Ruth discovered that she was starving. Outside was wonderful, but it would be impossible to survive without food. Perhaps it was a good thing after all that her Esper trail had been so clear. But it was odd. She had thought ... after all, she was so bad at meshing ... Then she stopped worrying and cleaned up her plate.

Two hours later, showered, changed into clean uniform and checked out as perfectly healthy in spite of her escapade, Ruth reluctantly pushed open the door of the Grade Eight C classroom and slid into her desk, wishing that she could just be invisible. Angela was bound to mock her in her odious way, and all the others would laugh.

Maths passed somehow, and then History. The bell rang for lunchtime and she hunched her shoulders against the expected barbs of Angela's tongue.

“Come on, Ruth,” Angela ordered. “You're to sit next to me at lunch.”

“Not fair, Angie. I bagged er first.”

“And what about us?”

“Huh?” Ruth stared. No-one had ever fought over who should sit next to her. That honour was reserved for the golden girls: the Angelas, the Patiences ...

“Oh, come on.” Angela linked her arm through Ruth's. “We'll get tidied up and work out the seating on the way to the dining room.”

In a dream Ruth washed her hands and tried to smooth down her wiry hair. She allowed herself to be escorted to the dining room, where Faith ran ahead to bag a table on the girls' side.

“Now you sit here. Don't stir. Faith will bring your tray.” Maybe I’m going to be popular after all, thought Ruth.

Maybe it’s something that suddenly happens to you, like getting your second teeth or becoming a woman. I was just

later than the others.

“Now tell us all about it,” Angela demanded, when they were all seated with their lunches. Ruth looked at her. There was no friendship in her eyes, only avid curiosity?

“A bout ...?” She played for time.

“Oh, don't be dense! What it was like Outside, of course. I must say, I didn't think you had the nerve.”

Ruth put her spoon down reluctantly. It would be hard to share her experience, even with a best friend. But she had to say something. They were all waiting, all staring at her. “It smelt so fresh. That was the first thing I noticed. And the wind was cool even though the sun was hot. It ... “She stopped.

''Well, go on. ''

“It was free. Quiet and free.”

“Sounds totally boring.” Angela shrugged. The others echoed her judgment. Boring.

“I want to know why you did it,” whispered Honesty.

“Well...” Ruth looked at their faces. Their eyes were like the bars of a cage. She could not escape. “It's just too hard to explain.”

“Someone said that you were crazy about one of the boys in Eight, but he wasn't interested because you're so ... well, you know. ''