Snippet #2365716

Austen smiled at Lizzy's response, feeling better not only for the kind words but for her power. Her body still screamed and the hammering in her head was still present, but she didn't feel as shaky. "Thank you, really. I feel much better." She said, thinking of returning the squeeze, but she wasn't even sure if she could. Human contact wasn't something she was used to. Pulling the collar of the sweater up further in an attempt to cover more skin, she slowly stood.

Looking around as some of the people left, Austen felt ashamed. What had possessed her to yell as she had? She hardly spoke to anyone, ever. Normally she was quiet, shy, unable to look others in the eye. She wanted what was best for everyone, for everyone to be happy. And yet, she'd just shouted at them all. Austen felt anger now, at the people in C-CLASS. They'd change her in ways even she couldn't understand.

Austen realized that fueling this change in her was partly for her desperation to get out of the government's grasp. She hadn't told the whole story of what they'd done to her, or what they had made her do, and she never would. The young outcast already had enough trouble living with it herself.

Clutching her midsection tightly, Austen moved slowly towards the group at the doorway. Standing at the edge of the little group, she made eye contact with Jason. "I'm sorry. Really. I'm not myself, I can't think straight. We should go to New York."