Inside Northern Velvet Hotel, Camila lays on the soft white bed, unmoving staring at the blackout curtains covering the hot sun, then turns to the right and stares at the coffee table with a slick black bible on top. Her senses are high, hearing everything around her. Loud family squealing, screaming, and snoring. She imagines Marie's heartbeat and her eyes sting.

It’s odd to be out of the house, sleeping somewhere where she can’t hear Marie’s heartbeat or the sound of her footsteps as she’s leaving for an early shift at the club. She thinks back to their argument, and her sadness dissolves into disappointment and then rage.

She lays still on the soft white bed until she hears the distinct ‘ding’ of her black phone. Her safety deposit was to be confirmed and she was ready to move. Despite the deep funds her bank harbored she couldn’t stay in a hotel forever, so she looked for a new place. A small shabby apartment, near 23rd West Drive close to the diner she frequently ventured to as a human. She thinks about Marie one last time, and then closes her eyes and shifts back into unconsciousness, shutting down her senses.

Despite the hotel's policy, Camilla managed to slip out of the establishment well past morning. The deposit for the apartment was accepted, and all she needed were the keys to the door and mailbox. She walked to the washed-out grey apartment complex, and once she stood in front of it, she was quite satisfied despite the crappy color and exterior.

Once she makes it to the inside of the new apartment, she looks around planting her feet on the white tiles and touching the white walls that look too perfect. Soft sunlight beams through the windowsills. The room is dim, feeling good in her eyes, and as she moves around, she lets her hands feel and scrape every inch of the apartment. To her left is the kitchen area followed by a large space, which she makes out to be the living room. The wall to her left has one door that leads to her room and bathroom.

Her new room is bare, and so is the bathroom. Camilla lets her duffle bag drop and she slides right next to her, letting her body hit the cold white tile. It feels disgusting yet her body immediately relaxes, muscles and joints falling asleep as her head lays on the inside of her shoulder. Her eyes flutter, and her heartbeat slows until she hears nothing and her eyes are shut.

A pack of gum, Virginia Slims, and a lighter.

The convenience store close to the apartment was nearly empty despite the bustling energy outside. Camila had simply filled the mental cart with an air mattress box, a gallon of pig blood, a case of bottled water, a pack of gum, Virginia slims, and a lighter. She hands the young boy on the cash register the box, and the case of water, covering the gallon of blood with a light brown bag. She leaves the convenience store, chewing a sweet watermelon gum piece with a bag on her left and right hand.

New Orleans is loud, buzzing with energy and drunks on the floor and against empty buildings. A block away from the convenience store is a small club that’s lined with women in revealing clothing, and two bouncers who check ID and send the underage off.

As she’s passing, a familiar scent revels in her nose, and when she makes it close to the entrance, she watches as Nico comes out with a dark-skinned man in a tight dress shirt and brown slacks. Nico stops just as his eyes land on her, but she looks away, walking past him as if he’s not there.

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“CAMILA,” Nico yells behind her.

Camila walks faster, her bags now bouncing until a hand lands on her shoulder and she swings around coming face to face with Nico. “Hi.”

There’s a small smile plastered on Nico’s face, and he shifts in front of her with a hand behind his neck, “Hey…what are you doing…here?”

“I live near here.” She replies shuffling her bag next to her.

Nico looks at the bag and then at her. His shoulders fall, and his eyes soften. “Are you okay?”

There is no bitterness in her voice, just curiosity. “What is to you?”

“Marie is…”

“I’m not interested…in knowing how Marie is.” Now there’s a small bitterness in her words. She tries to keep her voice calm, but there’s a small part of her that feels her voice waver.

For half a second, Nico’s eyebrows raise to the top of his forehead. He clenches his jaw and then nods. “Okay. At least let me…give you a ride back.”

She gives him a tight-lipped smile, “It’s fine.”

“No. No, I insist. Just give me a second”, he says, leaving her outside of the club, and jogging inside.

Camila considers leaving. She has no obligation to stay and does not care about obeying Nico. Yet, her feet do not move and she stays still, watching people move around the club. They come outside, slurring their words smelling of cheap alcohol and vomit. She lets out a shuddered sigh, her thick coat now feeling cool with the intense coldness of the night. Nice comes out with a wide smile, followed by Yohan and Sun.

Her throat closes when she sees Yohan. He’s dressed in black slacks, and a black turtleneck shirt that hugs his muscles and makes him appear more buffer than he is, but he looks good. Jin walks past him, heading to Camila and immediately hugging her. She returns the gesture, as he snatches the bags in her hand and turns her around to walk beside him.

“What are you doing here?” he says with a wide smile, shuffling the bags. He takes a peek inside and grimaces.

“I’m venturing into contemporary art…” she responds, pulling him close to her and giving him a wide smile. The sudden attention to Jin shocks a nerve in her system but he almost reminds her of a younger brother, she’s never had.

Jin raises an eyebrow at her, “You paint?”

They cross the empty street and stop in front of a black SUV. “Sometimes.”

Yohan passes them, making his way to the driver’s seat and once the car is on, they all get inside. Jin and Camila are in the back, while Yohan is driving and Nico handles a call while in the passenger’s seat. Camila gives them instructions just as she bickers with Jin. Occasionally she’d look at the rearview mirror and catch Yohan staring at her with these intense eyes that could light a man on fire.

She looks away, and when they stop in front of her building, Jin takes her bags and offers to help, “Let me help.”

“I’m on the second floor. It’s okay.” She looks at Nico and Yohan. “Thank you.”

They nod at her and she waves them off, only looking back once before entering the washed-out grey building. Once she makes it inside the tiny apartment, Camila drops the bags on the kitchen counter. She moves slowly to the window, curiosity cruising through her veins. She feels eyes looking directly into her window, and just as she peers through the windowsills, she catches the sight of brown eyes looking back at her.

Yohan is leaning against the black SUV with his arms interlocked against his chest. He blinks at her and then pulls out his phone. She watches as he seems to dial something on it, and for a second the apartment is silent until a soft ring purrs inside the plastic bag. Camila jumps and runs to the phone. The caller ID is unknown, and she pauses. She answers the phone, hearing a gruff voice on the other end. “Camila.”

Camila stays silent as she slowly strides to the window. Outside the window, Yohan is looking up, his phone pressed to his ear.

Her voice is soft, “Are you not cold? Why are you still here?”

“I want to see you…again.”

Camila’s breathing stops. Her lips part just as she begins to hear Yohan's breath. It’s rapid and if she focuses enough, she can hear his heart from her apartment, thumping like the steps of an athlete. Excitement drums through her veins, and she walks to the front door, clutching the phone. “I’m coming down.”