Mae cleaned up the couch as best she could, and he helped, ultimately putting the covers zipped over the cushions, as well as the blankets and sheets and pillowcases from the bed, into a huge washing machine down in the basement.

They ordered food, and he hooked his Xbox up to the TV, finding it to be old but serviceable. It seemed to be from just around the time flat screen TVs were becoming a thing, and it only went up to 720p. Which didn't even matter for an original Xbox, but at some point he wanted to get a One, and that would start to matter.

Mae debated for a bit what to do, and ultimately laid out on the couch and started reading the comic. He left her to it and moved through the house, poking through things again. He took the time to reactivate his service. It was something he'd kind of dreaded doing. And sure enough, as he got his service reactivated, Trent was immediately inundated with texts and voice messages. He spent close to half an hour sorting through it all.

A part of him wanted to just delete it all right away. But another part, one that was paranoid and anxious, read and listened to it all, to see if there was anything relevant or important, something he missed, something crucial.

Mainly, he was worried that somehow he'd missed something and the house and the money didn't actually belong to him.

But in the end, it was all bullshit.

His parents, his aunt and uncle, his siblings and his cousins, all of them begging in their own way for help. Usually it turned from begging to demanding to rage at being ignored. He deleted each thing as he listened to or read it, and then when he was done with that, he blocked their numbers. Then he deleted them.

Then he deleted everything.

The more he listened to their voices, read their words, the more he remembered how much he wanted out of that life, away from them all.

He wanted to just forget.

After that, he opened up a file in his phone and started taking pictures of everything that he wanted to sell. One of the things he'd hated about his old life was that his parents were basically hoarders. He wanted the opposite. He wanted a minimalist life. Nothing crazy, nothing like compulsively getting rid of damn near everything, but have rooms be more open, no clutter, no bullshit. And his great-uncle had had a lot of stuff.

He found a few tables, a spare dresser, two spare desks, several chairs, and a ton of shit down in the basement that he didn't want.

Although now that he thought about it, he did intend to give his new friends first choice. Mae's family might want some of this stuff. They didn't seem poor, they had a house, but maybe they might want to replace some of their stuff, plus Mae had apparently just dropped out of college after two years and had no income of her own and that had to be expensive…

In the end, he wound up with close to thirty items he wanted gone, but he knew there was more in the basement he hadn't gotten to yet.

He found Mae still on the couch, though now she was on her laptop, lips pursed as she focused on something. It was dark out now and Selmers was probably going to come over soon. In fact…

"What you doing?" Mae murmured as he pulled out his phone and started texting.

"Texting Selmers," he replied. "Telling her it's cool to come over."

"Guess I should put pants on."

"If that's what you want."

"Yeah, I don't really know how she'd feel about it." Mae paused the game she was playing, he saw it had been a top-down fantasy fighter, likely the one she was so happy about, and got up and tracked down her pants.

"So how do you know her?" he asked.

"She's the woman who lived down the street from me. She's older than you, but I don't know by how much. I saw her around and sometimes we talked. After I got back, I just bumped into her and her life had kinda fallen apart too while I was gone and I don't know, we just connected. Every time I saw her, I listened to a poem of hers. And then I saw her at the library, doing a reading. We talk a lot more now. Sometimes we'll walk up to the Taco Buck or over to the bridge into town," Mae replied.

"All right. She seems pretty chill...you really think she'd be into me?"

"I mean I don't know," Mae replied. "I hope so? I think you're hot in a weird way and I mean Bea does too, so maybe? But maybe she'll just be down for sex because sex feels good and I think it's hard to find someone to have sex with that's like, you know, safe. And you're safe."

"You seem really confident about that. I mean, you're right, I am safe, but you just met me."

"I just-I know, okay? But I mean if she's not then you know, we won't make a big deal of it or anything."

"Yeah."

She finished getting her pants on and they straightened up the place a bit, then started debating about whether or not to order Taco Buck yet again.

He was genuinely tempted, but he thought maybe it'd be nice to have something else, like pizza.

Selmers knocked on the door while they were still talking. He opened it up and invited her in.

"Wow, this place is nice," she said as she took off her big, baggy hoodie and hung it on the coat rack. "Like man, it's a real house."

"That it is," he agreed.

She looked different, and in a good way. She'd combed her hair and was wearing more formfitting clothing in the form of a t-shirt and jeans. She had a build like Mae's, only taller, so it all seemed more evenly distributed. She was actually almost as tall as he was.

