I reached over and took one of his pickles, popping it into my mouth along with another bite of my sandwich, then smiled at Achilles. He was the closest I had here to a friendship like the one with the boys on the Island, but it carried none of the heaviness I'd felt there. It was better, easier to be around Achilles than the boys on the Island and although I'd loved them and felt guilty for thinking it, it was so much better to have a friendship with someone who didn't need me to mother him at every turn.

That didn't mean I still wouldn't try here and there.

"Yes, it's biology," I answered. "But you ought to come. I need a partner for the frog." I had no issue with the idea of cutting a frog open to look at its inside, but I did need a partner for it. The teacher said so.