Auralia strolled among the different kiosks, browsing through a wide assortment of food from hot dishes to sandwiches and fruit. There were a couple of interesting items she never had before and decided to be adventurous. She always tried to taste something new whenever she had the opportunity.
As she made her selections she mulled over the interesting turn her day had taken. Yesterday she had two meetings with two potential candidates and left once she got what she needed. Both conversations had been brief, one extremely contentious, but nothing particularly telling. The conversations never moved beyond, 'you might be my father, can you please take a test?'
Her encounter with Dr. Sloan was different. Granted he was absolutely sure that neither he, nor his son Steve, was her biological father. However, he didn't get angry or upset when she pushed the issue and insisted on doing the tests anyway. If that wasn't surprising enough he seemed genuinely interested in getting to know her. Either that or he was just nosy. Not that she can blame him. She'd be wondering why some random person shows up one day claiming they might be her kid. It'd be dumb not to talk to them and find out more about them.
She wasn't very outgoing or personable. There was just too much in her life she was ashamed of and didn't like sharing. She didn't like being judged and especially hated being pitied. Unfortunately, that tended to be the typical reaction of a lot of people when she shared certain things.
Since she was pushing for the blood test she figured if Dr. Sloan wanted to know a little more about her then the least she could do was share. She really hoped that he wouldn't ask much about her mom, but she had a feeling that wasn't going to happen. Either way, if getting friendly with him improved her chances of getting his son to also take the test, then why not? She figured she had nothing to lose and if none of them were her father, she didn't plan on seeing any of them again.
Dr. Sloan came up behind her when she stepped up to the cashier to pay. "I've got it."
She blinked in surprise. "That's okay, I've got it"
"My treat remember?" He reminded her while he paid.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry," she picked up her tray and followed him to a table outside on the patio. "I'm used to paying for myself. Thanks Dr. Sloan."
"Usually when someone invites someone else to eat, they're usually paying. Just good manners. And please, call me Mark," Mark said stuffing a napkin into his collar.
Auralia thought about it as she spread a napkin across her lap. "Good manners, like common courtesy, is kinda rare," she pointed out. "And isn't it rude to call you by your first name? You're, like, way older than me."
Mark started chuckling as her eyes widened in shock when she realized what she said. She quickly apologized. "Oh god, I'm sorry! Didn't mean it that way! I meant you're like my elder and, shit, that doesn't sound right either."
"Watch your language," Mark gently chided, still chuckling. "I understood what you meant, but I'd like to be your friend and friends call each other by their first names. So please call me Mark."
"Sorry." Trying to recover she took a bite of her food. "So, you wanna be my friend, huh?"
"I'd like to."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"'Cause why'd you want to be friends with a kid like me? And I just popped out of nowhere saying you might be my dad. Then I bug you to take a paternity test when you didn't want to. Not exactly a great start, y'know?"
"Well, take it from your elder," he smiled at Auralia who cringed, "it's been my experience that sometimes the best friendships are formed under unusual circumstances."
"If you say so. Still kinda weird. 'Kay then, my turn. My friends call me Aurie."
"Aurie," Mark repeated with a smile. "I like that, but I also like Auralia. It's a pretty name."
"Thanks." Aurie muttered quietly. "Some of my friends call me that because they can't pronounce it right. I'd rather be called Aurie than to hear them spend five minutes trying to pronounce it right while butchering it. I kinda like it though."
"Is that the only nickname you go by?" Mark asked interested.
"Mmmm, a couple will either call me by my middle name, Montserrat, or shorten it to Monty. There's at least one that insists on calling me A.M., but he's a dork," Aurie smirked.
Mark chuckled. "I'll have to take your word for it. Hmm, Auralia Montserrat Acevedes. A very exotic name compared to what I'm used to hearing, but it has a nice ring to it. Very unique."
"Thanks," Aurie replied shyly. She was annoyed with all the blushing she was doing.
"So you think that good manners and courtesy is hard to find, huh?" Mark asked. Aurie nodded in answer. "Well, I have to disagree. I think they aren't as rare as you think. More like they're making a comeback."
"How?" She cocked her head slightly in confusion.
"Well, most people would say that all teenagers today lack good manners and common courtesy. That they're just rude and inconsiderate. I think they're wrong. You, for example, actually know how to use the words 'please' and 'thank you.' Not to mention, you actually called me 'sir.' I think that shows good manners."
Aurie looked away briefly in embarrassment. She so rarely got compliments anymore that it was always hard to take them when given.
"Thanks," she finally said quietly.
"And I have to say that you were very polite when you came to see me today, even after I told you what you probably didn't want to hear."
She took a deep breath. "Well, you at least took the time to talk to me, even after I lied to see you. You could've done like Mr. Taylor and yelled for security."
