Suspicion affirmed

"Fine!" Ava replied to the lady, trying to keep a straight face.

"Let's have coffee."

With a bright smile, the lady brought her hand forward for a handshake.

"My name is_"

*Ringtone*

"Excuse me for a moment," she said politely to Ava before taking a few steps away to answer the phone call.

While she was away, 'I can't believe you agreed to an invite by a stranger. What nonsense.'

'It's not nonsense. You need information Ava, and this might be your only chance.' The other voice countered.

Ava then exhaled through her lips as she tried to shake off the seemingly endless thoughts in her head.

Of course she didn't want anything to do with anyone from Luxeville, but for some reason, she felt the need to have a talk with the lady.

Maybe because of her personality, but whatever be the case, Ava was sure she needed to know what was up with this mystery of a city, and possibly further confirm her suspicion before she leaves the city for good.

Just as she was ruminating over that, the lady walked up to her again with a renewed smile on her face. It was more like a grin.

"Sorry about that." She apologised.

"No worries. I don't mind." Ava replied with a small smile. "Can we go now?" she asked almost immediately.

"Yeah sure." The lady replied. "By the way" she continued, "Don't you think you might catch a cold with what you're wearing. I mean, it's unbearably cold this morning." The lady said, as she seemed to have observed Ava's outfit which was the same from the previous day. Even with a coat and gloves on, she still felt cold.

"Oh that.'' Ava replied. "I... I'll change it when I get back home. Like I said, the phone call is urgent, so I'm good with the scarf for now."

"Oh my! I'm sorry, let's go please." the lady said with a gesture and an apologetic smile.

"Thank you." Ava replied as she soon started walking, maintaining the barely noticeable smile on her face.

Using the same phone she had called useless only moments before to get directions to the store felt strange to her. She also suspected that Keys may have removed the map from the phone after their argument.

Left with no other option, she had to ask the lady for directions in a subtle manner. But a very awkward silence had already ensued between the both of them, while they headed to wherever.

'You have to ask for help, Ava. You don't have a choice.' she mused.

Clearing her throat, Ava opened her mouth to speak, but the lady beat her to it.

"I'm sure you must be wondering why I chose to accompany you to the store and offered to have coffee with you, when I've never met you before."

"Umm...No, I was_"

"It's fine. Actually, I'm not jobless you know, it's just that I needed a break from the house so I decided to take a walk. Besides, you're new to this environment so_"

"How did you know that?" Ava asked, glancing at the lady's profile, while she looked ahead.

With a giggle, "It's obvious." The lady replied. "I live here from time to time, and you know the residents of this part of Winsteria are sort of familiar with each other." she added.

"Oh...I see." Ava replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she returned her gaze ahead of her.

"It's called the 'Millionaire's Row' for a reason," the lady replied, making air quotes for emphasis.

"Oh. Why is that?" Ava asked with a creased brow, as she occasionally looked from the lady to the ground.

"You know, it's a residence for all these rich people and they organize exclusive events and all. Besides….." the lady went on to narrate.

'You see. You're learning a couple of things already.' the other voice spoke up.

'Shut up!' Ava cautioned.

"... from time to time you'll get to attend one of the many luxurious parties hosted by residents. Then you'll understand why it's called a place for the rich.'' The lady concluded.

But Ava couldn't help but notice her line of words. The exact way she summarized her description of a couple of a street in her Second novel. Although it was named 'Alexus street'.

"Oh. That's interesting" Ava replied with a forced smile. A forced smile because her heart was starting to race, as if reminding her of reality over again.

"Rich men stuff." The lady added with a scoff laugh.

"But you live here right?'' Ava asked, throwing a confused glance at the lady before looking ahead.

"Well. It depends." The lady replied before glancing at Ava.

"Doesn't that make you rich as well?" Ava asked, as they continued to walk forward. At least from what she could remember, she was to walk on a lane for a while before taking a turn. She also hoped the lady would absentmindedly lead her to any store she knew, since she was familiar with the area.

"Well. I'm a classic girl from the streets. Only learned courtesy a few months ago." The lady replied, accompanied by a giggle.

But immediately, Ava paused her steps. Her joints grew a little weak. Not because of a weird seizure or anything like that. It was because the lady had said yet again, another line she could remember from her second novel.

'A classic girl from the streets. Only learned courtesy, thanks to the man of her dreams.' Ava remembered that all too well. But unbeknownst to the lady, she kept talking.

"...for my attitude towards you a while ago. I apologise for that y_" she then paused. Turning her head to the right a little, the lady saw that Ava was looking at her with her lips partly open.

"Is everything okay? What's the matter?" The lady asked.

Shaking her head, breathing through her lips, "No.. nothing. I'm..good." Ava replied.

"Are you sure Miss? You know, you've been acting weird since we met. Something is definitely wrong. I know I'm a stranger but, is it something you can tell me? Maybe I can help." The lady offered.

"N..no. I'm fine. It's just that, I... I uh.. Nevermind. It's fine. I'm fine." Ava replied.

"Okay?..." The lady replied, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Yeah. Let's go please." Ava said, before she picked up pace.

"Okay then." The lady replied before she continued walking as well.

Not wanting to delay the phone call any longer, "Miss, do you know the direction to the retail store where I can purchase the phone?" Ava asked, ditching whatever it was that held her back from asking earlier.

"Yeah, sure. I'll take you there." The lady answered with a small smile, while she took a glance at Ava.

"Thank you." Ava replied, looking ahead.

After a while,

"Can I tell you something?" The lady asked.

"Yeah." Ava replied.

"You know miss, when I bumped into you, I just felt this connection you know. It didn't feel like you're a stranger. I don't know if it's called energy match or whatever but_ I just feel like I can tell you stuff." The lady said.

Gazing at her while they both walked,

"Why?" Ava asked.

"I honestly don't know. But if you mean why I said that, it's because... I guess I'm typically expressive. Or a loud mouth as my boyfriend's sister always says."

"Your boyfriend's sister?"

"Yeah." The lady replied with a sigh.

"By the way, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Tara."

"Tara MacKay," she added. And as her name echoed through the air, Ava dropped to her knees, overcome with intensity and emotion.