I N A C T I V E -how could you ever turn her down?

“It’s one of the more attractive places to die. Could be worse. Being boarded up at the post office isn’t much of a thrill, and there’s no food,” He kid right back, lifting the side of his mouth a little. “And yes, I’ve been snowed in at the post office. I’m not proud that, in the time I’ve  lived here, I have had gained some unique locations to be stranded during snow storms.” His own home was obviously at the top of the list, but up there was also that time in a dollar store and someone else’s home. A one night stand specifically. That was too embarrassing too admit, and a story he couldn’t exactly share with Maverick.

As hard as he tried not to react to her next remark, Nolan could feel his expression giving him away. His face had to have been light red by now. Blushing at her comment. Lilah was nineteen and had been working at the diner for some time now. Of course he was bound to conversations, but he did that with every employee here. If he sat at the bar he would chat up Stephanie, and even the line cook Ollie. Nolan was polite like that. Why did Maverick have to do this right now? Lilah was a good girl, and she was sweet. Sure, he’d watched her walk away… allowing his eyes too linger for far too long. But again, he couldn’t admit that to his niece.

“Li-Like I said… I’ve been trapped in here before. So I guess, yeah, I know firsthand that she’s good people to talk to.” Nolan managed to save himself, shrugging off Mav’s suggestive tone. “And no, I don’t think you’re a loser… but I just thought it wouldn’t hurt to throw some clues your way. You know, help you locate them quicker.” Not that Nolan knew every people in the town or anything, but he definitely came across enough married couples and their kids to know that his own neighborhood was not the perfect family type. “Again, if you want to. You don’t have to listen to me.” He said as Lilah arrived, conveniently cordial and friendly as she placed her hand on Nolan’s shoulder while she set down their starters.

Lilah tapped him a few times lightly before reaching for her notepad. “What else can I get you guys? Are you ready to order?” Then she turned to Nolan. “The usual for you, hmm? Double cheeseburger, no pickles, onion rings and ranch?” He swallowed thickly and nodded, then glanced to Mavi. “You ready to order?”

“Well with you fawning over the hot waitress, I bet you’d love getting snowed in here.” Maverick coyly replies under her breath, she’s a looker that’s for sure. Maybe she should try and be a little less bold, but really that was no fun. She wanted her uncle to know that she caught him, that she watched him glue his eyes to her backside for even the briefest moment. There was something wrong with the fact that she liked watching him squirming, watching him flush and deny. She wanted him on edge, wanted him to be nervous and exposed. It made her more comfortable that way, made her feel like she had at least a little control.

“Oh. I’m sure that’s it, Uncle Nolan. Just friendly conversations.” She hummed and looked away from him, her eyes searching around the diner. Her hands crawl up to her jacket and she pulls it apart. It falls behind her and she finds her gaze back on her uncle and she can hear the waitress approaching. He’s tense and Mavi wants to laugh out loud. She wants to giggle with glee and hunch over in a fit of cackles. This was fun. This was the kind of fun she could get into. Seeing how many of her uncle’s buttons she could push, seeing what he would do if he burst.

Her eyes brows raise as Lilah makes her way over, she’s got a good girl kick in her step. She looked like the kind of girl who probably was a daddy’s girl and riding horses was her passion, she also looked like the girl who could have a secret biker boyfriend and wanted no one to find out how she rode him just like her ponies. What a doll. The way her uncle’s order tumbles out of her lips like muscle memory sparks Mavi up even more. “Are you sure you should be eating that, Uncle Nolan? I mean what with your age and all. Maybe throw in some kale?” She mocked him as she looked over her menu, tucking a loose curl behind her ear.