"He called security on you? Why?" Mark was shocked. He couldn't see any need for calling security on a lone teenager who wasn't being aggressive or combative.
Aurie shrugged. "I guess because I just snuck into his building and went up to him. He thought I was hitting him up for a role in one of his movies and got annoyed when I wouldn't go away after he told me I wasn't what he was looking for. When I repeated I just wanted to talk to him for a couple of minutes he yelled for security."
Mark's jaw dropped. "He thought you wanted a part? He produces porn films!"
"Yeah, I know," Aurie grimaced. "Trust me, it's not fun having to wander a porn set looking for him," she explained shaking her head. "Anyways, he thought I wanted a role. As if," she huffed in annoyance.
Mark wondered what was going through Lawrence Taylor's mind thinking a fifteen-year-old girl wanted a role. Even if she wanted one, she wasn't legally old enough to be in his films. Shaking his head he decided to drop it.
"So, how'd you finally get him to speak with you if he was going to have you thrown out?
Aurie shifted uncomfortably in her chair, unsure whether to tell him or not. It wasn't exactly one of her shining moments. With a sigh she decided to just tell him rather than hear it from Taylor and get the wrong idea.
"Um, I started whining and crying at the top of my lungs, saying stupid crap about giving him the best b.j. he had in his Mercedes and he was trying to deny he was my baby daddy and junk." At Mark's shocked expression she quickly added, "I didn't want to get thrown out before talking to him and when you start saying garbage like that around a guy they'll do just about anything to shut you up, even if it ain't true. It was total b.s."
To her surprise Mark started laughing. "That really must've got his attention. That's pretty smart."
She smiled at him. "Yeah, it did. Dragged me into his office awfully fast."
"Well, knowing Lawrence I'm not surprised. He's not exactly in a business that has a good reputation to begin with and he likes to be in control of everything. That sort of stunt could start unwanted rumors and takes the situation out of his control."
"I'm just glad it worked." She cocked her head slightly. "You seem know him pretty well, huh?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Mark rolled his eyes. "He bugged me for the longest time to use my house for one of his movies. I never let him, of course, but he was pretty aggressive about it. He didn't like it that I told him 'no.'"
"Ah, the type of guy who hates hearing 'no,'" Aurie replied, taking a moment to finish off the rest of food on her plate.
"Yes he is," Mark replied, watching her closely, waiting for her to look up again. "I'm sorry if the food isn't that great. I've been after them for years to improve it, but so far nothing."
"Actually, I really like it."
"You liked it?" Mark asked incredulously, arching a brow.
"Yeah. Never had chipped beef before. It's pretty excellent."
He stared at her in disbelief. "You're serious. You actually liked it." Aurie nodded. Chuckling, Mark shook his head ruefully. "You and my son Steve would get along great. You have to be the only two people I know who actually like this food."
Seeing her chance, Aurie hesitantly seized on what she'd been trying to figure out how to ask Mark since they sat down. "Um, speaking of Steve. I was, um, wondering how I could get a hold of him to talk to him about taking the test."
"Why?" Mark frowned in confusion. "The results of our test should cover Steve." At Aurie's confused look he continued. "Let me explain. When two people are tested to see if they are parent and child and it's positive, the results will read 99.999 percent. If it's negative the results will be zero. If the percentage is lower it's likely the two people are indirectly related. They could be grandparent and grandchild, siblings, cousins, etcetera. It could be any relationship except parent and child. If our test was positive and Steve was tested also, as your brother his results would read at a lower percentage. Whether our test results are negative or positive, based on those results you would know without testing him if you're related to Steve or not. So it's really unnecessary for him to take the test."
Aurie thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I guess. It's really complicated," she sighed in frustration. "Mr. Davis said he could be my father too. And not knowing for sure leaves a huge question mark. This way he's safe from me trying to say later he's my father."
"Would you do that?" He asked astonished.
"No, but you don't know that. You don't know me. I'd be suspicious of me in your shoes. Taylor definitely was." Aurie paused to roll her eyes and shake her head at the memory. "Anyways, you hear stuff like this all the time on talk shows. You don't know if I'd cause trouble later. So, for everyone's sanity it's better to just do it. It's a plus for you guys 'cause you'll never have to deal with me ever again if it's a bust. 'Sides, I said I'd pay for the tests. Sorry, but I didn't go through all this just to leave wondering," she shrugged sheepishly.
Mark sat back and thought about it for a moment, surprised at her candor and thoughtfulness. He stayed quiet for so long that Aurie was starting to worry he was going to start arguing or something when he finally spoke up. "Alright," he relented. "But let me talk to Steve first. With his job he can be difficult to get a hold of. I'll probably see him later, so it would be easier if I asked him for you than for you to try and reach him on your own. You do realize that it's going to get very expensive with three tests?"
