Disclaimer: I do not own The Host or it's characters.
• •
Two weeks flew by. Mandy and I have gotten used to sharing a bed. A good thing she didn't take up a lot of space.
I had the same chores as Mandy at the same time. She got the hang of things pretty quick.
I walked into the kitchen to get a bite to eat. I walked in and saw Josh and Mandy at the table talking.
Mandy even looked happy.
Josh's eyes met mine. I saw gloating in them.
Mandy turned and saw me. "Hey Jamie." She smiled at me.
"Hey," I answered sourly, while glaring at Josh.
"Mandy do you want to come with me and get it?" Josh asked Mandy.
"Okay," she got up and followed Josh out. She waved at me before leaving.
• •
When I ate dinner Josh sat by Mandy and talked with her. She was relaxed with him now. Josh would stare when she ate.
He was eating this up.
Melanie looked at me concerned. "Aren't you going to eat Jamie?"
I looked at my plate and saw it was untouched.
"No, I'm not that hungry."
"Don't waste it. Make sure you put the food away for tomorrow."
I nodded my head. I knew Melanie was getting worried about me and I didn't want her to worry. She could see I was handling it my own way.
Mandy was talking to Josh. Again.
After dinner I went to my room and took a nap. An hour later I woke up and started walking around the hall.
Jeb saw me walking and approached me. "Hey there Jamie."
"Hi."
He stared at me thinking about something. "What's the matter?"
That caught me off guard. "Nothing."
"Don't lie to me boy."
I sighed and thought it over.
"Mandy."
"Oh, girl troubles."
We walked down the halls together for a while before I spoke again.
"She's been hanging around with Josh lately."
"So, your green monster's showing."
We were silent again.
"He only sees a pretty face."
"You don't know that."
"He doesn't know her like I do."
I didn't like the fact that Jeb was defending Josh.
"He's trying to Jamie."
He should stop trying.
Jeb had a his thinking face on.
"To be honest, I think she's lonely."
"Lonely?"
Lonely. Why? She was happy. Wasn't she? Was I wrong? Did I do something wrong?
I thought about the things I did and said to her. Trying to find something wrong.
Jeb interrupted my thoughts. "Yeah. I mean you're her only friend that isn't old. Guess she wants to, you know not put everything on you."
I liked that I was her friend. Her only friend.
Then I started to feel guilty. It was wrong to not want her to have friends.
Selfish.
"Ya see Jamie, I think she feels guilty about keeping you to herself."
She felt guilty.
Jeb put his arm around me. "I wouldn't worry about it to much. You were her first friend, and was there when she woke up. You're someone special to her."
"Thanks Jeb."
"Anytime. I'm the Dr. Phil for you." Jeb walked away.
I was walking back to my room when I saw Jared waiting outside my door.
"Jared?"
He looked at me.
"Hey Jamie."
I walked up to him.
"What is it?"
"We're going to restock. You're coming with us."
Finally I was in on some action.
"Oh. When?"
"Tomorrow."
"Okay."
Jared then started walking away.
I went into my room and sat on the bed.
I heard the curtain open.
"Jamie?"
Mandy.
"Yeah?" I turned to her.
"Can you take me to the bath please?" I could see her face turn pink.
"Sure thing."
I grabbed the flashlight and a towel for Mandy.
We walked down the hall together.
"So, are you getting along with Josh?"
It wasn't my favorite topic, but she was friends with him and I wanted to know if he was treating her right.
"Uh, he's really nice and funny. His brothers are okay. They're all are really kind to me."
"That's good."
She was very quiet during the walk.
We entered the dark room and I handed her the towel.
"Thanks," she said, then went to the pool.
I sat there on the ground and turned the flashlight on.
My mind started wandering and I got curious.
Every time Mandy took a bath, I waited for her. By now she should now how to get back. Why have me stay?
"Mandy?"
"Hmm?"
"Why do you want me to wait for you?"
She was silent.
"B-because," she stuttered.
"Because?"
"Cause, um . . . It's kinda embarrassing."
Embarrassing?
"Jamie . . . I'm afraid of the dark."
She's afraid.
Of the dark.
"The dark?"
"I know it's childish, but I'm afraid of it. And I feel safe when you're here."
I made her feel safe.
"Why are you afraid of the dark? If you don't mind me asking."
She was getting out of the pool and drying herself off.
