Lunch was going to be super awkward-sitting with Jared and Mel and Ian. I could barely look at Mel as we walked to the kitchen and she jabbered on about how Jamie was so excited to see me. He'd been working in the field today which is why he couldn't be there right now. I shuddered about that and whispered, "It's not safe for him. Not after what happened last time." The two men had grown silent and Jared said, "He can't not work forever Wanda, just because he got hurt once." I resisted scowling and Mel said, "I don't like it much either. But Jared is right."
We finally arrived in the dining room and as we did I heard the familiar voice, "Wanda? WANDA?!" It was Jamie yelling ecstatically from behind us. I had just turned around when he bashed into me and I laughed, "Hey Jamie! I've missed you!" He chuckled, "I've missed you too! Wow you're so short now!" He seemed so chuffed about that still and he could almost look at me eye-level. He grinned, "I'll be taller than you one day!" I sighed, "Yeah, that'll be something to look forward to." He hugged me emphatically and I couldn't help but smile.
I looked up to see Jared watching me intensely. Ian chuckled and playfully smacked Jamie on the back, "Kid, I'm starving! We can save all of this for later!" Jamie rolled his eyes and laughed, "Ian, you couldn't just give me a moment to appreciate the fact that Wanda is alive and well?" Ian shook his head, "No Jamie. My stomach is calling. I can't deny it much longer."
They went off and I followed them. I couldn't bare being around Mel and Jared on my own. I felt too awkward. There were rolls and salad for lunch. Jeb made me jump when he laughed, "Wanda! It's good to have you back!" I grinned forcibly, "I'm glad we found a solution to the problem." It wasn't the entire truth. Maybe Jeb sensed that in my voice because he raised an eyebrow, "You don't sound so certain." I swallowed. Out of everyone, he knew when I was lying. It was like he could read my mind and it often bothered me. I shrugged, "It's just a lot to get used to. I've never been in the same world in two different bodies."
Jeb said softly, "Wanda, if there is something wrong, or if anyone still gives you problems…" I shook my head quickly, "No…no it's fine. Thanks Jeb." That's when Lacey walked in and she saw me standing in the middle of the room. She walked up to us and nodded, "So you've finally woken up. Took you much longer than me." She eyed me almost suspiciously and I shrugged, "I was more tired than I should have been for some reason. I think it was days spent in the cryotank that made my body go completely limp." She laughed, "Why? It's not like you're doing much in there?" I bit my lip so as not to retaliate and rise to her bait. Jeb said, "Hey Lacey, there's no need to be rude to someone who has just saved your life." He patted his gun and Lacey backed off immediately. She nodded, "You're right. What I meant to say is, thanks for saving my life." She gave a forced my and I smiled at Jeb, "Thanks Jeb." He nodded, "No problem. We better go and get some food before Ian and Jared have eaten it all." I nodded in agreement and he kept me update about all that I had missed. Apparently, Lacey had already gotten into an argument with Maggie about not doing work in the fields. I wasn't entirely surprised.
Otherwise everything else had been pretty peaceful. Ian returned to my side when I was dishing up for myself. He grinned, "You still like your parmesan cheese I see." I nodded as I scattered it all over my roll, "Thank goodness! It would be awful if I didn't." Jared, Mel and Jamie were laughing about something at the end of counter. I smiled and said to Ian, "It's good to see them so happy together." Ian nodded and replied, "It is, isn't it? I know Jamie spoke about you so much though when you were out. It was nice to have someone who is just as concerned about your well-being as me." I bit the inside of my lip again. I thought to myself 'Except Jared, apparently.' The last word I thought sarcastically.
Jared glanced at me and I was forced to look away. I felt so incredibly awkward with all of his attention. I didn't want it and it was weird. I sighed to myself. Maybe it was just a passing phase. He was probably just used to me being in Mel's body. This was bound to be weird for him. It was probably just him readjusting to everything.
Jamie bounced over and said, "Come on guys, let's go grab a table!" We sat down at one big enough for the five of us and Jamie sat next to me, talking animatedly about how cool this was and how long they had searched for a body and how he had been the one to decide I was right. Throughout the whole lunch I barely spoke a word. I listened to the others talking and I sat still, eating and trying not to think too hard about how it felt to have Jared constantly watching me. I didn't like it and it felt uncomfortable.
