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Aubrey always loved Kel, everyone knew that though.
When Aubrey first saw Kel, she could tell he would be a nuisance to her. He teased her constantly and she teased him back. His older brother, Hero would always step in and stop their petty arguments, they never really hated each other although they argued every time their eyes locked.
Mari would tease her saying that they acted exactly like how she and Hero did. It embarrassed Aubrey and Kel but they never denied it, Aubrey wasn’t so sure how Kel felt about her but she knew she liked him at least a little bit.
She knew an ignorant dummy like him would never figure that out, he would constantly give her support and aid her whenever she would need help. He understood the situation she was in with her family and home life and liked her regardless.
His kindness softened her heart as a child however, the same heart hardened once more as she suffered the loss of her older sister figure, Mari. This death would forever scar Aubrey and severely affect her.
A few weeks after Mari’s body was found
Aubrey sat crying in Mari’s room, she planted her face into her arms, muffling the noises of her sobbing. How could Mari abandon her like that? Why would she do that? Mari was always kind and considerate to everyone, was there something underneath the surface that she couldn’t bare to go through anymore?
Aubrey was hurt. She couldn’t stop crying, she hugged her purple eggplant plushie as it absorbed all the tears that fell from her sorrowful eyes.
" Aubrey? "
The voice said before creaking the door open and walking in, Aubrey didn’t dare to look up at the person but she knew who it was. She especially didn’t want to show him this side of her, something bugged her though…
He wasn’t crying.
" I knew you would be in here, " he sighed, " I brought you a snack, Hero made it, " he softly said, his tone was different from his usual voice.
" Go away Kel. " Aubrey croaked trying not to make it obvious she was crying. Kel knew what she was doing though, he could always tell when she was crying alone.
" C’mon Aubrey! You know I can’t leave you here like this, " he exclaimed.
Kel was passionate about helping Aubrey but she knew he never intended to reciprocate any feelings she had for him. She hoped a little bit he would, maybe she had a few silly dreams or two about it.
Kel was met with silence from Aubrey but he continued to speak, " Aubrey, don’t shut yourself in like this, at least leave her room, " he sighed, " I’m glad Sunny’s parents are nice enough to let you stay in here. "
" I told you to GO AWAY KEL! " Aubrey yelled, throwing her stuffed eggplant at him.
Kel countered her pursuit to make him leave by catching her plush and sitting next to her. " Aubrey, " he said, " I know you’re hurting and experiencing more pain then you could ever imagine but, so is everyone else, so don’t think you feel betrayed by the way everyone is reacting to this " he stated, " Please at least leave the room, we can go to Hobbeez or something and have fun again… "
Aubrey felt a bit enlightened of the idea of him inviting her out but she was still not ready to leave.
" I’m sorry Kel…I just can’t…I- " Aubrey stammered, she wiped her tears and sniffled attempting to allow herself to speak properly.
" No, I’m sorry for rushing you like this, " he apologized, " Take as long as you want to grieve, we all have different ways of going through this but I want you to know one thing, " he asserted.
" I’ll always be there for you, no matter what, " he smiled, " Count on that Aubrey. "
He handed her the eggplant plush and got up, not before smiling once more and closing the door.
There he goes again, giving her mixed feelings…