Adira felt a slight squeeze in her shoulder. She could say that she was a bit happy to hear praise from Claire, but that was mainly because she hardly ever heard praise from anyone. She found herself feeling a bit empty though when she looked at Claire. That feeling that she had whenever she looked at her, made her stomach turn in knots, because of course she wanted to be like her. She looked to her for many things. She had a lot of faith in that woman, but something just felt empty. Her stomach no longer turned cartwheels and her body felt numb. Was she okay?<br/><br/>Adira could see the tears prickle in the corners of Claireâ€™s eyes before she turned away from her. Did being in such a position bother her so? Did having people look to her for things burden her? It was everything that she had always wanted to be and Claire had made it look so damaging.<br/><br/>â€˜Some days, maybe I want them to get meâ€¦â€™<br/><br/>For a few moments there, the world began to slow down and everything around her started shutting down. Had Claire really felt that way? Was she so distressed that she was willing to die in this world? She couldnâ€™t think of anything. She couldnâ€™t think of any words to possibly say to her. What could see say to her? When youâ€™re at such a low point, what can you say to a person in order to bring them back? She touched the end of the braid in her hair and her eyes met. The silence was unsettling and when their gazes broke, she watched as she walked away from her and back into the house.<br/><br/>What could possibly be going on in that head of hers? She adjusted her glasses and then turned heel to head into the house as well. She looked into the eyes of Tina who also seemed a bit worried for the both of them. Adira did her best to tear her gaze away from the prying eyes of Tina. â€œIâ€™ll go into the kitchen and try to clean that up.â€ Adira said aloud to the group before scurrying off to the said area.<br/><br/>â€œIâ€™ll come and help you.â€ Tina said as she went to help her.<br/><br/>â€œNo thanks. You should worry about upstairs and your new work area.â€ Adira said quietly, still deep in thought. She just couldnâ€™t get past the fact that there was this bothersome feeling in her stomach. As she stumbled inside, she decided to tackle the fridge first. She dug around in the drawers to find one of those Allergy masks. She wrapped the strings around her ears and found a bucket before filling it with water. Thoughts of what she could say to the group about Claireâ€¦.No there would be no thoughts of that. That was all Claireâ€™s deal and she would somehow get past it.<br/><br/>What she would focus on, would be a next plan of action. Yes, that was it. She would come up with some tactful plan and everyone could either agree or disagree. If they agreed, theyâ€™d have to all come up with some kind of time to initiate this plan. If they decided to disagree, then theyâ€™d have to cough up reasons why they donâ€™t like her plan and exactly what theyâ€™re expecting when the plan is to infiltrate and take down the big dog: Excelleron. As she daydreamed about what may come of the plan, she could feel the water spilling over the bucket. Quickly, she turned off the water and dumped out half of it in the sink. Then, she added a bit of soap to it and got it to be all sudsy. Her eyes darted around the kitchen before she managed to grab a hold of a sponge and dunked it in the bucket.<br/><br/>When she pulled it out, she wrung it out a bit before opening the fridge with a gasp. Gah, it smelled so bad. It wasnâ€™t these peopleâ€™s faults for it being this way. She was sure that this was a nice clean place until this pandemic happened. Scrubbing at the sides of the fridge, she continued to deep clean it for a little while before starting to change the water. This fridge was filthy, but at least she was halfway there.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Tina looked a bit baffled that Adira had brushed her off like that. With a shrug, she went upstairs and began to clean the area that she would now call her office. Reluctantly, she grabbed a small towel and began to dust off the desks and shelves that were in the room. Last night, she had managed to set up the generator and she also managed to set up her tools. She would have to go out later and repair the truck, because there was a little damage but that was about it.<br/><br/>She removed the bedding and began to go downstairs with it and into the kitchen where the laundry room. Once she had found a small basket, she put them in there and coughed from the dust. Her eyes narrowed over at Adira.  Casually, she began to talk aloud. â€œIf you have the time, maybe you can help me with this?â€ She pointed to the basket and Adira acknowledged before continuing to clean the fridge. â€œSo howâ€™d that talk go with Claire?â€ She inquired, her brow raised. Adiraâ€™s circular motions slowed but then they quickened again as she rubbed the fridge harder.<br/><br/>â€œIt was fine. I mean, weâ€™ve come to terms with a few things. I think sheâ€™s right. Even as Iâ€™m cleaning Iâ€™m coming up with ideas.â€ Adira replied as she put her sponge back into the bucket to wring it out. She moved to the freezer and began to dump out the old food that had rotted within it. Tina held her nose, trying to stomach the rotting stench. â€œCould you open the windows?â€ Adira nodded. Tina didnâ€™t hesitate as she went over to the window over the sink and opened it as well as the back door.<br/><br/>The black woman didnâ€™t feel as though she should ask anything more of Adira. She seemed a bit off, but now wasnâ€™t the time. She made her way into the living area, where sheâ€™d last left Claire and began to look at the pictures that had been hanging up on the walls. â€œThese people looked so happy together. They must have had a wonderful family. A nice nuclear family I see. And a dog.â€ Tina smiled to herself, thinking about the family that she once had. Her small family was all that she needed to get through the day and her life in general. She wiped the dust from a few more pictures before setting them nicely back in their place.<br/><br/>Thoughts of her life haunted her sometimes. Thoughts of her little family that she once had before. If she could relive that life and do things all over again she would. She definitely would without hesitation. She smiled sadly to herself before walking her way over and around to the kitchen area again. She was going to say something to Adira but she was nowhere to be found. When she went outside in the back, she became frantic when she didnâ€™t see her. And then she saw her coming from around the side.<br/><br/>Panic settled in Adiraâ€™s eyes and Tina ran over to her and checked her body over. â€œWhat are you doing?!â€ Adira retorted before Tina pulled her back at armâ€™s length<br/>â€œAre you okay? You normally donâ€™t leave the house like that. I got a little worried about you.â€ Tina breathed as her body calmed. â€œI donâ€™t know. I guess I just got to thinking and I went mom mode. Iâ€™m sorry. Iâ€™m just gonna go back in the house and get my tools. Iâ€™ll be out working on the car.â€ The woman turned away from her and headed back in the house.<br/><br/>Adira felt as though she had been holding her breath because she exhaled loudly. She began to think about everyone in the house and all that they had been fighting for. She couldnâ€™t imagine herself doing the things sheâ€™s doing for them. Again, she started to think about herself. She didnâ€™t want to let Claire down, butâ€¦she knew that the path that she was taking would eventually lead them down that road right? She went back in the house and into the kitchen and closed the fridge. It was all cleaned now and all that was left was to clean the kitchen entirely.<br/><br/>Then afterwards she would lay out her plan to the guys. She had hoped that it would work.