Eden

Nineteen

I'm just standing there, staring blankly really, trying to take it all in. I'm staring, and looking around, and then I suddenly think to wonder whether anyone is looking at me. I glance around, worried, and make sure no-one is paying any particular attention to Lexi and I. No-one seems to be, though, which is lucky. Although I suppose we're standing outside the market, out of the way of the business being done, so there's no particular reason anyone would care about us.

We're out of the way, and also, apparently we're not very interesting. People glance at us, and then glance away, and I'm very glad of that. We probably don't stand out especially much, I suppose. Not when we have the same kind of clothes as everyone else is wearing.

We don't stand out, and we're not doing anything to draw attention to ourselves, so there probably isn't much reason for anyone to notice us, and I'm actually very glad of that.

I keep standing where I am, and go back to looking around. I'm still thinking about clothes, when suddenly Lexi starts forward, towards the market.

I see her move, and grab her arm to stop her. "Wait," I say. "Hold on."

She stops, and looks at me, puzzled and a little worried. "Why?" she says. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I say. "Sorry, nothing's actually wrong..."

"But?" Lexi says.

I don't know. I really don't. I shrug, and then shake my head.

Lexi looks at me, and seems to be thinking. I'm thinking, too. I'm reluctant to move, but I don't really know why. I just feel safer, standing over here, out of the way, away from the other people. I feel safer with some distance between us and them, and safer trying to pass unnoticed, too. And I'll feel a lot safer still if I have some time to work all this out. Or at least, to get used to what's happened.

"Please?" I say to Lexi.

I know I've been looking at everything for a while, and that Lexi is getting impatient, but I still want to look more. And to think as well, before we start talking to people.

I just want to be sure what we're getting into, I suppose. Although I'm not quite sure why. I don't actually know why I'm being so suspicious. I just am. I suppose I'm just unsettled by waking up so strangely.

I'm unsettled, and nervous, and I'm also fairly sure Lexi doesn't understand that.

She's looking at me, impatiently. Like I'm being unreasonable.

"I'm thirsty," Lexi says.

"I know. Me too."

"I'm really thirsty."

"I know, but could you just wait a second. Please?"

She shrugs, but then nods and does, staying by my side. She seems slightly annoyed.

"Thank you," I say, and let go of her arm, and keep looking around, thinking, trying to work all this out.