Disclaimer: Before anything, I'd like to say that I do not own The Host or any of its characters.

A/N: I have not forgotten about this fic! I shall finish it till the very end. And thanks to those who have stuck around this far. Means a lot c:

Ch 12- Facts of Life

Time had passed since I first started contributing to the small society hidden underneath the rock walls. I had grown used to the stares and murmurs until they began to fade with time. Jeb said nothing much happened around here so the people clung to anything exciting until it lost its luster. Well, I must have been losing my luster then and I did not miss it one bit.

Most days after I was done with my chores and squeaky clean I would accompany Melanie to the empty rec room. She and Wanda had decided that I needed help adjusting. I remembered the first day they had taken me to the rec room with a poor excuse to socialize.

I sat on a one of the large rocks as Melanie paced back and forth. Her face was buried in thought. Wanderer stood by her waiting patiently. Melanie would stop, open her mouth to speak but then would wave it off and continue to pace. I was a bit concerned about why they had decided to take me to the rec room when no one was around. At first I thought they were going to let me go but that was just ridiculous. Of course they weren't going to let me go.

It was then Wanda sighed and spoke my name. I answered her. "Mel and I brought you here because…" her voice trailed off. It was like everyone had forgotten how to speak that day.

"We're going to teach you to be human." Melanie said as she stopped her fidgeting. I raised my brow, "That makes no sense."

Wanda knew those were the wrong words, "What Mel is trying to say is that your parents kept you in a very tight nit bubble making you believe you were a soul…"

"And you're kind of awkward." Melanie cut in.

I frowned instantly at this. I had received enough remarks from Jared that I did not need this. I stood to my feet, "This is ridiculous."

Wanda and Melanie looked at each other deciding that it did sound foolish. They then told me they wanted me to learn more about who I was and where I came from. Not who my parents told me to be and the limited information they had given me of the world outside my home.

It was then Melanie raised a brow, "Don't tell me you were home schooled."
"Yes. I was." I answered matter of factly. "My parents thought it be better for me. In our situation" I looked down, "Well, my situation…"
"Well, that explains a lot." Melanie said looking to Wanda.

So it was decided. Melanie was to teach me a little bit each day of how the world was before the souls had truly taken over. I myself did not remember much of those days. By the time I was six years old half my town was already inhabited by souls. My parents never wanted to watch the news when I was around. They shied me away from the outside world to hide me away from the mass panic of the human race. When things came to a calm and my parents breathed a little easier the world was already in the hands of the souls.

I believed this was unnecessary but they wanted me to experience everything I had been missing out on. Kind of like little therapy sessions. Melanie would go on about various things. She spoke about Shakespeare once. I remember hearing his name before. The souls had deemed his work to be too violent or something and removed the books from the reach of society. She also spoke about tv shows she used to enjoy or things normal kids would do after school. Anything was up for discussion. And every day I began to realize how much I had missed.

But that day was different. I could tell right away.

Melanie's eyes shifted a little, she took a deep breath and thought long and hard.
I shifted my weight feeling a little uncomfortable sitting on the floor of the rec room. I wasn't sure about her hesitation. I mean how bad was it?
Melanie was very detailed with her teachings; she was like Wanda when she told stories to the humans about the other planets. I often envied her because I wished I could have seen those planets someway.

"Alright." Melanie spoke and I braced myself for what was to come.
She smiled, "As you know humans have emotions."
"Yes." I answered.
"And these emotions often lead to certain things." Then she paused a little of unsure of this. She thought it over a little bit more and this time she turned to look at me with confidence, "Since you're going to live a human life now, I'm going to teach you the personal facts of life. Wanda believes it's necessary as well…just in case- for your own safety."

I tilted my head. For my own safety? Was she going to teach me how to fight or something?

Then she leaned in closer and spoke softly in a voice so no one could hear us. I don't see why. We were the only ones in the rec room, "Sophie, you have learned about sex haven't you?"
I lifted an eyebrow. I had never heard that word. At least not from my parents. "Sex? What is that?" my question sounded a little too offended for Melanie pushed back with wide eyes and she covered her mouth to keep from laughing.
"What?" I demanded.
Melanie looked at me as if I had something stupid written all over my face. After a moment of stifled laughter she regained herself, "You- you haven't learned about," she stopped trying to cover up her laughter. "What's so funny?" I asked.