The hint was taken, and accepted, loud and clear by Nolan. Her silence was enough to indict that his talking wasn’t really wanted here. Still, he mustered a brave face despite feeling defeated. All of his efforts had been seemingly shrugged off, or deflected entirely. Nolan didn’t know what else to at this point. Maverick was only here a few hours, and he was already failing her. When the topic came up a long time ago, about him taking her in, everyone was so sure it would work out. Her parents would get a much needed break, and so would Mav, and they seemed sure that Nolan was up for the task. They weren’t related directly, but at the same time, they got along well when she was young. Shit, if they saw him now, they would send her back home immediately. Was this a form of abuse? To send one’s young teen-aged daughter to live with her uncle and eventually die of boredom? It had to be.

“Okay,” Shakily, his hand returned to his own lap. There was no need for it to be so far from him anymore. Nolan drove a few more miles, in utter silence, until a large sign came to the view. The diner was old, and there were no lights on its sign. When the snow storms plowed through, it went without notice. How the place managed and operated was beyond him. This town was occupied with all the same people, and yet the diner had been here for years. Nolan ate here every day when he first arrived, but the passion for it dissipated as he began to leave town for extended periods of time. He pulled into the parking lot cautiously and parked the truck directly in front of the main window. The headlights flashed inside the poorly lit restaurant, revealing the 5-7 customers inside. With an exhale, he put the vehicle into park before turning off the ignition.

“Last time I ate here, a storm came through and boarded us up. I was stuck here for four hours. Let’s hope I didn’t bring that same bad luck with me tonight.” The older man teased as he held open the door for Maverick. He let her walk in first, but called out to Delilah- the young waitress waiting for them at the door- that they’d like a booth. After being seated, he ordered himself a coffee and croissant for now, and allowed Mav to order what she wanted as well. When Delilah left, he spoke up again. “She’s about your age, by the way. Not sure how much older or younger, but I think if you wanna find some friends while you’re here, Lilah’s a good person to talk to.” Lord knows he wasn’t accomplishing much in that department with her. The least he could do was point her in the direction of teens her age. “If-If you want, obviously. Not gonna push you to do anything, but… you know.”

She knows what she does. She knows how she makes things difficult and even impossible at times. She knows that she isn’t easy to love. God damn it, she knows. There’s something broken inside of her. Something so damaged and ripped at every piece. So no. She is not easy to love. She can feel that when her uncle wills her to be the girl he knew. She notices it when she dares take a glance into his haunting orbs. Maverick isn’t going to admit it of course, but a tiny part of her is so fucking relieved to be here. Miles upon miles away from home, away from the people who managed to tear her apart and then proceed to blame her for it. It feels like being dipped in cold water, washed into a new current. She loves and hates it. She wishes things could be different back home, but she’s not naive. She’s been preyed on for too long to have any of that left.

The air around them changes when he takes his hand back. He takes it back like he’s been burned. Touching her much feel like fire, warm and thrilling at first, but everyone knows you always wind up hurt. Scared. Dead. Maverick has tried for so long to tame the blaze, but that wasn’t exactly easy when so many wanted to see you go up in flames. She wants to apologize, she wants to be someone else. She remains silent. The road continues and soon enough they’re in front of the diner. Without much light to it, Maverick hardly noticed it until he parked. She follows him out into the cold and into the gloomy place. 

“Oh I see, you’re gonna involve me in that conversation? The second she knows I’m next to you, she’ll wanna talk to me. I see what you’re doing there,” Nolan teased, chuckling at his niece. “That’s fine though. I’m sure she’s still awake anyway, just waiting by the phone.” As if he wasn’t capable of taking care of a teenager. And really, he wasn’t. That showed in how awful he was doing at being direct with her. At least she didn’t fight him on the idea of changing her outfit. Inside the home, it was a nice and warm enough to wear what she was wearing. The diner, however, he couldn’t be sure it would accommodate her thin, petite frame. Nolan laughed at her teasing, smirking a little as he headed to the door. He waited for her there, and when she popped up again he was much more satisfied with the outfit change. It wasn’t layered, but it also wasn’t a bra.