"I don't like talking about it."
I stayed quiet. I wouldn't force her to tell me.
"I'll tell why when I'm ready." She was putting her clothes back on. She began walking towards me.
"Done."
I stood up and saw her fresh a clean.
We walked back to our room.
• •
Mandy sat on the bed brushing her hair. It was so long. It was an inch or two past her waist.
It looked long a healthy.
I sat beside her.
"Hey Jamie?"
"What?"
She looked at me, and stopped brushing her hair.
"I want you to try something."
Try something?
"What is it?"
"Well I want you to help me braid my hair."
Me, braid her hair.
She saw the awkward confused look I had on.
"Yeah, please. I'll do one braid and you do the other."
He big beautiful eyes were pleading. It was like I had no will.
She split her hair in two sections.
I sat on her left so she motioned me to pick up the left section.
I grabbed the hair.
It was so soft and silky, and still kind of wet.
I stared at me section of hair.
What was I doing?
"Do you know how to braid Jamie?"
"Yes," I choked out.
"Just do a regular braid, 'kay?"
"Right."
Mandy began braiding her share of the hair.
I knew how to braid from watching Melanie, but I never did braid before.
I went with my instincts and started braiding. Trying to do it the same way Mandy was doing.
I finished braiding the last of her hair, and Mandy passed me a hair band. I put it on and was finished.
So was Mandy.
My braid was pretty good, if I do say so myself.
"Wow, Jamie you did a good job."
"It's harder than it looks."
She giggled and her cheeks grew pink. She face saw so pretty. She had her bangs to the side so her forehead was showing.
She slowly stopped and laid down. I laid next to her.
She closed her eyes, and I could see her long eyelashes.
I got on my elbow and with my free hand I touched her rosy cheek. She smiled and kissed my fingertips.
Her lips were very soft and warm.
I moved some stray strands of hair away from her forehead.
"Thank you Jamie."
"You're welcome . . . But for what?"
"For being so kind a gentle to me."
She opened her eyes and faced me. Our faces inches about.
I dropped my hand from her face.
Mandy placed her hands on both sides of my face. Then lightly traced my face. Trying to remember me.
I stared at her taking in every feature.
Then our foreheads touch.
Our eyes met and we just stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like hours.
Then I remembered that I would be gone tomorrow and Mandy would be alone. All by herself.
"Mandy." I finally broke the silence.
She didn't move or looked away.
"Yes?"
"Tomorrow I'm going to go with Jared to restock."
Mandy froze.
"What?" She whispered.
"I'm going tomorrow to restock."
She was quiet.
She kept staring into my eyes.
"But it's dangerous."
She was worried.
Everything about her said that.
"You don't have to worry. I'll be fine."
She was unsure.
She wrapped her arms around me and hid her face in my chest. I wrapped my arms around her waist.
We fit together perfectly. I wondered how I knew how to react. How I did all this naturally.
I put my face in her hair.
It smelled sweet.
She started to breathe evenly and saw that she fell asleep.
I closed my eyes falling asleep with Mandy in my arms.
• •
I woke up, feeling something wet on my shirt.
I opened my eyes and heard sobbing.
Mandy was crying on my shirt.
"Mandy! What's wrong?"
I pushed her chin up to look at me. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Jamie," she choked out.
"I'm right here."
"Oh Jamie!" She began crying again.
"It's okay Mandy." I rubbed the top of her head, soothing her.
"What's the matter?"
"I-I, dreamt tha-that . . .I l-l-lost y-you."
"Don't worry Mandy."
She tried breathing slowly and calmed down.
"Jamie?"
"Yes?"
"Promise me you'll come back safe."
"I promise you I'll come back safe."
"Thank you."
She started to fall back asleep and I rubbed her back till she did.
• •
Okay finally! TEN pages!! I know I haven't updated but I have the story in certain sections and this was all together so I couldn't break it apart. It will be a while cause I'm still planning out the next chapter.
Yeah it was really fluffy so I hope it didn't bother you. Mandy's really worried about Jamie. I wouldn't expect long chapters like this cause it took me a miracle. I stick around five and a half pages so yeah.
I can't wait to post Mandy's story so you can know what she's thinking. But yeah thank you for reviewing!! And I did use that line from Breaking Dawn in this story.
Oh and I know I always having Jeb clowning around but this time he was serious. So hope you like!