Disclaimer: I do not own The Host or it's characters.

• •

It has been a week since Mandy has joined us. From what I've seen Josh has taken a liking to her. Everyday I see him staring at her.

And for some reason it pleased me that Mandy looked uncomfortable and a tad annoyed by it. She still dislikes Wanda and keeps her distance. The same with Sunny, but she disliked Wanda more for taking two human bodies.

She tried her best to hide her feelings but I could see them. I was her closest friend and who she talked to. She got along with Jeb, Melanie, Jared, and even Doc.

I could see she was having trouble coping with the idea of being stuck here.

I saw her walking in the hall. Wanda was walking in the hall going the other direction, then Wanda bumped Mandy by mistake.

Mandy's eyes grew big and shoved her.

"Mandy!"

She looked at me sad. "Sorry."

"You okay Wanda?"

"Yeah." She looked at Mandy with sympathy and continued walking down the hall.

"Mandy, why did you do that?"

"It's how I react the them. It's the way I feel about them."

"Wanda isn't like that."

Mandy looked jumpy. Something was wrong.

"What's wrong Mandy?"

She looked up at me. "Nothing."

"You can talk to me."

"You're too nice Jamie. You put up with me so don't worry about it."

"Mandy tell me what's wrong. You can trust me."

Her eyes showed unsure ness. I nodded my head reassuring her.

"Can we talk somewhere private?"

"Yeah." I grabbed her arm and led her to the cornfield. We sat on the floor.

"So, what's on your mind?"

She took a moment before speaking. "I'm kinda nervous about the operation."

"You'll be fine."

"I heard what happened to Sunny."

"Oh."

So she knew how she couldn't find herself.

"What if that happens to me? I hate her so much and the thought of her controlling me again scares me. You have no idea how it is to just stand and let yourself be pushed to do things you don't want.

"To be forced into a corner. To watch helplessly and do nothing. I hated that. I hated them so much. To hurt your love ones and watch them get hurt." I could see the tears piling up, but she tried to blink them away.

"Mandy, what happened to you?"

"It's hard to talk about and even telling you isn't right. It's not your problem."

"Tell me."

She stayed quiet for a minute. "Jamie, before this all happened, before the enemy appeared I've been hurt badly. I can't be fixed now because of those damn parasites.

"I have and older brother two years older than me," her voice was shaky when she spoke about him, "a younger brother five years younger, and a sister six years younger.

"A loving mother," she spoke about her proudly, "She was strong, and always did her best for us. You see, my dad would abuse us. He was a drunk. He'd hit us and yell," she closed her eyes remembering something, she pushed her sleeve up and showed me a long scar from a deep cut, "We would always have cuts and bruises. I was so young.

" My older brother would always end up fighting with him. He couldn't stand him. My mother would get raped by him, and he would cheat on her. My beautiful mother. Her used her.

"She divorced him, but he kept coming back. Kept bugging us. And he still thought he could have us. Once after school her tried to take me away. But I got away.

"My mom got a restraining order and he stayed away. She started working and we got a nice house. No more pain." She smiled remembering that. "But we noticed them taking over out city.

"Soon they found us. My little brother and sister were spared since they were young, but my brother, mom, and me weren't. They put the monster in me and then were sent home.

"My dad was found and he came back to be back in our family. He touched us again. And we embraced him. Showed love to him and became this family again, but how I saw him.

"Watching him kiss my mother knowing what he had down pissed me off, but I couldn't do anything. And I hugged him! Kissed him on the cheek! Years of just watching this. I snapped.

"I gained control again slowly. Charlie would fight with me but I fought back. Then I shoved in the back of my head. I fought with my dad. My older brother told fought with me. He was going to tell my Comforter.

"They would either dispose of me permanently, or put a stronger worm in me. So I made a run for it. I stole the car and went on my own. It was easy since everything was free and I knew how to act thanks to Charlie. That was the only thing she was useful for.

"But they told the Seekers about me and they were watching for me. They found me at a gas stop and it turned into a high speed chase. I had gotten a crated of Monsters to keep me up.

"So I put the box on the gas pedal, turned the wheel around and jumped out. I was a softball paying so I was in good shape. I ran for it. Not looking back.

"I hid out in the desert. They came looking for me so I had to go deeper and deeper into the desert. Eventually I passed out since I hadn't ate or drank anything.

"Then I found my self here. And met you and everyone." She looked at me and smiled. "I got lucky."

I moved a strand away from her face, "I'm sorry Mandy."

"I'm sorry. You know things are bad when you feel guilty about being rude to a worm." She gave me a small smile. "That's why I'm the way I'm am. I know it doesn't excuse it but can you see why?"

"Yeah, I understand you better."

"And lately I've been feeling her in my head. I can't do anything. She's untouchable. She put a wall around herself and won't say a word. She's messing with me. Hiding something from me."

"Well you're feisty and you'll be fine." I patted the back of her head.

"I hope you're right."

• •

We walked back to Doc's office, and saw Jeb waiting.

"There you are Mandy. Been looking for you." He grinned at her, she smiled back.

"Why?" I asked.

"Finished her room."

"Really?" Her voice happy.

"Yeah, so no more lumpy cot."

"That's great. Thanks Jeb."

"Yeah. I'm a saint ain't I?"

"Yes Jeb, we should all learn from you," I said.

"Got that right."

I rolled my eyes.

"So where were you two?"

"Just talking," I answered.

"Not making out? You're no fun Jamie. Gotta be more confident."

Nosy old man.

He laughed. "Jamie you really are too easy to read for me."

"Then leave me alone."

"Nah, you're too much fun teasing."

"And you wonder why everyone avoids you."

"You're scaring pretty face Mandy Jamie."

She was looking at us weird.

"You're related aren't you?" She asked.

"No," I answered.

"You are but didn't inherit my smooth moves. A disappointment."

Annoying fool.

Jeb chuckled to himself. "Why don't you share the room with Jamie? Melanie and Jared are tired of Jamie being around," he teased me.

And he was right. Kinda. I wanted to give them privacy.

"I don't mind," she said.

"I wouldn't let this unless I was sure Jamie wouldn't put the moves on you. But he's chicken so no worries."

He has too much time on his hands.

"Leave Jeb."

"Whatever ungrateful nephew." He grinned at me and walked out.

• •

Done! Yeah so you know why Mandy is how she is. I'm going to write this story again in her perspective later and show it from where she was little. But I have to finish this first.

So hopefully you don't hate Mandy. PLEASE review. I'd appreciated it.

Thank you justanothercrazybrunnet for reviewing! So later! Won't update in while, but review please!!