“That’s fine,” He shrugged off. “You look beautiful as always.” The guy then opened the door for Mav, allowing her to walk out first. He chose the pick up to drive through the coarse terrain, as opposed to his regular sedan. First he walked to the passenger side and opened the door for her, then ran along to the other side and hopped in. The truck was freezing but quickly defrosted when the heater turned on. “That’s right, one of these days we’re gonna have to show you how to drive one of these trucks. Especially on snow. Just in case.” He brought up randomly but quickly changed the subject. “So are you okay now? Are we okay?” Nolan asked with his eyes focused solely on the road. “I really am sorry I pissed you off. Didn’t know what I was thinking, coming in hot like that. I just got so nervous, and jumped the gun about everything.” He didn’t hesitate to admit that to her. Then Nolan reached cautiously for Maverick’s hand. “Are you still mad at me?”

There’s a wave of emotions to Nolan’s compliment. Mavi doesn’t accept nor deny it, she doesn’t acknowledge it at all as she walks out the door. She can’t decide whether she thinks she believes it or not, or if just an Uncle thing. She also can’t admit that ‘beautiful’ is the furthest thing in her mind when she looks in the mirror. The way he rolls out the word like it's so easy just reminds her of all the times she’d been called beautiful by some guy who ended up hurting her instead. Nolan opens the door for her and her thoughts had momentarily distracted her from the freezing temperatures. The cold crawls up her body, it feels like a spiked drink, delicious but with quite a kick. She likes the cold. She likes how she doesn’t feel so alone in it once everyone else is feeling it. Mavi shoves her hands into her thin thighs, rubbing them back and forth trying to grow some warmth as she looks over at Nolan. 

Her cheeks are rosy from the cold and the tip of her nose begins to light up like a famous reindeer she was obsessed with as a kid. His eyes are glued to the snowy roads and Maverick makes a mental note to touch back on the subject of trying to drive through them. He starts apologizing and Maverick tries to retain her facial expressions as she too looks back to the endless road. She wants him to stop talking about it, she wants to stop remembering what had lead to her losing her cool. Her hometown woes licking at her heels and begging her to fall into the void once again. Maverick almost bursts into tendrils of anxiety and anger when he takes her hand, her’s tiny in comparison to his. The touch is slightly unfamiliar as it had been years since she felt her uncle’s touch, hugs and pokes and piggy back rides. 

Nolan slowly accepts the offer of coffee. It was late, and sort of a tradition within their family to drink coffee when it was late. While caffeine effected most people, especially when it was consumed at night, it had zero effects on Nolan. He could drink three cups and still go to bed at a decent time. Still, he was unsure about the sudden nice gesture from his niece. Given her attitude, she’s calmed down, but a little too calm. It was making him paranoid, but don’t count on him to call her out on it. Nolan played along. “Thank you,” He said as he took a sip from his mug. When she stated she was starving, he offered a simple nod. It didn’t seem like she had any plans of changing, and really, who was he to say she had to? “Alright, lemme grab my coat too and we’ll drive over.”

That’s right, he still needed to call Marie. Of course, the woman has left him three missed calls and a text message, but Nolan wasn’t quick to respond. “Yeah, she texted me earlier, asking if you landed okay. I told her you were jet lagged and sleeping. So you’re gonna have to give her a call back when you’re ready.” He wondered if Maverick would tell Marie about their bickering. As she took off, he realized that she was really trying to leave the house in a skimpy bra and jacket. “It’s gonna be pretty cold out there. You sure you don’t wanna put on, like, I don’t know… a long sleeve or something?” Nolan offered gently, tilting his head at her. God, he really didn’t want to be that guy, but the last thing he wanted was for men to look at his niece in an appropriate way. That would drive him absolutely crazy.

“I’ll call her on the way.” Maverick assured him, she figured her mom was probably eating her fingernails now with how nervous she was likely to be. Her dad was probably getting home around this time too, it would be perfect to call and just let her parents know she was okay. Looking up to Nolan as he delicately placed his suggestion for a long sleeve, she figured he might be right. It could be chilly. It could be too cold. But Maverick felt as if it had to with her appearance rather then the weather. Was he being protective or was he trying to save face? Mavi figured she could fight him on it, but she’d let it slide this time. The storm was brewing and she figured she’d look like a crazy person in her bralette while it howled. 

