[color=darkgray][color=darkgray][right][sup]Timestamp: After Shields & Chains
FT: [color=DC143C]Mordechai Boaz[/color], [color=fe6f5e]Penelope James[/color], [color=e62020]Jade Taylor[/color]
[color=910bf4]Allegra Cardenas[/color], [color=#da9df4]Viva Cardenas[/color], and [color=#ffb0b0]Chai Boaz-Cardenas[/color][/sup][/right]
[center][sup][@metanoia] [@Aces Away] [@LovelyComplex][/sup]
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[indent][indent]As soon as Jade hung up with Poppy, she felt like she was left with more questions than she had before she called her soul sister. Before it was just about reaching out. About no longer being in the isolation Jade put on herself by pushing those closest to her away. But as it would happen, things just got a lot more complicated. Yeah, as if her life wasn’t already confusing and tangled enough.

But she couldn’t think about it. Jade knew it and she couldn’t waste time -- not when someone whose connection to everything happening in Edenridge was even crazier. The newest batch of letters came and that psycho was going after some of those Northies. She didn’t know who exactly was going to be affected. It was about that David O’Hara. Jade didn’t know him ona personal level, but if they were about to go through what everyone went through last month, Jade felt bad for them, but she had more important things to focus on.

So she took a shower. Admittedly, as she stood in her shower, as crappy as it was, the water pressure was pretty good, she thought about what Poppy told her about Charlie’s sister. Mitena was her name, right? Jade couldn’t help but think about how cute that name was. Fitting that Charlie would have a sister with a cool name. She smiled, finding comfort at that. She didn’t smile at a lot of things lately, but that made her crack one.

But that wasn’t the only thing she lamented on. Scott Street. She seldom ventured there. Only a few times when there were parties or, ya know, when she had a group project with some of those privileged northies. Their houses, especially the Belmontes, were almost as big as the entire Lost Souls apartment buildings combined. Not height-wise, but the space surely. Or maybe she was overestimating the land their house sat on. Jade almost failed math, so that could be why.

Point being, she was perplexed about that. Why on earth did they need to go there? 

With a sigh, Jade finished up. She dried her body off and wrapped it in a long body towel. She only had one but it did its job. She touched up her hair for a few minutes, blowdrying it then giving it a decent brush. Then she went over to her closet, trying to figure out what would be an appropriate outfit. The past few days have been hotter than a damn sauna, so probably no jeans. Even though she would prefer to, it was summer and she didn’t feel like sweating to death from her back to her ass crack. 

In the end, Jade went with an [url=https://i.imgur.com/6G3w9XB.jpg]outfit[/url] that consisted of an Iron Maiden shirt, some short jean shorts, a blue plaid shirt, and even though she just [i]knew[/i] it was a bad idea, she grabbed the jacket her Uncle Charlie went. Sure wearing black on black on black might’ve been a bad idea, but lately Jade felt exposed. Except for her Sunday breakfast…dates with Anya she hasn’t felt protected despite the Devil of Eden stating that’s exactly what he was doing. Just thinking about his cold eyes gave her the chills, so she [i]needed[/i] to wear it, her long term comfort be damned.

Tying the plaid shirt around her waist and slipping the Jacket up, Jade just applied a little makeup, donning her trademark raccoon eyes style and grabbed everything she needed for the trip: her phone, purse, and what the hell, a pocket knife that she’s been carrying around her since Saturday. It was a simple knife and one that Glass got for her. She didn’t tell him why she needed one and, thankfully, he wasn't the type to pry too much. All she knew was she could go to him for that sort of thing. Ever since her encounter with The Devil, Jade felt she needed it.

Poppy’s place wasn’t that far from the Lost Soul’s apartment complex. When she left, it only took her about fifteen minutes max to get from point A to point B. The James’ house was every bit a house that brought her comfort as it always was. She may have been a stranger lately, but she always could feel her spirits being lifted whenever she was near it.

She gave a quick knock. A few of them, in fact. Maybe she didn’t need to since she was practically family but that was fucking rude to just waltz into someone’s home, regardless if they saw you as a daughter or not. After about ten seconds, the door opened as Jade saw the familiar face of Poppy’s mom, Victoria. [color=e62020]“Long time no see, Mama Victoria.”[/color] Jade flashed her a small smile and an equally small wave. [color=e62020]“Is my long lost soul sister around?”[/color] She asked the matriarch of the James family.

