Return to the Yard

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

It had taken somewhere around a week for Jo to finally be released back into the camp. She had lost count of the days, slipping in and out of consciousness while i the infirmary. She thought it had been eight days total, but she couldn't be entirely sure. Maybe it had been more? Or less? Jo didn't know but what she did know was that she was afraid of seeing Brandon. She'd seen herself in the mirror. She was thin and frail, her eyes had dark circles under them and she looked overall very sick. How would she explain that to him? How would she explain her absence and her disheveled look without making him freak out?

Jo didn't go to the fence that first day back. She was tired and scared of seeing Brandon and she hung back, staying close to the door that lead back in not wanting to see him just yet. That night while falling asleep she couldn't help that nagging feeling of guilt. He would be worried sick about her. She owed him a visit, and explanation, and she knew she would need to lie. Telling him the truth might make him act out and she didn't need him getting hurt or killed because of his rage for what they'd done to her. She was angry at her mistreatment, but she also cared enough for Brandon's safety to not tell him the truth.

The next day she moved out with the rest of the group and made her way towards the fence. Even though she was better, she still felt weak and achy from the sickness that had racked her body for so long. Her nose was still a little pink stuffy, her throat still raw, and her muscles overall felt sore as though she'd lifted too many weights. It didn't take long for her to spot him and the sight of him made her feel weak. She'd missed him, and it took seeing him to realize how much. It was unfair she wouldn't get to hold him.

"Brandon!" She called out after watching him for a moment, grabbing his attention. She couldn't stop the tears that had threatened, but she forced a smile on her face for his benefit. She didn't want him to worry, and though it hurt to smile, she would do it for him. He looked a little worse for wear himself and she wondered if it was the camps treatment or him worrying. What she would give to hug him.. "I missed you.." she choked when he got close enough, standing as close to the fence as she could without fear of being shocked. it was all so cruel!

[BRANDON GARCIA]

It had been nine days since Brandon had last seen Jo. The first day he thought maybe he had made her mad somehow. It wasn’t until the second day that he began to worry. By the fifth he was frantic. He tried asking along the fence to see if anyone had seen her. Had anyone been shot recently? He was so worried that Jo had acted out somehow and gotten herself killed. Or what if she had actually tried to slip under the fence to see him? It terrified him to think of that. It would look like just a dead mouse under the fence and they would just throw her body away. Melanie had tried to calm him, saying it was a good thing nobody along the fence had seen her or knew her name. It meant she wasn’t shot or had gone missing. People’s names had a way of falling on everyone’s lips when they acted out, were shot, or went missing. Like David…the Avisaille whose wing was amputated as a result of his escape attempt. Brandon tried to be okay with that explanation, but then where was Jo? Then it occurred to him she might have gotten sick. Had she been in the infirmary all this time? All he could think was Jo was sick and dying and he had no way of getting to her. Every day it was amazing he didn’t slip into complete and utter madness for worry about Jo. Sleep was hardly an option. He caught a few winks throughout the night from utter exhaustion, but he could never stay asleep.

By day nine he was numb. He knew he continue being terrified be it would make him lash out. Besides, his emotions had been so up and down and off the charts that he just couldn’t feel them anymore. Still, he went to the fence and sat Indian style on the grass. Melanie had been making friends and even though she would talk to them during their time in the yard, she stuck close to Brandon to make sure he wasn’t going to dash himself against the fence. He could hear her voice close by, but he was looking at the ground, beaten and exhausted from worry. “Brandon!” He thought it was his imagination again, but he looked up out of instinct. His eyes were beginning to fall once more, as they were used to doing, but this time they actually fell on the one he was looking for. There she was, skinny and exhausted and pale, but there she was. He couldn’t stop the tears that rushed to his eyes as he got to his feet and rushed to the fence as close as he could. All he wanted to do was touch her, hug her, kiss her, and never, ever let her go. The dark bags under his eyes made his face look wan.

