happen to you or your parents.?
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?Thank you,? she said slowly, looking a bit surprised that she had
any reason to say those words to him.
She turned and waved at Helen, who thought to herself that the
impossible had just happened. Claire had finally run out of nasty
things to say to Jason. Helen shut the door behind them and took a
deep breath. Then she glanced over at Lucas, and prayed to a pantheon
of gods that looking at him would get easier someday.
?You look tired,? she said, realizing it was true as she said it.
?So do you. I hear you?ve been having a lot of nightmares,? he
said back, completely unashamed to admit he was asking his cousins
about her.
?Why do you care? Please, Lucas, just go away,? she begged, rubbing
her face with her hands.
?I can?t. I won?t,? he said, moving forward and pulled her into his
arms.
She felt too fragile to fight him off. She melted into his chest and
rested there for a few moments.
?Why do you smell like the ocean?? he said suddenly, pulling
away from her to get a better look. He studied her bedraggled
clothes speckled with sand, and asked suspiciously, ?What
happened to you today besides Creon??
?How is that fair?? she demanded. She pushed him from her with
a bitter laugh. ?If I lie to you you?ll know, and if I stay silent you?ll
assume something worse than the truth.?
?Then just tell me as much or as little as you want,? he said
quietly, stepping away from her to allow her some personal space.
?But tell me something. What happened??
?I was dodging practice because I couldn?t bear to see you. Hector