"Oh my gosh, what in the world have those souls been teaching you?" I don't think she had asked me directly.

So I just sat there until she had all the giggles out of her and finally asked, "Are you done? Or should I leave?"
She waved my offer away, "No, I'm done. Really." I sighed. I hoped so. "Okay, so you're telling me no one has ever told you about that."
"Sex." I stated as if it were any other word.
"Shh," Melanie shushed me, "Don't yell it to the caves now." She looked around.
"What?" I asked a little confused. Melanie smiled sheepishly and leaned in to my ear whispering.

After a slight moment my eyes went wide and my ears went boiling hot. I was scarlet red by the time Melanie pulled away with her small smile.
I couldn't find my voice and I began to panic. And with my red embarrassed cheeks I fled from the rec room in such a rush Melanie had to run to catch up to me, "Sophie come back!" there was a tint of amusement in her voice.
But I- I was too flustered to stop. But I didn't know what was more embarrassing. What Melanie had just told me or the fact that I didn't even know about it.

"C'mon Sophie!" Melanie reached up to me but I couldn't even look at her. I was so embarrassed. I couldn't even stop when we pushed passed Jared in one of the cave halls.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked as Melanie passed him.
"Uh," but that's all she said to him.

I hurried in through the doors of Wanda and Ian's room. I really didn't want to intrude but Wanda assured me it was okay that I could go in whenever I wished without her permission. I was their roommate after all.
I closed the doors behind me and lay against them still fuming in complete aghast.

"Sophie, open up." Melanie knocked on the door. "What's wrong with her?" Jared asked in a low voice but I could still hear him.
Melanie stalled for a moment then finally told him. "I told her about…" and she whispered the rest to him. After a moment of silence Jared's laughter boomed through the air.

"Jared!" Melanie scowled, "It's not funny. She's embarrassed."
"What's going on?" came Kyle's voice.
"Melanie told Sophie about…" his voice muted as he whispered. Soon Kyle was laughing too, "Ha, ha wow! I wish I could have been there to see her face, hey Sophie!" he called out to me, "Don't be shy now. We're all human here!"

I groaned burying my face in my shaky hands.

"Okay that's enough out of you two insensible jerks!" Melanie hissed at them but they didn't stop laughing. Then she turned to the door, "C'mon Sophie, it's alright. They're being jerks just ignore them."
But I couldn't bring myself to see anyone right now. My ears were still boiling hot and I felt so light headed. Why me? Why?

"I'm guessing you told her." Came Wanda's voice and I knew Ian was with her. I could imagine Melanie nod and Jared and Kyle look away with smug faces.

Wanda knocked on the doors, "Sophie, you alright in there?"

I didn't answer.
"Come on Sophie. We all had to learn of it sooner or later."
"But that's gross!" I called back my cheeks still inflamed.
"It's not that gross," Ian commented.
"Ian!"
"What?"
"Well he's right…"
"Will you stop?"

I buried my face in my arms and tried to block out their voices. I couldn't get Melanie's words out of my mind. How could people do that? I mean…it- it…oh goodness gracious.

I frowned trying to come at peace with the fact. I shook my head and after 10 minutes of clearing my mind I stood up and opened the door to face everyone, Melanie, Wanda, Ian, Jared and Kyle that is.
Wanda and Mel smiled. The guys averted their eyes. Jared and Kyle tried not to snicker and I knew Kyle was dying to comment me on the matter.

"There, see it's not so bad." Mel coaxed me out of the room.

It wasn't so bad, she said. No, it in fact wasn't so bad but I couldn't help to feel embarrassed. Wanderer gave me a small smile, "Safety first."
My eyes grew wide for a moment and I stepped back completely mortified and groaned as if it was the end of the world.

Kyle couldn't hold it in any more and he began to laugh. Jared snickered after him until Melanie elbowed him but it was too late. I crawled back in to the room with my tail between my legs and my cheeks as red as beats.

