I sit there for a moment and look at her drawing. She managed to capture every essences of ht symbol. The ring is perfectly round the hands are shaded perfectly to look almost real. I had stopped crying a few minutes ago, but just in case I whip my cheeks, grab the paper and start back towards to village. Once I stepped into the village all relief is taken out of me. No one seems to notice me; Maggie stands on the porch with Greg who seems to be having a hissy fit. Liam and Catlin are talking with another couple who looks about Catlin's age. My stomach then lets out a roar as I realized I have not eaten since yesterday morning. I take a risk and walk up to Catlin and Liam.
"Oh darling, I am glad you are alright!"
"Have you seen my friends," I mumble so quiet she might not be able to hear me.
"They are all down at the end of the street, near the crops. Including your friend Tobias," Liam answers as Catlin looks at me still confused at what I asked. I give up on her, considering my patience right now is pretty low, and turn to Liam.
"Thank you." I turn to walk away, but he grabs my arm.
"You know, we have some food if you like." I shake my head and try to keep my stomach from growling. Liam or Catlin must have noticed my limp, because Liam grabs my arm again. Crap. "Are you ok," Catlin asks her voice wobbling a bit. I shake Liam's away and try to escape. I am not fast enough and before I know it I am tackled to the ground. Panting and screaming I try to wiggle free with no success. Before I manage to scream Tobias's, Christina's or even Uriah's name the world around me vanishes leaving me behind in a pit of blackness.
The world slowly comes back into focus and I realize the stabbing pain in my leg. Even worse than when I was actually shot. I sit up and observe the room around me, wood walls with a painting hanging in front of me. I think it is of a girl. Her dark brown hair blows in the wind and she has her arms out stretched out as if trying to absorb every single ray of sunshine. There is something about the way the girl smiles that makes me think of me. Her eyes are mine too. Edith. Why would Catlin have that? Suddenly Liam bursts into the room, a glass of water in hand and a biscuit.
"She is awake," He yells back in the general direction of the house.
I accept Catlin to come in and say something stupid again like "oh my, darling!" I drives me nuts. Instead Tobias strides into the room with his hands in his pockets. I immediately turn my attention to the bread and water Liam put on the bedside table. I risk one glance to see he is sitting at the end of the bed. He catches my eye and I mean to turn away, and I do, but a little too late.
"Are you really giving me the silent treatment?"
I look back up again and he is just resting his hand on my leg. A sudden rush of electricity goes up my body, the same feeling I had on the Ferris wheel that night. I can't stand it anymore.
"I only give you what you deserve."
He raises and eyebrow at me and I look back down at my bread.
"Considering if I deserve to have you offer me some?"
I am taken by his comment, but it is totally true. I extend my hand with the bread out to him, but never keep my eyes off it. I watch him take the bread, set it on the bedspread and take my hand in is. Compared to my hands, his are on fire.
"You are frozen," he whispers grabbing a blanket from the end of the bed. He is about to place it on my shoulder, but I push his hand away and stare at him.
"You know, for the whole time I have been with you I have never seen you do this!"
"Do what," he asks sympathetically. Great, add sympathy that will help.
"Be a totally jerk. You really hurt me, made me feel useless and did not care! You have not once even said I am sorry. You know if it weren't for me coming to find YOU in the RAIN at NIGHT, YOU would be dead!"
I throw the covers off and ignore the pain that shoots up my leg. Catlin and Liam sit at the table in the kitchen with a deck of cards.
"How did it-."
I slam the door before she can even finish asking her question. To my surprise Caleb is at the bottom of the porch chatting with Maggie. Caleb! I had not even thought about how he was taking all this. I calm my breath and walk up to both of them. As soon as I see Caleb's dark hair and nice eyes I burst into tears again. He pulls me into a hug and whispers in my ear.
"Does this mean you forgive me?"
I laugh a little and nod, my head still resting on his shoulder. He smells like home, like the fresh apples mom and dad used to bring home from the gardens. Safety is the word that sticks, this is what it is.
