Autumn POV:

The club is very crowded tonight.

That was the vibe when me and Damian couldn't find a parking spot for at least twenty minutes, so we just ended up settling for a space that was a long walking distance from the entrance of the club.

Neither Damian or I had ever been to this club before, mainly because it was in another part of the city that wasn't close by.

As we entered, music was blasting into our ears, and I could feel the beat and vibration in my body–there were people dancing so crazy and loosely all around.

It reminded me of my college years when I finally turned twenty one, and I celebrated my birthday by going to the club for the first time.

That night ended with me throwing up in the bathroom for a few hours due to the amount of alcohol I consumed but couldn't handle.

As Damian held my hand as we moved through the dancing crowd, the music got even louder as I imagined– thank god I got ear plugs so I don't go deaf by my thirties.

It took us a while but we finally found Noah and James. They were sitting at the bar, and laughing very loudly as we approached them. They seemed to have a few drinks before we got here, mainly Noah.

"Hey!" Noah said very loudly as he saw us, slightly catching the attention of other people and some bartenders.

"Hey guys, glad you can make it" James greeted us, patting two seats next to him, indicating for us to sit down.

As we sat down, Noah made it a mission for us to take a shot with him–we didn't even have a full conversion yet, and we are already taking a shot, but I'm not complaining.

James decided not to, because he figured that he would be the one driving back. I offered that I could drive but he kindly declined my offer.

Since Noah and Jame took the uber, we can drive Damian's car, and he is fine with it.

After we had taken a few shots, I actually got to know Noah and James more. It was hard to hear because of the people around us and the constant blast of the music, but I was able to understand most of what they were saying.

I learned that Noah is the much more chill back kind of friend, even though he is crazy at times (suggested by Damian and James), he can be the most calmest person anyone can know.

Like if we were to get robbed off the streets, then I guess he would be calm about it, I don't know how, that's a trait I can't seem to master.

In almost every situation I have been in, big or small, I can't seem to calm myself down over it. Even after I found the solution to a problem, I will think about it forever, thinking of how I should have handled it, or how it would have turned out differently if I did this or that.

I expressed this concern to Noah and he offered me advice on how to be more in control of my overthinking, the best way he handles these things is taking deep breaths.

I never was a fan of that so I informed him that I will think about it and will try.

As me and Noah kept talking, he suddenly stopped and went over to Damian, leaving me confused.

Damian and Noah started talking and as they continued, they seemed to get really aggressive with each other, verbally, it seemed like they were arguing over something.

As James and I observed them, like animals in the wild, he turned to me and shook his head.

I learned a couple of things about James as well.

As a kid growing up, he really loved basketball and his dad taught him how to play from scratch, but as James claimed, he was apparently a really strict father, but he is grateful for that since he still plays basketball and wants to go professional in the sport.

From what Damian and Noah say about James, he doesn't really think of himself as the dad of the group, he just describes himself as a logical person who thinks before they act or speak, supricing to some people in this world.

All three of them met in college, freshman year living in the dorm room together and ever since then, they just stick together.

I smiled as I thought about freshman Damian, looking so awkward as ever.

As the more we talked, I suddenly had an urge to use the restroom, I excused myself as I got up to leave.

James offered to be on the lookout outside but I kindly declined, claiming that I won't take long.

As I started to make my way, more and more people were just getting in my way, at one point, I ended up on the opposite side of the restroom.

But luckily I founded my way back.

Pushing open the bathroom door, I felt a sense of dizziness coming in, probably from the amount of shots I have taken throughout the night.

I was and still am never a big fan of alcohol or intoxicating drinks, many people have said to me that it makes the night even more fun than what it is supposed to be.

I quickly realized that it's not true, if I had to drink every time I go out or hang out with friends, then there is basically no point in going out.

Getting drunk and not remembering what had happened the night before and waking up with a hangover is not my forte.

So as I looked at myself in the mirror, I ran cold water onto my face to get the dizziness out of me, it worked but I don't know how long it will last.

Only for special events, I thought firmly to myself.

After I used the restroom, I washed my hands and was about to leave but all of a sudden, I heard this sniffing and almost crying out sound.

It came from one of the stalls.

I didn't know whether someone was crying or fucking in there but my curiosity got the best of me.

No one else was in the bathroom as far as I can tell, so I was just me and the other person or people in here.

As I got closer to the stall–I know I shouldn't do this, but I pressed my ear up against the bathroom room and waited for another sound.

