I don't know what it is exactly, but over the last couple months here, this place has started to feel more like home. And I don't mean in the whole sense of belonging somewhere or whatever, even though I guess there's some of that, too. It's just more like home now, in that every time I turn around, it seems like some girl needs something from me. I've been keeping an eye on Carla Jean ever since she pulled her gun on me, trying to spot the guy who spooked her and failing, and most of the time, I still don't know what it is Thalia needs from me.

With Kate, though, it's easy. It sucks, knowing what she's lost, because even when family drives you crazy, you don't really want them gone, but I get it. If she doesn't want to be alone, I can give her that. It's not like I'm going much of anywhere anyway, wandering with a tote bag of my own, big enough to keep from looking like I'm carrying a purse around, even though it only contains the sketchbook and pencils I've still barely used. Mostly I just sit places and look, waiting for it to feel like it's okay.

"Yeah, sure," I say, stopping until she's alongside me. "What's up?"