[color=9f372b]“Kitchen,”[/color] Victoria instructed before apologizing, [color=9f372b]“Sorry I can’t stay and chat.”[/color] Victoria adjusted her purse hanging from her shoulder, and slipped past the tragic blond girl. In her hand was the new letter. The one about David. 

Giving her daughter’s friend a half smile, Poppy’s mom dismissed herself, not one to waste time, [color=9f372b]“It’s good to see you, Jade. Help yourself with whatever and if you can, try not to be out all night. Who knows what these letters will do to this town. I’d rather not find out you three are in the hospital.”[/color]

As the older woman walked out and made her way to her car, Penelope called out from the kitchen, [color=fe6f5e]“Did you eat anything?”[/color] Inside the kitchen, she sat at the table, tearing a biscuit to shreds and not eating it. Across from her was Mordechai, who held Chai, and the person looking inside the fridge, Allegra, had Viva closely in tow. Penelope didn’t look up from the bread. It was clear as a cloudless sky she had lingering feelings toward her friend holding his baby boy. Feelings of uncertainty and hurt. 

Regardless of how she felt, Poppy would bury it like she did everything else. No matter how hurt she was, she wouldn’t let the constant secrets hold her back from seeking Tena out. She needed this more now than ever. Penelope wanted to feel good for more than just a moment and not feel like she was useless, replaceable, and not worth anyone’s time. Too sad to cry, too tired to get up, too angry to fight, so many emotions she constantly battled that she thought she had left behind. Nibbling a crumb, Penelope blankly stared at the rustic wood design of the table. She was Penelope James, goddammit, and she was a badass with a fire impossible to put out. She had to remember that. 

Jade honed in on Poppy’s voice, smiling at her, and absentmindedly said,[color=e62020] “Didn’t get the chance before I left my place--”[/color] It was then she noticed a few additions. A girl, who was pretty hot mind you, looked to be around the soul sisters' age and she had a little girl close by. [color=e62020]“I don’t think we’ve met,”[/color] she said to the cute brunette with the little girl. [color=e62020]“The name’s Jade.”[/color] For a brief minute, Jade met eyes with the little girl. Now, she didn’t have the most experience with little kids other than the kid that She-Wolf and Cueball had together. That little boy was a few years older, Manuel was his name, but this little girl seemed a lot more well-behaved. She leaned down, putting on her most family-friendly smile she could. [color=e62020]“And who might you be?”[/color]

Viva laughed but stayed wrapped around her mother’s leg like a koala, releasing one arm of its grip so she could wave at the newcomer. Allegra finally popped her head out of the freezer, sucking salaciously on a grape popsicle and holding another one in her hand. As Viva shoved her face into her mother’s leg, the woman looked down to her daughter and let the popsicle leave her lips with a lewd [i]pop![/i]. She shook her head and crouched down, holding both popsicles in one hand and grabbing her daughter around the waist with her other. Once the girl had settled on her mother’s hip, Allegra stood back up to height and shifted her right side forward a bit to present the two year old to the blonde so that the other woman didn’t need to continue bending down.

[color=#910bf4]“No baby, ya don’t just wave. You gotta reach your hand out and shake hers, tell her your name back and say ‘nice ta meet’cha’,”[/color] the brunette directed, bouncing her daughter a few times when the girl just continued to hide her face. In a sing song voice, she added, [color=#910bf4]“If ya don’t introduce yourself ya don’t get a popsicle.”[/color] 

Immediately, the girl’s hand shot out and almost caught Jade on the nose, saved only by her mother casually leaning back a few inches. [color=da9df4]“Hi Jade! You’re [i]weally[/i] pwetty! I’m Viva! Viva Gavwiel Cawdenas Boaz! Nice ta meet’cha!”[/color]

[color=e62020]“Sorry what?”[/color] That caught her off guard as she blankly stared at Viva with a dumbfounded expression on her face.

Mordechai, who had been drinking coffee and reading a book over his son’s head while the infant rested in his lap, promptly started choking on his drinks, spraying the warm liquid everywhere. Including, to his dismay, the top of his baby boy’s head. 

