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It was amazing the things the a human could deal with. Whenever she stopped to think about it, she would always be a little shocked at the things she'd seen and done in the short time she'd spent on the island. Things she never would have dreamed of, and they'd happened. Wow. It had only been a year or so, but it felt like a lifetime.

As she entered the dorm building, leaving the fog-filled evening outside, Sherry couldn't help but sigh. Her old life was so far away, it felt like a dream. It wasn't something she really ever thought about, seeing as she knew she'd never be able to return to it. It was just...amazing. Amazing that she had gone from that to this and that her new normal consisted of monsters and battle and...everything. Hell, she had a flask that never ran out of wine. In what world was that even possible? Hers, of course.

Sherry continued down the hall, headed to her room. It wasn't all never ending wine and fanciful things, of course. There were dead bodies, and death and more. Yes. It was amazing the things humans and their minds could deal with. All the trauma in the world could be had, and the world just moved on. More or less. Sherry was still having trouble looking at guys people.

She was almost to the comforting familiar that was her room when she spotted him. Jake was coming down the hall. Particular images flooded her mind, and Sherry did her best to push them right back out. They were stubborn, though, and she was suddenly grateful that he'd been wearing boxers last time she'd caught sight of him.

She thought about pretending like she hadn't seen him. She could just slip right inside her room, since it was right there, but then-



The eye-roll was automatic. Armagnac had such a way with words. I know. You don't have to remind me.

Of course, by this time it was too late to duck into her room without seeming overly rude. Armagnac grumbled something about Jake not caring, but Sherry didn't listen. Instead, she stood there blushing, and said, "Jake. Hi. How are you?"

Sherry was, given her current state of things, actually a bit shocked at his short reply. And the fact that he kept walking. It was like something opened up in her chest and her heart bottomed out. There was nothing but depressed shock on her face, and she didn't even notice.

Armagnac was sounding very self-satisfied. Almost like she'd won some kind of victory or something.

Why are you using that tone? Sherry found herself quite suddenly offended. Very offended. By the entire world. I swear...

By the time Jake turned around, Sherry was wearing a scowl and that far-away look hunters sometimes got when talking to their weapons. Armagnac and Sherry were giving each other an earful.

It took half a moment for her to realize that Jake had not only stopped, but spoke to her. Another mix of emotion flooded her; she was still offended by the world, but now she was awkwardly offended. "Wha? N-no. I'm not busy," she replied, shaking her head.

She was still half scowling, and blushing, and generally trying to figure out exactly what she was feeling. This little ball of twisted emotions was confusing and annoying.



Sherry ignored whatever her weapon was trying to say and nodded at Jake. "Yeah."

Sherry held up one hand in a 'stop' kind of motion. It was meant for Armagnac, but Jake couldn't really know that, could he? She was trying to think, ok. Jake wanted to talk to her. Somewhere else even.

Sherry found that she was no longer quite as offended by the world. By Armagnac, yes, but the world, no. She was, she was flustered. Why? Because she remembered what happened after the shopping trip. She remembered what she'd seen. And because some part of her had been hoping the death trainee would ask to talk to her, alone, and...and...



WHY?

<....Because your head is NOT on straight. Twitterpated, that's what you are.> There. She'd said it.

Sherry didn't reply. Some part of her totally agreed with that statement. And that realization, and the realization of what exactly she was hoping for right in that moment brought forth a new emotion. Fear. And suddenly her heart was in knots again.



Sherry exhaled. Yes, Jake, she had been standing there silent for a moment. Yes, she was still blushing. She stuck her hands in her pockets nervously and shook her head. "I, uh, don't mind. Um, where?" One hand came back out of her pocket to halfway point at her room, and she shrugged.

Armagnac was very much not pleased.

Sherry simply nodded. "Lead the way."

Armagnac was practically oozing feelings of disgust and anger.

The life trainee shook her head. It's ok, Armagnac. I..I know better than to get my hopes up about anything. I'll be fine. He just want to talk. She said the words. They were true, for the most part. Her emotions were still in knots, but she was doing her best to not get ahead of herself. It was kind of working.

Sherry followed, trying not to think. It didn't work.

Sherry had accepted a few things about her current situation. She liked Jake. She was totally fine with just being friends, though, since she didn't know how he felt about her, and she was pretty sure she was going to die someday soon. (Job hazards, and all that.) She also accepted the fact that she hoped, somewhere, deep down, that he might like her, too.

She also accepted the fact that all of this made Armagnac grumpy. Sherry was rather touched by the fact the weapon cared.

When they finally stopped, Sherry was playing over a million different things in her mind, but considering her emotions were in turmoil, her thoughts weren't actually coherent. Armagnac had gone quiet.

And then Jake started talking. Sherry...didn't know what to think. Her mind raced. Really? Was he?

A grumble in her head stopped her from smiling.

"I...I would never... I promise."

She didn't laugh. She might have looked a little bit deflated, but she was trying really hard not to let him in on the fact that she was suddenly very disappointed. Not crushed or anything, just...embarrassed. True, the only people who knew what she'd been thinking were her and Armagnac, but still. She'd gone and let herself assume something. But of course he didn't like her like that. Right?

Oh, yes, Armagnac was very pleased.

"Oh, well," now it was Sherry's turn to be obviously very flustered and fidgety, "if that's all.... Yeah. I can try to help with that." She smiled at him. With any luck, he wouldn't see all the feelings she was feeling.

Armagnac was reveling in how very RIGHT she felt at the moment.

"Where would you like me to start?" She looked around. "We should probably sit down." It might take a while ok.