The door slammed open with a loud bang, accompanied by constant yelling.

"That's why you wanted to go bowling!"

"Tim, Tim, listen. I only suggested it!"

"Screw you, Owen! You ditched us for that girl and came back with a job? Why do you keep winning in life?!"

"Roger, please listen!"

Sydney stepped in. "Alright! Calm the fuck down. One at a time. Tim, take us to what happened."

"Ok, so Owen suggested bowling, and we all agreed. When we got there, he played one game before ditching us for his girlfriend. He came back and said his girlfriend's father can get him a job at his company. Life is not fair!"

"Wait," I said, "Isn't that girl a taxi driver?"

Owen spoke. "Yes, she does that on the side—10 hours a week. Her main job is an assistant manager at her father's company."

"What company?" Sydney asked.

"eCyberPush. It's a cybersecurity company based in downtown."

"What do you know about cybersecurity? What even is cyber security?!"

"Oh, Jill, you've been pretty bad at learning technology. Anyways, there's a restaurant on the ground floor. I spoke to her father on the phone, and he said he'll give me an interview with the head chef and see where things go. Nothing is official."

"I'm not bad with technology."

"Uh, Jill," Roger said, "You struggle with switching to emojis and letters."

"Because the button isn't clear! How many times do I have to say that? And why is this conversation pivoting to me?"

Kaze took his jacket off and hung it by the staircase. He looked at Sydney, who held her cigarette between her fingers.

"Please don't smoke in the house. I do not like the smell."

Sydney crumpled the cigarette in her fist and tossed it in the trash. "It's getting late. I'm going to bed." She said before going upstairs.

Kaze and Roger followed her, saying the same thing.

"Are you going to bed?" Owen asked.

"Not yet. I'm gonna fiddle around with the phone. I want to get better at using it."

"Hey, we'll help," Tim assured by walking into the kitchen, fetching something to eat from the fridge. "There's nothing here!"

"I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow with Sydney. Text me what you want and I'll get it."

"Oh! Let me send the text." I opened my phone with facial recognition and searched around. "How do I send a text again?"

Owen looked over my shoulder. "Find the Messages app. The icon is a big 'M'. Then, uh, find Sydney's name and type what I tell you. I think you have to scroll. It's on the second page."

I gave the bright, blue phone a confused stare. "Scroll… meaning… what?"

Owen sighed and took the phone out of my hand. He placed it on the kitchen counter, face down. "I'll give you a more in-depth lesson some other time."

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I groaned and slammed the counter with my fist. "Technology is stupid. Why do they make it so difficult to understand?!"

"Hey, Jill, I'm pretty sure you can take university classes to get better at technology."

Owen shut down Tim's idea. "I did my research on that. It's pretty advanced. They expect you to already understand and know the basics. She's struggling with the basics. If we want to take the course, then we need to play catch–up. The thing is, Jill, you never gave this new tech a chance. Look at Roger. He's as dumb as bricks, but he studied and learned how to use everything. And now, he incorporates technology like a true Ionian. You have to put in some effort."

"Don't lecture me on effort. I'm trying my best."

"But you're not," Owen replied. "I've never seen you sit down on your phone, a computer, or any device and try to use it. You're not trying to fit in. You want to live like an outsider inside the walls. It's not going to work."

Owen struck me with those words. Usually, he was the first one to comfort me whenever things went sideways. But now, he was on the attack. It was like getting hit by multiple strikes by someone close to you.

"It's harder to adjust than I thought. The outsider life is all I know. I can't just abandon it."

"Hey, Jill, we are all adjusting to our lives. Look at Owen. He's talking about moving out already."

"Huh?"

Owen shot daggers at Tim. "You idiot! You weren't supposed to mention that right now!"

Tim covered his mouth with eyes wider than ever. "Oops," he said with a muffled voice behind his palms.

Owen brought his hand to his forehead, as though he had some bad news to share.

"Well, I was going to tell you sooner rather than later. I only told Tim and Kaze this. Obviously, one was a mistake. Anyways… Jill, I plan on moving out within the next three months."

Within the next three months? We arrived in Ionia not too long ago. It's only been a few months.

"Why? Did something happen?"

"No, nothing happened. I just want to find a life for myself. I plan on moving in with my girlfriend, Cameron."

My jaw nearly dropped. "Already?"

"Yeah," he said. "She's fast–paced. I don't mind. I'm living a great life and enjoy spending time with her."

A little too fast–paced. It's only been a few months since we came into Ionia. Once Owen obtained his ID, he and Cameron spent a lot of time together, especially on weekends. Now that Owen supposedly got a job, he won't be around for much.

He would slip away.

My intention was for all of us to come to Ionia to live a simple life. We would all be together in the city.

But clearly, that had changed.

Owen planned on leaving. That's one person gone. Soon, the rest could follow. I didn't know what Roger or Tim would do, but if Owen would leave, what was stopping them from doing the same?

I would be alone again.

I couldn't show it on my face. I didn't want to hold Owen back from his life. He should dictate how he wants to live. Not me.

There was no choice but to be alone.

Well, I had Sydney and Kaze, but they wouldn't be enough to fill the void. What could I do?

There was nothing I could do. I had to build a life here, unaware of how.

But how?

"Great. You have everything figured out. I'm still working on it. Shouldn't be difficult, though."

"Hey, you got this. I plan on taking university classes next year. Something business related."

Odd. When was Tim interested in business?

"Why business?" I asked.

"Kaze recommended it to me. He says there are lots of opportunities. So why not?"

I swung my head low. I didn't know what to do. I had to do something, though. No way I could live like this forever. I had to find a suitable profession.

How?

Who could I ask for help? Who could I ask who knew everything about the City of Ionia?

I dug deep into my brain, reaching for a possible answer.

Sydney wouldn't be too much help since she doesn't work.

I didn't talk to Kaze much. It would feel awkward asking him for advice.

Owen, Tim, and Roger wouldn't know much. Owen received a job offer from someone, and Tim and Roger didn't work.

I needed someone who could squeeze my way somewhere. Someone who could twist and bend a few branches.

Someone who could grant me a favor.

Favor.

That word was associated with someone within the city.

I needed to go to the nightclub and ask for help. No, I needed to go there to ask for a favor.

I needed the extra boost to start my life within the walls. That nightclub owner could help me.

In the end, all I said was, "I'll keep my options open."

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