[color=DC143C]“Ah shit!”[/color] He cursed, holding his son to his soaked chest and kicking his seat back to get away from the mess at the table. With his son now crying and both of them covered in caffeine instead of ingesting it, Mordechai let out a longer string of curses and headed towards the bathroom, still coughing a bit to clear his throat of the shock. [color=DC143C]“Hey J, I’ll be back, sorry,”[/color] he rushed out as he passed the blonde, slamming the door behind him. Faintly, the sound of running water began to filter out of the closed door.

[color=#910bf4]“Ha!”[/color] Allegra laughed once he’d disappeared, popping the popsicle into her daughter’s mouth before setting her own down to hold her hand out to Jade. [color=#910bf4]“That’s the first time she’s used his last name,”[/color] She explained to the other two women in the room. [color=#910bf4]“That boy can’t handle [i]anything[/i] new happenin’, I swear. Anyway, I’m Allegra, it’s nice ta meet’cha finally. You can call me Legs or Bambi if ya want.”[/color]

She was still trying to process the fact that Key might’ve had a [i]daughter[/i], she shook her head as it was mentally blown. [color=e62020]“Had no idea he was a papa now.”[/color] Shaking her head again and laughing, knowing first hand that what she said about Key was the absolute truth. She met Allegra in the eyes. [color=e62020]“Cool name, Bambi. You can just call me Jade or J or whatever tickles you the right way.”[/color] She had to admit this was a lot to take in. Two kids and then Bambi, she didn’t know what to make of it. [color=e62020]“I honestly didn’t know Key had a daughter. And a boy too? I am so out of the loop.”[/color]

[color=#910bf4]“This one is just by action,”[/color] Allegra answered, nuzzling her daughter’s cheek before jerking her head towards the bathroom door. [color=#910bf4]“That one was all him and me, though. His name’s Chai.”[/color] Looking Jade up and down, Allegra picked her own popsicle back up with a wink, tossing out a, [color=#910bf4]”And I bet we could find out what tickles me the right way [i]very[/i] easily-”[/color]

[color=DC143C]“Legs,”[/color] Mordechai cut off as he opened the bathroom door again, shirt missing and his son cleaned off. The other occupants of the room would be able to see that he had filled out and already developed more muscle since the last time they were all together. They could also see all his torso scars in stark contrast to his light olive skin. Almost all of them. Because Chai had calmed down considerably and was laid gently across his father’s chest and shoulder, eyes closed and thumb in his mouth. The way he was rested, no one could see the large brand that spanned his left breast and collarbone, despite all of them knowing it was there. Only Mordechai would ever really know if that was intentional or not. [color=DC143C]“Please stop tryin’ ta fuck all my friends, [i]seriously[/i].”[/color]

[color=#910bf4]“Seriously?”[/color] Allegra scoffed back, purposefully swirling her tongue around her treat to further aggravate the man. [color=#910bf4]“[i]You’ve[/i] fucked most’a your friends, why can’t I?”[/color]

[color=DC143C]“We’re not havin’ this conversation again,”[/color] He grouched tiredly, sending a weak smile to Jade and moving closer so she could meet his son. [color=DC143C]“Hey Harley Head, this is Chai Boaz.”[/color]

Rolling up her bread in a paper towel, barely with an appetite, Poppy got up from her seat and tossed her food in the trash. Letting her friends play catch up, Poppy exited the kitchen and made her way outside to her family’s porch and took a seat on the stoop, placing her backpack beside her. Pulling up her phone, she took to her instagram account which she rarely used and tried searching Natalia’s name, only to discover that the account had been deactivated. Huffing to herself and her bad luck, Poppy pocketed her phone and fetched [i]On the Road[/i]. She needed something to do to keep her mind off of things. Might as well read one of Charlie’s books that she’s read countless times. It was one of his favorites. Something that resonated with him at a young age.  

[quote=On the Road, by Jack Kerouac][i][color=fe6f5e]The only people that interest me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones that never yawn or say a commonplace thing but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes ‘Awww!’[/color][/i][/quote]
Mordechai stared after their Street Angel as she silently made her exit, distress and exhaustion warring on his features. Turning back to the women still in the room, he flinched a bit under Allegra's glare before explaining to Jade, [color=DC143C]"I've…made a few mistakes already this mornin'."[/color]

As Jade watched Poppy leave the kitchen, she didn’t even have to know that Key may have done something to know that [i]something[/i] happened. It caused her to frown as her gaze lingered to the front door. She wondered what happened? If it was just about what Key did. Sure, there was a lot to take in: he had a live-in, two kids where one was biologically his and one wasn’t. Jade thought maybe it could’ve been about Charlie’s long lost sister, but she didn’t have enough information about that to say for certain. All she knew was she left one hell to the start of a different layer of it.

