"Samantha, how can you do this? What about the others back home? They're depending on us."
"Who? I don't know what you're talking about."
"Eternity, don't you remember? Becky and Molly and David and Annie and the rest? They're going to starve if we don't bring them back some food soon."
"Oh, that's terrible, but I honestly don't know what you're talking about. You're a big girl, though, I'm sure you can figure out some way to help them."
"You heartless, cold-blooded, self-centered monster! Don't you care about anyone else?"
"I care about Joseph," Samantha said. "I don't see why I'm such a horrible person just because I'm not broken up over some friends of yours. Have you thought maybe if you didn't eat so much your friends might not be starving?"
Prudence moved to slap Samantha, but she grabbed the chubby hand aimed at her face and twisted Prudence's arm around. Prudence cried out, dropping to her knees and cradling her arm. Tears resurfaced on her cheeks. "I don't understand what's happened to you, Samantha. You've become someone else."
"Someone better," Samantha said. "You're just jealous because I look so cute and you're so ugly. As if it's my fault. I'm not the one who made you so big. I didn't stick food in your mouth and force you to eat it."
Prudence ran away as fast as her stubby legs could go. Samantha shook her head. The nerve of some people. I try to give her good advice and she tries to hit me. Bitch.
"What's going on down here?" Joseph asked. He had trimmed the beard so only a hint of stubble remained. A few red marks indicated where he'd nicked himself with the razor. She ran a hand along his square jaw, stopping at his lips.
"Nothing much. I made the fat one mad because I told her the truth," she said. She kissed a red spot on his cheek. "Where's my handsome tour guide going to take me today?"
"I'm not sure. Wherever the wind takes us."
"Sounds like fun. Before we follow the wind, I don't suppose we could stop somewhere so I can get a new bra? This one is killing me."
"You could always go without one."
"I will not, Mr. Dirty Boy. At least not now. Maybe if you're good," she said, winking at him. He took her hand and led her out to his father's car, the one he'd forbidden Joseph to drive the night before. "You sure your dad won't be mad?"
"Fuck him," Joseph said. "I'm not scared of him."
She got into the passenger's seat, checking out her window as they pulled out of the driveway to make sure no one was following them. She didn't need anything else ruining her day after that fat girl acted like such a snotty brat.