"Guys, look what you did." Wanda accused.
"I didn't do anything, it was these morons." Ian retorted trying to keep his slate clean on the matter.
"We'll talk to her, you guys out." Melanie said and shoed them off.
"Bu I-"
"You too, Ian."

Melanie and Wanderer sat me on the bed and by the time they were done speaking I knew what sex was and where babies came from. I even knew what a condom was and how it should be used. I felt so foolish for not knowing any of that. Being home schooled, my parents never taught me this. They believed I was too young to know and perhaps they never truly knew how to answer all my never ending questions. I had no idea what they were referring to…until now that is.

"So?" Melanie raised a brow, "What do you think?"
I looked at her and then at Wanderer, "I think you're crazy."
They laughed. "A lot of it is crazy, but it's normal." Wanderer said.

I brought my knees up to my chest, my expression conflicted by my own thoughts, "You said you'd teach me things I need to know. But, I don't really need this information…do I?" I looked up at them.

They suddenly paused, surprised by my questions and looked at each other for an answer neither of them had. "Wanda." Mel said.

Wanderer cleared her throat, "Well, Sophie. If you find the right person and ever decide to…well, you know…" I frowned instantly at this.
"Then you'll know how all the plumbing works and won't have to ask where it goes." Melanie cut in.

My face went completely red, "Ew!"
"Melanie!" Wanderer gasped.
"What? I'm just saying." She looked at me, "Now you know and that's all you should worry about for now. Don't worry about men. Sex is something you shouldn't even jump to in the first place. You have other important matters to attend to."

All this talk was making my ears bleed but I was not going to lie if I said I was not a little curious. I shook the crazy thoughts out of my mind and head whirled.

When we reached the cafeteria all I could think about was sex. I felt dirty just thinking about it. Kind of like the sight of a car crash. I couldn't look away- or 'think' away. I sat at the table zoning in and out of conversations. My eyes wandered around the table landing on Kyle. He sat with his arm around Sunny. She was happily nestled in his arms and I wondered to myself…have they?

Ew! No, don't think of that!
I shut my eyes for a moment and when I opened them Jared was right in my face, "What's wrong with you?"
GOD NO!

I jumped back a bit startled but regained myself quickly and frowned at him, "Nothing, leave me alone."
"She's still a bit touchy about today's subject." Kyle joked. "You sure know how to teach 'em, Mel."
"Oh, shut up, will you?"
Jamie perked up at this, "What subject?" He obviously had no idea what had happened earlier.

"Nothing," Melanie answered giving Kyle a stern look.

"I wanna know." Jamie looked around for someone to tell him. The table sat quiet until every guy who knew burst out laughing. Wanderer and Melanie frowned. I sat there mortified. Jamie looked at me for an answer but my cheeks flushed hot and I looked away.

Wanderer sighed softly, "Its nothing to worry about, Jamie. The guys are just teasing Sophie. But they should grow up and act like the gentlemen they are." She looked directly at Ian who quickly regained himself.

Jamie raised a brow, "Oh, c'mon. I want to know. Sophie?"
I kept my eyes below, "Err.."
"I was just teaching her the facts of life, like always. Don't worry about it, Jamie and eat your dinner."
"Alright." Jamie said, "But being the odd one out isn't fun, ya know."

That night I lay awake once more in the darkness. Today's events replayed over and over in my mind. I felt so ridiculous for not knowing any of that information sooner. For crying out loud I was old enough to know! My parents had kept me from so much and I wondered why they had kept me so protected. I started to realize what a shut in I had been all these years. I never went out much back then. And if I did it was well guarded with my parents. They stopped letting me play outside with the other children when I was around seven or so. And they always avoided many if not all of my questions. Whatever they taught me about the human anatomy was obviously not enough. And I lived so ignorant to it all. I had been hidden from the entire world. But for what? My own safety? The safety of others? I wasn't going to hurt anyone.

The pink line…its not there. That's why.

The words lingered in my mind. But I didn't want to admit it. I placed my hand underneath my neck and felt the smoothness of my skin. There were so many things left unknown. So many things coming out in to the clear. And every single day I found out more and more about myself. Things I never wanted to know, things I never wanted to admit. Things that were changing me. For good.