[color=e62020]“We all make mistakes, Key. Don’t let them bring you down. Hell, I pretty much isolated myself away from everyone for a whole month and I called Poppy this morning and now I’m here. So let me be the cautionary tale: you might’ve fucked up, but that just means you have all day to make it up to her.”[/color] Jade leaned close and reached for Mordechai’s hand, squeezing it assuringly. [color=e62020]“Ya hear me, Key?”[/color]

[color=DC143C]“I hear ya, Harley, thanks,”[/color] The man replied, squeezing her hand back. His son cooed against his shoulder as the tired man held him, opening his eyes again to land on the unfamiliar figure in the room. [color=DC143C]“Oh, I think he noticed ya.”[/color]

[color=#910bf4]“Then let her meet him, Ken,”[/color] Allegra spoke up softly, having stayed silent between the friends’ exchange. She put a hand on Mordechai’s shoulder and nodded towards Jade encouragingly.

[color=DC143C]“Oh- uh, right,”[/color] He looked down to his son and the area that he covered on his father’s chest, reluctant. Allegra’s hand grew a little heavier and he cleared his throat before taking his hand back from Jade in order to gently lift his son and lead him towards the blonde’s arms. When Jade received his son, the man quickly threw his right arm across his chest and gripped his left shoulder, covering up as much of his scarring as possible. [color=DC143C]“He looks like…he looks like Danny, fair warnin'.”[/color]

[color=e62020]“I noticed that..”[/color] The blonde said in a low tone, seeing the similarities between Danny and baby Chai. She supported with one arm under him and another at the base of his neck and head. She smiled sweetly at the boy, those eyes undeniably a Boaz trait. [color=e62020]“You’re just the cutest, aren’t you?”[/color] Jade said in a very uncharacteristic tone for her. Her usually dulled, mild-toned voice was high and very playful. [color=e62020]“Of course you are. Just look at who your papa is! He’s quite the charmer.”[/color] She grinned at Key. [color=e62020]“I’ll be your Auntie Jade. When you’re old enough, I’ll teach ya how to get all the girls in the world. Or boys. Or anyone your little heart desires.”[/color] She grinned wider and took to a slow rocking motion with Baby Chai in her arms.

Mordechai’s tired eyes warmed at the sight of his baby in his friend’s arms and Allegra disappeared from the room to go grab Mordechai a new shirt, Viva looking between her mother and father dividedly until she eventually closed her eyes and ran headfirst into his legs. The sober serpent bent down easily to bring his daughter back up with him, settling her on his hip so she could be a part of the conversation.

[color=DC143C]“Aside from isolatin’…how’ve ya been, Jade?”[/color] Mordechai asked sincerely, absentmindedly swaying side to side as Viva laid against him.

The Angel Princess hesitated from answering Key’s question. A lot had happened. A lot nobody knew about. A lot that Jade wasn’t ready to talk about, or maybe it was more about feeling uncertain that she [i]can[/i] talk about it. [color=e62020]“I’ve just been trying to keep my head above sea level. Even that I’m not sure I’m succeeding at,”[/color] she chuckled, looking down at baby Chai in her arms, smiling at him. [color=e62020]“It hasn’t been easy, Key. I’ve been staggering back and forth between holding it together and falling apart. Today’s the first day I’ve actually felt the closest to myself than I have the past month.”[/color] And even now, Jade wasn’t sure just what that really meant - to be herself. She didn’t know when the last time she felt like ‘herself’. 