“I missed you…” Bran was on the verge of letting his tears fall even though there was a wide smile on his face. “I missed you too, baby. I’ m just glad you’re okay.” His voice was shaking as he spoke and he had to clear his throat and take a deep breath so he would be the strong one here. “I was so worried, Jo. I thought…I thought maybe you had…” His voice failed him and he choked. “I thought I’d lost you. Where have you been? Are you okay? You look so thin. What did they do to you?” He suddenly felt a surge of rage. If those bastards had done anything to his girlfriend, anything to hurt her, he was prepared to kill them with his own bare hands. He wanted to hold her, save her from this place, keep her close; he swore when they got out he was never letting her go again.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

Jo couldn't ever recall a man looking do very pathetic. He looked as worn as she felt and she knew it was because he had been worrying and because this place was a hell. He looked awful and she wanted to touch him, hold him and assure him everything would be alright, though she herself had no idea if it actually would be. “I missed you too, baby." Oh how she wanted to hug him.. "I’m just glad you’re okay.” His voice was wavering and she could hear how choked up he was. She suddenly felt incredibly guilty for having kept him waiting an extra day, but seeing him like this and not being able to do anything about it only tortured her more. She wanted to adore him and yet she couldn't.

"I was so worried, Jo. I thought…I thought maybe you had…” He choked and she simply shook her head. He'd thought she was dead. Kit had, too. They had taken her away and no one had seen or heard from her in over a week. “I thought I’d lost you. Where have you been? Are you okay? You look so thin. What did they do to you?” So many questions! Her heart ached as she watched the rage slide across his gruff, handsome face. what she would have given to kiss him just then.

"Lose me? Never." She forced a smile, but her eyes were sad. It was obvious she was trying to reassure him. "I'm tough, baby." She said though she hadn't felt very tough in the infirmary. In fact, she had felt weak and vulnerable. If they'd wanted her dead, she would have been in a second. "I'm fine." She lied, gulping and hoping she looked convincing. "I.. well, I wasn't feeling well. I had gotten sick so... they quarantined me." She knew her story wasn't completely believable but it was better than him knowing the truth; they'd kept her locked up with no food and then made her sick and kept her sick for a few days before they even treated her. "Didn't want everyone to catch it, but I'm here. I'm okay, I'm going to be fine. I promise." She bit her lip only half believing what she'd said. What if there were more experiments in her future? Could she survive another round? "Are you okay?" She asked wanting to change the topic. "What did I miss while I was gone?" Again she hoped to look passive as though nothing were the matter. Jo had never been a great liar, but she hoped now she was convincing enough to get Brandon to calm down. Last thing she needed was for him to act out and get hurt.

[BRANDON GARCIA]

“Lose me? Never.” The promise was empty but still reassuring and Brandon tried to let Jo’s smile calm him. “I’m tough, baby.” A small smile of his own played at his lips while his eyes remained sad. She was tough, but not invincible. That was obvious in the way she looked so worn at the moment. “I’m fine.” She wasn’t, but Brandon didn’t call her on her bluff. “I…well, I wasn’t feeling well. I had gotten sick so…they quarantined me.” Why did it sound like she was trying to cover something up? Brandon knew her better than to fall for her lies, but he wasn’t angered by them. Well, maybe a little, but he was more perplexed by them than anything else. What good could come from lying to him? “Didn’t want everyone to catch it, but I’m here. I’m okay, I’m going to be fine. I promise.” He sighed, his eyes sad, unable to ask her for the truth. She wouldn’t tell him, not here. Maybe when they were free from this place he could revisit this moment, but for now he couldn’t ask, because what was the point? He just hoped she really would be okay. It was obvious she actually had been sick, but to what extent she wasn’t telling him and he could only pray she would stay healthy. And pray he would…

“Are you okay? What did I miss while I was gone?” Brandon had to take a moment to really let his mind veer from the hundreds of questions he had for Jo. His back eyes held the brown of her own for a long moment, hoping to find some truth of what really happened there, but he couldn’t see it. “I know there’s something you’re not telling me…” he began softly, not sounding mad but perhaps a little disappointed. She had to know he wouldn’t be happy with her hiding things from him. “But I won’t press you for answers right now. I’m sure you have your reasons…” With another sigh and a clearing of his throat, he finally resolved to answer her question. “I’m okay, I guess. I haven’t been sleeping well or eating much since you disappeared. Now I’m starting to realize how tired I am.” He gave a lopsided half smile even though it wasn’t really funny. Jo wasn’t dead and although worse for wear, she was going to get better; the relief he felt made his muscles and his bones ache with exhaustion. He needed food and rest, but the day was only half over.

