My Savior - Suntan

Chapter Thirty-Two

"Y'know, Sunny - we haven't been to her house yet, have we?" Asked Kel, suddenly stopping in the middle of the pavement, causing Sunny to walk into the back of him.

"Uhh.. no," Sunny muttered, rubbing his head and looking up at Kel, who had just spun to the left and started running.

Sunny grumbled, feeling tired. They were running all over Faraway Town yesterday in search of Hector, and now they were doing it for Aubrey. Again. He felt as if he was being punished for staying in his house for four years, having to make up for doing no exercise by running everywhere now.

When Sunny finally made it to Aubrey's house, Kel was already knocking on the door, in the end just walking in. Sunny sighed, sitting down on the lawn outside of the house. The trash lingering around stunk so much it stung his eyes and made the back of his throat burn, but he didn't care at that moment, being exhausted from all the running. Kel then reappeared, shutting the door firmly behind him.

"Not there," Kel huffed, angrily glaring down, feeling exasperated, "and Aubrey's mom is completely useless. Said she didn't care what happened to her- Sun, what are you doing?"

The scrawny boy was just tracing something invisible on his legs, his pale shins going pink in the harsh sunlight, his shorts only protecting his scarred thighs.

"We've been everywhere!" Kel scowled, before sighing and brushing his hair out of his eyes, "anywhere you can think of we haven't been, Sunshine?"

"Church."

"What? Sunshine, we've already been there," Kel murmured, offering his hand to Sunny so he could get up.

Sunny's cold hand gripped his, still shocking Kel slightly. No matter the temperature, Sunny always seemed to be cold, freezing, even.

"Follow." Sunny stated, before gripping Kel's hand tightly and started running off down the street in the direction of the church.

Kel saw Sunny's sides heaving when they finally arrived, but he didn't stop, pushing the door open quietly, Kel slipping in after him.

The priest was talking quietly with some other older people from town, seeming happy and chatting about their days. The plush carpet shifted beneath their shoes, feeling somewhat slippery.

"Sunshine, where're we going?" Kel whispered, staying close behind Sunny as he confidently walked to the small group, "it doesn't look like she'd be in that group.."

Sunny then veered to the right, walking quickly around the altar, Kel stumbling slightly over his own feet as he hurried to catch up to Sunny once again.

He watched as the shorter boy pushed open the door to the cemetery, when everything clicked.

Sunny quickly ran across the grass towards the colorful shape beside a grave at the far left of the cemetery.

Aubrey was laying on her back on a frayed, checkered picnic blanket. She appeared to be crying. Mari's grave say beside her, sunbeams slanting on her grave. Sunny slowed and approached slowly, but also being loud enough so Aubrey knew of their approach. They stood beside the blanket, Aubrey sitting up. Her eyes were red and puffy, like she'd been crying, and there were tear streaks down her cheeks.

"What do you want?" Aubrey snapped, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Well.." Kel started. Now that they had found her, he didn't really know what to say. Was she okay? Why did the Hooligans seem awkward when they asked about her? What happened to Aubrey after Sunny gave her his umbrella? Why does her mother no longer care what happens to her own daughter?

"Aubrey, what happened?" A voice murmured softly from behind Kel, surprising him with it's gentleness, realising it was Sunny's.

Aubrey started crying then. Bawling, even. She struggled for breath as the tears ran down her face and splattered her jacket, wailing into her hands as she dug the palms of them into her eyes.

Sunny looked awkwardly at Kel, not knowing how to deal with someone when they cried. Kel shrugged, sitting down on the blanket opposite Aubrey, Sunny doing the same, settling himself down on his knees beside Kel.

"It's so stupid!" Aubrey yelled, punching the ground, "Why did you shove Mari? How did all of you immediately move on when Sunny and Basil told you the truth!? How come I'm left behind again, it's not fair!"

Kel blinked. He was still struggling inwardly about the truth, but at the same time, he knew Sunny and Basil were struggling as much as they were - surely the last four years were proof of that?

"And it's not even that I'm mad at you guys! I'm just so angry about what happened," Aubrey weeped, calming herself, wiping the tears dripping from her chin, though more still fell silently, "I'm angry that Mari argued with you, Sunny. I'm mad that you shoved her, and I'm mad that Basil helped you cover it up. I'm mad that Mari isn't here to sort everything out like she used to. I'm mad at myself."

Kel shuffled closer to her, rubbing her back confortingly.

"We're all struggling in our own ways. Basil and Sunny were struggling those four years, me and Hero were struggling too. You were struggling just as much as we were, we just had different coping mechanisms."

Aubrey inhaled deeply, then breathed out, feeling better.

"Thanks, guys... really.." Aubrey muttered, "but... I messed everything up the the Hooligans after the Basil's house incident..."

"They all seemed really sad when we asked about you..." Sunny offered quietly, shuffling closer to the other two, resting his head on Aubrey's shoulder.

"I yelled at them all afterwards, and Kim tried to calm me down and... I snapped at her too. I told her I hated her." Aubrey paused, shaking her head.

"I'm so fucking stupid. I don't hate Kim, I fucking love her. She's my girlfriend, for god sakes!"

"Wait, girlfriend?" Kel asked, pausing.

"Yeah, have you not seem us on our dates?" Aubrey asked, laughing.

"Wait! What!? No way!" Kel yelled, laughing loudly. Sunny smiled with them, chuckling quietly, feeling happier than he had in a while.

"Oh, also, my mom kicked me out."

"Wait what?" Sunny stared, "Things really seem to be getting worse for you, huh?"

"I don't really care, never liked her much in the first place," Aubrey shrugged nonchalantly, "just don't have somewhere to hole up for the time being."

"What about Basil?" Sunny asked, "I'm sure he'd let you."

Aubrey looked doubtful, but with enough persuasion, they convinced her to at least go over to Basil's with them.

♡•*•♡

"Sure!" Basil smiled, opening the door for Aubrey.

"Really? After all I did?" Aubrey blanched, standing stunned in the doorway.

"Of course! Everyone deserves second chances. You forgave me at some point, otherwise you wouldn't be here, right?"

Aubrey realised this was true. She had forgiven them. She waved goodbye to Sunny and Kel as they wandered back to Sunny's as the sun set behind the trees, following Basil into his house.

"Another job done, Sunshine," Kel cheered, then yawned, "can we sleep in tomorrow?"

Sunny laughed.

"Sure, Kel," Sunny went on his tip-toes, kissing his cheek gently, "we get to sleep in."