Chapter 13:

The sound of loud banging against an old door echoed from behind closed off walls. With a final grunt Audrey pushed her way through the door and stumbled into the small apartment. "Phew! Damn door. I need to get it replaced." She claimed to the boys as Jak cautiously walked into what he perceived to be the main room. "Whew! Home sweet home, Sugar!" Daxter exclaimed as he jumped off his friend's shoulder and dived for the patched up couch. A few crumbles of debris fell off the peeling ceiling and onto Jak's double-colored head. Jak snorted and brushed the pieces off of his hair. "This… is where you live?" he drawled out. The furniture looked like it came from a dumpster. "Mhmm!" The girl grunted as she roughly pulled the keys out of the lock and pocketed them in her jacket. "Sorry about the mess, not exactly Hollywood, ya know?"

"Holly-what?"

Audrey rolled her eyes. "Oh never mind."

Jak took a couple steps further in and noticed Audrey disappear into a back room. "How long have you lived here?" He asked as he pushed an old curtain over and got a view of the outside. He spotted a few KG roaming around outside of the apartment complex holding their electric rods threateningly. His eyes narrowed and he let the curtain fall back into place. Audrey contemplated the amount of time. "Eh, not long, I'd say about… six months? Right Dax?" she shouted from the back room. A sleepy 'Yup' came out from the curled up ottsel.

Jak walked up to the room door and pushed it wide open. "What's in her-" he lurched forward and halted in his tracks. His mouth gaped open as he watched Audrey slip out of her camisole half-way before she turned around and spotted the gawking renegade. An awkward silence filled the room as the two stared at each other for what felt like hours.

"GET OUT!"

Jak didn't need to be told twice as he ran out and slammed the door behind him. His cheeks were beet red and sweat dripped down the side of his face. Daxter peeked into the hallway and chuckled. "Hey Jakie boy! Didja get a good view?" He snickered. Jak glared at his friend. "Shut up." He snapped.

Audrey huffed as she stepped out of the room in a blue camisole and light pajama pants, "Here," she threw a t-shirt and a pair of boxers at the teenager. Jak caught it swiftly and raised an eyebrow,"Just hush up and wear it, you are staying the night, right?"

"I mean, I guess?" he said unsure of himself, "If it's alright?" Audrey pointed to the bathroom as she began to fix a late dinner in the small kitchen.

Jak nodded and headed back into the hallway and noticed a door next to Audrey's room. He turned the knob and peered into the dark space. His hand searched for a light switch but didn't find any. He reached into the darkness until he felt a small beaded string and pulled it. The light flickered a couple times before coming on completely. The bathroom was very small and meant for one person at a time. The light green floral wallpaper was peeling off. The shower curtain was ripped at the bottom but looked to be clean. In fact, to his surprise the whole bathroom was clean overall. Hell, he noticed the whole apartment was clean even the furniture despite its ratty condition.

He took a hot shower [for the first time] in what felt like forever. The water felt good against his rough tanned skin and the bar of soap left him feeling cleaner and smelling nice. He shut off the water and grabbed the towel hanging from the shower rod. He dried off and threw the clothes on. He began to comb his wet hair with his fingers but soon paused as he looked at himself through the cabinet mirror. He cleared off the steam on the mirror and noticed something was different. His features were sharper and more masculine than when he was before. His hair had gotten longer and seemed to flatten out. His shoulders were broader and his muscles more defined. "Did I get taller too?" He thought aloud. But what changed the most were his eyes. The way they looked… They seemed darker he realized. They held an angry, fiery rage that could intimidate even the toughest guy around. Jak had a hard time keeping his temper in check lately. The dark eco was taking its effect in his bloodstream and his mind. Jak glared harshly at his reflection. His thoughts were becoming harder to control as they became darker. A voice in the back of his mind kept nagging at him to release his anger, release the hatred on everything around him and no matter what he tried, the voice wouldn't leave him be. "Prison really does change you," he chuckled darkly.

His thoughts were distracted by the pleasant aroma of food filling the whole apartment. Jak hadn't realized how hungry he was until his stomach gurgled. He turned the light off and walked out of the bathroom and into the main room. Audrey was filling up 4 bowls full of bean stew. The blonde peered over her shoulder quietly. He eyed the strange soup and its leafy greens "Why are there four?"

Audrey shrieked and dropped one of the bowls onto the floor with its contents, splashing the chipped tiled floor. She turned around and punched Jak's shoulder. "That was so mean!"

"What?" He laughed, rubbing the aching spot on his shoulder, 'Damn, she can hit,' he thought.

With a roll of her eyes (It's like her favorite thing to do!) she grabbed the kitchen wash cloth and got on her knees. Feeling bad, Jak grabbed another cloth and began to help clean up the mess. "Here let me help."

The two finished cleaning up most of the mess. Reaching for the bowl, their fingers brushed together and a shot of electricity ran up their arms and throughout their bodies. Audrey could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. Jak immediately pulled back and apologized without meeting her gaze. Disappointed, Audrey finished cleaning the mess and threw away the spoiled stew. She washed the small bowl and dried it off. She poured another bowl of the stew and then opened the main window. There stood an emergency stairway bolted into the wall of the building.

The boys watched her as she placed the bowl on the metal staircase and noticed something furry beside her. Jak walked up to her and, to his surprise he saw a muse lapping on the stew as Audrey petted its back with affection. A small smile reached the corner of his lips. "You're just full of surprises aren't you? What next, baby orphans?" He teased. Audrey giggled, "Well, actually, yes." She grinned as Jak's eyes widened. "Wait, seriously?" he said. Audrey nodded, "I visit the foster home every chance I get, like today." She smiled. Jak was putting two and two together, "Wait…when we went into the sewers…you left us for the kids…?"

Audrey laughed nervously. "Oh yeah, well, you didn't look like you needed my help, right? I mean if you did you would have just called… right?"

Jak's face was blank as he stared at the brunette in front of him. She shifted nervously and dropped her gaze back to the muse. He didn't know whether to be angry or happy at the thought. As far as he knows, she's been the only nice person he's met since he and Dax arrived to this hell-hole. He began to laugh, making Audrey more nervous, angry and confused. "What are you laughing at?!" she shouted. He laughed harder, holding his sides barely able to catch his breath. "Jak! What's so funny!?" Dax and Audrey were beginning to believe their friend was insane. Even the muse was frightened at the sudden burst. He was inhaling deep breath trying to calm himself down enough. "Thanks, I needed that," he chuckled. Audrey's cheeks began to redden. "For what?" He just smiled without answering her and went back to the kitchen to get his food leaving Audrey blushing and confused.