“And what you missed…well, an Avisaille named David tried to escape. He tried to fly up through the covered yard. Obviously he didn’t go far, but they amputated his wings as punishment.” Brandon’s face must have looked quite haggard as he recalled the event. Of course he hadn’t seen the amputation, but the wings were hung in the mess hall to remind them of what disobedience could win you. Just a couple days ago, David reappeared…wingless. There were bloody bandages on his back and instead of eating he just stared at his tray. It terrified Brandon to think about losing his wings; it also made him sick to think that the camp officials thought what David had tried warranted such a harsh punishment. “He doesn’t eat anymore. We’ve got to get out of here, Jo. We have to get out before they take all our wings or find some way to take away the Therians’ abilities. This place…it’ll kill us, Jo.” He shook his head heavily, looking down at the ground with a pained stare. When he looked back up, he could see how scared Jo was too. He instantly regretted the way he had been talking. He hadn’t meant to frighten her more. “I wish I could touch you. I don’t think I’ll be able to let you go when we get out of here.” There was the smallest of smiles on his mouth as he gazed through the barrier at her. Even now she was still beautiful.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

Brandon was gazing into her eyes, and she knew he was considering what she had said. She could see easily he wasn't fooled by her story but she stood her ground, knowing she needed to in order to keep him calm. If he'd known what they had done... Jo didn't want to think of Brandon's reaction. It frightened her. She didn't know him well enough to know how he would react in certain situations but he seemed like a bit of a hot head and a bit stubborn. She would be helpless to stop him from acting out from her side of the fence. “I know there’s something you’re not telling me…” She didn't make any facial gestures to give away if she were or not, offering a deadpan look. “But I won’t press you for answers right now. I’m sure you have your reasons…” She did have her reasons, but she didn't nod or thank him or make it at all clear that she was going to offer those reasons or that they even existed.

“I’m okay, I guess." He began after a weary sounding sigh which made Jo's heart ache further for him. "I haven’t been sleeping well or eating much since you disappeared. Now I’m starting to realize how tired I am.” Brandon looked tired and though he was attempting to smile, she only frowned. She should have come yesterday, it had been selfish not to. She suddenly hated this placed a little more for doing this to both of them, but she didn't know how horrible it was until Brandon began to tell the story of the Avisaille who had attempted to escape.

When Brandon told of the man's amputations, Jo thought she might be sick. She thought she'd had it rough with being starved and locked in a room with disease ridden feces, but poor David had it much worse than she. “He doesn’t eat anymore. We’ve got to get out of here, Jo. We have to get out before they take all our wings or find some way to take away the Therians’ abilities. This place…it’ll kill us, Jo.” She knew he was right and she wanted to argue but her throat was dry. She couldn't pretend it would all be okay because she was sure what he said was true. They would kill them if they got the opportunity and Jo was almost certain that they feared their own lives if they committed genocide. "They won't kill us all off, not yet." She assured but she wasn't entirely sure she even believed it and her voice portrayed her skepticism. A tear trickled down her cheek and she suddenly felt tired. What she would give to curl up with this man and watch a movie. Not that they would watch the movie. Jo was certain they would simply hold each other and just relish in the fact they were alive. Even her libido seemed gone. “I wish I could touch you. I don’t think I’ll be able to let you go when we get out of here.” There was the smallest of smiles on his mouth as he gazed through the barrier at her and her face scrunched up and she had to fight back the tears, bowing her head. She nodded and sniffled, wiping at her face and willing herself to stop being such a baby. She looked up and forced a sad smile, nodding again. "I don't think I'll let you let me go." She said softly wiping at her face and sniffing back the tears that threatened to consume her. "We're going to get out of here. Maybe.. maybe I'll talk to Gina again, see if she and I could figure something out. I'm so small when I shift, surely I could sneak out somehow. Your sister could help! She knows that doctor, and he could get me out if I could just get out of this damn camp! I'll tell the world, Bran.." She hissed softly, her eyes pleading. If he put his foot down she would consider listening, but her mind was set. She needed to get out of there and she needed to save them all!

[BRANDON GARCIA]

Jo’s tears always broke Brandon’s heart. He just wanted to hold her. God, this was the worst kind of torture—being able to see the one you care about but not being able to touch her. Even if it was through the fence, at least he would be able to touch her cheek without fear of being electrocuted. “I don’t think I’ll let you let me go.” Her words broke his heart. He wasn’t even thinking about sex. All he wanted to do was hold her close and hide her from the world and kiss her until her tears stopped. He wanted to kiss every inch of her face, smell her hair, feel her against him…at night it was all he dreamed about. “We’re going to get out of here. Maybe…Maybe I’ll talk to Gina again, see if she and I could figure something out. I’m so small when I shift, surely I could sneak out somehow. Your sister could help! She knows that doctor, and he could get me out if I could just get out of this damn camp! I’ll tell the world, Bran…” She wanted to escape, and how could he blame her? The thought terrified him, but what terrified him more was losing her forever. What if she got sick again? Would she make it through another illness? Was there a possibility she could die? He couldn’t think about it. It literally hurt. When was the last time he felt like that for anyone but Melanie?

