Chapter 12

Speed

Ratchet calls it hiding. I say it is where I go to reflect and think without being interrupted. Last time I was here I was thinking about Brick and Gretchen. And part of me still is. The way they reacted when Merigold, Ratchet, and I told about our past. Brick looked enraged. Like he wanted to kill my parents. It was a sweet thought actually that someone cared enough to think that. But it wasn’t needed. Gretchen looked like she was a second away from breaking down in tears. And Anna went down right motherly on me. It was weird having all these people care about me and Ratchet when all we had before was Alaric, Merigold, and the rest of the crew. No one has ever cared for us before. I didn’t know how to react. That is one reason that after we came back I decided to change into some comfortable sleep shorts and tank top and come out here for a while. Ratchet went to his room to video call a few frie