“This is a lot.” Mars said rubbing her temple as she took in Aya’s tale of the morning’s events. Somehow even the act of saying goodbye had become extraordinarily complicated.

  Aya leaned back on the chair, throwing her head back in exhaustion.

  “Yeah, I can’t imagine how he feels.” Aya said getting up to dump her plate in the sink so she could wash it before they had to pack up the kitchen. “He really did seem like he had been searching forever.”

  “Axen is a pretty optimal place to hide, that’s why I came here. It’s incredible that the Eos Conquerors were able to hunt me down.” Mars sighed. She looked at Aya’s back.

  The girl was mindlessly scrubbing a now clean plate and would continue unless Mars went to stop her. The dark haired girl took a deep breath, knowing she would have to ask the hard question or Aya would bottle it up.

  “And how do you feel about your dad...being alive?” Mars asked slowly.

  “I don’t know.” Aya said glumly. “I don’t even want to think about the state he’s in. I didn’t hear him over the phone at all!”

  Aya gritted her teeth, letting go of the plate, it clattered as it fell into the cheap aluminum basin. She gripped the edge and tried to calm herself down.

  “What happened to him? Grandma said he was in an accident and we just never heard from him again.” Aya said. “I thought he was dead. I thought…”

  Mars kept silent, letting her friend air out her frustrations.

  “I thought I was an orphan.” Aya said quietly, she fell face first into Mars’s chest tiredly.

  Mars shifted in surprise from the sudden weight on her, but raised her arms to wrap around Aya. Despite her discomfort, Aya needed her presence, Mars didn’t want to let her down.

  “I can’t say I know how you feel but I’m here, Aya.” Mars said. She felt Aya mumble something into her chest, assuming it was some words of thanks Mars continued.

  “It’s okay to feel sad, life can be such bullshit.” Mars said awkwardly patting Aya on the head.

  “Honestly.” Aya agreed, pulling back. Mars was surprised she wasn’t crying from the stress of it all. Was Aya growing out of those tendencies? She hoped not!

  Aya brushed her curls back and spoke calmly, too calmly for the current situation. Mars sensed something off about it but chose not to pry. After all, her friend was dealing with a lot of uncertainty right now.

  “I’m meeting Atlas in a bit so I have to get ready.”

  “When and where?” Mars asked.

  “Rolfe’s the bakery.” Aya reminded with a laugh. Mars shook her head and soon heard the shower running. Mars checked her phone.

  The moving van was already en route and would be at the complex just before noon the next day. She nodded, everything was going according to plan. Soon they would be out of Axen and out of the crosshairs of the potential E.C scout.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Mars grimaced at the thought of Arlo finding her and reporting back to the team leader.

  “I’m going to continue packing and, maybe later I’ll head out.” Mars said.

  “Sounds good.” Aya called, running into her room to choose an outfit for the meet up.

  Mars leaned against the countertop top looking over at her apartment, well soon to be former apartment. This would be the third time she would be moving her life around. Twice because of the Eos conquerors. It was enough to make her angry.

  A life of moving around was not what she wanted, it was only a necessary sacrifice. Mars wasn’t someone who lost her cool easily. She got one over on E.C before and she would do it again and again and…

  She paused.

  Now she had Aya to worry about and that complicated things. Mars sighed, deep and heavy at the thought of her only friend.

  Yes, that complicated things.

  ----------

  “How do I look?” Aya asked from the doorway of her room. She spun around in her outfit waiting for Mars to comment.

  Mars chuckled, pushing off the counter to see the outfit her friend had picked out for the meet up.

  “You look cute.” Mars said with a nod.

  Aya wore a simple white short-sleeved turtleneck blouse with a knee length black skirt and black leggings underneath. Her thick curly hair was put up in a way that flattered her face. Mars noticed she didn’t wear any jewelry but supposed she’d never seen Aya wear any.

  Aya’s brown eyes lit up with excitement.

  “You think so?” Aya asked, holding her face. “I feel a little ridiculous but this is like the nicest thing I own.” her face heated up in embarrassment.

  Aya didn’t know why she wanted to dress up so nicely, but she liked how she looked and wanted Atlas to as well.

  “Maybe I should change? Scratch that, I’m absolutely going to change!” She said, inspecting her outfit and already halfway into her room. Mars grabbed her arm before she could run.

  “Don’t move I’ll be right back.” Mars said walking to her own room to retrieve something. Aya waited patiently wondering what her friend wanted.

  The sound of Mars rummaging through her things filled the air, making Aya even more curious. Mars returned shortly after with a familiar black, bomber jacket Aya recognized instantly.

  “That’s the jacket you wore the night we met!” Aya muttered.

  Mars raised an eyebrow, wondering how Aya remembered such a thing, she lifted the jacket and realized she was right. Huh, Mars didn’t think she had worn the jacket enough for Aya to recognize it. Come to think of it, Mars hadn’t worn the jacket in a long time.

  A smile tugged at her lips to know what Aya recognized it but she kept her expression stoic and approached her waiting friend.

  “I guess so.” Mars said stopping in front of Aya and laying the jacket over her shoulders. “There, now you look great.”

  “Thanks, Mars.” Aya said beaming up at the dark haired girl, she tugged the jacket closer around herself and continued smiling.

  Mars opened her mouth to say something but closed it, letting go of the jacket collar where their hands met.

  And letting go of Aya.

  The brunette hurried off and slipped on her shoes so she could be on her way. She waved back at Mars who hadn’t moved from the door way of Aya’s room.

  “See you later, Mars.” Aya said.

  Mars waved back nonchalantly, watching Aya head out the door and close it behind her. She was once again left alone as she had been for most of the day.

  “I guess I’ll pack up the kitchen and get to gaming.” she said with a shrug.