For a long moment he just watched her with a furrowed brow. Melanie could help Jo escape. He didn’t know how she would involve her new buddy Gina in this, the hot blonde who he’d talked to a couple times since Jo had been sick just to see if she’d seen his girlfriend. She’d been nice enough and seemed genuinely concerned too. He was so torn. He didn’t want Jo to risk her life, but he didn’t want her to die here just for his own selfish desire to make sure she was safe. Sighing heavily, he ran a hand through his hair, mussing it more than it already was. “Alright…” he said quietly, looking back up at her. “I want you to be free, Jo. I don’t want this place to spoil you or take you away from me. But I’m going to tell Mel to tell that doctor to let me know that you get to wherever he takes you safely. I need you to be extra careful about this. Don’t talk about it in front of anyone you don’t know or trust. You never know who could rat you out, but we both know what they’ll do if they catch you. I can’t lose you Jo. I just can’t.” He felt like he could die if she died. Why did he care so much? He hadn’t been dating her all that long. But being trapped in a place like this…it made you appreciate what you had that much more. He didn’t want to put a label on his feelings yet, but he knew he was falling hard for this woman.

Melanie walked up beside him suddenly, tears in her eyes as she smiled wide at Jo. “Oh my God, Jo! You’re alright! We were so worried about you!” His sister gushing over his girlfriend made his heart warm a little. He let the girls exchange information, Jo telling her she had been sick and Mel saying she was glad she was okay. Brandon looked down at Melanie. “Mel, she’s going to try to escape.” His sister’s eyes got wide with fear, looking between the two of them. “Nothing is planned yet…but I don’t want her to stay here and she doesn’t want to be here. If we can come up with a decent plan, maybe we can figure this out. We’ll need your doctor friend’s help.” She nodded solemnly, looking down at the grass. “I’m sure Marius would be willing to help…but we would have to guarantee his safety too. No one can know he was the one to help. He has a girlfriend and a family who love him—I won’t be responsible for getting him killed.” Her eyes looked warily to Jo. “I’m sorry, but I just know he won’t agree if he could be found out.” Brandon nodded too, looking back to Jo. “Just keep that in mind when you talk to Gina.” Their voices were soft so they couldn’t be overheard.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“Alright…” She gulped and looked at him anxiously. Ho would let her? He wouldn't fight or try to dissuade her? “I want you to be free, Jo. I don’t want this place to spoil you or take you away from me. But I’m going to tell Mel to tell that doctor to let me know that you get to wherever he takes you safely. I need you to be extra careful about this..." This wasn't just a matter of her being free, but everyone there. She would make it so they were all free! But how? She had no idea the first step to take. She nodded as he spoke, willing to do whatever he told her to if he would just give her this chance to get out. "..I can’t lose you Jo. I just can’t.” Her heart ached at his final plea. He couldn't lose her. She shook her head. "You won't lose me." She promised in a soft voice, her eyes wide and sad, like a scared mouse.

Jo never even saw Melanie approach and when her eyes scanned to the girl she offered a small smile, not feeling much like smiling these days. “Oh my God, Jo! You’re alright! We were so worried about you!” She bit her lip and offered another tiny smile. "Thank you." She told Melanie softly. "I was just sick.." She explained before Brandon jumped in an explained that she intended to escape but how they hadn't formulated any real plan yet. Jo hated the way Brandon was phrasing some of it. I don’t want her to stay here and she doesn’t want to be here. When he said it that way it just sounded so selfish, like she wanted to get out and the others could all just rot away there. That's not what she wanted!

“I’m sure Marius would be willing to help…but we would have to guarantee his safety too. No one can know he was the one to help. He has a girlfriend and a family who love him—I won’t be responsible for getting him killed.” Jo pursed her lips and was suddenly under the impression that Melanie wasn't entirely willing to help anymore. “I’m sorry, but I just know he won’t agree if he could be found out. Just keep that in mind when you talk to Gina.”

