I woke up with a stiff neck and a pounding head. “Daskalos, it’s time to wake up,” Nikketa said while shaking my shoulder. She wafted a plate of food under my nose, and it smelled like my own mother’s cooking. My eyes opened just as my stomach growled.

“When was the last time you ate?” she asked with a click of her tongue. She was still wearing the floral-printed pajamas from last night. When I brought Gordon home, she wrapped me in a warm hug then hit him on the back of his head.

“I don’t know, maybe lunch yesterday?” I replied in a sleepy voice, rubbing my eyes. “What time is it?” I asked.

“It’s close to eleven,” Nikketa replied while shoving food in my face.

“Oh shit. I’ve got to go to the Gardens. Cyler is gonna kill me,” I said and stood up. I started feeling around for my boots on her tent floor. I rolled my neck, my bones cracking and popping from the movement.

“Oh no, you don’t. Tallis said you are to stay here and rest.” She rested a firm hand on my shoulder, guiding me to a chair.

“Good thing Tallis isn’t my keeper or my Chief,” I mumbled, causing Nikketa to let out a hearty belly laugh. She crouched over and grabbed her stomach as if the humor in my statement caused her pain.

“You keep telling yourself that, Daskalos.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “That boy owns you, and you him. I’ve never seen him so worried. Stopped by four times last night while you and Gordon slept,” she explained as she shoved a spoon full of eggs in my face.

I took a bite to appease her, then my hunger took over and I started shoveling heaping amounts into my mouth. I focused on eating and tried to forget how pleased her admission about Tallis made me feel.

“Where is Gordon, anyway?” I asked, looking around the tent. I had paused his punishment for the evening due to sheer exhaustion, but I was ready to give him a stern talking to. The Gardens could wait another thirty minutes.

“He’s currently digging me a new latrine. And after that, he’s going to help Thurst and Bowden with their teething newborn. Then he’s going to help cook a nice feast for everyone that was on his search party,” Nikketa said with a wide, pleased grin.

“I like your style, Nikketa,” I said with a full mouth.

“Damn boy. What was he thinking? Running off and scaring this old woman like that. We have to get creative with our punishments to get the point across. I’m sure your parents did the same with you. You’re quite the handful,” she said with a raised eyebrow

I felt that familiar twinge of sadness that surfaced whenever someone brought up my parents.

“I don’t really remember. They died when I was young, and Cyler sent me away to school shortly after that. I only came home during the summer. Although, Mistress Ingrid was pretty creative. I once had to pluck her chin hairs for sneaking makeup into my dorm. It was a cruel lesson in vanity.” I shivered.

Nikketa looked at me with a small smile and piled more food on my plate. “It’s a sad world when little girls have to grow up without their mothers. It makes them grow fast and bitter.”

I couldn’t disagree, maybe that's what was wrong with me.

I finished my food in silence and washed up in their portable sink before going outside where I saw Tallis sitting on a log.

“Have you been waiting for me?” I asked with a small grin.

“I was worried." Tallis rubbed the back of his neck, then patted the log next to him, indicating that I should sit. I settled next to him and my skin felt electric.

For a moment we both just sat there, looking around camp.

“I…” Tallis began. “I don’t think you have malicious intentions. I couldn’t help but stand up for you. I hope you don’t think I overstepped. And if you want me to apologize to your brother, I will.”

“I don’t think you overstepped,” I whispered. “Besides, with Cy’s pride, I doubt you had any effect on him.”

Tallis chuckled. “I got you the day off from the Gardens,” he said in a hopeful tone. I watched as his hands twitched on his thigh.

“How’d you manage that?” I asked with a raised eyebrow just as Nikketa walked out and brought Tallis a plate of food.

“Haven’t you heard? I’m a terrifying Scavenger Chief.”

“Who’s terrible at flirting,” Nikketa mumbled while walking back to her tent, causing Tallis and me to laugh mercilessly.

“First, I want to make things right with Gordon—after kicking his ass—then…” I paused. Was I really doing this? “I want to spend the day here. With the terrifying Scavenger Chief’s permission, of course.”

