*** COMPLETED *** Until the World Explodes (Han Seoul-Oh)

Chapter 26: "This is Audrey."

*** Dom's POV ***

14 years ago...

"Dom, you want anything to drink?" Lety yelled from the open kitchen window. "It's kinda hot out there."

"Yeah, bring me a couple Coronas," I chuckled when I saw her roll her eyes. "Alright, fine. I'll take some water."

She smirked at me and disappeared from my view as I went back to working on the car that had been sitting in my garage for months. I was rebuilding the engine, and normally, it doesn't take me this long, but my crew and I had been a little occupied. Now that we had some time off, I was back in the garage where I belonged.

I heard some shuffling and footsteps coming up the driveway behind me, and I didn't turn around because I assumed it was Lety. I grabbed my rag off the cart and wiped my hands before turning around.

"Thanks for the water, ba-" I said as I stopped mid-sentence when I finally turned around. "Uh, who are you?"

Standing in front of me was definitely not Lety. It was a kid - she couldn't be more than 11 or 12 years old. She was carrying a backpack with the matching lunchbox and wearing a Justin Bieber t-shirt.

"I'm Audrey," She muttered in a quiet voice, trying to avoid eye contact as she looked around my garage, clutching her backpack as she stood there, stiff in her position.

"And what are you doing here, Audrey?" I questioned as I moved to kneel down in front of her so that I could be more her height. "Where are your parents?"

"Not home," She answered when she finally looked me in the eyes as she watched my expressions. "My mommy was supposed to pick me up from school today, but I guess she forgot to tell me she was working late. So is my daddy."

I motioned to the empty chair behind her, and she moved to sit down in it, letting her stuff fall to the floor. When she sat down, I pulled up another chair and sat down across from her.

"And what do your mom and dad do for a living?" I questioned, still wondering how this kid ended up at my house. "How did you get home from school?"

"I walked. It only took me 15 minutes," She said as she rested her arms on the chair arms. "And they are doctors at the big hospital downtown. They're on call a lot so they are hardly home. I have a house key, but I forgot it this morning."

"Hardly home? How do you take care of yourself? How do you eat?" I questioned.

"I know how to make some stuff, but I'm not allowed to use the stove. Just the microwave," Audrey said as she watched me get up and hand her a bottle of water. "You never told me what your name is."

I laughed as I sat back down, wondering how this kid I had just met was so comfortable around me.

"My name is Dominic. I like to work on cars," I said as she took a couple big sips from the water bottle she was holding. "What about you?"

"I like Justin Bieber. My daddy promised that he'd take me to his show when he comes here," She smiled as she looked around my garage again. "I don't know what time my mommy and daddy will be home, and I don't want to keep you from your cars."

"No. It's alright, kid. I'll drive you home. It's getting too dark for you to be walking in Los Angeles by yourself."

As I finished talking, Lety came out the side door and walked over to me, smiling down at Audrey.

"Hey, babe. Dinner's done. Who's this?" She asked, waving at Audrey, who waved back at her with a grin.

"This is Audrey. She'll be eating dinner with us tonight."