is Melanie." I smiled at her as a soul would. I used my own name; I didn't want to lie to her more than I had to. "I'm new in town and... I think I'm lost."

"Oh!" she said quickly. "Where are you trying to go? I'll take you." She leaned to one side slightly to look back at her house. "Our car is just back-"

"No, it's not far," I interrupted her. "I was going for a walk, but now I can't find my way back to Becker Street," I said, remember the name of the street where we had parked the car. I smiled sheepishly, as if embarrassed that I had gotten lost.

She smiled back.

"You're very close. It's just around the second corner up that way," she said, gesturing to the end of the street behind me, "but you can cut right through this little alley here. It takes you straight there."

Perfect. This was almost too easy.

"Could you show me?" I asked innocently. "I'm sorry, what's your name?"

"Of course! Come with me." She seemed delighted to help me. "I'm Petals Open to the Moon, but my family mostly calls me Pet. Where are you from, Melanie?"

I laughed nervously- we were nearing the alley. "Do you mean San Diego or the Singing World, Pet?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

"Either one." She laughed with me. "There are two Bats on this street. They live in that yellow house with the pine trees," she informed me, gesturing behind us.

We were at the alley now.

"I'll have to say hello," I said quietly, not able to keep all of the tension out of my voice. I searched the dark alley for Jared and Jamie- I could see them waiting in the shadows. When they saw me they both took a step forward. Pet looked at me curiously, then into the alley. Still not suspicious.

"These are my friends, Pet," I said, gesturing towards them. My heart beat faster as she stepped towards them.

"Oh!" she said, surprised. "Oh, hello." She raised her hand to shake Jared's- this was it.

He grasped her hand tightly and suddenly pulled her up to him. In that split second before she inhaled the silvery mist, her sweet little face looked frightened.

"Wha-" she began, but she was unconscious before she could finish the word.

Jared caught her as she sagged towards the ground, lifting her little body easily and holding her gently against his chest. He glanced around to make sure nobody had seen, and then we were hurrying down the alley to the car. He carefully placed Pet in the backseat next to Jamie, who was given the little bottle of medication.

"Keep an eye on her," I murmured. "In case she starts to wake up."

I got in the driver's seat- it was Jared's turn to sleep. We were soon back on the highway heading south towards home.

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A/Ns

-This chapter was slightly tedious to write (though not quite as tedious as chapters 8 and 9, you'll see why soon enough), just because I had to go back to the book a lot to make sure that everything was how it's supposed to be- Jamie did tell Wanda a little bit about how they picked out her new body, and I kept having to go back and alter things so that everything was canon.

-This was also my first time having to take a specific situation that you see in The Host and making it from another person's perspective. (I'll always remember when I read the part of Midnight Sun that's posted on Stephenie Meyer's website, and being really fascinated by how Edward notices different things, and how he sometimes misinterprets what Bella's thinking, etc. It's like reading Twilight in stereo instead of mono, if that makes sense. So I tried to emulate that in this chapter when it came time to have Melanie approach Pet). Let me know what you think.

-As always, please review!