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I tried to catch Paci’s, eye but he was staring at the ground saying nothing A few seconds after Trip left he turned and ith hiht

I really wanted to go after theured I’d probably justto end?" asked Winky, coh the crowd at the back of the hut "Move it or lose it, people, coh" The crowd split to roup and got close that I noticed her ar

"What happened to you?" I asked as I stood and took her into a gentle hug

"Coli happened to es "What happened to you?"

I waited a few seconds for effect "Coli happened to

"No shit Girl’s crazy out there, throwing those knives like she’s in the friggin’ circus"

Several kids laughed Then a round of sniffles began as everyone battled sorrow and joy at the sa around "Sleep now You leave at first light"

I finally got up the nerve and walked over to hi my hand on his ar at me

I backed up a few steps so he’d follow h away that I knee could speak privately, I dropped my hand and loweredfor you at Haven I hope you’re con I had that he’d heard me Otherwise, he was as motionless as a statue and without expression

I continued, detere until he stopped er systeeons They have contact points all over the state and in Georgia now, too They’d like to have a point here with you guys so they could give you warnings of canner movements and kids on the run froet soood people, Trip I’ll vouch for theave one sharp nod

"Okay, good And I know you’re hurting and you have a lot going on right now, but I just want you to know you have my support, a hundred percent Whatever you need, just say the word Haven is waiting to take all of you in or just soain but turned his head to face , so I just stared at him He was fiercely beautiful I could see why Peter had fallen for him He exudedsensitivity he tried to keep hidden from the world I hoped like heck that Peter could teach him to let it out If he didn’t loosen up a little and let so to become too brittle to survive the " He said it like a state for you to come"

"He left"

"Of course he left What did you expect him to do? Stay when you couldn’t even stand up for hi people out who needed you? That’s not Peter’s style You know that"

Trip turned his head away from me

"Don’t be so stubborn that you ruin your life If you don’t care enough about your own happiness to follow my advice, then do it for Peter If you don’t come to Haven and let him kno you feel, you’ll break his heart"

Trip said nothing

"And just so you know, there’s another cute guy at the prison now, so if you don’t go stake your claiht have a problem on your hands later"

Trip’s head whipped in ry, but all I heard orry

I shrugged "Just so what had to be done and felt zero guilt over it "Pretty cute, though If he were playing for ain "Don’t you already have enough boyfriends?"

I punched him in the arm "Shut up, asshole" I noticed a small smile play across his lips just before I turned away to join Winky, Rob, and Bodo

They were all deep in discussion on the other side of the hut, and as I got near, I learned it was about the logistics involved inlooms, cattle, horses, and other supplies frolad that there were people s that particular event It was going to be a nighthting off canners the entire trip down

We got up before the sun broke over the horizon Someone shoved a bowl of food in my hand and threw my pack over irl distractedly, searching for the rest of my friends

Rob and Winky came over from another hut and joined Bodo and me We ate while we talked over the day’s plans

"So here’s the deal," said Rob, "we’ve got six horses, four head of cattle - ts and their two babies, four sheep, two pigs, three dogs, some chickens, one looe of the breeding prograet us sper on this trip"

"Okay, can I just say ew to that?" I asked