The storm had luckily quieted down within the house, and once again Nolan felt calmer. Earlier conversations led to a toxic disagreement that left him feeling guilty.  He should have left her alone. He should have walked away. He had no business to lecture her, let alone force her to open up to him. What did he get in return? A guarded, quiet, teenage niece who wouldn’t come out of her room. Nolan spent most of his evening alone, sitting outside watching his neighbors walk by. A few of them had chatted him up, asked him if his niece was home yet. Nolan told them yes, but kept conversations brief on the matter. Wasn’t their business anyway.

Come night fall, just before 10PM, Nolan sensed the winds were picking up. The lantern on on his patio table was whipping about, threatening to turn off. It was getting colder which left Nolan no choice but to head inside. He closed the book and grabbed his things, almost rushing in. He stopped in his tracks when he heard a familiar voice call his name. It was Maverick, thankfully. She had finally come out of her room and he couldn’t be more happy to see her. “Mav, hey,” The older male greeted his niece with a smile. He approached her in the kitchen and set down a mug. “How are you feeling? Did you settle in?” Thoughts of what he’d considered flowed through his head. He should talk to her about it.

Maybe another time. Nolan gulped that desire away, even shaking his head at himself. What caught his attention was the very little clothing Maverick had on. It shouldn’t have… but it did. A simple robe, bra, and loose pants. Wasn’t she cold? He wanted to ask, but couldn’t muster up another disagreement. Peeling his eyes away, he glanced into hers again. “Are you hungry? There’s a lot to eat here. Pizza, frozen dinners, not a lot of adult food going on here,” Nolan joked lightly. “Or if you’d like, we could head down to the 24HR diner just a few blocks away? You look comfy and all with your—” he subtly gestured on himself where her bra would be. “But it’s a pretty good diner. If you don’t find anything you like here.”

The winds had picked up and the howls had scared the girl right out of bed. Her current attire was that of someone used to the cold, she was from Canada. Maverick didn’t feel the cold like others did, she didn’t know if it was due to where she was born or if it was her. Destined to be cold and lifeless. Though, the feeling of frost was satisfied by the coffee she drank, hot on its way down her throat. Settling in her stomach and spreading a warmness throughout her body. As Nolan approached her, Mavi slides the cup of coffee over to him. She bites her lip as she looks up at him, preparing for the worse. His still tone is unknown, she’s surprised and momentarily relieved. 

“I’m actually kinda starving,” Mavi replies as she sets her mug down on the counter, her eyes travel down to where he gestures. Her regular at home attire, her father hated it. He hated when she answered the door that way, hated when she went out too late wearing too little. He didn’t want to control his daughter, but he feared for what the world could do to girls dressed like that. He didn’t know that he was too late. As her uncle suggests the diner, Mavi springs up. 

It was a long night. Maverick had jumped into the shower and no matter how hard she scrubbed and how hot the water was, she still couldn’t wash away the feeling those messages she’d received made her feel. There had been some tears, sobs hidden into her pillow. She had mastered falling apart without anyone noticing. Still, there was a small feeling of remorse when the girl finally tip-toed out of her room and noticed the little banner and gifts her uncle had arranged. She hadn’t meant to be so mean to him, but she couldn’t exactly tell him why she had been so upset. Mavi was dressed in a bralette and her loose lounge pants, draped over her was a silky robe and her feet were covered in baby pink socks.

She had denied food the night before, but now the girl was starving. Silently, she made her way into the kitchen and put some water into the coffee maker. She loved the smell of coffee, her father had always had a cup every morning for as long as she could remember and it reminded her of him. As she sipped her own morning cup, Mavi set out one for Nolan. She didn’t know if he even drank coffee or if he was even home. She wouldn’t be surprised if he had left her and never turned back. Still, the girl pulled herself onto the counter and sipped her drink. 

