Derek was a little startled at the sudden hug and rush of emotion, though he caught her and tentatively patted her back soothingly, still a tad bit stunned at the force of her gratitude but glad he could help and make someone feel so thankful.
She stared at him with wide eyes, arms wrapped tight about her knees and shoulders hunched. Why was it Isaac? Mutinously, she tried to withdraw further. She couldn’t even talk to him anyway; there was no paper, nor pen.
Isaac just took another step into the room, left the door open but himself sitting in the most direct path, and folded himself into a lanky indian style of tall limbs on the floor, seeming smaller himself. “You’re probably wondering why I came up here. I just… I know what it’s like to not feel like a part of anywhere, like you don’t belong where you are. But we won’t make you feel like that if you let us. Derek’s helped me so much. He’ll help you too. You don’t have to feel out of place with us.” He spoke softly to her, calmly, and then just waited.
He meant what he said, of that she was sure. But how could he say that, when she hadn’t even been here a whole day? It didn’t make sense.
But he was clearly going to sit there until she responded somehow. So she crept out of the corner, avoiding her hair carefully, and put her head on his knee.