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Chapter 37 is a short, but cute chapter. It begins with Wanderer’s observations about the soccer games and the players. Basically, if you’ve got an O’Shea and Jared, you’re going to win the game, but if you’ve got both O’Shea brothers, you are definitely going to win the game. A bit of brotherly intuition going on here, you could say. I guess sports brings brawling boys together and quells the rivalry, but speaking of that…
Jeb calls for some work to be done and despite the protests, soccer time is over. Jared helps Wanderer up, but then Ian intervenes. Awkwardness ensues as both boys mildly fight over who gets to bring Wanderer to her new sleeping space. They end up sharing the task and Jared is stunned to find that Ian’s intended room for Wanderer is Ian’s room. Kyle’s going to stay with Wes for now, so there’s a vacant bed. Wanderer insists that Ian should sleep there too, there are two beds after all. Wanderer soon starts to fall asleep and Ian and Jared “leave”. Mel isn’t having any of this though and wakes her up. “What do you think you’re doing? You must realize what Ian will think of your invitation.” Wanderer hushes the thought away, but Melanie is sure that Ian is starting to develop feelings of more than friendship.
All the while, Ian and Jared are just outside, gossiping about Kyle and the rest of the anti-Wanderers. Mel/Wanderer can clearly hear them. There are obviously some unspoken words between the two boys and when Ian asks Jared about it, he tells him to keep his hands off Melanie’s body. Harsh and blunt, there is definitely some jealousy going on here. Ian portests and reasons that Jared should think of the way Wanderer must feel: to be trapped inside a body that isn’t yours…and all that she’s done for everyone. Does she deserve a life too? Jared doesn’t reply and Ian finishes saying it doesn’t matter anyway because Wanderer doesn’t seem to respond to “physical contact” anyway. But aha, Jared has experienced otherwise and it’s Ian’s turn to be jealous. He’s flabbergasted and bids Jared to leave him alone. He retreats back into his room to find Wanderer fully awake and she’s heard every word. Awkward!