Jo's brows furrowed. She was willing to put her life on the line to save people, hundreds of them, from this terrible, inhumane fate and this doctor, who apparently cared for their welfare, wasn't entirely willing to do the same? If he wasn't why should he? Because he had a family? Well Jo had a family, too! She had plenty of aunts and uncles and cousins who cared for her and were probably worried about her. She had Kit and though he was a dick, he was like family. He would always be like family, and Brandon! She had a boyfriend and she wanted him to be free of this hellhole and this doctor who supposedly cared wouldn't help if there was a chance he would be found out? "Then what's the point?" She growled angrily at the two of them. "What's the point of any of us risking our lives if there aren't others who can help who are willing to make the same sacrifice. You don't think I have a family?" She spat, infuriated by all this. Her voice was low as she looked at the Garcia's through the gate. "Why isn't this doctor doing more? Why isn't he out there rallying people? Because he's afraid his own ass will be on the line? Because if that's the case I have news for you, Mel. He doesn't give a flying fuck about what happens to us. If he did he would be doing everything in his power, but if trying to sneak me out is too damn dangerous, well, he's worthless. I'd have a better chance running naked through the damn woods." Jo wanted out and she wanted out now and the one person who could do it was hesitant because he was afraid. Did he think that they would make it obvious? Jo would escape through the fence in mouse form and hide in the woods until the staff was able to leave. All she needed to do was to know what sort of car Marius had and she could wait there for him. She would just hop on in when the door was shut! It wasn't that risky.

The girl shook her head. "Don't bother asking him then if he's so unwilling. I'll just figure it out on my own." She didn't even want to talk to them anymore. Well, maybe Brandon, but she was now in a mood and wanted to go sulk by herself or maybe track down Gina who would actually entertain her ideas.

[BRANDON GARCIA]

“Then what’s the point?” Brandon’s brow furrowed at the fury in Jo’s voice. Didn’t she know they were trying to be reasonable? "What's the point of any of us risking our lives if there aren't others who can help who are willing to make the same sacrifice. You don't think I have a family?" Mel was shaking her head, a worried look on her face. “That’s not—“ Jo kept talking. "Why isn't this doctor doing more? Why isn't he out there rallying people? Because he's afraid his own ass will be on the line? Because if that's the case I have news for you, Mel. He doesn't give a flying fuck about what happens to us.” Mel looked stunned and hurt and Brandon’s eyes snapped back to his girlfriend. “Hey!” he exclaimed, showing his irritation. He understood why Jo was upset, but that didn’t give her the right to snap at Mel like that. His sister was sensitive to harsh words and it hurt her to upset people. One look at Mel and he could see the tears brimming there, but there was also a look of defiance. “If he did he would be doing everything in his power, but if trying to sneak me out is too damn dangerous, well, he's worthless. I'd have a better chance running naked through the damn woods. Don’t bother asking him then if he’s so unwilling. I’ll just figure it out on my own.” Brandon felt like he was witnessing a remote catfight. Neither of the women looked happy with the other, and he had to say, he was siding more with his sister on this one. “Jo, calm down. Can’t you see she wants to help?” he asked softly, his brow still furrowed.

He felt Melanie’s hand on his arm and when he looked down at her, he could see the determination on her face. “He is trying to help, Jo.” Her voice was stern and it made Brandon swallow hard to feel the tension between them. “They pulled me into the infirmary the other day to do some…some tests. He came to see me afterward.” Melanie had yet to explain to him what happened in those tests. She refused to talk about it and it made him suspicious, but she assured him she was fine. While it concerned him, he hadn’t been able to focus on it in the past few days with Jo having disappeared. “Marius told me that there are plans for protests being put into motion on the outside. His girlfriend is a major recruiter. When the plans are set, he plans to join them, help them anyway he can from the inside.” This was news to Brandon. Why hadn’t she said anything? She’d been in the infirmary days ago! He shouldn’t have been first hearing about this now. Mel looked up at him with big, apologetic eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything. He asked me to keep it a secret.” She looked back to Jo, her voice still very soft but firm. “There are people trying to help, Jo. If Marius got caught because of this escape plan, not only would it put him in jeopardy, but it would possibly destroy their inside connections. I think it’s brave of you to be willing to risk your life to rally the people, but there are different types of bravery and you can’t expect everyone to be as brave as you.” She was getting choked up, and she suddenly turned and walked away, her head low and her arms folded over her chest. Brandon watched her go with surprise, wondering why she was so upset. It was more than just upsetting Jo and Jo upsetting her…he would talk to her later. For now he looked back at Jo, a frown on his face.

