Strolling among the different food kiosks and browsing the variety of foods, Aurie finds it interesting that her meeting with Dr. Sloan went beyond, 'Hi there, you might be my father, can you take a test?'
Stopping at one kiosk, she notices something new that she's never tried before and decides to be adventurous. Grabbing a plate, she fills it with the chipped beef before placing it on her tray and moving on.
She's happy that Dr. Sloan agreed to take the test without too much trouble, especially when compared to Taylor, but she didn't think there'd be more beyond that. She was definitely surprised to be invited to eat lunch with him. She wonders if it's his way of checking her out because he thinks she might turn around and try conning him or something. Even if that's the case, she's getting a chance to learn a little more about him in case he is her father. Either way, she's getting food out of the deal. That's always a win in her book.
However, it's still awkward having lunch with him. Doesn't help that she's never been very outgoing or sociable. She seems to have a knack for pissing people off or making them dislike her without trying. Plus, she doesn't like sharing much about herself, hating being judged, pitied, or treated like she's stupid.
Having finished making her selections, Aurie gets in line for the cashier with a soft sigh, realizing she's probably going to have to share more about herself whether she likes it or not. She did push for the blood test so it's the least she can do. On the plus side, if getting friendly with him improves her chances of convincing his son to take the test too then it'll be worth it. It's also not like she'd ever see any of them ever again once everything is said and done.
Stepping in front of the cashier, Dr. Sloan comes up behind her with his tray.
"I've got it," he informs the waiting cashier.
Aurie frowns in confusion.
"You invited me to lunch, that doesn't mean you have to pay for me."
"My treat remember?" he reminds her.
"I didn't think you meant it and thought the invite was to eat together," she comments as she picks up her tray and follows him over to a table outside on the patio. "I usually pay for myself when I get asked to lunch or something."
"I did mean it and usually when someone invites someone else to eat, the inviter pays. Just good manners," Mark explains, stuffing a napkin into his collar. "And please, call me Mark."
Aurie thinks about it as she spreads a napkin across her lap.
"I guess that makes sense. Then again, good manners, like being considerate and courteous, is kinda rare," she points out as they start to eat. "And isn't it rude to call you by your first name? You're, like, way older than me."
Mark starts chuckling as her eyes widen in shock when she realizes what she said.
"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 chides, 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," she apologizes again in embarrassment. "So, you wanna be my friend, huh?"
"I'd like to."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
Aurie looks at him in confusion.
"Because I'm some girl who randomly pops out of nowhere saying you might be my dad and I bugged you to take a paternity test even though you didn't want to. Not really the best way to make friends."
"Well, take it from your elder," he smiles at her, causing her to cringe. "It's been my experience that sometimes the best friendships are formed under unusual circumstances."
"If you say so," she replies, unconvinced. "Still kinda weird. 'Kay then, my turn. My friends call me Aurie."
"Aurie," Mark repeats. "I like that, but I also like Auralia. It's a pretty name."
"Thanks," Aurie mutters shyly. "Some of my friends call me that because they can't pronounce it right. But I'd rather be called Aurie than 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 asks 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."
"I'll have to take your word for it," Mark chuckles. "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."
"I like it," Aurie admits.
"Good thing you do. Some people live their lives hating their given names," he points out. "So, you think that good manners, consideration, and courtesy are rare, huh?"
Because her mouth is full, Aurie nods.
"Well, I have to disagree. I don't think they are as rare as you think. More like they're making a comeback."
"How?"
"Well, most people would say all teenagers today lack good manners. That they're just rude and inconsiderate. I think they're wrong. You, for example, use the words 'please' and 'thank you.' Not to mention, you called me 'sir.' I think that shows good manners."
Aurie looks away briefly in embarrassment. She so rarely gets compliments it's always hard for her to take them when given.
"And I have to say that you were very polite when you came to see me today," he continues, sparing her further embarrassment. "Even after I told you what you probably didn't want to hear."
"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?" he asks, appalled. He can't see any need for calling security on a lone teenager and doubts she was being aggressive or threatening.
"'Cause he's a jerk," Aurie shrugs. "I guess because I just snuck into his warehouse 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 grimaces in disgust. "Trust me, it wasn't fun having to wander a porn set looking for him."
Mark wonders what was going through Lawrence Taylor's mind thinking a fifteen-year-old girl wanted a role. Even if she wanted one, she isn't legally old enough to be in his films. Shaking his head, he decides to drop it.
"So, how'd you finally get him to speak with you if he was going to have you thrown out?"
Aurie shifts uncomfortably under his gaze, unsure whether to tell him or not. It wasn't exactly one of her shining moments. With a sigh, she decides to be honest.
"Um, I started loudly whining 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 like that." At Mark's shocked expression, she quickly adds, "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's total B.S."
Mark surprises her when he starts laughing.
"That really must've got his attention. Pretty smart."
"Yeah, it did," she smirks. "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 to know him pretty well, huh?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Mark rolls 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 me telling him no."
"Hate's the word, right?'" Aurie asks, taking a moment to finish off the rest of the food on her plate.