Tallis’ grin was blinding, and I felt like a moth to his flame as I leaned closer. “I think I’ll allow it,” he said, leaning close, barely a breath between us. “But why?”

I bit my lip and noticed how his eyes zeroed in on the movement. “Despite the dirt and the bugs, and Nikketa’s demanding nature, and your inability to wear a shirt, and the total lack of fashion sense, and—"

“—And I’m hoping there’s an end to these insults,” Tallis interrupted. I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath. The moment I admitted that I liked something, the universe usually tore it away from me.

“I like it here.”

Tallis opened his mouth to respond. We were on the cusp of something big here. Could I admit that I was growing to like the idea of courting him?

The sound of a ringing Tablet interrupted us.

“Are you going to answer that?” I asked with a smirk. Tallis leaned back and patted around him.

“Cyler gave it to me,” he explained while shuffling through his belongings before pulling out a Tablet. “I’m not used to having one,” he chuckled, and once again, I was reminded of how different we were.

Tallis stood and walked a respectable distance away before answering. While he was preoccupied, I took a moment to truly observe him. I took in his long legs and wind-swept hair. With my eyes, I traced each visible scar on his bare torso.

“My brother is too nice, you know,” a cool voice said, and I whipped my head to the left. Mia was decked in her usual leather get up and had plopped down beside me.

“What do you want?” I asked, picking the paint off my nails. Something about his sister rubbed me the wrong way. Perhaps it was her friendship with Ashleigh.

“I want him to be happy.” Mia sighed. “You know, it should have been me to go through the Chief trials. My brother is fearless and fierce. He’d kill anyone or anything that threatens his people. But he’s really got to work on that guilt thing,” she said softly. I wondered if she regularly made it a habit to chat up random strangers outside her social circle.

“Now, normally I don’t make it a habit to befriend bitches, but I love a good redemption story. I think you and me…” she began while gesturing between us. “…could be great if you stopped acting like you’re better than everyone.”

“Did you come here to insult me or…?” I asked. If I wanted to feel bad about myself, I would go back to the Black Manor.

“I came here to tell you that I don’t approve of you and Tallis, but I don’t really have a say in the matter. Might as well befriend you so we can get past the awkward hate stares from across camp,” Mia said while brushing her hands on her pants.

“Oh—Tallis and I aren’t like that. He just walks me back to the Dorms at night.”

“I know he walks you to the Dorms. I’ve had to cover his evening guard shifts since you showed up in your stupid dresses and shitty shoes. I mean, really… Who works in the Gardens wearing that?” Mia waved her arm up and down at me incredulously.

“Someone with a sense of fashion. Obviously, you don’t know what that means. You wear trousers, for God’s sake.” I shuddered. "What was the point of you talking to me, again?" The paint on my thumbnail was now completely gone, it looked naked and sad next to the flashy crimson red my other nails wore. Slowly but surely, they were each being stripped bare.

"Why does there have to be a point? Sometimes I just talk to people. You should try it sometime. I'm Mia, by the way. Last time we spoke, I was too busy saving your life, and the time before, I think you referred to me as that 'filthy Scavenger.’ Figured you'd like to have a name to go with your prejudice."

I took a deep breath and tried not to scream profanities. "Look, I'm not saying I necessarily like you. But you caught me in rare form that day. And I'm not a fan of Ashleigh's," I replied with a shrug.

"That's one shitty apology, babe. But I'll take it, we can work on it later. Oh, and by the way," she said while standing up. "You really should consider just moving here. Nikketa is about ready to kidnap you anyway.”

I considered her offer for a moment.

"Thanks, but I don't think so. Besides, I could probably fit my entire wardrobe in one of your dwellings," I replied with a smirk.

"Yes, well it would be a shame to lose your ridiculous clothes and gain a home,” Mia replied, walking off just as Tallis hung up his Tablet and headed back towards me. I rolled my eyes at Mia's retreating form, which made him smile.

