Audrey spent the next day moving her things from her old room into her father’s room. She was going to sleep in there now in case her father needed her at night. The room was large enough for her old twin bed.Going through her old things was hard. Among her things were many mementos of her childhood. Photos of her mother, of the three of them together, and some of her mother’s jewelry and clothes, her old toys and baby clothes, and some of her father’s old things from before he let the alcohol take him. Her mother was beautiful.But Audrey felt she didn’t take after her in looks.She looked more like her father.​ Pieces of a life, long gone and forgotten, were scattered around her.Audrey sobbed for a long time, with the remnants of her happiness strewn about.​ She set a framed photo of the three of them on a nightstand next to her father’s bed. It was taken on her fourth birthday. Doting parents stood on other side of an happy child with a cake covered face.​ “Here’s something for y

Megan still wasn’t ready to back off.For some reason,she liked belittling Audrey.​ “Oh, poor Aud. Dealing with your emotions the way you were taught to. Taught how to drink the pain away by your good-for-nothing alcoholic—”​ Tracy slapped Megan with full force. She would not sit there and let this piece of shit demean her friend like this.​ “You fucking bitch!” Megan screamed. She jumped up and lunged at Tracy.Tracy was ready to fight her, but Mark jumped in between them.​ “Don’t you dare touch my girl,” Mark warned. “Sit the fuck down.”​ Megan pretended to be hurt, and pouted to Lucien.​ “Why are they all ganging up on me? I haven’t done anything!”​ “Oh, shut up, Meg,”Audrey snapped, feeling brave from her buzz. “Maybe you need a glass of ‘mind your damn business’. Stop worrying about me. Or at least stop pretending to. That one right there,” she pointed at Lucien. “You think he’ll be good to you? He’s only looking out for himself. When he’s tired of you, he’ll just move on t

I’m not drunk,” Tracy declared her words slurring together. “But Meg is blacked out. She tried to fool everyone, but she’s back there so drunk. Ha! Tried to lie, talking about how she doesn’t drink. I don’t think she’ll bully you anymore. I won’t allow it!” She stepped forward and pulled Audrey in for a giant hug. “I have avenged you!” She shouted with a triumphant smile.​ “Friends don’t get much better than you,” Audrey said. Her friends were the only good thing she had in her life.​ “They sure don’t!” Tracy yelled, throwing her hands in the air. “Best friends forever!”​ “Babe,” Mark said, turning Tracy around to face him. “Drink some water. Don’t want you feeling sick tomorrow.” He brought a glass of ice water to Tracy’s lips. He dabbed the corners of her mouth when she was done, and kissed her. Audrey had noticed it earlier that night when Tracy had punched him. They were together for such a short a time, but it was clear that Mark was love-struck. He looked at Tracy like she wa

Audrey did not want to hear this but she was halfway through with her food and that meant she will continue hearing Megan’s pesky voice.She wished she was with an earphone or something.“Most of my things won’t fit in with my new lifestyle,” Megan continued.“So, what? Are you just going to throw out your old things?” The girl asked.“Yes. Lucien is going to buy all new clothes, more elegant and stylish. He’s from a wealthy family,you know.Like super wealthy.Josh’s family had money, but not like this.Lucien is the only heir to his family’s entire fortune,” Megan bragged. “He’s got much better taste than Josh did. And he’s hotter, and so much better in bed.”The girls laughed.Audrey tried to eat faster. She really didn’t want to hear this. The last people she wanted in her life were Josh and Megan. And she’d gotten both of them on the same day.“Oh, Audrey!” Megan gushed.Damn it.She had taken notice of her.“I was just thinking about you. I’m moving in with Lucien, and some old clot

​ “I’m going home. My dad needs me,” she turned around to face him, and regretted it. His wild, turbulent gaze set her soul alight. In those eyes, were words he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, say. It’s better this way, Audrey tried to convince herself.​ “I’ll be at your service when you need me…Mr Reynolds.”Audrey pulled her hand from his.Lucien was struck dumb, and was stunned into speechlessness and surprise.​***************Audrey cried most of the way home.Lucien was egotistical, narcissistic, and possessive. How did these feelings for him arise?Audrey refused to acknowledge them. And Lucien could never know. He would use it against her, she just knew it. Denying that she felt anything for him at all was the only way she knew to protect herself.​ And the fact that he didn’t run after her was all the proof she needed.​ Audrey got off the bus, and wiped her tears. Her father didn’t need to see her like this.​ “There you are,” Matilda said as Audrey walked inside. She sat in the livi