“You didn’t have to snap at her like that. She was just trying to give you some pointers. Plus, she’s had her own issues lately. I don’t know what they did to her in the infirmary, but she won’t talk to me about it. So be nice to her, okay?” He was mad that Jo had upset his little sister so much, but he didn’t want to just storm away like Melanie had. He didn’t like being in the middle of them, mostly because he didn’t want to choose. If it came down to siding with Jo or his sister…he hated to think it, but he would probably side with Mel. She had been his whole life for a long time, after all. “And I didn’t know about the doctor’s plans, otherwise I would have told you. I know Mel will talk to him still. She’ll let us know what he says.” He had a bitter taste in his mouth from the arguments that had just happened. He didn’t want that for his first time seeing Jo in nine days. It left him speechless and unsure what to say or even if she was angry with him.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“Jo, calm down. Can’t you see she wants to help?” Jo was known for her hot head. She'd had it since she was a tyke and if there was anything she truly hated, it was being told to calm down. It was one of her biggest pet peeves and she was about to blow up at Brandon for making the suggestion when Melanie interjected.

“He is trying to help, Jo. They pulled me into the infirmary the other day to do some…some tests. He came to see me afterward.” Yeah, Jo knew all about those stupid tests and had she not been infuriated she might have cared more about what had happened to Mel. She could tell by the way she said what she did that her "tests" had probably been as pleasant as her own. “Marius told me that there are plans for protests being put into motion on the outside. His girlfriend is a major recruiter. When the plans are set, he plans to join them, help them anyway he can from the inside.” Jo's lips pursed as she looked at the other woman. Why wouldn't she have mentioned that before? One look at Brandon and she could tell he had been in the dark about all this as well. She should have said something instead of making this Marius guy look like an unwilling shitbag. “I’m sorry I didn’t say anything. He asked me to keep it a secret.” She said, answering Jo's unspoken question.

So there were people helping, and Marius was one of them. That information would have been far more helpful before Jo was led to believe he was an unwilling participant. This only angered her more, probably because she had began in a foul mood and wasn't feeling well. "..but there are different types of bravery and you can’t expect everyone to be as brave as you.” Jo could see Mel was upset and there was a part of her inside that felt bad for bringing it on the girl, but a more annoyed part was vindicated by her being so upset. She had deserved to hear everything Jo had said seeing as she had been intent to keep this mutiny a secret. Here Jo was ready to risk her own skin when there were people out there who were trying to get them out. How could she have known?

Jo looked back to Brandon who was practically scowling at her. “You didn’t have to snap at her like that. She was just trying to give you some pointers." Her eyes widened and her brows furrowed low over her eyes at the same time, her lips pursing into a thin, narrow line. She didn't have to snap at her!? "Plus, she’s had her own issues lately. I don’t know what they did to her in the infirmary, but she won’t talk to me about it. So be nice to her, okay?” Her mouth opened. Of all the things to say! Jo knew what torture was, she'd been in the infirmary too, and sure, she hadn't told Brandon the details but she knew he knew there was to her story than she had let on. “And I didn’t know about the doctor’s plans, otherwise I would have told you. I know Mel will talk to him still. She’ll let us know what he says.” Had the conversation not started out so wrong she might have had a more level head, but she was on a warpath and she couldn't stop it now.

"Don't you tell me not to snap at her because she was in the damn infirmary!" She hissed. "I was there for a week! I know the kind of shit they do to us in there, the little games they play with us, so don't you even dare, Brandon!" She growled at him through the fence, angry and hurt tears streaming down her cheek. "She had a right to tell you. She should have said something when we said I wanted to figure something out, but instead she made it sound like he wasn't going to risk anything for us. What was I supposed to think? How could I have possibly known? So don't! Okay? Just don't!" She wiped her eyes, showing how immature she still was, but this place was wearing her down, physically and mentally. "I can't deal with this right now. I'm too fucking tired to even think about this. I shouldn't have come over here." She didn't mean those last harsh words, but she didn't regret it in the moment. Later when she was alone, trying to sleep, she would. She would cry over how she'd ruined everything, but for now she turned and stomped away, wanting to sulk alone. She wanted someone to be on her side and Brandon couldn't be that someone. Not when Melanie needed someone, too.