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It was really too bad that a) Sherry hadn't had too much interaction in the past year and b) That Jake had already said he preferred the 'speak your mind' thing.
A) because, well, she might have noticed just how uncomfortable this was for him. B), because, well, she really liked speaking her mind. She hated that she'd be reverting back to what she was before.

Not to mention, talking with someone took her mind off the silence in her head.

"Why? I mean, why do you want to be a complete a**?" She figured she knew why he wanted her to leave. She was annoying and bothersome, after all, proven by the fact that she didn't have many friends. Unfortunately, the prospect of being alone right now was still saddening.

Not to mention, she'd gone this far. Why not just, uh, push it a little more.

"Because?" He moved so that his back was facing her. That was classic, 'leave me alone' wasn't it? Sherry bit her lip.

Normally, she would have been long gone. Hell, a few minutes ago even. But that was the old her, wasn't it? The her she didn't want to be. Armagnac hated it, and clearly Jake hated it, too. So instead, she decided to stay and press on. Besides, they were basically having a conversation.

"How is it easier? Easier than what?" She didn't understand. In her experience, it was easier to make everyone happy.

Sherry had never been good with hints. And sometimes she just ignored them. Now that she was feeling a little better, well...

She scooted a little closer to the death trainee. "That's not really an answer. I always found it easier to be nice to people. How is being an a** and making everyone either hate you or themselves easier?"

She just didn't understand.

Sherry pursed her lips. That still wasn't an answer. She still didn't get it. How was making everyone mad at you easier? If everyone was mad at you, then no one would be your friend, or want to help you. Sherry was the first to admit she didn't have tons of friends, but she knew she could go to people for help.

She sighed, moving even closer to the death trainee. She remembered the things he'd said back in the Haunted House. She'd seen it in his face, and heard it in his voice. Something like sadness, or loneliness. She wasn't quite sure.

She was sure he was pushing people away. She just couldn't wrap her mind around why. He wasn't as mean as he tried to be, surely. So why did he want to be lonely?

She did know one thing, however.

"I disagree," she said calmly. Then she leaned in close, put her arms around the boy's shoulders, and gave a little squeeze. She hugged him.

No, Jake. Sherry knew one thing, right then and there. You weren't pushing her away that easily. No one deserves to be lonely.

She hadn't known what reaction to expect, really. Hell, she hardly knew why she'd reached out and hugged him. It was just, she thought she saw something there, something that she understood. A pain, a loneliness, something that she tried to avoid. Or maybe she was just lonely.

She realized her mistake almost immediately. For half a second, she'd thought he might hit her, but instead he just stood and glared at her. That was almost as terrifying.

"I'm sorry, I--," she said, looking up at him. Tears were beginning to form in her eyes as her heart bottomed out again. She'd upset him. She should have left earlier, but she hadn't. Why not? Did she want to make sure he was ok? Did she enjoy making him angry? Or was she just plain so lonely at that point that she didn't want to be alone? Selfish. It didn't matter what her motives were. In the end, it had all been selfish. And now they were both upset.

"I just can't understand why anyone would choose to be utterly alone. To me, that is most terrifying thing in the world. So, I just can't figure out why you would choose it." She sat there and looked up at him, emotions turning inside her. She was angry. Angry at herself, angry at him, and angry at herself for being mad at him. She was embarrassed. Embarrassed that she'd allowed herself to mess up so badly in front of someone. And she was hurt. This is why she didn't try harder to be friends with people. Armagnac was wrong. There was something wrong with Sherry. She cared too much. About everything and everyone. She might not have deserved the same in return, but it didn't stop her from wanting it. Selfish.

"Can you tell me why? Why do you want to be alone?" She wiped away one tear, continuing to stare up at his back. And maybe tell me why I'm not good enough to be your friend?

Sherry shifted, but didn't stand. She sat, arms wrapped under her knees, in some effort to comfort herself. Her brain was playing it all over. All that he'd said and done, all she'd said and done. They hadn't even known each other very long.

A choice he'd made? She sniffed. But why? Didn't it hurt to be alone?

She looked up as he turned around. His face was blank, but she couldn't meet his eyes. I'm ashamed to, she thought to herself. She'd messed up. By being nice-- no by being annoying. I've done nothing but upset him.

He asked her a question.

Sherry almost flinched. "Why?" she repeated. Why was she sitting her torturing them both? Because she thought they could be friends. Wrong, wrong, wrong. She'd messed up. That was all she did, on the battle field and off.

"Because," she began, finally meeting his eye. "Because I- Are you really that terrible deep down? Really so terrible that you don't want friends? Why? What happened to you to make you want to hurt someone that tries to be nice you?

"You want to know why? Because in those small moments, I think I actually enjoyed your company. I'm sorry that I'm not good enough to be your friend," she felt the tears fall, but she didn't care. "Because I thought maybe we could have been. I really didn't think you were that bad.

"And maybe I still don't. So tell me, Jake, why am I not good enough to be your friend? Why are you being so very mean to me when I was trying to be nice?"

She gave a small sniff as she watched him get down to her level. She listened, quiet, turning the words over in her mind.

He killed the person he was supposed to protect? Sherry just looked at him for a moment. What did that mean? Her mind tried to race, but she was too tired for that. So, instead she focused on one little thing, he seemed sad. Whatever it was that he'd done, it hurt him. It was slowly beginning to make sense now. Why he wanted to be alone. He felt guilty, and deep down, he was hurt.

Sherry didn't move as he stood. She just sat there, thinking. After a few long moments the back of one hand wiped at her cheek, and she looked up.

"I'm sorry," she said. There were no other words for the short hint at his past he'd just shared. She knew he wasn't likely to listen anyway. "I'm so sorry." New tears were forming now, but not for her this time. She looked at her feet.

"I'm sorry, Jake. And I'm stupid."