“Uncle Nolan?” She called out when she heard a door open, her tone testing the waters. Would he be angry with her? Spite her? Would he yell at her? Tell her to get out of his house? At least she hoped it was Nolan and not some crazy ax murderer. 

Now he could sense this was definitely not about the job. Well, he figured it pissed her off, sure, but enough to get this emotional? Nolan could see Marie in her eyes. That fire, that aggression, that ability to put up a front and hide from those who cared. Swallowing thickly, he took a step back. “You have to leave the past behind, Maverick, that’s what you really need to do. Forget about what’s at home and focus on what you’re here for.” Nolan attempted to reason, softening his expression at her.

It was stupid to say, and Nolan was no idiot. Being a teenager himself, once upon a time, he knew the circumstances. He moved around, lost friends, and it sucked. He lost his parents too. They died a long time ago, leaving him with Marie. It was hard, and it wasn’t easy. In no way did he want to diminish Maverick’s feelings or belittle them. What was difficult was being handling a teenager who was clearly upset. A sigh escaped him as he watched over her body language. Maverick was so upset and he knew he had to figure out why.

“I’ll leave you alone, after you talk to me.” Nolan reassured, standing his ground against her. “If I upset you with what I said, I am sorry, but those are the rules. That’s what it’s going to be like while you are here.” He explained meekly, biting at his lip. “Remember when you were younger? We used to talk all the time. About random things, and about things you didn’t want to talk to with anyone else. You used to tell me things.” While he hadn’t been present the last few years, he was doing his best now, wasn’t he? “I don’t want you coming here and living with me, with secrets. You can talk to me, you know. I’m not your parent.”

That’s the thing about Maverick, you could only ask for so much until she just wasn’t available anymore. She shuts down, she swallows all her emotions into her body and just dissipates. Her eyes clear and she stops what she’s doing to look at him. Her eyes become void of everything from before and she’s just this blank canvas of a girl. She remembered the first time it happened, her mom had really freaked out about it. She was trying to get her to talk about why her grades were starting to drop and why she was suddenly feeling like she didn’t know her anymore. She pushed and pushed, her mother helplessly trying to wield answers from her, a way to save her. Maverick shut down. She didn’t want to tell her, she couldn’t. There was this overwhelming shame she felt, for her parents, for Nolan to know what she’d done. It was gut-wrenching and terrible, she couldn’t handle the looks of disappointment she might receive, or worse disgust.

“Well, I’m not that little girl anymore. And you stopped coming.” That’s the last on the matter she’s willing to speak on. Mavi was no longer the girl he knew, she might never be again. He had let and every year she had awaited his return and he never came back. Her hope began to die and then she just started to feel like she herself had died along with it. She had let the things that happened to her happen and she had suffered in silence for so long. She was going to have to live with that and that’s just her own burden to carry. She would do what she had to do here and then figure out what the fuck she was going to do after that. 

The older male sighed loudly. Almost immediately regretting his words, he wanted to call up Maverick’s mother right now and change the plans. Marie’s demands for Maverick while she was living with him included the young woman getting a job, and it wasn’t entirely his idea. All Nolan did was set up a string of job opportunities, nothing more. Nolan wanted to defend himself against Mavi’s wrath, but what would that make him? A coward? It would make him just like her parents, too regretful when they needed to be stern. Placing his hands on his hips, he swallowed thickly and shook his head. The right words couldn’t come out, to be honest, he contemplated the agressive do as I say tone, but it wouldn’t work. There was no way she would take him seriously, let alone trust him. Because she was right, Nolan did say that she could do what she wanted, but this wasn’t home. Nolan needed to watch out for her, to keep her safe. He needed her to be around.