She was hot. There was just something about her, about her easygoing casual nature, that spoke of some sort of confidence. It was a more subdued confidence though, and hadn't Mae said she'd been through some shit?

Selmers took off her shoes as well and then sat down in a recliner that he was definitely keeping. It was very comfortable.

"So what's up? You just like...moved out here? Where you from?" she asked.

"Midwest. Like far western part of Nebraska," he replied.

"Whoa dude, and you moved all the way out here to Pennsylvania?"

"Yeah. Pretty much. Got an opportunity to get the fuck out, took it."

"Mmm. It's...a little ironic. A lot of people want to do the same thing here, actually."

"I like it here," Mae murmured, though she sounded less certain than usual.

"It's okay," Selmers said. "I guess. Tell me about yourself. I mean, if you want to."

"I don't mind," he said, glancing at Mae, but she was just smiling, looking between him and Selmers, and he could almost see that she was imagining them hooking up. "There's not much to tell, really. Grew up in a dumb little town like...well, like this one, honestly. Although bigger. Maybe three times the size. Went to shitty schools, had a shitty family, didn't have many friends. I just wanted to write books and play video games and be left alone. Worked crap jobs. It looked like that was going to be my life for awhile until this kind of just fell into my lap. I guess now I'm hoping to get my shit together, get published, or maybe just take the plunge and self publish? It's scary. I don't know if my stuff's crap or not, and I have to get a cover, figure out marketing…"

"It sounds scary," Selmers said.

"What about you?"

"Eh...not much. It's just depressing," she replied, looking uncomfortable, shifting around in the recliner. "So...Mae, are you okay?"

Trent looked over at Mae and saw that her expression, her entire demeanor had changed. She looked on the verge of tears.

"What's wrong?" he asked, reaching out and putting a hand on her thigh.

"I just...I thought about a dream I had and...it just...ugh, fuck!" she snapped, rubbing at her eyes. She tried to speak again, but suddenly started crying and then threw herself against Trent, wrapping her arms around him. He hugged her back, holding her tight against him, and looked up at Selmers, unsure of what to do, about Mae, about her, if this was weird or awkward. But Selmers didn't look uncomfortable, just a little sad.

She stood up suddenly and, without a word, came over and sat down behind Mae. Then she leaned against her and hugged her. "It's okay, Mae."

"Selmers I'm sorry!" Mae cried, her voice muffled as she was leaning into Trent's chest.

"It's okay, Mae. I understand. Don't worry," Selmers replied, her voice almost serene. She seemed like the very definition of understanding and care in that moment.

They hugged Mae together while she cried, Trent feeling lost and bad that he couldn't help her more, but he knew, too.

He knew that sometimes you just had to cry. Something was bothering you, something bad had happened to you, (and clearly bad things had happened to Mae), and sometimes you just needed to cry. Mae cried. She cried hard.

When she stopped, Selmers sat back, releasing her as she sat up, and Trent let go of her as well. "I'm really sorry," she murmured, her red eyes redder now. "Fuck. I didn't mean to."

"It's okay," Trent said.

"I'm a mess," she muttered. "Emotionally and literally. Uh...let me go wash my face."

"We'll be here," Selmers replied.

She got up and made her way upstairs.

Trent looked at Selmers, who sat back, frowning slightly. "Was that...a surprise to you?" he asked.

"Not really. I've never seen Mae cry before, but she's really sad a lot. And angry. She's had troubles. You did the right thing, though." She paused, considered something. "Would it bug you if I smoked weed in your house? It's basically decriminalized here in this state."

"Can I have some?" he asked.

"Yeah, totally," she said, grinning and standing up. "Hopefully Mae will want some. I think it'll help her chill out."

He nodded. Selmers reached into her hoodie and her hand came out with a little weed pipe and a Bic lighter and a little baggie. She set the baggie on the table and sat back down on the couch, then lit up and took a few puffs, then passed it to him.

"You're really cool," he said.

She laughed. "No, I'm a total loser. You and Mae are pretty cool though."

"Why do you say you're a loser?" he asked, then took a puff. He'd smoked before, but it had been awhile. He coughed a few times, took another puff, then passed it back to her.

"Got broken up with, moved back into my mom's basement at twenty eight, can't find a job, got no money, no car. Like, if that isn't a loser, what is?"

"It probably wasn't your fault."

