Much later that same night, after Jet had fallen asleep, Smellerbee finally said what she'd been wanting to since she told her story.

"I'm sorry, Longshot."

He sat up and looked at her.

"I mean about not telling you the truth."

A look of sadness settled on Longshot's face and he shook his head. Don't be sorry.

"Sometimes it just doesn't feel real, you know? And I guess I was hoping that if I just left it behind, maybe I could forget it."

Longshot shook his head knowingly. Nothing can make you forget.

"What happened to you before you joined the Freedom Fighters?"

Longshot shook his head again and lay back down.

"You can tell me," Smellerbee said. "I'll understand."

He shook his head again, resolute. No.

"Longshot, whatever happened . . ." Smellerbee trailed off as she saw tears shining on his face. "I'm here for you," she finished softly. She saw Longshot give the tiniest nod.

:–:–:–:

"Do you have any idea where we're going?" Smellerbee asked. It was the next morning and they were on the road again, Jet leading the way.

"Not really," he said breezily. "Right now, let's just focus on getting as far away from here as possible."

"Right," Smellerbee said, feeling the flush of shame on her neck. It was because of her they had to move so far so fast, diving into the bushes whenever they heard anyone approaching. All the same, she was growing increasingly uncomfortable not knowing where they were headed.

As if sensing this, Jet said, "Don't worry about it."

"And yet, I worry," Smellerbee muttered. She'd long since learned that Jet's confidence was the same whether executing a carefully laid plan or making it up as he went along.

:–:–:–:

Just after midday they decided they'd stop and get lunch in one of the nearby towns. Jet would've had them eat from the food they'd brought with them, but Smellerbee insisted on going into one of the cafes in town, her treat. She still felt bad for hiding her history from them and even worse for putting them in danger. After very little resistance, Jet and Longshot gave in. Smellerbee sold an old ring of hers with a small emerald to a man with a jewelry cart and, her pockets now jingling with gold and silver, set off to find somewhere to eat.

They may have had plenty of money, but they were still dressed like peasants so Smellerbee took them into one of the not-so-wealthy-looking-places and chose a booth near the door. It just seemed like the safest option, and she was still in escape mode from their last stop.

The waitress, and older woman with graying hair, looking friendly enough but also very world-weary came over and placed menus down in front of them. She asked, "What can I get you boys to drink?"

Smellerbee stared at the woman. "I'm a girl."

"Oh, I'm sorry dear," the woman exclaimed, blushing. "It's just that you look so like your brothers . . ."

"They're not my brothers."

"Oh." Something flickered across the woman's face Smellerbee couldn't quite place. She looked at a loss for what to do.

"We get that a lot, don't we, Smellerbee?" Jet asked in a fake jovial voice, his foot pressing down on Smellerbee's under the table. He addressed the waitress, "We travel around a lot and people always want to know."

"Oh, of course," the woman said, though there was something hard in her voice.

Jet ordered drinks, and the waitress left to get them.

"Smellerbee, could you not cause problems everywhere we go?" Jet asked, his voice low.

"It's not like I'm trying to," Smellerbee hissed back. "It's not my fault she's an idiot."

Longshot's eyes were over Smellerbee's head and then he flicked his gaze back to Smellerbee. She's coming back.

"Just let it go," Jet said to her finally.

They ordered sandwiches and ate them in silence, anger still hanging in the air. When they finished, Smellerbee got up to use the bathroom. On her way back out, she was stopped by the waitress.

"Are you all right, dear?"

"Fine," Smellerbee said, startled. The woman had a look of such intense concern on her face.

"Who are those boys?" she asked.

"My friends," Smellerbee said.

"Are you refugees?"

"Yeah, why?" Smellerbee said, guarded.

"I've seen it before. A young refugee like you, her whole family gone, forced to travel with boys like them for protection in exchange for the worst thing they can ask of you . . ." the woman was looking at her desperately now, and Smellerbee understood what she meant.

"They are my family," she said, and then she bolted back to the table. "We have to get out of here." She threw a handful of coins down onto the table.

"What's going on?" Jet and Longshot sprang to their feet, looking around like they expected firebenders to attack from all sides.

"We have to go," she said, pulling Jet by the arm out the front door. She let him go as soon as the three were outside the cafe and started up the crowded main street as quickly as she could without running.

"What happened?" Jet asked. Smellerbee looked behind her and saw the waitress standing outside the café, looking around. She hadn't spotted them yet. Smellerbee turned sharply around a corner and down an alley.

Jet took hold of her arm and spun her to face him. "Smellerbee, talk. You said you wouldn't do this anymore."

"The waitress," Smellerbee started, but she was at a loss for words. She was shaking now, and almost crying, though she couldn't explain – even to herself – why.

"What about her?" Jet asked, examining Smellerbee's face for answers. Longshot, standing behind her, put an arm across her shoulder.

Smellerbee shuddered. Jet and Longshot both released her, bewildered.

"She thought that you two were – that I – that you made me . . ." She shook her head, staring at them, willing them to understand. They were clueless. Smellerbee stared blankly at the dusty ground, took a deep breath, and said, "She told me she's seen plenty of refugee girls who have to travel with guys who protect them in exchange for –"

Jet swore and took a few steps away from her, running his hands through his hair. Even Longshot stepped back, staring at her like he'd never seen her before.

Smellerbee stood, still trembling, wishing desperately for something she couldn't name.

She felt Longshot's tentative hand back on her shoulder. She looked at him.

We'd never do that to you . . . you know that, right? . . . Right?

She nodded just slightly and Longshot pulled her to him in a tight hug. She felt Jet awkwardly pat her on the back, uncertain. "Longshot's right," he said weakly.

Smellerbee moved away from them, trying to clear her confused mind.

"Come on," she said emotionlessly. "We should get out of here."

:–:–:–:

They walked in silence for a long time, Smellerbee leading the way, the guys lagging behind without any idea of what to do.

As the sun began to set, Longshot came up beside Smellerbee. Are you okay?

"I'm fine," Smellerbee said.

Are you sure?

"Look, I don't know what that was about . . . I just got a little freaked out," Smellerbee rambled, her mind still racing with the thought of it. "I thought she might start asking questions and I didn't want to bring any attention to us and she wasn't going to drop it and I thought that the sooner we got out the better –" Longshot silenced her with a quick squeeze of her hand. Smellerbee shook her head. "I don't know," she said honestly. "Just hearing her talk about you like that . . . I – I couldn't handle that. You're all I have."

Silence fell until Jet said, "I think we should keep walking tonight. We've got a long way to go."