They had somehow managed to sleep.For a while,anyway.

Sunlight shone through the windows,turning the wooden planks a yellow-brown colour.However,while Olivia,Petra and Axel were asleep,Jesse was not.

She was huddling in the darkest corner of the room,hugging her legs and rocking back and forth,sobbing quietly.Anyone could clearly see she had been crying.Her green eyes were bloodshot and the tears were barely dry.

In the beds,someone stirred.

Petra sat up,rubbed her eyes,and immediately knew something was up.Her eyes darted to the rocking shape in the corner.She got up and slowly walked over to Jesse,kneeling down in front of her.

"Hey...Jesse?"Petra's voice was soft."You okay?"

Jesse stopped sobbing and looked up at her friend with very sad eyes.
Well,she isn't tearing up or telling me to go away,Petra thought,That's gotta be a step forward.

"Jesse...nobody likes seeing you like this."Petra paused,when Jesse didn't react,she continued."We don't like being so helpless.

Jesse sniffed and her eyes fell to the floor. "I miss him."

Petra was taken back by surprise.Jesse never talked outside of missions unless it was important.

"We all miss him."

"Not like I do!"Jesse's voice rose to a desperate squeak as she got up,sending Petra back."He was one of my best friends!One of my first friends!None of you understand!"

The two other woke with a start,and Olivia realised what was happening quickly.

"Jesse,stop!"Olivia shouted.

Jesse gave Olivia a pained look before bursting into tears and sliding back onto the floor.

There was an awkward silence.A sound eventually filled the air,the sound of the ladder being used.

"Hey guys!I got some apples!"the head of Lukas appeared through the entering hole.

"Not.Now.Lukas."Petra said through gritted teeth.

Lukas's blue eyes caught Jesse,and he slowly climbed back down the ladder.

The three that weren't sobbing looked at Jesse,the sobbing heap she was,and Petra pulled her into a hug.Jesse didn't protest.

"There there..."Petra murmured.

I think Petra's getting soft.Do you?