"Yes," Mark replies, watching her closely and 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 incredulously arches a brow.
"Yeah. Never had chipped beef before. It's pretty good."
He stares at her in disbelief.
"You're serious. You like it." At Aurie's nod, he starts chuckling and shaking his head ruefully. "You and my son Steve would get along great. You have to be the only two people I know who like this food."
Aurie hesitantly seizes on the opportunity to ask about Steve 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 frowns in confusion. "The results of our test should cover Steve." At Aurie's confused look, he continues. "When two people are tested to see if they are parent and child and the test is 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 grandparents and grandchild, siblings, cousins, etcetera. 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. Whatever our results, you would know without testing him if you're related or not."
Aurie considers his words for a few moments.
"Yeah, I guess," she finally ventures. "It's so complicated," she sighs in frustration. "But 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?"
"No, but you don't know that," she shrugs. "You don't know me. I'd be suspicious of me in your shoes. Taylor was." Aurie pauses to roll her eyes and shake her head at the memory. "Anyways, you hear stuff like this all the time. 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. Sorry, but I didn't go through all this just to leave wondering."
Mark sits back and thinks about it for a few moments, surprised at her candor and thoughtfulness. He's quiet for so long Aurie starts worrying if he's going to start arguing or something.
"All right," he relents to her relief. "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?"
"Yes sir, but I'm going to see this through," she answers, determination lighting up her eyes.
He studies her again before speaking.
"Can I ask you something? Why are you looking for your father now?"
Aurie had been wondering when he'd get around to asking that.
"It's not some sort of personal discovery or any poetic crap like that. I have to try finding him. My mom isn't a legal U.S. resident and I'm not either. I was born in Mexico. I'm fixing that now with the immigration office in Tucson 'cause I don't want to get sent back and have been here long enough to like it. Anyway, it'd go a lot easier if one of my parents is a citizen. Well, I hope so. I'm just trying to get it all done during spring break."
"Do you honestly expect to find your father before spring break is over?"
"No, but I have to start looking sooner than later. I'm not dumb, I know I may never 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."
"You know, most kids usually spend their spring break on the beach or traveling," Mark observes with a slight smile.
"I don't follow trends," she grins.
"So, when was the last time you saw your mother?"
Mark had been curious about Aurie and Amalia's relationship since she avoided the question earlier. Caught off guard, Aurie stares at him blankly before trying to reply.
"Huh? I mean, I've been here since Sunday night…"
"It's been much longer than that hasn't it?" he phrases it as more of a statement than a question.
"How'd you guess?" she warily asks.
"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 Spencer Davis and Lawrence Taylor, you never said anything about her being with you. And she's not here with you today. Doesn't make sense a minor would be doing this all on her own," Mark reasons, causing her to look away embarrassed. "When I asked how your mother was doing you didn't answer the question. You don't know how she is because you haven't seen her for a while have you?"
Mark watches Aurie study their dirty dishes for a few moments before looking up at him again.
"It's been a couple of years since I last saw her."
"What happened?"
"Not much," Aurie replies with an awkward shrug. The look in Mark's eye told her that he knew there's more to it than that. Sighing she adds, "There's a lot to it. I just don't like talking about it, that's all. We didn't get along and she threw me out. End of story. I honestly don't know where or how she is now."
"Why not say that? It had to have been hard, but it's nothing to be ashamed of."
Aurie blows 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 can understand that," he smiles reassuringly, earning a soft smile in return. "I was curious because I hadn't seen your mother in years. All right, 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 asks, earning an affirmative nod. "I'm not sure we can arrange the blood draw that fast. We'll have a better chance with Thursday."
She mulls it over for a moment before sighing heavily.
"Yeah, it's probably better. Gives everyone a chance to make it. So, I've got to call Taylor to let him know. Not looking forward to that one," she rolls her eyes as Mark smiles at her. "Either way I'm stuck here through next week."
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Mark asks when an idea pops into his head.
"Um, nothing," she replies hesitantly, taken aback by the question. Mark had to be one of the most random people she'd ever met.
"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 gives him a flat look.
"You've got a fantastic flair for the obvious."
"Absolutely," Mark grins 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 pauses, as another thought occurs to him. "This is your first time in California, isn't it?"
"No, but my last visit didn't have much to do with tourism," she smirks.
"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 afterward."
Aurie considers it.
"Could be fun. Sure, why not?"
"It's a date," Mark grins in response as he rises to his feet and collects his tray.
"Since you've got appointments, I'll be here mid-morning," Aurie states while following his lead and putting everything in a designated collection cart.
"Works for me," he nods in approval as they walk back into the hospital.
"I'll see you tomorrow then. Bye, Mark."
"Bye, Aurie."
She gives him a shy wave before turning to leave the building, happy her meeting with him turned out so well. It still surprises her that he'd want to spend the day with her tomorrow, but since she's not getting any creepy pedophile vibes off him it might be a really fun day.
Montserrat- Pronounced Mont-sur-aht. The double 'r's are supposed to be rolled, but if you're lingually challenged like I am don't bother. You might hurt yourself trying.