I sighed again and turned to where the trouble was. A big burly man with a shiny bald head was watching me intently and a short blond woman was walking up to me.

I stepped back.

“Ms. Silver, don’t move.” A stern yet soothing voice fell off the lips of the bald man. My feet didn’t obey my mind, they stayed where they were told to stay. The woman came up to me and reached out her hand like she wanted to shake hands.

I flinched away, I flinched away very bigly, half from fear of her punishing me and half from fear of what I’d see. She retracted her hand and smiled warmly.

“I’m not gonna hurt you kid.” A husky voice filled my ears. “ I’m just gonna get you home.”

“Please.” I stated watching as the huge man made his way towards us on steady legs. Having no idea what I was going to say- only that I wanted them to understand how much I didn’t want to go back- how much I loathed that town and how much I didn’t want to ever see or think of that man that called me abomination again.

“Come on kid we aint got all day.” His hand reached for my arm, it gripped the previous bruises. I couldn’t stop myself I flinched away in fear covering my face.

A flash of white blinded my eyes and it came to me like it always did.

Like some curtain was being pulled back. I saw his black arm reach out and his huge hand clasped my own. Feeling of security and comfort overwhelmed my senses and almost made my lips smile. And then it was all gone. His hand dropped my arm.

“Please don’t touch me.” I whispered looking at my converse. There was a small silence. I could feel them looking at each other. “I’ll go with you, just please don’t touch me.” I felt safety and assurance in my vision of hands so it was okay to go with them.

“We aren’t gonna hurt you darlin’.” I examined their clothing. They were dressed casually, the woman wore sneakers and the big man wore shiny black shoes.

There was silence again. A big uncomfortable one. Was I supposed to respond to that last statement?

I looked up at the woman’s green eyes, she was examining me. She glanced at her watch and then at her partner.

“Well, I’m tired of the trains, let’s get something to eat and somewhere to sleep and catch a ride in the morning.” She stated glancing at me and then at the bald man. He nodded his head.

“Oh my god, you are such a loser!” The woman laughed eyeing the black man seated in front of her. His big smile grew and his pearly white teeth twinkled at me. I couldn’t help but grin at the two of them. They were like buddies, the old kind that knew each other better than they knew themselves.

“What, you’re the loser.” He shot back sticking out his tongue very unprofessionally. I was shocked for a moment, he stuck his tongue out at her- that small gesture would have earned a whole set of bible lessons from my father.

“Excuse me miss.” She paused sitting up straighter and deepening her voice. “But can you please call an ambulance cause you just stopped my heart.”

“Hey, I got her number didn’t I?” He smiled proudly playing with the salt shakers in the middle of the table.

“Wow, I never realized how lame you are.” She laughed.

“You know speaking of lame- I seem to remember a- certain woman.” He paused and 

turned to me. “In high school this blond went up to this ‘new kid’ and asked for his number- and then she got rejected.” He paused and smirked still looking at me.

“Hey that’s not fair Bruce you can’t use that on me.” The woman complained.

“And then she went to class and found the new kid teaching.” His deep voice laughed good naturedly. “Talk about lame.” He mused still chuckling. The woman glared at him.

“You two were friends in high school?” I asked, I didn’t whisper this time but I spoke.

“Oh yes, I’ve been friends with this loser for a very long time.” The woman answered smiling and sipping from her water.

“I think it was in third grade that you burned my hair.” The bald man stated smiling at me.

“And your still whining about it!” The woman retorted rolling her green eyes.

“So your best friends?” I asked smiling at their bantering.

“Unfortunately I can’t get rid of her.” Bruce smiled.

“Do you have a best friend, Trag-Ms. Silver?” The woman asked. I studied her for a moment; she didn’t want to say my first name.

“I did.” I answered moving a little closer to the window and away from the woman seated next to me.

“Why don’t you anymore?” Bruce demanded. I watched his brown eyes watch my own.

“She died two months ago…in a car crash…” I paused. “with all of her family.” I added scooting away from their questions.

The silence settled again.

“I’m so sorry.” The woman looked at me.

“As much as I hate to admit it, I would be more than devastated if I lost Kristin.” Bruce added looking at me sympathetically.

Our food came and we ate quietly for a little bit.

“Is that why you ran away?”

I looked at her, so far this woman proved to be a genuinely nice one. Her movements and her aroma was nice too, the big man also; they seemed to fit together perfectly. I liked that about them the most I think. I’ve never meet any two people that just feel so right together they seem to push each other and pull at the same time, perfect harmony.

“No.” I hoped that they didn’t think I was rude or anything, I just don’t have very developed people skills. They both nodded and tried again.

“Why did you run away?” Bruce demanded spooning some green colored soup in his mouth. I felt the woman’s tensed muscles beside me. If it was one thing about me that stuck out the most it was my uncanny ability to read people and their actions- it seemed only logical- it went with my mutation. Maybe mutation isn’t the right word.

“Bruce Matthew Johnson!” Kristin scolded glaring daggers at her long time friend.

If I were a happier person a smile would have graced my lips as the huge black man’s head ducked in shame and guilt.

“What, I was just asking.” Bruce said quietly playing with his spoon.

“She obviously doesn’t feel like telling.” Kristin paused and glanced apologetically at me and then turned back to Bruce. “I can’t believe you. You’d think you’d be better mannered after the whole Sacramento thing.” She shook her blond head in, was it disappointment- disbelief?

Silence settled again. I could feel their silence settle around me, it was old, perfect to a point, everything set as it was supposed to be. I could feel my own silence poke holes in their well constructed one. Bruce grew uncomfortable first, he squirmed in his upholstered seat and 

glanced around.

Kristin’s keen eyes glanced around to make sure everyone was done.

“Shall we go?” it wasn’t a question, it was a statement.