Sighing heavily, she nodded. "Yes sir, but I'm going to see this through."
He studied her again before speaking. "Can I ask you something? Why are you looking for your father now?"
Aurie wasn't surprised he'd eventually get around to that question.
"It's not some sort of personal discovery or anything poetic like that. I kinda have to. My mom wasn't a legal U.S. resident and I'm not either. I was born in Mexico and got here not knowing I was an illegal. I'm fixing that now 'cause I don't want to get sent back to Mexico. I've been here a while and like it. Anyway, it'd go a lot easier if one of my parents is a citizen. Well, I hope so, anyways, and since it's Spring Break I figured I'd give it a shot."
"Did you really expect to find your father before spring break was over?"
"No. I'm not dumb, I don't think I'll ever find him. And that's okay. He's lived his life without me fine and I've lived mine without him fine. 'Sides, didn't have any plans for Spring Break and figured might as well try."
"You know most kids usually spend their spring break on the beach or traveling," Mark pointed out with a slight smile.
"I burn too easy and get carsick," she grinned.
"So when was the last time you saw your mother?" Mark asked innocently changing the subject. He'd been curious about Aurie and Amalia's relationship since she avoided the question earlier.
Caught off guard, Aurie stared at him blankly before trying to reply. "Huh? I mean, I've been here since Sunday night, so it would've…"
"It's been much longer than that since you've seen you're mother hasn't it?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"How'd you guess?" She asked amazed.
"Looking for your biological father is a big step and not one anyone would take without consulting or involving their mother in some way. You've hardly mentioned her at all. When you talked about your meetings with Davis and Taylor, you never said anything about her being there with you. Then she didn't come with you today. Doesn't make sense a minor would be doing this all on her own," Mark reasoned causing her to look away embarrassed. "When I asked how your mother was doing you completely ignored the question. You don't know how she is because you haven't seen her for awhile have you?"
Mark watched Aurie study the table for a few moments before looking up at him again. "Since I was thirteen."
"What happened?"
"Not much," Aurie shrugged indifferently. The look in Mark's eye told her that he knew there was more to it than that. Sighing she continued, "There's a lot to it and it's no big deal. I just don't talk about it, that's all. So, please don't ask me. We didn't get along and she threw me out. End of story. I honestly don't know where she is or how she is."
"Why ignore the question? Why not say that?"
Aurie blew out a harsh breath. "'Cause it's not enough for some people. They want to know all the dirty details. It wasn't a fun time for me and I don't like talking about it. I didn't want to answer your question and blew it off. Sorry, I shouldn't have done that."
"I can understand that. It's just I hadn't seen your mother in years, so I was curious. Alright, let's move on to something else. So when do you want to do the tests?"
"The sooner the better, I guess. How about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow's Wednesday right?" Mark asked. Aurie nodded again. "I'm not sure we can arrange the blood draw that fast. We'll have a better chance with Thursday."
She mulled it over for a moment before sighing heavily. "Yeah, it's probably better anyway. I've still got to call Taylor. Not looking forward to that one." She rolled her eyes as Mark smiled at her. "Wednesday would've been too short notice, so yeah, Thursday. Either way I'm stuck here through next week."
A thought suddenly occurred to Mark. "What are you doing tomorrow?"
"Um, nothing..." She trailed off hesitantly, taken aback by the question. She realized Mark had to be the most random person she ever met, next to her friend Lina.
"How would you like to play hooky with me tomorrow?"
"Hooky?"
"Yeah, you know hooky. The act of ditching school or some other responsibility to have fun."
Aurie gave him a lidded glare. "You love doing that, doncha?"
"Absolutely," Mark grinned before continuing. "Anyway, I have a couple of patients scheduled in the morning, but after that I'm free. I'd like to show you around or something. Isn't often I get to play tour guide." Mark paused, as another thought occurred to him. "This is your first time in California isn't it?"
"No, but let's just say that my last visit didn't have much to do with tourism and leave it at that," she smirked.
"Well then, you're gonna get a first class tour. Why don't you come by my office tomorrow morning? You might have to wait around a bit, but we can make the arrangements for the tests and be home free afterwards."
Aurie considered it before replying. "Could be fun. Sure, why not?"
Mark grinned in response as they got up to dump their garbage and return their trays. After bidding each other goodbye Aurie left and started heading back to her motel. She was happy her meeting with Dr. Sloan went so well. She was surprised he wanted to spend more time with her, but since she wasn't getting any creepy pedophile vibes off of him, she realized she was getting excited about tomorrow. She was relieved her day became better than it started and hoped tomorrow would be fantastic.
Montserrat is pronounced Mont-sur-aht. The double 'r's are supposed to be rolled, but if you're lingually challenged like I am then you might hurt yourself trying. ;P