It had been a week now – one week since Kate was out of prison. She had reunited, loved and explored. Jack had worked three fourteen-hour shifts since then, and he still hadn't had the guts to declare his resignation. Kate teased him lightheartedly, but secretly was afraid that he would never sum up the courage and continue working there forever.

While he was gone, she would tidy the apartment, walk around the city, and watch people from behind her dark sunglasses. She'd visit shops and walk through lobbies just because she could – she could go anywhere she wanted. This idea still felt new and exciting to her after a whole year of being told where to stay, where to go and what to do.

Claire and Charlie had come again, bringing Aaron this time. He was two years old now, old enough to run around the apartment a bit unsteadily and giggle when Claire scooped him up. Kate loved their company – they were what she hoped she could be. They were in the limelight a lot these days, what with the whole plane crash, Charlie performing solo, and the two of them just getting married a few months ago. But even though they were chased and interviewed and spied on, they were happy.

The one big difference was that they were famous because of success, not murder.

Today, it was overcast; the thick gray clouds looked about to burst open at any moment. All the same, Kate decided to go for a run. Jack wouldn't be back from work for another five hours. She had plenty of time. She hated being cooped up anywhere, and a little rain couldn't hurt. Kate shook the thought from her head that she was already getting restless. No. She wasn't restless. She was happy to stay here. In one place. With Jack.

She ran for a long time, down sidewalks and crossing streets and dodging people. She slowed down when she saw shops and stores that interested her, but she came to a complete stop when she was jogging past a music store. Instruments were displayed in the lighted windows, and the place looked inviting and interesting. Without even realizing it, she was stepping inside and looking around. She ran her hand lightly over the guitars and gazed at the racks and racks of cds.

A clerk about her age approached her, looking a bit curious. Kate realized that this girl's expression was probably due to the fact that she was still wearing her sunglasses. The girl wore a nametag that said, "Hello, my name is STARLA" and a smile. "Can I help you?" she asked.

Kate took a deep breath, pulled off her sunglasses, put them in her pocket and said, "I'd like to apply for a job here."

Just like that, she knew that working here would be good for her. She would have something to do, and the place was bright and cheery. Kate looked carefully at the clerk named Starla to see if she had recognized her for Kate Austen, fresh-out-of-jail murderer. Nothing.

Starla just smiled more. "Okay, well you're in luck, because we actually need another employee. One guy just quit." She hurdled with ease and agility over the front desk and began rummaging through a drawer. "Not that it's a bad job." She added in a muffled voice. "He's going to college." She stood up and said cheerfully, "I dropped out. College is for squares." And handed her an application.

Kate was put a little at ease because of Starla's infectious happiness. She smiled at her, and asked, "I never finished college either. Can I fill this out right here?"

"Sure."

Kate began to fill out the sheet. What were the odds of her actually getting this job? Sure, she was a straight-A student and had held two fairly prestigious jobs, but things kind of went downhill. But maybe this would actually work out. Maybe…

She handed the form to Starla once she was done.

Starla took it. "All right, I'll give you a call once I've gone over your app with the other manager."

"Thanks."

Scanning the sheet, Starla said, "Thank you, Kate…" and then she stopped. Kate saw her eyes go from the sheet to Kate's face and back to the sheet. Starla was no longer smiling; in fact, she paled a little and her eyebrows knitted. "Oh." She whispered.

Kate flushed and opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't think of anything to say. "Will…" she swallowed hard. "Will you just look at it?"

Starla attempted to change her expression to one of nonchalance. "Of course we'll look at it!" she said loudly, in a pained voice that suggested fear. "Thank you very much." She took a step backward, then turned and disappeared into a back room.

Stupid idea, Kate thought as she rushed out of the door before she could be humiliated any more. Stupid fucking idea. She stormed down the sidewalk, back towards the apartment. She was furious at herself and furious at Starla and furious at Jack for not quitting his goddamn job… she shook her head. It wasn't fair to be angry at Jack. He couldn't just drop his whole life for her. She was being selfish enough – to blame him for anything at all was just awful of her.

Then something flashed in her face, momentarily blinding her and sending her reeling.

It was a camera.

Two men had jumped in front of her and were flashing cameras, snapping picture after picture of her. They were smiling - actually smiling at Kate's bewilderment, her obvious fear. They reveled in it.

In a panic, she tried to shove them away. She would be on the covers of magazines, she would never be left alone, she would be hated forever by people she didn't even know.

"Stop!" Kate shrieked at them. Digging her elbows into their arms, she finally pushed past them and ran faster than she'd ever run back to the apartment. She was faster than when she was running from the police, from unseen monsters, even when she was running from Wayne. She just wanted it all to be over. She wanted to stop the publicity, the embarrassment, the judgements.

Kate slammed the apartment door and collapsed against it in a heap. She held her head in her hands, pressing her palms hard against her face until she saw purple blots float around beneath her closed eyes.

"Dammit!" she whispered. "Dammit, dammit, dammit."