"Wait, Pepper, you don't have to--" I call after her, guilt hitting me like a brick wall. She'd been trying, she didn't mean anything by it, and the truth is, I don't feel like being alone right now, at least not because I've driven someone else away. I know that's not why Mary Jane disappeared, that this place (probably) doesn't work like that, but there are still nights I wonder if she didn't get swept away because of me.

Looking around the kitchen, trying to come with an actual excuse for Pepper to stick around that isn't something as stupid as I'm lonely, please don't go, I blurt out, "Have you eaten?"