Once about five minutes had passed, I convinced myself that it was just the alcohol and I was just hearing things.

Plus I didn't even check under the stall to see if someone was in there.

As far as I can tell, I was alone in the bathroom–pressing my ear against an empty bathroom stall door.

At this point I have given up, not only have I been in here for more than seven minutes, but Damian, Noah and James might have noticed that I have disappeared for too long and might be worried about me.

Releasing myself from the stall door, I headed over to the door to get out, shaking my head of how ridiculous it would have been if someone were to walked in here and see me–

A loud sniffle echoed in the bathroom.

And it was a real one, one of those that you've held in for too long and your body just released it for you.

It was one of those.

I quietly shut the door, not wanting to scare her.

I don't usually do this. In high school, if someone was crying in the bathroom, there would usually be friends around to support and help them get through it.

But that is not the case here.

And without even thinking, my brain does something that I've never liked.

"Are you okay?" I blurred out, mentally slapping myself on the forehead. Cursing myself.

It went silent as the lady in the stall hitched her breath. I figured she was panicking at this moment.

If I were to be crying or be upset in the bathroom stall, and someone asked me that question, then I would probably do the same and my brain would go into overdrive.

Realizing my mistake, I quickly said, "Nevermind, I'm sorry, you probably don't want to be disturbed. I'll leave you to it"

As my hand strongly gripped the handle, I was ready to fling myself out of here when the stall to the big bathroom at the end opened.

The creaked sound causing me cringe even more, she is probably going to get mad at me for interrupting her and is going to tell me to fuck off.

I'm hundred percent ready to get down on my knees, on the club's dirty bathroom floor, to apologize to this lady.

As she comes out, her dark blonde hair flowing and also sticking to her face, as her face is soaked with tears–indication that she has been crying for a while before I came in here.

When she is fully out of the stall, she faces me as she breaks down again. I don't know what to do. I'm glued to the floor. I don't know whether or not to comfort her, hug her, or just leave.

"I'm sorry, I just–I'm just really conflicted right now" She says as she wipes her eyes, "And I know this is going to be really weird, but can you help me?"

"Okay" I quickly said.

I didn't even think it, if she needed help with where to bury a body or plan a murder, then I wouldn't even know and just agree to it.

"Thank you" She smiled through the sadness.

What if she does actually need help with something illegal? Drunk thoughts are not the best thoughts, shut up– I tell myself.

She invited me into the stall with her, I leaned against the wall opposite of her, because there is no way that I am sitting on this dirty ass floor, not to mention, the writing on the wall just proves the many activities that have gone down in this stall.

She noticed my feet were near the stall and figured that she could have someone to talk to about this.

She also apologized that she may have wasted my time and said that I could go back to the people that I came with.

I politely decline, stating that they can wait and I'm happy to help out with her situation.

"So" She started off, "I have a husband right? But the thing is that his parents really want us to have children, so they can die happy with grandchildren around them or something"

As she shared this, it reminded me of meeting Matthew's parents, it was all they cared about, they didn't care to get to know me or my family or my interest, they just cared for grandchildren, maybe hundreds of them.

She continues, "They are happy with me being their son's wife and they support us, and I'm happy with being a housewife because I was raised that way, but the thing is–"

A pause, she hesitated if she should go on, but she shook her head, "I can't have children, from an early age, the doctors had told me that I can never have children"

I sympathize with her, it's a dream for many couples to have children and to start a family, unfortunately for some people, they can't do that, no matter how hard they try.

"When I brought this up to him, he said that he will find a solution so that we can have children"

I nodded, understanding the circumstances.

"He said that he has an ex-fiancé that he almost married–but decided not to for some reason, and that she can be a surrogate for us, and she would be fine with it" She says as she starts to tear up again.

"So, are you crying because you finally get to have a baby?" I questioned.

"No, it's because she refused to be our surrogate now, and she was our only option, I don't want my husband to go to someone else, from what he has describe her, she is the only perfect person to do this" she sighs, "Even his parents agree with this"

As she finishes, she covers her face with her hands, trying to control herself.

But I can't help but think about her situation, it sounds so familiar, like I heard this from someone else's perspective.

Before I can assume the possibility, I have to ask her.

"Did you happen to get the name of the possible surrogate?"

She sniffles as she think of it, "Yeah, I think it's Autumn Richardson, and I plan on going to her house and talking to her"

Well shit.

This is going to be fun to write.

Why was she at the club in the first place?

What is Autumn do?

-Summer Roe