<span style="color: #BF00BF">Following suit, she stayed a few steps behind out of habit. At her old compound, she had to follow five steps behind the leader, while two escorts followed on either side, and another five steps behind. Lily kept glancing around her, expecting them to come out of nowhere and steer her back to her room...But they never came. Instead, she simply walked behind him, taking in the scents of the city. While she couldn't place any of it, it was all mouth-watering, and her stomach had begun to growl almost painfully.<br/><br/>Pressing her hands into her stomach, she paused, stopping dead in the middle of the sidewalk as he halted in front of her, holding open the door. She stood there for a while, contemplating what it would mean to walk in. <br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">If I got too close and skin where to show, and his hand brushed against it...But then if I didn't, they'd stand there awkwardly until he demanded to know why I wouldn't move...Explaining wouldn't go over well... "Oh, by the way, if you touch my skin, you die." ...Yeah, that'd go over as well as adultery. ...What if I go through but I'm extremely careful? ...I can't see around corners...What if someone else comes through and the same thing happens? ...Why couldn't he just go in first and clear the path?! Because that would be far too easy...</span><br/><br/>Finally, as the waves of food convinced her to dart inside, stepping immediately to the side and pressing her back against a wall. No sooner had she moved, did the sound of a booming voice sound out. Eyes blinking, she almost wished she could shrink into the back somehow, despite the attention not being on her. <br/><br/>One thing she'd not heard a lot of...was yelling. Even as a child growing up, she'd never been yelled at. It was always a stern, yet clinical tone of voice addressing her. After she'd killed one of her attendants accidentally, at six years old, all that was uttered was a comment about how there are rules for a reason.<br/><br/>That was the final day she'd stopped pushing her sleeves up. It was too risky.<br/><br/>Another voice joined the banter, one that eerily matched the voice she often heard for the elder mothers in her books. The women who looked after either hero or heroin, offering advice when not asked, but always being right in their grasp of how the world worked. Eyeing her curiously from her wall, she felt a small smile growing on her lips, albeit a sad one. She'd have given anything to have a mother like that...a mother at all. Yet, already grown up, Lily had accepted she'd never have one. Some things were better left off in books.<br/><br/>It was as Tobias was being led away from her that she checked back into the conversation, actually investing in the words being said. She'd almost forgotten she'd have to go through the meeting process, that she couldn't just hide and observe. Nodding as Toby told them her name, she felt the smile growing as Angela gave her a compliment, the first compliment she'd ever heard. A blush grew on her cheeks, adding quite the extra 'healthy glow' to her features, as she lowered her head and sat two chairs over from Toby.<br/><br/>Settling down, she noticed the change in temperature. No longer was sweat dripping down her nose, but instead Lily felt almost comfortable. Almost. The unnatural amount of layers she had on kept her from being completely, as the temperature regulation had been a lot colder all her life, allowing her to wear the extra layers. Pushing those thoughts aside, she fiddled with her fingers nervously, clenching and unclenching her hands before glancing around at the group.<br/><br/>And then the awkward silence.<br/><br/>For yet another span of time that seemed far too long, nothing was said. She couldn't think of anything to contribute right then, not knowing where to even begin making small talk, and feeling like she was intruding. Her stomach growled again, enough that she could feel the fabric over her stomach vibrating ever-so-slightly as she was once again reminded she'd not eaten for that day, or the day before. Though she didn't have any money, so she wasn't going to be.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Maybe I just need some fresh air,</span> she thought as the waves of woosiness started to kick in, though she wouldn't give in. If she could handle the heat, she could handle the hunger. <br/><br/>Forcing them back for the time being, she shifted in her chair, her neck audibly cracking as she rolled her head a bit to try and relieve the growing tension from her nerves. Loosing a quiet laugh, one filled with her uncertainty, she tried to grasp onto something to talk about. Anything. Just to fill the void. <br/><br/>Mouth opening and closing, no sound came out. It was like all words suddenly escaped her and nothing but hot air was left in its place. Eyes blinking, she tried to force out the words, but then gave up in a small huff, staring pointedly at the table, hoping the topic would somehow shift back to Tobias and his whereabouts.</span><br/><br/>Angela smiled kindly at Lily, reaching to pat her gloved hand, â€œIts ok dearyâ€ is all she said before switching her focus to Tobias who was signally Samuele for a pizza. â€œSo, where really have you been?â€<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF00BF">Jumping under the touch of the woman, her hand instinctively jerked back. It wasn't that she could do anything through her clothing, but more out of reflex she didn't like to be touched. No matter how many books she read, a simple hand touching her could kill them...That's not something you shake just because a layer's been added.</span><br/><br/>Tobias blushed a bit as he was questioned, â€œAngela....I told you work...â€ he said as he scratched at the back of his head, rocking back in his chair, a subconscious manner of trying to physically escape the situation.<br/><br/>â€œSit up straight and stop playing in your chair. I keep telling you that you are going to rock back too far and hurt yourselfâ€ Angela chastised him, making Tobias rock forward instantly, his chair connecting with the floor with an audible<span style="font-style: italic">Clank</span><br/><br/>â€œYes ma'amâ€ Tobias said sitting straight in his chair and making sure to keep his elbows off the table.<br/><br/>Angela just smiled, leaning down to kiss him on the forehead, â€œYou know I worry about you is allâ€ she says brushing back his hair. â€œAlright. I will stop pestering you. I'll get you and your lovely<span style="font-style: italic">friend</span>something to drink. Pepsi right?â€ she asked starting to move away.<br/><br/>â€œAnd some water. Really hot today...â€ he said wanting the water mostly for Lily, as he figured she had sweat a good deal and would need to replenish herself. Survival training 101. When they were alone he smiled, â€œSorry about that... she gets worried about me if I don't check in like once a weekâ€ he cleared his throat nervously and shrugged. â€œSo, I hope you like just plain cheese on your pizza? Its what I usually get...â€ he rambled on a bit. Though watching her sit there bundled up made him feel warm and had to resist the urge to remove the top half of his jumper.<br/><br/><span style="color: #BF00BF"><span style="font-style: italic">What'd she mean by that?</span> she wondered, watching the older woman wander off to get them Pepsi. <span style="font-style: italic">Whatever the heck that is,</span> came an after thought. Her attention turning fully back to Tobias, she shook her head, resting her chin on her gloved hand so as to better resist the fidgeting. <br/><br/>"Cheese is good," Lily replied almost confidently. Cheese was something she recognized and felt proud in that realization. She'd not had too much in the way of recognizable cheese, but that didn't matter. If cheese was being used, at least she could have a "slightly" more accurate depiction of the mystery food that was pizza. Pepsi, for the time being, would remain a mystery. "And don't apologize...It's better to have someone worrying after you than not," she reasoned, her heart panging for a moment in longing, disappearing as quickly as it'd come.<br/><br/>"Will you excuse me?"<br/><br/>No sooner had the words left her mouth, was she pushing away from the table, walking quickly for the door she assumed was the bathroom. Locked firmly behind her, she pressed her back against the door, head drooped tiredly. Pulling her scarf off, she dropped it haphazardly to the floor, lifting her hood off as she stumbled to the sink to splash water on her face. Tired eyes stared back at her in the reflection of the small mirror, the water dripping down her smooth cheeks. Loosing a sigh, she started to walk back for the door only to halt again.<br/><br/>Turning slowly to look at herself again, her hands hastily moved to her hair, fluffing it out, and fixing her matted bangs. Convincing herself she looked halfway decent, she picked up her scarf, unlocked the door and stepped out, moving slowly back to the table.</span>