She sighed, taking another puff. "No, I don't think it was. Just bad luck. I feel like a loser, though. But you aren't. You seem like you're really nice, and really nice to Mae. And you've been nice to me so far. Nice is good. You've got a house, money, you're a writer."

"Unpublished, a house I inherited, money I inherited, no car of my own, no friends before moving here. No real prospects. And you're nice. Mae says you're really nice, and so far you've been really cool and chill and nice. I mean shit, you shared your weed with me while you're broke, like, that's really nice."

She laughed. "Okay, fair enough. I dunno, I just...feel like a loser, I guess. That's all I can say."

"You and Mae both. You should stop saying it." He paused. "Sorry, I don't mean to try and tell you what to do."

"No, you're right. I should. It's hard, though."

"Hey something smells like weed in here dude-oh," Mae said, coming down the stairs.

"Uh...is this okay?" Trent asked.

"Only if I can have some. Why didn't you say you had weed?" she asked, hurrying over to the couch.

"It's mine," Selmers said.

Mae paused. "Oh...is this like...a good idea? With your, uh...what you told me about?"

"It's fine, Mae," Selmers said. "Honestly this has been helping. But thank you for thinking about me. I appreciate it. You can have some if you want."

"I want," Mae replied, taking the pipe as she sat down and pulling on it. She coughed a few times, then passed it to Trent. "You don't smoke cigarettes do you? I'm allergic to those."

"I don't smoke cigarettes," he replied.

"Oh good. Do you drink?"

"No."

"Cool. We can not smoke cigarettes and not drink beer together."

"We can," he agreed.

They passed the pipe around for a bit longer.

"I'm ready to talk about it...if you wanna hear," Mae said.

"I want to hear," Selmers replied.

"Me too," Trent said.

"Okay...it was just...the night before I left college, I had this dream. I dreamed it was Longest Night, but like years ago. Like ten years ago, when I was in middle school, or maybe even earlier. I was sitting around a big campfire with Gregg and Angus and Bea, and we were looking at the constellations. And Angus was telling us all about them. And it was just-it was so comfortable. It felt so good. It was warm and safe. But I forgot it was a dream. I thought it was a memory, like it really happened, until I was talking with Angus last month, and he told me it never happened. And I realized it was the dream I had right before I dropped out, and it was like-" she paused, blinked rapidly a few times, wiped at her eyes, "-I dunno, it was like losing something. Like losing a memory. It's hard to describe."

"It was a good thing you thought you had, but your mind just tricked you, and you never really had it," Selmers murmured.

"Yeah! My fucking brain! Ugh!" She took several long, hard pulls on the weed pipe and passed it back to Selmers.

"Longest Night is coming up soon," Selmers said. "You could make a new memory? I mean, you could get them, and Trent, and I'd come if you wanted me to. We could sit around a campfire. And look at the constellations. And it'd be warm and safe and fun."

"Yeah...maybe, if it was in someone's backyard," Mae murmured. She shook her head suddenly. "Or wherever. Yeah, that'd be really cool...thanks, Selmers."

"You're welcome, Mae. You're my friend, I want you to be happy."

"I want you to be happy, too!...speaking of which…" she said, looking at Trent.

"Uh...yeah?" Selmers asked.

"I'm not asking, you're asking. This was your idea. I mean I'm down for it, to be clear, but this is on you."

"Okay, okay, fine." Mae looked at Selmers. "So remember when we were talking about Mr. Chazokov's son? And you said he wasn't into, uh, how'd you put it?"

"Into this?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"Uh-huh, I remember. He still isn't."

"Okay, but like, so, sex feels good, right?" she asked.

Selmers laughed. "Uh...yeah. It does. I mean, with the right person. Where are you going with this? You're really all over the place sometimes, Mae."

"No, no, I promise, it makes sense! So, like, Trent is totally into this," Mae said, and scooted aside so that Selmers had a better view of him from where she sat.

They stared at each other for several long seconds.

"Uh...so am I really high or did you just offer me your boyfriend? Or...are you guys together?"

"We are together. I did offer you my boyfriend," Mae replied. She had done a complete one eighty by now, almost bouncing with excitement.

"And by offer, you mean...sex? Like you want Trent...to have sex...with me?" she asked.

"Yes!"

Selmers opened her mouth, then closed it, then took another pull and sat back in the recliner. "You guys have known each other for like a day, right?"

"Yeah!" Mae replied.