“Look, we can argue back and forth about what you will or will not do, but the fact of the matter is? I’m the adult here. No, I’m not your father, but guess what? You’re living in my house. You’re in a town- a state- you know nothing about. Working will teach you about the town. You’ll gain a sense of direction, and frankly, you’ll meet the people around here. Besides, I’m not saying you have to go and get yourself a full time job. That wasn’t my point at all. And, again, you don’t have to get it today or tomorrow. But you are getting one. Even if it’s just two days a week.” Nolan explained as sternly, but sympathetically, as he could. Maverick wasn’t his blood relative, but she was now his responsibility. He had to put his foot down now or else this whole visit would become a hot mess. “To be honest, Mav, your parents aren’t going to be supporting you while you’re out here. They didn’t send me any money, and whatever they gave you before you left is all you have,” He added. “Is that really enough for two whole months?”

He waited briefly for a reply, but when she became consumed in her phone, the look on her face changed from annoyance to distraught. Nolan creased his eyebrows. What was happening? Who was texting her? What was she looking at? Standing up a little straighter, he tilted his head at her. “Mav?” He called for her, seeking her attention again. Didn’t exactly help, as she looks up at him and asks for space. “Why? What’s going on?” Nolan asked with a concerned looking on his face. “Who is that?” Never one to pry, he tried not to sound nosy, but that was difficult given how soon she was saddened by something. Stepping further into the room, establishing his presence. This was the guy she leaned on growing up. This was the man she wanted to kiss her scars and ice her bruises. She trusted him with her pain once before, and Nolan wanted that again. “I’ll leave, but you have to tell me what’s going on first. What’s wrong, Maverick? Is it your friends? Or is that your mom?”

“Fine. I’ll get the fucking job, is that all? Or is there something else I have to fucking do out here?” She’s aggressive despite the way her body trembles, she shakes with emotion at what she’s read. She feels so fucking helpless and stupid for having given the shit kids at her school another chance to fuck with her. Another chance to have something terrible to say. Maverick doesn’t understand how coming all the way out here, sitting on a bed she’s never known, it still reaches her. Nothing she did was ever right, ever good enough. Someone was always out to fucking get her and all she knew now were the claws that came out in self-defense. 

Her eyes glaze over as she sinks into her emotions, she’s so deep in her sorrow it’s overwhelming at times. Consumed by their hatred, she swallowed it all up and now she was full of it. She couldn’t take anymore. She couldn’t give them any more of herself to tear apart. She was fucking drowning in it. She was drowning in the bullying, in the jokes, in the lies. She was drowning in the pictures that circulated the campus and the stories that everyone told of her body. She felt like it wasn’t even hers anymore. Like she was hovering around in an empty shell, that’s what they saw her as, a piece of ass. 

Already warned about her attitude, Nolan knew he had to be strong. He had to not let her harsh words get the best of him, or else they would just end up going back and forth with each other. Truth is, he didn’t want to hover over Mav. That was the last thing he wanted. Her parents already lost her respect. The whole reason she was here is because they were at their wits end. With Nolan, their was a friendship there that no one could explain. Hell, even he couldn’t figure out what it is she enjoyed about him back then. Maybe it was his content attitude– a more relaxed tone that balanced out her exuberant one. Whatever it may be, Marie was putting all her eggs in one basket with him. Whether he had what it took to watch after his niece for a whole summer, or not, he was going to do it anyway. Mavi’s words were mean, but nothing he hadn’t thought she would say. Really, Nolan couldn’t lie. Juneau, Alaska is not where all the cool kids are heading for their summer breaks. He felt bad for her, but at the same time, knew this was for the best. Taking a deep breath, Nolan folded his arms and leaned against the door frame, watching Mavi intently before he could find the right words to say.

“Quiet and peaceful is all I have to offer, unfortunately,” Nolan sighed through his nose. “This city is big but it’s not like your hometown. It’s not boring, but you can get bored if you decide to mope all summer.” Honestly, if she wanted him to, he could show her around. He could introduce her to the beautiful small town, and he could show her all the beautiful sights nearby. “I, uh, personally took some time off of work, for you. To help you settle in, find yourself a rhythm while you’re here. I didn’t want you to feel like you’d have to do all this alone.” Nolan worked a boat dock every summer, typically, while his winter job was on hiatus. He had enough money from last year and the following season to take this time off. It was much needed, and he was excited to have a break for once himself. “It could be a death sentence, or you could take this at face value. This whole place can be your stomping ground if you go about it the right way.” Damn it, he was lecturing. Nolan bit down on his lip nervously, chewing at it to stop himself from sounding like a parent. Truthfully he couldn’t help himself. He got it from Marie all the time growing up, so he had this script already in his DNA.

