mum” I bowed, as she drove off.
Madison and Sarah skipped towards us,
“Hi Ava, I’ve got a lot to gist…”
“Hi Sarah” I smiled, draping my arm around Ava’s shoulder.
Madison and Sarah froze, staring at my arm.
33
“Hi Avery! You’re back,” Madison said, a fake smile on her face. “We were just talking about you a few minutes ago.”
I let my shoulders slump just a little. I looked at the floor, then back at her, making my eyes go wide and a little hurt.
“You were?” I asked, my voice soft. “I… I hope it wasn’t anything too bad. I know I don’t really deserve for you guys to think about me anymore.”
The reaction was instant. Madison’s smile faltered while Sarah looked confused.
“What? No, we were just…” Sarah started.
“It’s okay,” I interrupted gently. “I understand. I’ll just… go find my locker. It was nice seeing you all.” I gave a little wave, my hand trembling slightly for effect, and walked away.
I didn’t look back, but I could feel the silence I left behind. This is going to be so much fun.
***
First period was English with Mrs Rachel. I slid into a seat right behind Ava and her friends.
Mrs Rachel ignored me when I smiled at her as she passed us a short script.
It was a tragic story.
“Can anyone share their thoughts on the tragic hero?” Mrs Rachel asked.
Ava’s hand shot up immediately
“Ava? Go ahead,”
“I believe the hero should have tried to save himself, to be a hero for himself.” Ava replied.
“That’s good, anyone else?” Mrs Rachel asked, now staring at me.
I raised my hand just a second later.
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“Yes, Avery? Go ahead,”
I took a shaky breath. “Well, I was just thinking… a tragic hero is someone who makes a bad choice because they believe a lie, right? Like, someone tells them something that isn’t true, and they wreck their whole life because of it.” I paused, letting my gaze flicker very briefly toward Ava before looking down at my desk. “It’s… really sad when people you trust aren’t honest with you” I ended, staring at Mrs Rachel, letting her know I was sorry for not being honest with her.
Mrs Rachel smiled, “An excellent, empathetic take, Avery, Well done.”
Ava slowly put her hand down. Her neck was bright red. I saw Sarah nudge Madison and whisper something.
Lunchtime was the main event. I walked past Lily’s group, gave them a wink before walking toward Ava’s group. I stopped a few feet away, as if I was afraid to get closer.
“Um… is it okay if I sit here?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “Just for today? I promise I won’t bother you.”
Sarah immediately scooted over. “Avery, of course. Sit down.”
I sat, giving her a grateful, watery smile. “Thanks. It’s just… a little lonely over there by the trash cans since my other friends might not want me too.”
I took a small bite of my sandwich. Then I looked at Ava, my head tilted in innocent confusion. “Ava, that’s such a pretty necklace. Is it new? Grandma helped me pick out one just like it for my birthday the last time she visited, but she said she couldn’t find it anywhere afterward.” I blinked, slow and guileless. “It must be a coincidence.”
Ava’s hand flew to her neck. Her face was a red. “Mom bought this for me,” she hissed.
“Oh, I know she did!” I said quickly, putting my hands up in surrender. “I wasn’t suggesting anything! I’m sorry. I just think it’s pretty on you.”
The table was uncomfortably silent. I was going to paint a masterpiece by playing her own game.
I turned to Sarah. “Sarah, I never got to properly apologize for… well, for everything before my suspension. I was going through a hard time, but that’s no excuse. I’m really sorry if I was ever a bad friend to you.”
Sarah looked stunned. “Avery, you… you weren’t.”
“That’s so nice of you to say,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. I then looked at my half–eaten sandwich. and sighed, a perfectly timed, sad little sound. “I should probably go. I don’t want to kill the vibe. You all seem like you’re having so much fun together in your new group chat.” I stood up, my tray clattering slightly.
Madison frowned. “What new group chat?”
I froze, my eyes widening in perfect, feigned panic. I looked directly at Ava, then back at Madison, shaking my head. “Nothing. Forget I said anything. It was… it was a joke. A bad one. Sorry.” I bowed and hurried away.
I didn’t need to look back to feel their questioning gaze on Ava.
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I was pretending to struggle with my jammed locker when Sarah and Madison found me. Together.
“Avery,” Sarah said, her arms crossed. “We need to talk. About the group chat.”
I feigned nervousness, fiddling with my lock. “Please, don’t. I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t want to cause more trouble.”
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“Ava told us you said you never wanted to speak to us again,” Madison blurted out. “She said you thought we were boring that’s was why I had always behaved that way to you.”
I let my jaw drop open. I looked from one to the other, genuine shock on my face. It was easy, because I was shocked by their directness. “She… she said that?” I whispered, letting my voice break. “But… that’s the complete opposite of what she told me.” I looked down, swallowing hard. “She said you guys all decided I was too much drama. That you started a group chat without me because you were finally happy I was absent.”
Sarah’s face was pale. “She played us.”
I looked up, tears welling in my eyes. Real tears, born from the sheer satisfaction of it all. “I don’t understand why she would do that. I’ve tried so hard to be a good sister.” I let a single tear escape. “I guess… I guess she just doesn’t like me very much.”
It was the final nail in the coffin. It’s felt to them to dictate who’s the real victim and villain.
“We’re adding you to the chat,” Sarah said firmly. “It’s called the E girls coven.””
I gave a wobbly, grateful smile. “Thank you. That… that means a lot.” I sniffled. “Please, don’t be mad at Ava. She probably didn’t mean it. She’s just…” I let the rest of my words hang.
I was now not only the wronged but also the merciful one.
As I walked home, my phone buzzed.
*Sarah M. added you to “The E girls Coven.“*
A flood of messages popped up, welcoming me and ranting about Ava’s lies. I didn’t reply immediately. I let the notifications stack up.
When I got home, Ava was already there, crying to Mom in the kitchen.
“She turned them all against me!” Ava wailed.
Mom turned to me furiously “Avery! What did you do to your sister?”
I stood in the doorway, my backpack slung over one shoulder, putting on an exhausted and sad look.
“I didn’t do anything, Mom,” I said, my voice quiet. “I guess I shouldn’t have mentioned the group chat. I’m sorry Ava.”
I didn’t wait for a reply. I walked upstairs, a little smile on my lips. Ava wants to be treated like the princess? Fine. But every princess needs a villain to make her story interesting.
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Chapter 82
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