Selmers sighed softly. "I don't know if this is a good idea...you're at the beginning of your relationship. Like the very beginning. God, Mae. I don't want you to make a decision like this because you're like high on happy chemicals, or literally high right now, and then regret it immediately and ruin the relationship…"

"Oh no, you don't have to worry about that, Selmers," Mae said. "Like, I've known I wanted to do something like this since I became aware of relationships. I always thought that when I got a girlfriend, or well a boyfriend now, that I wanted us to do sex stuff with other people. Like from the beginning. I always thought it was weird, monogamy? I dunno. But it just feels natural, sharing. I mean, I want my friends to be happy, and do things that make them happy. And now that I've actually had real sex, like wow! It feels really good and it makes me super happy! And I just thought, you know, it'd make you happy."

Selmers looked at her for a long time, then took another pull on the pipe. She looked at Trent. "So, like, you're really into me?"

"Definitely," Trent replied. "I'm very much into you, Selmers."

She frowned. "If we're gonna be doing sex stuff, call me Ann. I don't mind being called that by Mae, and you, like casually, but I don't think anyone can make Selmers sound sexy, you know?"

"Okay, Ann," he replied.

She smiled. He felt his heart rate speed up more. This was crazy. He was still having trouble actually keeping up with all this, even though they'd discussed it several times. Selmers...Ann...she was hot, and older. Twenty eight? Six years separated them, but it wasn't just that. She seemed older in other ways, too.

The idea that she was actually seriously into him felt impossible.

"I just...I feel a little weird about this," she admitted. "On the one hand, I am attracted to you, Trent. You're not hot, or cute exactly, but...I don't really know the word for it. You're...enticing in a strange kind of way, and very inviting. I'm sorry, it sounds like I'm giving you a backhanded compliment but I'm really not. I want to do it with you. And I trust Mae." She paused. "Well, I don't know how much I trust your judgment, no offense Mae."

"None taken, I probably wouldn't trust my judgment," Mae replied.

"But I trust her about the situation. And I've got a birth control implant that's still good for awhile, so there's no problems there. I mean, I'm guessing you don't, like, have anything?"

"I don't, as far as I know," he replied.

"Same here. And it's been like...a long time since I've gotten laid. And not really for lack of trying. So I want to do this. But…" She fell silent, seemingly becoming lost in thought, then took another puff on her pipe. "Hmm. I guess I'm a little scared."

"Why? He won't, like, hurt you or anything," Mae said. "Cuz I'd like cave his skull in."

"It's not that, but I appreciate the sentiment," Ann replied.

"I'm surprised you're not more mad at that," Mae said, looking at Trent.

He shrugged. "I mean it's fair. I'm not exactly a fan of domestic violence. I don't know if I think you should cave my skull in if I did try to hurt either of you, but yeah, something bad would have to be done to me in that scenario."

"You're a level-headed dude, Trent," Ann said. "I guess...I'm scared because, except for some, you know, fucking around in high school, I was only ever with Dennis. After we split, I mean, I tried, but no one bit. So I mean, it's been like years since I've been with anyone new. I guess I'm just nervous. I got used to it with Dennis, what if I suck? I mean you say you're attracted to me and I guess I believe you but what if the clothes come off and you're like 'actually no'? I mean what if-"

"Selmers! Dude! He's got the hots for me! I look like garbage! I am a literal fucking trash mammal and I look awful naked! You're totally hot!" Mae cried.

"None of that is true," Ann replied, but she did laugh. "You're pretty cute Mae."

"I-" she stopped mid-sentence, her arms raised like she was about to make some other new intense point, then lowered them and looked at Ann "-really?"

"Yeah." She took another pull on the pipe. "So, uh...where we doing this? Because I'm not fucking on the floor or the couch."

Mae popped to her feet and dashed off to the stairs, then yelled as she fell over heavily, then scrambled back to her feet. "Come on! It's upstairs!"

"Wow, she is like...very excited about this, isn't she?" Ann murmured as they both stood and followed after her at a saner pace.

"Very. I am too," he said.

"For real?" Ann asked.

Trent had begun heading up the stairs but he realized she'd stopped at the bottom of them. He offered her his hand. "For real, Ann. You're really attractive."

She exhaled sharply, like she wanted to say something but the words tripped trying to get out of her throat. "...uh, thanks," she mumbled, looking away.

Then she took his hand and held it as he led her upstairs.