I want to help Kelsey, but I’m not sure what to do. I could put her stuff away, but I don’t know where it goes. I get that the thieves wanted to break in and take computers and televisions, but did they have to toss the place? Were they hoping to find drugs or something, or just being asses and destroying shit?

Dylan is standing at the fridge when I wander over to it. “This is messed up.” He nods inside. “There’s got to be a better way to organize this.”

“Don’t organize Kelsey’s fridge.” Dylan will take over and rearrange and clean the entire place if I don’t hold him back.”

“Stop!” she says coming from her room. “We can’t mix up the food. The top shelf is Shelby’s, next is Tiffany’s, then Mary’s and then mine. Everything is kept separate.”

“Then, that explains the cupboards too.”

Kelsey nods. “And the same for the shelves of cleaning supplies.”

The top two shelves in the closet and fridge are loaded with stuff. Mary’s, with basic stuff, but not overflowing. As for Kelsey’s shelves, there’s not much of anything at all.

Dylan has the cupboards open too and without asking, I pretty much know immediately which one is Kelsey’s and the others, though it’s hard to tell which belongs to Shelby and which belongs to Tiffany because both are stuffed with food.

Kelsey disappears back into her room and Dylan gives me a look. “Do you think she’s starving?”

“I think she’s living on a shoestring budget, just like we had to. We went together and bought cheap bulk, she doesn’t have that option.” We are whispering because we don’t want to embarrass her. I had wanted to take her to dinner tonight so we could talk and spend time together. Now I want to take her to the grocery store and load up those shelves, though I doubt she’d let me. And, it’s not like I’m rolling in money either, but I have more than she does.

Kelsey gave money to a family a few days ago. Money by all appearances that she desperately needs.

“Dust and vacuum the living room and then get her laundry started.” Dylan nods to the basket she shoved into the living room. She’s also shut her door.

Maybe I should check on her.

But, if she wanted either of us in there, wouldn’t she have left it open? “Do you think she’s okay?”

“Hell no. Would you be?” He grabs his jacket and heads for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“She doesn’t have enough laundry detergent for all of that, nor the right cleaning stuff if this is going to be done right.”

“Need my help?”

“Stay here with her, idiot.” He rolls his eyes at me. “But don’t get too cozy, I won’t be gone that long.”

“It’s not like that,” I argue.

“Tell it to someone who hasn’t been watching you two.”

After he leaves, I dust off the tables and lamps and anything else around before vacuuming. Once I think it’s up to Dylan’s standards I put everything away and plop down on the floor and start sorting out Kelsey’s clothing. There isn’t much here, and the jeans, shirts, sweaters and sweats are easy enough to sort. I have clothing like this. But the nicer, work clothing, I have no clue so I toss them in a different pile for Kelsey to deal with. I don’t want to be the guy who ruins her nice clothing. Then there are the silky panties and soft bras. I shouldn’t even be touching these things, though I wouldn’t mind seeing her in them, and just them. I have no clue how these get washed, but I’m pretty sure it’s with more care than my boxers and briefs.