“—But that’s my opinion. I’m not gonna stand here and tell you how to spend your summer.” He digressed, shrugging a single shoulder at her. Truthfully,  Nolan knew what she meant firsthand. It hadn’t been an easy change from his hometown to Alaska. At first, all he did was work. He’d work through every single season without a break in between. Earning himself thousands of dollars a week at a time, and for what? His bank would pile up, but he was bored. So when he finally lifted his head, and realized he had buried himself in his hermit mentality, he knew things had to change. The boredom he once felt subsided. Now he hikes, goes fishing, camping, shopping in Anchorage, and is even learning to fly an airplane. There was so much this state had to offer, one just had to look past the loneliness of it. While he loved visiting Marie, she never came to visit him. Maverick was his first guest since he moved here, and that was special to him. Now, he could show her what he’s been up to all these years. Finally, he could share his hobbies and interests with someone. Mavi wasn’t an ideal companion, what with her attitude and pessimism. Overtime, though, he hoped she’ll open up to exploring the land with him. He knew he had to be patient.

“Anyway, Mav, for the time being? I’ve lined up some great interviews for you, while you’ll be here.” Nolan didn’t need the money from her, but rather, figured his niece could use the work experience. In Alaska, almost everyone made double than what they would on the mainland. Cashiers made nearly $18/hr, nurses were salary plus bonus incentives, and waiters were tipped nicely. It was the perfect first job for a teenager. “Mrs. Stevens, she lives three houses down, needs a dog sitter slash dog walker. Then there’s a diner called Janky’s that is looking for a hostess. A kindercare is looking for a counselor…” He could go on all day about the job opportunities he had for her to check out. “There’s about eight on this piece of paper I have in my room. I’m not gonna make you look at it today, or tomorrow, but it’s there.” He shrugged again. “That way, if you’re gonna be bored? At least you’ll have a chance in between that boredom to get paid?” Not only that, but it would give her a chance to meet some new people. People that didn’t already know her name, or were wanting to slap a label on her so quickly. “It’s not so bad here though. Everyone closes at seven o'clock, no one works on weekends, and everyone sleeps in pretty late too. I think most shops and restaurants are open at eleven in the morning, so… it’s not so bad.”

Her eyes trail off from his once he starts lecturing, Mavi was known not care for lectures and all they entailed. She has so much of that at home and it doesn’t work, it has never worked. Lectures are only vital in individuals who you have control over, no one had control over her. Hell, she couldn’t even control her damn self. All the hurricane she was, she roared and made destruction of herself. Her hands fly up to run across her face, wishing she could find that bear and ask him very nicely, “Mr. Bear would you please swallow me up whole?" Mavi tunes him out and looks up to the ceiling, the whiteness alarming and there are dips and coves in the construction of it. Her eyes find each other and the swirl around and around until he finally figures it out. She wasn’t going to listen. Her bored gaze returns to his now, eyes large and empty. 

“Woah. Woah. Wait,” She shoots up from the bed with a new expression, annoyance, and uncertainty. “Didn’t you just say you were gonna let me do what I want? Now you’re talking about jobs and interviews. What the fuck is that about? I’m not going to go work some shit job, I don’t want to.” Her protests are laced with the profanity her mother hated so much, she could hear her dove-like voice telling her to watch her mouth. “I’m not going.” Her attitude the adult, or well young adult, version of a little babe stomping their feet. She wasn’t going to work, she didn’t want to listen to some asshole tell her what to do. Prior to coming here, Mavi had worked only one job. She had worked serving ice cream in a shop back home and got fired after she punched her boss in the face. Though, the story of him sticking his hand up her skirt didn’t exactly come out as the act of violence.