Mattie nodded as she sheathed the knife. She was so glad he'd suggested going back; she wasn't sure anymore if she could make it to the hardware and convenience stores. What had seemed so close earlier now seemed like another country away. "Alright," she said, sounding out of breath which she hated. "Alright. Let's get going, no good if we're not there by dark." She started walking and knotted her eyebrows. Wherever Nick went in the store, she made a mental note to herself to go the opposite way. She was unclean. She was dangerous. 

But it had been pretty comforting to be held. 

She walked along in silence, chewing her lip. Admitting one's feelings was admitting one's weakness.