Finally lunch was over and the four of us headed to the fields for our shift. Jamie had classes and so he wouldn't be with us. I hugged him goodbye after lunch. He asked me, "Do you want to go the glowworm cave after dinner?" I grinned, "Sure thing, Jamie." As we walked, Ian kept his hand around my waist and I leant my head into his side. As we walked ahead, Maggie refused to look at me, but stopped Melanie, "Mel! Can I have a word please?" Melanie wasn't sure how to behave towards her aunt, not after how she treated me. Mel stopped mid-step, "Aunt Maggie…I'm just on the way to do my shift." I took Ian's hand and pulled him along. Maggie replied, "Please, Mel? It will just take a minute?" Melanie hesitated before saying to us, "You guys move along. I'll catch up with you later." Jared had no choice but to follow. Jared sighed, "Maggie doesn't get the message." I frowned, "Why? What message?" Jared shrugged, "That Mel isn't interested in what she has to say about you."
Seconds later Mel's yelling echoed down the cave, "Aunt Maggie! You can't say that! Wanda is a VITAL part of our community! She saved Jamie! She gave us her most precious secret! You must be BLIND if you still think she has hidden agenda!" I winced at the harsh tone Mel used with her aunt. I sighed and shook my head, "She shouldn't fight with her aunt over me." Jared smiled kindly at me, "She should, Wanda. When her aunt behaves like that, then she should. It's not fair to you."
Ian was quiet the whole time during Jared's speech. Jared spoke with such tenderness in his voice that I felt embarrassed by it. Ian sighed as we picked up our harvesting tools and made our way over to the far end of the field. Kyle came and joined us shortly after. We ploughed silently for half an hour before Kyle asked, "So, when is Wanda going on a raid?" Everyone stopped what they were doing and Mel said logically, "When she's readjusted to her body." Ian stepped in then, "No! When she feels ready." He turned to me, "Wanda, you don't have to if you don't want to. That's just my brother being a presumptuous idiot!" Jared interjected, "Of course she wants to! She was…something else when we got the medicine for Jamie." Ian scowled, "Yeah, something else." I could tell he still hadn't really forgiven Jared for helping me cut my wrist. I swallowed and said, "We can go in about a week. I just…need time to readjust. Like Mel said." Kyle nodded in approval, "Good stuff. We're running low on food again." I smiled, "I think everyone should write up a shopping list and I can take orders. They all glanced at each other and Jared nodded, "I think that's a great idea. Thanks Wanda."
I didn't even blush. I just felt awkward and irritated with Jared for telling me what he did. Especially since I no longer shared those feelings. Mel smiled at me, "Just let us know when you're feeling up to it and then we can go." I nodded and Kyle grinned, "What I wouldn't do for some crisps again. Sour cream was the best flavor." Jared laughed, "No! Lightly salted was." Ian shook his head, "You're wrong there Jared." Melanie chuckled, "I liked Caribbean. It was tastier than the rest." Kyle laughed, "What did you like, Wan…" he paused midsentence. He raised his eyebrows, "Sorry. Did you know what Pet liked?" I shook my head, "I can't seem to remember. But I have a feeling she'll like Caribbean flavor." Mel grinned, "My sister from another mister has good taste." She winked at me and they all mused about other food options as we continued work. I just focused on what I was doing. I liked the feeling of working hard until I felt sweat seeping into my shirt. I was wearing a plain, strappy tank in black so it was pretty obvious. Everyone else was sweating too though so I didn't feel self conscious.
When we finished our three hour shift, before we all headed to the pools. Sunny met us on the way and she told Kyle about how she had been helping cook dinner with Lacey and Maggie. I couldn't help but feel a little jealous of her-of how she seemed to be fitting in even better than I did. We all stripped into our underwear and then we bathed. This was pretty regular routine. It was the least awkward way of cleaning ourselves. I used some soap from our room which was still left over from my last raid before I exchanged bodies. Ian gently took the soap from me when I asked him to wash my back. I couldn't reach it-my arms were too short. I always shivered whenever he washed my back. It was the most intimate feeling.
Jared and Mel merely splashed each other playfully. Some sprayed over me and I splashed back at Mel, "Hey! I don't want to get my hair wet." Mel stuck her tongue out at me childishly, "Get over it, Wanda. It's just some fun." Ian's hand lingered a little too long and I swiftly moved to splash Mel back. She giggled. Mel wasn't prone to giggling so to hear her do that was pretty funny. I laughed as Ian splashed me from behind and I splashed him back. Kyle chuckled, "Splash fight!" We all ended up making such a mess that half of the water ended up on the cave floors!
