Audrey.

“I just kinda figured… I mean, maybe you’d’ve already been at work or something; didn’t wanna bother you on the clock. But… sounds like a good idea, yeah. Thanks, Audrey.”

“Bother me at any time, if I’m busy I’ll just tell you to fuck off, you know that. C’mon, you look frozen solid. Take my jacket?”

I don’t know, it sounds fun, but I think I might pass. I don’t think I have enough sweaters for this weather. I don’t want to turn into a jess-cicle.

We can find you some more jumpers! I don’t want you to turn into a jess-cicle either, but getting outside in the air might do you some good.

“This snow is gonna be the death of me. Car broke down, walked most of the way, and… well, it’s a real shitty situation, lemme tell you that much. You know any good mechanics? And tow companies?”

“Emerson, you should have phoned me you complete numpty. I know a good mechanic, he’s a friend of mine, he should know a decent tow company. Look, your car isn’t going anywhere. Come back to mine, warm up, and I’ll phone him?”

“Yeah, I was thinking of calling my parents to get my make up work from my school, but then I realized I’ve missed months at this point and I don’t know if I should just retake the classes online or something instead. I’m just so behind its kind of overwhelming to think about most of the time.” Candace sighed heavily. There were quite a few things on her mind regarding school, and a few other things that she was on the verge saying. Audrey wasn’t a therapist or anything, though, and it wasn’t her job to bother with Candace’s stupid ideas. She thought about saying them, but she also knew Audrey probably wouldn’t understand at all. It was likely better unsaid.

“No one is ever so far behind that they can’t catch up, even if it takes a little longer,” Audrey said firmly. So many of her friends had dropped out of high school and then returned and finished with amazing results. “Manageable chunks is what you need. At least, that’s what I always do when I have a mountain of paperwork to get through and deadlines to meet,” she told Candace, holding open the door to the cafeteria. “And there’s so many people in here who will want to help you, myself included.”

Her smile faltered slightly as she looked to the side. “Ha,” she scoffed. “Nothing… I’ve been sort of meaning to go to tutoring ‘cause I sort of need to graduate eventually, hopefully sooner than later. Other than that, well, I guess I hang out in the rec room sometimes, There isn’t really anything to do here to be honest. Oh, and I’m supposed to be going to therapy but I always forget when I’m supposed to go. The therapists here don’t really care if you go, from what I’ve seen.”

Audrey looked over with a soft gaze at Candace, nodding her head. “I know it’s not much fun, but maybe you could fill your days with schoolwork? There isn’t much to do here, but you could really utilise your time so you can graduate soon,” Audrey suggested, holding the door open. “They do care, they’re just...very busy people.”

Isn’t it only January….?

Well, yeah. But you can never get too much of a head start on your spring cleaning.

Yeah, of course. It’s no problem. Why else would they bring me here, right? That’s a whole lot of stuff you‘ve got there….

Yeah, I’m spring cleaning. And apparently no one else is around to help.

“You have my back?” Candace gave a bubbly laugh, the first of its kind since she arrived at Serenity. “Thanks, Audrey. And I guess I could spare some of my time to natter with you. My schedule here is just so busy.” She stepped away from the wall she was leaning against and gave the older woman another smile, a grin this time.

“Yeah, I’ve got your back. And I’m a pretty good back haver,” Audrey laughed, leading the way down the hall towards the cafeteria, glad to have pulled a smile from the younger girl. “What do you do with your time here?”

Candace offered the woman a grateful smile. “You’re the first person who’s said that… About not having to do stuff. Everyone’s all like ‘You have to go to group’ or 'You have to see your therapist’ or whatever. But I guess just 'nattering’, although the I’ve never heard that one before, sounds harmless. It’s all there is to do here anyway. Thanks for the offer… Um, what’s your name? I’m Candace, by the way.”

Audrey smiled back. “That’s probably because I’m not a therapist, I’m just a security guard. But hey, if anyone gives you a hard time about doing things before you’re ready, just send them my way,” she told Candace with a wink, meaning what she said. “Nattering is fairly harmless, it’s just lighthearted talking. I’m Audrey. Want to step down to the cafeteria for a bit then?”

I can help you with that, if you’d like...

“Would you? I’d be so grateful. I’m heading back down to the security office, if you could carry this for me.”

“But I don’t want a distraction, I just want to be done with this and done with everything. Distractions don’t make the feeling go away. They just make me feel like shit for not wanting to totally participate in whatever.”

“Honey, you don’t have to feel like shit for that reason. No one here is going to make you do anything you don’t want to. Not even talk about how you feel. Not until you’re ready. I was more thinking along the lines of grabbing a drink together and just...nattering. About anything and everything. Or nothing, if that takes your fancy.”

“Goodnight Miss…?” He paused, waiting for her name. 

“Mathis. Audrey Mathis.”

“Eye eye captain” He said as he turned to walk down the hallway. “And you do it very well.”

“See you tomorrow Mr Wallace.”

He gave her a lazy smile and chuckled. “Alright alright.” Cole held his hands up in surrender. “I’ll go to bed, bossy.”

“My job is to tell you when to go to bed.”

“I’m not flirting, i’m being honest.” He shrugged. 

“And it’s now ten minutes past curfew. To bed with you.”

He gave her a grin, putting his head on one side as he ruffled his hair. “I like the fighting talk.” 

“I advise you to stop flirting.”