"Judith slaps me five: "Way to go Darren! Two at a time!"Marian passing by stops and kisses my cheek: "Hi Darren." First bellrings.Karen: "Let's not b... late! Lunch at the Pepsi machine." Every oneagrees and Tracey kisses my cheek.Tracey: "Everything is going to be very cool Friday. Behave!"I went to home room and Miss Julia and several others were in the backfooling with Perky. I should give a little more detail about(him/her?)! Perky had rubber treads and went all over including up anddown. “You’ve met Dylan and me, and then there’s Tanya, Alex, Sasha, Mike, and Austin.” I smile at each of them nervously. “You’re?” “Natalie,” I reply quietly. Dylan grabs my hand and looks me in the eyes. “Don’t be shy, we all have the same story, don’t we?” he looks up around the group and everybody agrees with him. I fit right in. Everybody here knows and understands, why else would they be hanging together for the same reason? Then Lonny passes me a little baggy. And suddenly, there’s no going. I thought about angrily making a comment about his daughter in bed, but that made me realize, it wouldn’t effect him. Probably laugh at my attempt.“Rachel knew I’d care enough to help Stacy.” Then it clicked, the way she treated Stacy that night… it wasn’t a random weird act of dominance, it was her being amused about using me and Stacy. Stacy took it not because she was desperate, but because Rachel was her boss.“Then we put Stacy at your house to make a deal about the Russians.” Her dad. I could feel the warmth, the love in that household and I knew right then I belonged there. I was home. Nita treated my wounds and I had some real nasty cuts. It hurt when she administered the medicine but it wasn't deliberate, just a necessary evil job to do. When Gregg wasn't home she let me go naked so clothes wouldn't rub my sores and the open air allowed them to heal faster. She had a couple of old dresses that she altered that fit loosely on me to wear when Gregg was home." I had to stay.