The Rebellious Host | ✓

Jamie

I'm out early getting ready with Jared and Ian. Mel and Wanda sit in the back of the truck, Mel swinging her legs back and forth and talking to Wanda in a quiet voice. Sunny, Kyle, and Alexis talk in a smaller group, occasionally making exaggerated hand motions and gesturing towards the sky and outside- though that's more Kyle and Alexis than Sunny.

I hear footsteps behind me, but it must be Uncle Jeb. He usually comes to see us off. Instead, I'm surprised glance over and see Laina sit next to me. "Can I talk to you?" She asks quietly.

I nod and stand up, letting her lead me away from the others. No one notices. "What's up?" I ask.

She reaches down and takes my hand, staring at the ground. "I don't belong here," She starts.

I roll my eyes. "You don't belong anywhere. Neither do I. Neither does Mel, or Jared, or Ian, or Sunny. If anything, you do belong here."

She shakes her head. "No, I don't." She insists. "That's why I'm going to leave."

"What?" Jared and Wanda shoot us curious looks. Mel and Ian just tilt their heads to the side.

"I-I didn't want to tell you." She glances up at me, dropping my hand. "I just felt like you should know. So that you don't feel guilty, or think that I'm dead."

I shake my head. "Are you insane? You won't survive out there!"

She tilts her head up to look at me, her eyes looking determined and something close to angry. "I survived several years just to find you and Mel again, Jamie. I watched my family leave one by one, and then I ran for months from the Souls."

"Laina, don't." I never thought I'd be begging someone besides Melanie to not leave.

A tear falls down her cheek, but her voice doesn't crack at all. "I've made my choice, Jamie. I'm leaving." She extends her hand. "It was nice knowing you, Jamie Stryder."

I shake her hand. "It was nice knowing you too, Laina Sennett." then, as an afterthought, "Or Roxanna Howe. Whoever you are."

She smiles and hugs me. I feel hollow- Laina had been my best friend for years, and now she's leaving for good. She pulls away enough to look at my face, and then kisses me quickly on the lips. She blushes. "Sorry. Stupid little girl crush."

I laugh. "The feelings are mutual. Trust me." I realize that it's the truth- that I guess I have had a crush on Laina, and the weird thing between us was that she comes back and she's not some awkward little kid anymore- she's like Mel. That probably sounds like a horrible cliche.

Her smile turns sad. "I'll miss you, Jamie."

"I'll miss you too, Laina." I hug her again, and then Jared yells for me to hurry my ass up.

Laina kisses my cheek, and then pulls away. "Goodbye, Jamie Stryder."

"Goodbye, Laina." The last thing I see is her dark figure in one of the rearview mirrors before she blends into the early morning sky. I lean against Wanda and sigh. Laina won't procrastinate- she'll be gone before dawn tomorrow.