“What did Mia want?” Tallis asked while holding out a hand for me.

“I don’t even know," I mumbled. "She just asked me to move here,” I added with a shocked tone. Was it common practice for Scavengers to randomly invite complete strangers to move into their camp?

"Wow. Really?" Tallis asked.

"Yeah, it was rather strange."

"She must like you. Mia is mostly a loner, except with Agrio and Huxley."

"I doubt that. She probably was coerced by someone," I said, poking Tallis in the ribs. I kicked the dirt beneath my feet and inhaled the smell of smoke, a scent I had learned to associate with the Scavenger camp.

"I think you're not happy at the Walker Dorms, Agapimenos. Why stay where you aren't happy?"

I bit my lip. I wanted to explain why I was restricted to the Walker Dorms, but it felt too personal. I wasn't ready for Tallis to see that part of me.

"I kind of have to stay there, but let's not talk about that now. Can we find Gordon? I want to yell at him some more.” I stood up and stretched my tired legs. Surprisingly, I felt at peace here, despite spending all night in emotional turmoil about Jacob and chasing after Gordon. Maybe Tallis was right. Maybe I should seek my own happiness—my brothers be damned.

"About that, I think it’s best I speak to him alone. We have a lot to work through, and you have a habit of stealing the show, beautiful girl," Tallis winked. I saw through his attempt at flattery.

"Luckily for you, compliments are my weakness. Go talk to him, maybe I'll see what kind of trouble I can get into. Can..." I began with a cough. My shoulders dropped, and I felt my confidence slip. “Can we maybe have dinner together?" My voice lifted obnoxiously high at the end, and I wanted to slap myself in embarrassment.

Tallis leaned in close and placed both hands on my shoulders. "I'd love to have dinner with you tonight, but Cyler has called a leadership meeting. I need to be there," he explained. “Maybe you could come with me? It would be a great opportunity to announce our courtship.”

“I-I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet.”

Tallis frowned as I pushed a stray hair behind my ear. I bit the inside of my cheek so hard that the salty taste of blood filled my mouth. I knew it was ridiculous to be so withdrawn and difficult. But a courtship was a big deal, and Cyler’s words last night still haunted me. It wasn’t just the embarrassment of dating a Scavenger, it was the fear that Cyler would tell Tallis everything. That Tallis would see just how terrible I actually was.

Tallis didn’t see me as the woman that ruined her family. He didn’t think I was unlovable, or cruel. With him, I had a clean slate. A courtship meant so many things. Most of which I could handle. But revealing my past to him was one boundary I couldn’t cross. What if I dove into a relationship, just to have him leave me like everyone else had?

“What are you so afraid of? Isn’t this worth it?” Tallis grabbed my hand and kissed the inside of my wrist.

“I need more time. Just let me think, ok?” I grabbed my small bag.

“Don’t leave, Agapimenos. Stay— let's spend the day together. I can give you the time you need.” Tallis tone was filled with frantic hopefulness. I wanted to say yes, but it was all too much.

"I can’t." I turned and started my walk back to my lonely, empty room. Slow tears spilled down my face as I walked, focusing on my pounding head and not the pain in my heart.

A loud whistle that made the hair on the back of my neck stand, blasted around me. I turned back around and Tallis took six large steps before he was in front of me. He put two hands on my cheeks so that I was forced to look into this bright blue eyes. All around us, Scavengers who were doing their daily chores stopped to stare, but Tallis’ hold on me was unwavering.

“I’m not sure what just happened, but I want to make something incredibly clear, Agapimenos. I want to spend time with you. I want to learn more about the beautiful girl with a hardened heart and a soul that makes me want to wrap up in it and keep warm during the winter,” Tallis said in a melodic voice that broke me.

“I’ll wait however long you need, Ok? I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give me, but just consider that this could be more, please? For my sake?” His eyes roamed my face and it took all the willpower I had not to let a tear fall. I sucked in a deep breath as he leaned a little closer. “You can go if you need to. Process what you’re feeling. But come back to me, and let's try again.”