That's when I heard Jamie's rather grumpy voice, "Hey! How come you're having fun without me?! He gave a pouty face and Mel and I exchanged a glance, as if reading each others' minds again. We swam up to the edge and Mel asked sneakily, "So, you want to join in the fun, Jamie?" He started backing away and I hoisted myself out of the pool and stood behind him, pushing him forwards. He yelled, "Wanda! No! I was kidding!" Everyone laughed and I beamed, "Jamie! You must! You need some fun!" He tried pushing me off but I was surprised how forceful I could be.
When he reached the edge, Mel grabbed a hold of his feet and pulled him forwards. He lost his balance and she ducked out of the way as he fell in. I was laughing so hard I was in stitches. Everyone else seemed to find it pretty hilarious too until we all heard Jeb's stern voice which made me jump, "Wanda! What the devil do you think you're doing?! Pushing Jamie in?!" He patted his gun at his hip and Mel complained, "Oh come on Jeb, he asked for it!" Jamie was beaming from ear to ear and Jeb grinned, "Fine. But no accidental deaths on my watch, OK? We've had one too many around this area." He eyed Kyle and once he was out of earshot Mel whispered, "Party pooper."
I hopped out then and grabbed my towel. I wanted to get dressed before anybody else was in the caves. I wrapped my towel securely around me and headed in that direction. I still felt embarrassed about showing skin in front of the others, especially when my body looked so week and limp in comparison to Mel's. I also liked a moment's peace alone sometimes and Ian seemed to sense that. I changed into new underwear which was a little lacy for my liking but I couldn't be fussy in these circumstances. I pulled on a tank top and shorts and waited for Ian to come back. I read a book of his called, The Catcher in the Rye. Ian liked the classics, he had once told me. I found this one quite interesting. Pet had liked reading in her life and I think it had influenced me. I didn't like it much in Mel's body. Mel lost focus quickly.
Ian finally returned a twenty minutes later and I watched as he stripped off his pants. As he pulled off his underwear, I hid my face in the book. Ian laughed, "You better get used to it, Wanda." I rolled my eyes behind the book and snuck a glance at him as he pulled up his new boxer shorts. I saw his back which had the perfectly shaped, muscular spine and the massive shoulders, yet lean body. The problem was, I couldn't stop looking at those muscles once I started.
He pulled on some shorts and then Jared poked his head around the corner, "Hey Ian. Do you have some shorts I could borrow? I fresh out." Ian rolled his eyes and took a pair from his drawer, "There is a magic word, Jared." Jared smirked, "Please?" I rolled my eyes and Ian threw his shorts at Jared, "Here! Make sure you write shorts on list for Wanda. I don't want you to steal anymore of mine." Jared rolled his eyes, "I bet Wanda is allowed to steal them." He winked at me and I felt the blush creep into my face like never before. Ian sighed, "You dirty mind Jared! Just leave before you embarrass her even more!" Jared laughed, "Ok, ok, alright bossy."
Ian waited for him to go and he rolled his eyes, "Sorry for his inappropriate comment." I shook my head, "I'm just sorry he's not right." Ian stared at me and shook his head, "Wanda…no matter how much you tell me you're eighteen, I don't believe you." I grumbled as I sat up and he pulled a shirt on, "I am actually a billion years older than you, Ian. Don't forget it."
He laughed as I huffed out of his room. I ran into Mel in the hallway, "Hey. I need a pep talk soon." I told her. She saw my folded arms and smiled, "Ok. Just give me a second. She was still in her wet clothes and Jared stepped out of their room. He smiled at me, "You coming with?" I shook my head, "Need to speak to Mel first. Ian can go with you." Jared sighed, "Oh yes. Forever my partner in crime."
The two men went off, Ian kissing my cheek and I hung back. Mel eventually pulled me in, "What's the matter?" she asked as she pulled a brush through her hair. I sighed, "Ian. He still won't give me the benefit of the doubt in terms of my age. He doesn't believe that I'm eighteen." Melanie bit her lip, "It's a bit of a pickle. I can't believe he's not budging with that." Ian had refused to do much more than kissing with me. In the last two days we hardly had time alone. I sighed, "What do I do, Mel?!" She sighed, "It's tricky. Maybe I should come shopping with you next time." I frowned, "For what?" She laughed, "Lingerie." I blushed as I recalled what that was from Pet's memories. She grinned, "I need some too." I blushed more, "Oh." She rolled her eyes, "Still so naïve! Come on, let's go and get dinner! I'm starved!"