“I’m the help,” she told Jack. “People don’t help me, I help them. It’s the way it works. I accept that. I just — sometimes I have to get away. I have to run and hope I can run fast enough to escape myself.” Reaching out, Summer touched Jack’s arm. “Please don’t let my hurting make you hurt. I couldn’t bear that.”
He looked at her hand on his arm. “… But what if I want to help you so you don’t feel like it’s too much?” He asked softly, smiling at her. “You don’t always have to be the one taking everything on..”
“I don’t suppose I can stop you if you feel that way.” A very faint smile crinkled around her eyes. “Though I’ve no idea what you think you can do.” Summer let her hand fall, wrapping both arms around herself.
He shrugged a shoulder. “I could be your friend?” Although he shied away from the idea of ‘friends’ or anyone closer than an acquaintance.
“You don’t really want that,” Summer commented softly. “I wonder why? What is it you do want? The shadows run very deep in you, honey.” She looked him up and down, distracted out of her funk. “There’s such a sense of age about you.”