Chapter Text
A part of Aubrey couldn't believe she actually accepted. She was seriously going to that idiots basketball game. And for what??
She had zero interest in watching sweaty oafs toss balls around for however long basketball games lasted.
The part she couldn't believe most though, was that Kel actually came back?
When people disappear from your life, they rarely return. When those people are important, it's different. Because no matter how much anger you hold towards them, the love you once had still remains.
The weirdest part was, Kel had already returned to her life. But due to a certain string of events, the two stopped talking again. They needed time to cool off, if anything.
For a while, he was her biggest enemy. She rant to Kim for hours and hours about him. Questioning how the hell he could be happy when Mari's dead. Why did he get to be popular, and have all these new friends and forget about everyone??
It was like she never existed to him.
But in those final days, she learnt that happiness was Kel's way of coping.
He buried his sorrows deep. He never moved on. He found a way to keep living. And he lived in ways the others couldn't. He had to.
It made her feel silly to think back on now. She was so angry. And for what?
But, like Kel, she buried that anger deep inside. It wasn't something that would go away. She was angry. Like a hurt dog, ready to bite when provoked. But, as a favour to herself, and those around her, she took a calmer approach to life. Disbanding the Hooligans and focusing on herself. She even started seeing the school counsellor.
It was her dad's suggestion. He still called and sent letters every week. Mostly because he knew her mother's state and wanted to help out the best he could. He sent 50 bucks every week. It was more than enough for Aubrey. After food,and cigarettes ,she had enough money to put away for a small savings fund, which she hid under a floorboard in her room so her mother wouldn't find it.
Being at school on a Saturday night was a drag. But she signed the darn contract. But at least she got a free ice cream out of this.
As she changed into her miscellaneous band tee,Jean shorts with tights underneath,with complimentary studded belt of course, and her very worn out and beaten converse, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
She doesn't look like the sort of person to attend a basketball game. Hell she doesn't even look like the sort of person Kel would associate with!
As she looked in the mirror,she considered changing into something more subtle. And then it hit her. She didn't give two shits about what these people thought.
She grabbed her bag and quickly left the house on a whim. She wasn't going to change for anyone. Not now, not ever.