Raine's fumble causes Pepper to jump slightly, and she presses her lips together tightly for a moment. Slumping into a chair, the teen watches her friend while she prepares the tea.

"Yeah. You didn't know," she observes pointlessly, the statement dull and flat. Gene probably won't be happy that Pepper's spilled the beans to Raine - he appreciates the healer's counsel and wouldn't want her to think less of him. Too late now. "I know... I know he's changed, but..." But it still hurts.. "I've been here almost a year and he didn't tell me."