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replied stubbornly. If all of this was true, I didn't think I was ready to face reality. Paul couldn't be my father.
    “Y ou need to eventually, you know, ” Salem said calmly , “a nd somewhere, deep down, you want to.”
    “What use would it be? It won't change anything.”
    “It will c hange a lot of things, actually,” h e stated. “You'll feel better if you go.”
    “I doubt it. ”
    The garage door opened, revealing my silver car. Salem gripped my hand gently and tugged me over to the vehicle, then dangled the keys before me. I sighed, taking the keys and climbing into the car. It appeared I had little choice, he was persistent . I sat behind the steering wheel, pondering whether I could pull out of the garage and go home before he made it into the passenger seat. I put the key in the ignition and started the car, about to put it in reverse when I heard the passenger side door slam.
    “You're too slow,” h e smirked.
    “ Maybe you're too fast, ” I said glumly.
     
    After enduring the long winding trip away from Salem's house, we had driven across town and pulled up to Paul's Auto shop. I glanced over at Salem, who had an apprehensive look on his face.
    “What's the matter with you ?” I asked.
    His expression changed immediately, “Nothing. Go on ahead, I wi ll wait out here.”
    “I'm perfe ctly fine with you coming along, ” Part of me sincerely wished he would join me; I didn't want to face Paul alone.
    “No,” he looked at me sternly, “i t would be best if I was not present .”
    “I don't see why Paul wouldn't want you coming inside if you’re somehow a part of this big mess. ”
    “I'm sta ying out here, and that's final,” h e replied, looking away from me.
    “Fine! ” I said bitterly, slamming the door behind me as I left the boy in the car. His eyes were watchful as I entered through the glass door. The smell of oil was overwhelming to the point that I had to cover my nose to avoid gagging.
    Paul wasn't anywhere to be seen at first, but I could distinctly hear his voice paired with someone else's. He must have been with a customer. I noticed a small surveillance camera perched high up on the ceiling and I felt like it was following my every step. It had been years since I came here, and everything looked exactly the same.
    The building was fairly small, but big enough to fit a back room full of various-sized car, bicycle and motorcycle tires. There were at least seven aisles of vehicle-related objects that I simply had no idea what were. For me, this was probably the most boring store in existence. I decided to browse the store while I waited, quietly stepping down each short aisle. As I went down the third aisle of the store, I found a row of things I recognized and understood: air fresheners. I picked up a rose-shaped one and sniffed it, displeased by the fact that I could barely smell the scent through the plastic sleeve.
    “Can I help you?” a woman's voice asked. I jumped and looked in her direction.
    She was about a foot shorter than me – which was unfortunate for her, because I was barely over five feet myself – and a little chunky around the midsection. Her face was round and full, and atop her head was a spiked mess of pink hair. She wore a loose, sleeveless black top that revealed her arms, both of which were covered in vibrant, colorful tattoos. She had to be at least twenty-five or so.
    “I-I'm looking for Paul,” I stuttered.
    “He's with someone at the moment, is there anything I can help you with ?” Her voice was high-pitched and light, bizarre coming from someone of her appearance.
    “No. I'm sort of.. .family, ” I wanted to say I was his niece, but that wasn't the correct answer anymore .
    “Oh!” s he grinned and held her hand out, “I'm Kate.”
    “I'm Alexis, ” I muttered, wishing I could retreat back to my car and avoid all of this. “Do you know how long until he’s done ?”
    “No idea, but k nowing him it could be a while,” she laughed,