Disclaimer: I do not own The Host or its characters.

• •

I woke up and saw that Melanie and Jared left for breakfast. I got up and went to the kitchen.

When I entered I saw everyone sitting at the table except Wanda and Ian. So she still wasn't feeling well.

Mandy was sitting by Jeb at the end of the table. Across from her Melanie.

The table was longer since we had more people who joined us. Cousins Jasmin and Evelyn were the only survivors from their family. Jasmin was fourteen and Evelyn was fifteen.

The Robison brothers were also new. The oldest was Zac who was seventeen, Josh who was sixteen, and David who was fourteen. They were from Newport, California. They all had the same sun bleached blond hair with brown in it.

I saw Josh looking at Mandy, but she just looked down at her food as she ate.

"Mornin'," I said.

"Morning," answered Melanie

I sat by Jared. Mandy looked at me through her long eyelashes. She gave me a small warm smile.

I returned it.

"So did you enjoy your sleep?" Jeb asked.

"Yeah, I guess."

I ate a bowl of cereal and an orange.

"Well, Mandy do you mind sleeping on cot?" Jeb asked with his mouth full.

"I don't really mind."

"Maybe you can sleep with the Robinson brothers," offered Jared, "They have a huge room."

"But they're all boys," I interrupted. I saw everyone listening, especially Josh and his brothers.

"She's tough enough."

"Nah, I'm not going to put her through that. She'll just sleep in the cot till I make her room," finalized Jeb.

Mandy nodded her head. Everyone was staring at Mandy, all curious. It got annoying, I wanted to just say, 'Take a picture, it'll last longer.'

• •

I walked into Doc's office and saw Mandy sitting on the cot.

"Hey."

She looked at me. "Hi."

I sat beside her. "Where's everyone?"

"Jeb went to get the others."

I looked at her confused.

"Melanie, um . . . Jared, I think."

As if on cue they entered. Wanda and Ian were behind.

I felt Mandy tense up. I turned to her and she has her hands in fists.

"Jeb, you didn't get rid of her?" She glared at Wanda. So Jeb told her Melanie's story. Well, not all of it.

"No, she's different Mandy."

"Different? They're all the same!" She shot Wanda a dirty look.

"Mandy calm down."

"You took her out and got a body, took that parasite out and added another one! Don't you think about the human's body?" Her breathing grew heavy. "The human isn't a puppet! She's not a toy Jeb!"

I looked at Wanda. She was a little shocked and hurt but seemed fine.

I put my hand on her shoulder. "Please calm down."

She relaxed a little and nodded. She looked down. Her eyes hard.

"Mandy, I just would like to talk to you." Doc sat down, beside him Jeb.

"Mandy, why were you being pursued?"

She didn't look up. "I'm a runaway."

Doc's forehead creased. "Why did you runaway?"

Mandy sighed. "It's complicated."

"Can you tell us more?"

"Seekers."

Melanie's eyes grew sad.

"They've been chasing me."

A mini-Melanie.

"Why?"

Mandy shook her head 'no' . "Sorry."

"Ironic," Jared commented. "I was right about her. A mini-Melanie." He grinned, "Why I like her."

Mandy looked at Jared and gave him a small smile.

"Where are you from?"

"San Diego."

"Very ironic," said Jared.

"So you drove all the way from California?"

Mandy nodded her head. "Yeah, but I knew I would get caught eventually."

"You know how to drive?"

"I've been learning. I was going to get my license next year."

Doc nodded. "So you it's in you?"

Mandy slowly nodded her head. "Please take the disgusting parasite out. I hate her."

"Where is she from?"

"Don't care. She likes the name Charlotte so to piss her off I called her Charlie. She likes Charlie too. I'm definitely not going to name my child that."

"Charlotte?"

"Yeah, she likes the human names. Not even one, dirty little thing."

"So you gained full control of your body?" Doc and Jeb both looked intrigued.

"It wasn't easy. Everything she did pissed me off. Until I couldn't stand it anymore I was able to take control."

"Did she awaken you?"

"Nope, I've always been there. In the back, a little voice that annoyed her."

"And your family Mandy?"

"Too personal."

"I respect that."

"Do you still hear her?"

"Don't know. I shut her up, but . . . I'm not sure."

We were all quiet.

"Don't worry we'll take care of it."

Wanda and Ian left the room. Ian didn't like Mandy.

They all left the room. Mandy sat, her head down.

"The paras-Wanda, is close to you guys huh?"

"Yeah, she's like a sister to Melanie. She's good Mandy."

She shook her head. "Sorry, but I can't see her that way Jamie."

"Why?"

"I can't. I just . . ."

"What?"

"I'm really sorry."

We sat there in silence.

"Do you hate me?"

"No, but you hating Wanda doesn't help you."

"I'm really sorry about that. I went through a lot and they ruined my life. And I thought it couldn't get any worse. I have the worse luck."

I turned to her and she was hurt. Hurt badly.

"Everything we worked for. Gone. Because of them. And Charlotte, I despise her."

"I'm sorry Mandy."

She looked up at me with her beautiful eyes. So much pain in her angel eyes.

"Me too."

• •

Yeah still boring and confusing. Well don't hate Mandy. There's more to her and why she's the way she is. But when I made her character I felt so sad for her. All she had been through. (cries)

To clean something up, more people joined other that the Robison brothers and the two cousins. So it's really packed. Don't hate Mandy! Please review! J