[color=DC143C]“I can understand that,”[/color] the dark haired man empathized, going over to the counter to grab some paper towels with his free hand and start the struggle of single-handedly cleaning up the mess he made in his shock earlier. Jade understood harder drugs a little more, or at least she saw them in a similar manner to Mordechai moreso than Poppy and Charlie had. The two of them had done coke together more times than he could count back in school, and she usually needed a blunt to wake up and pass out just as much as he did. As far as he was aware, she’d never touched smack like he and Sonny had, and he once again found himself proud of his friends’ strengths as much as he was sick of his own weaknesses. [color=DC143C]“I dunno if Pops told ya, but I’ve been clean for like three weeks now. Been in a sorta isolation myself while it was happenin’ but Legs, Pops, and Badger all kept me in check until the worst of it was over. Doesn’t mean I’m not still cravin’ everythin’, but it means I can actually be here in the moment for my kids, and that actually makes me [i]feel[/i] somethin’, y’know?”[/color] 

It was said with his head down, staring at the counter he was cleaning so they didn’t have to meet each other’s eyes and see all their ugly truths just yet. The two deeper into the criminal element of the town from the start have too many things to say to each other for the time they have left alone. It was always their way; awkward empathizing and bland admittances that could have others balking. The Grease Monkey and Harley Head, always shoulder to shoulder in the dirt, looking forward or down instead of at each other.

[color=e62020]“Wait what!?”[/color] Jade’ sudden shift in mood, as well as where she was looking, came like a speeding train through a building as she had her blue were solely focused on Key. [color=e62020]“That’s fucking amazing! Seriously, I’m so happy for you!”[/color] If she weren’t holding a literal infant right now, Jade would’ve hugged him. There was a part of her that wished she could’ve been there for him, but she was glad that, at the least, good ole Mika who proclaims he doesn’t give a fuck does, in fact, give many fucks was. [color=e62020]“Having something -- or rather [i]someone[/i] -- to exist for is what we all hope to get someday. And I bet with how much energy I’m sure these two are having, they’re keeping you pretty fucking busy--sorry, didn’t mean to curse in front of the little ones.”[/color] 

[color=DC143C]“Don’t worry about it,”[/color] He laughed fondly. [color=DC143C]“We don’t censor around them. That raisin’ was already in process with Viva before I met Legs…Chai’s been wakin’ me up most nights, Viva used ta when we were in the apartments together but she grew out of it. Keeps me from the nightmares but has my mind wanderin’ all the time,”[/color] He dropped the dirited paper towels in the trash and grabbed the lysol wipes from under the sink, unable to meet Jade's eyes both from her praise and his own admissions. Viva clung tight to him through all the movement, arm flung around his neck and popsicle in her mouth as she listened to things she didn’t understand. [color=DC143C]“It’s hard not ta disappear at four in the mornin' just ta get a fix and stop my head from spinnin’. Until two weeks ago Legs locked the doors every night so she’d wake if she heard me tryin’ ta unlock ‘em and leave. Woke everyone up by raisin’ hell the first time it happened.”[/color]

Jade laughed at that last part and she could feel it - she put her whole chest into it, which shocked her not only because she laughed that hard but that Chai wasn’t bothered in the least. Jade even heard some approving sounds coming from the little Boaz in her arms. When she settled down, Jade just looked at Key. [color=e62020]“Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh but that’s what I call extreme tough love right there. Cares so much that you are under the supervision of Warden Bambi.”[/color] She cackled some more.

[color=DC143C]“Yeah yeah, laugh it up,”[/color] Mordechai grumbled, no real heat behind his words. He’d glanced up to check on his son at the boy’s noises and he could swear he felt his heart melt on the spot. The infant, while he was cooing happily, was actually almost asleep with his face turned into Jade’s chest, fist raised to his mouth as he suckled happily on it. His son didn’t just fall asleep in anyone’s arms, and it’s been an amazingly reassuring experience to him for the boy to do so with Mika, then Poppy and Sly, and now Jade. It made him feel like he’d somehow made a right choice every now and then, with his son already being such a good judge of character, so comfortable in the arms of the people Mordechai meshes with the best. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Allegra return and toss her now finished popsicle stick in the trash. He calmly set Viva down and watched as the girl ran to her mother before catching the tshirt he’d been tossed and throwing it on in one quick movement, once more hiding his designation in life from his loved ones who thought more of him. [color=DC143C]“Thanks Legs.”[/color]

[color=#910bf4]“No problem,”[/color] the seductress offered, smiling at Jade with Chai in her arms. [color=#910bf4]“As cute as this is, I think your little gang had a goal today, right?”[/color] She reached for her son gently, waiting for Jade to deposit him in her arms. [color=#910bf4]“I’ve actually got an appointment of my own.”[/color]

[color=DC143C]“What,”[/color] Mordechai glanced at her strangely. [color=DC143C]“Where?”[/color]

[color=#910bf4]“An old friend’s in town and I’m gonna take the kids to early lunch. You guys always missed each other in New York, don’t worry about it,”[/color] Allegra dismissed his worry easily. [color=#910bf4]“Now, your plans?”[/color] She asked the both of them, arms still out to receive Chai.

