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"I can help you get over it. You're beautiful, like everyone else. Don't doubt that."
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[b]She blushes a deep red.[/b] "Th-Thank you..."
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"No problem. Now, it's pretty dangerous out here and it's getting dark. We need to get you to safety." They arrive at JT's settlement, and walk in. Many bunks are lined up, and they walk into one, where his brother, Nate, sits reading a novel.
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"I-Is that the guy you were talking about earlier."
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"Yeah. This is your first lesson; be confident around guys. You'll never get respect from them otherwise." Nate looks up and waves to them, getting up and walking over.
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"H-Hi..."
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"Hey. The names Nate. What's yours?" Nate extends his hand.
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"M-Marie..." [b]She shakes it, herself only shaking a little bit.[/b]
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Sawyer gives get a thumbs-up of approval. Nate sits back down , and Sawyer approaches her, ecstatic. "You did great! Remember: you can do [i]anything.[/i] Just don't let doubt impede you,"
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[b]She's too stunned to listen.[/b] "I-I actually talked to a guy... Without stuttering too much..."
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"See? That's the greatness of courage. I knew you had it in you!"
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"I... Uhh... Need.... To do something other than this..."
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"Sure! What?"
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"A-Anything..."
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"Ok. You must be famished. How about he grab something to eat?"
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"S-Sure..."
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Sawyer walks into the mess hall, taking chicken noodle soup and sitting down.
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[b]She grabs some vegetable soup, then sits down next to Sawyer.[/b] "I would g-get chicken noodle, but I-I'm a vegetarian."
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"I used to be vegetarian too. That was before I was stranded on a desert island that had a core infestation."
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"Th-That must've sucked."
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"It did suck. Have you had sex?"
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[b]She seems taken aback by the question.[/b] "N-No..."
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Sawyer shrugs. "Thought so. You know, I was 15, and I was pimply, scrawny and horny. Lost my virginity to the hottest girl at school, while we were both drunk, in the dark. Sex does wondrous things to your confidence."
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"I didn't say I was a virgin. I was ràped when I was 16."
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Sawyer's eyes dart open in shock and sympathy. "Lord! I'm so sorry!"