Aubrie’s gaze lingered on the door for several moments more before she sighed and got up, picking up the bag and setting it on the bed. Aubrie then headed for the bathroom to take a quick five minute shower to wash away what she had done with that Isaac guy the night before.

     Isaac…

     He was good in Aubrie's opinion—-better than half of the people she had brought back to her motel room. Still though, to her, Kara had been a better experience… Even if Aubrie herself had ruined that.

     Aubrie shedded her clothes and got into the shower, pondering both past two ‘acquaintances’. She thought of how much she missed Kara and her touch as the water drizzled down her collarbone, bouncing off and ricocheting to the floor of the tub.

     If things had gone differently—-a lot differently—-there was a chance that Aubrie would still be with Kara—-them raising Greyson together, and Aubrie most likely expecting their second child.

      Part of Aubrie, deep down, wanted a life like that—-something that made her complete. …she also did know that people didn't need all of that to have a ‘complete’ life. As a matter of fact, Aubrie had given up on the idea of that. She knew that she was alone and would be always. …And she was coming to terms with that fact… Mostly.

     Aubrie softly hummed to herself, letting the soap drift over her arms. I'm fine by myself, she thought to herself. Actually, I think I more than excel at it. It gives me more time to myself!

     Aubrie grimaced. “...more time to be alone in my thoughts… With my paranoia and delusions… With the hallucinations.” She rinsed the soap. “...fuck.”

     She sighed to herself before stepping out of the shower and drying herself off. “...okay, maybe I don't need a family or anything, but maybe I need to have a few acquaintances… Ones that aren't nighttime ones exclusively.”

      Aubrie dried off her hair and then began to dress. “...or get a job or something… Meet people there.” She swallowed, finishing up getting dressed once more. “...But honestly, I don't know how many people are gonna take someone who's only work experience is fast food.”

     Aubrie shuddered, thinking about working at that restaurant for a moment more—-it wasn't the most pleasant experience to say the least. The place was overrun with rats… But that wasn't the worst part; sure, the place could've been shut down at any moment, and she'd be stressed out by the prospect of suddenly losing a job, but the rats kept to themselves mostly. She had found ways to keep them out of the kitchen. …and she had found that if she thought of Ratatouille, it wasn't so bad.

     For Aubrie, the worst part of the whole experience was the boss—-the guy in charge. He seemed nice enough to the average person—-the social and talkative type really. Her co-workers liked him too, just like the customers; they had said he'd take them out every now and then to celebrate business successes as a team. But, the truth was for Aubrie, when she first entered for the interview, she almost stopped dead in her tracks—-her blood freezing in place.

     He looked so eerily like her father.

     Seeing him stirred up negative thoughts and bad memories for her—-she had to bite her tongue the entire time to make sure she wouldn't just burst out into tears right then and there.

     Aubrie could only work there for so long before it started to get to her—-started to take a toll on her mind. Her boss looked just like her shitty dad… Everyday she went into work, she'd see him… See his face—-feel blood chilling fear.

      Originally, Aubrie had gotten the job when she realized she was carrying Greyson. She knew she'd need a way to afford to feed him and take care of him. …Even after she had given him to Kara, she kept the job. Finally, when she couldn't stand it anymore, she put in her two weeks.

    That check she wrote for Greyson's birthday was almost everything left from her last paycheck there.

    Aubrie stepped out of the bathroom and put her shoes on. She knew she'd need a new job eventually… But the idea of her making friends at work seemed a bit… Farfetched, considering who she was.

     She sighed, pondering how else to go about her ‘alone problem’.

      Her mind trailed back to her initial idea that she'd just meet people around the city. It seemed easy enough, but even what most people deemed ‘easy’ was never what it seemed—-she had struggled in the past to make friends… Even going all the way back to the early parts of her childhood. She was always too awkward and shy—-she’d be stuck considering Dylan as her only friend for quite a little bit.

    Dylan, himself, had to befriend Kara and her fraternal twin sister, Bethany, for Aubrie to even socialize with them.

    Kara—-just like Aubrie—-had a reputation for being ‘weird’ and ‘shy’ too. But, still, Aubrie felt like she wasn't even worthy of being Kara's friend, even as a small child.

       Aubrie sighed. “You can do it… I'm sure of it,” she murmured to herself. “...you just need a bit of confidence in yourself. …A little bit of confidence goes a long way. Master that, and soon enough, you'll have a friend.”

     Her mind passed over potential friends.

     There wasn't a lot of people she knew outside the Lieux family and her own. Most of her hookups were just briefly in Clervaux for a few days before hightailing it out into the surrounding countries—-Germany, France, Denmark, etc..

     Isaac was still in town as far as she was aware, but she was sure it would be awkward if she tried to befriend him.

      Isaac had told her that he was still recovering from a breakup with his last boyfriend—-that he needed to get his mind off of him.

     Aubrie sighed. “He's off the list of potential friends. I'd feel bad every time I looked at him.”

     She put her phone in her back pocket before fixing her hair to make it presentable.

      Then, Aubrie took a deep breath and headed out the door to the Lieux residence, the check in her jacket pocket.

     Aubrie kept trying to brush all of the lonely thoughts out of her mind. Just… Be cool, okay?, her mind told her. You're just briefly interacting with Kara. You knock on that door, give her the check, and go. Don't even try to make small talk. You'll ruin it. …plus, she probably hates you for what happened… Which… is pretty justified, given the circumstances.

     Aubrie rounded the bend, heading up the sidewalk that the Lieux residence was on before coming to a halt and staring in awe.

     The home had almost completely burnt to the ground.

    She swallowed before approaching Anais Lieux, Kara's mother, who was standing on the sidewalk, watching the construction workers go about their job of reconstructing the fallen home. “...Ms. Lieux?” Aubrie called out nervously as she stepped closer to you.

     Anais quietly groaned before she huffed. “...Oh. It's you,” she muttered under her breath before looking over and putting on a fake smile. “Aubrie! What can I do for you?”

    “Are, um—-” Aubrie stopped, the words catching in her throat. She forced them out. “Are Kara and Greyson okay?”

     Anais nodded. “They are perfectly fine, yes.”

      Aubrie pulled the check out, offering it to Anais. “Could you give this to Kara the next time you see her?”

     Anais eyed it like it was plague-ridden. “...what is it?”

     “It's a check,” Aubrie awkwardly said, stating the obvious. “...It's for Greyson's birthday. Kara can buy whatever she thinks is necessary for him.”

     Anais huffed. “She doesn't need your money, you know. Keep it.”

      “But—-” Aubrie was cut off.

      “Go home,” Anais said over her shoulder, turning away from her.

     Slumping with defeat, Aubrie put the check in her pocket and sluggishly headed back to the motel.