Handing over the nearly-sleeping little Boaz, Jade’s arms returned to her side when Bambi had him safely and securely in her arms. [color=e62020]“Not sure about the specifics but Pops said something about Scott Street.”[/color] The blonde didn’t understand what was so important, but certainly there had to be [i]some[/i] reason for them going there and not straight to Blue Hill. Suppose they’d find out when they get there. 

[color=DC143C]"Yeah, apparently we're pickin' up Pu- Natalia Belmonte,"[/color] Mordechai clarified for the blonde. [color=DC143C]"Apparently she and Hard Times knew each other better than any of us thought. I uh, didn't realize Pops didn't know she hung around the Serpents. Legs is right, too, we should head out to her. I have a feelin' there's a long day ahead'a us."[/color]

[color=e62020]“I’m sorry -- but [i]what did you say?![/i]”[/color] Suddenly Jade’s understanding of everything she [i]thought[/i] she knew about this situation had been swept right under her. Natalia fucking Belmonte and…Charlie!? And he had a sister that he never told any of them about? Internally she felt like someone just punched her in the gut the more she was finding out about this situation, but she just had a bewildered expression on her face. [color=e62020]“Yeah…let me just get some food. Last thing I want is for her to yell at me because I got too distracted falling in love with my new favorite nephew.”[/color] 

Truth be told, Jade needed to do a bit of binge eating to make up for all of the simultaneous surprises she seems to be finding out in such a short amount of time. She needed carbs. And lots of them. [color=e62020]“You know where they keep the donuts? Oh and chocolate milk? In the mood for sugar and more sugar.”[/color]

[color=DC143C]"Uh, yeah of course,"[/color] Mordechai responded with a furrowed brow while Allegra smacked her own forehead in the background while mouthing, [color=#910bf4][i]"Twice in one day?"[/i][/color] to the ceiling. Realizing he'd dropped the ball on telling more than Poppy about Natalia all those years ago, the sober fool just closed his eyes in resignation before moving to the cabinet Jade requested and throwing open the doors. [color=DC143C]"Sorry, I did it again. I can't really remember who all knew what back then. I uh…I can't really remember a lot of it actually."[/color] A constant mix of drugs, blood loss, and concussions will do that to a mind, especially one that was young, traumatized, and still developing. It was hard for him to admit it, that he was more checked out for most of their lives than anyone realized; that the bad memories always spring so vividly to the forefront of his mind but the mundane, the everyday routine, had been blitzed out by herb, H, and liquor. He had almost no memory at all of his first time getting clean for Lanie and the Emancipation, but he does remember she looked like she'd seen hell for the first time once he'd come out the other end and his memory improved. Barely. 

He was sober again though, he was working on it.

Jade reached for what she needed: powder donuts. There was a whole box of the mini ones and in a matter of thirty seconds, she poured herself a big ass glass of chocolate milk. Whether or not it was healthy for her wasn’t the top of her priority list. She needed something to combat that sinking feeling she was getting in her gut and pointless calories always did the trick. Plus, who didn’t like donuts and milk? There’s no more iconic duo in the breakfast world.

She turned around, looking at Key, shaking her head. [color=e62020]“No, don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong but tell me the truth. It’s just hard to fathom right now. Maybe it’ll all make more sense when we hear it from the Belmonte’s mouth.”[/color] She flashed him a smile and took the damn box with her, which is to say it wasn’t a large one but big enough to know just how many donuts were in it. She also had the glass of milk in her hand. [color=e62020]“Let's go, okay? Find out together.”[/color] In truth, she was hurt but only because this was one of many things she felt she wasn’t entitled to know because of the distance put between her and Charlie.

[color=DC143C]"Yeah,"[/color] grabbing his bag off the floor and closing the distance between him and his friend, Mordechai put his hand on her shoulder. [color=DC143C]"Together."[/color]
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