Chapter 36
Leaving a stuttering Ava in the cafeteria was becoming one of my favorite hobbies. In fact, a mix of the looks on her face snapped by Sarah was my new screensaver.
For the past few weeks except this week, news has spread about me in school. Avery, the smart and funny
sister.
But that was this week. Now, it is the end of the semester, exams period and everyone has been too busy trying to remember the Pythagorean theorem.
Well, almost everyone.
“I’m going to fail. I’m actually going to fail and my parents will sell me to the circus,” Madison moaned, her head buried in a textbook. We’re currently camped out in the library, surrounded by wrinkled empty chip bags.
“You’re not going to fail,” Sarah said, not looking up from her history notes. “You just need to focus. Unlike someone.” She nudged me with her foot.
I was staring at the window, at my own reflection, thinking. After I apologized to Mrs Rachel, she introduced me to some of her off campus book club and through that, I have a newspaper interview a week away. A junior reporter position for the teen section of the local newspaper. It was also a real, paying job. A chance to write and be published. A chance to build a reputation outside of this toxic home and school. But if Ava finds out, she would surely tell my parents… I didn’t even want to think about it. They would see it as another act of rebellion, of drawing attention away from their dear daughter.
“Earth to Avery,” Sarah waved a hand in front of my face. “You’ve been staring away from your book. Are you secretly a book witch and you’ve just been hiding it? I wouldn’t be surprised if you were though” she mumbled.
“I wish,” I sighed, pulling my biology book toward me. “I’m just thinking about… everything.”
Madison perked up. “Ooh, are we talking about a certain red–faced sister? Because I’ve got some ideas involving glitter and her gym locker. The kind that doesn’t come out for weeks.”
I laughed. “Tempting, but no. Just exams. And… other things.”
Exam’s will be finishing tomorrow which is my history exam but I’m very sure the questions will be pretty familiar.
I’m just coming back from the newspaper interview and yes, I’ve been employed, when I got home, the house was empty except for Ava. She was in the living room, watching TV, a bowl of popcorn in her lap.
“Mom and Dad went out for dinner,” she said without looking at me. “They left money for pizza.”
“Great,” I muttered, heading for the stairs.
“How were the questions!” she asked, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Do you think they’re simple?”
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Chapter 36
“I do and that’s because they are.”
“Of course you did.” The sweetness in her voice vanished, replaced by a sudden, sharp anger. She swung her legs off the couch and stood up, the popcorn bowl falling on the ground. “You’re good at taking everything.”
I stopped on the stairs, my hand gripping the banister. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The newspaper, Avery.”
I froze. My feet felt glued to the hallway carpet. The air vanished from my lungs. How?
I slowly turned back. She was smirking now
“What about it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice from shaking.
“Oh, don’t play dumb for with me.” She took a few steps toward the stairs, looking up at me. “I also know about the stupid clubs mrs Rachel introduced you to❞
My mind turned blank. How could she possibly know? Mrs. Rachna wouldn’t have told her. The newspaper wouldn’t have contacted her.
“H–how did you know?” I stuttered
Ava let out a soft, ugly chuckle. “Well, it’s a funny story. Chloe has a cousin who interns at a newspaper firm. This cousin mentioned a young student named Avery Flynn applying for a job from our school to Chloe. Chloe, feeling hurt that her friend didn’t trust her enough to share such big news, felt it would be awkward to congratulate you. So, she foolishly came to me.” Ava’s smirk widened. “She thought I’d be happy for you. Imagine her surprise when I was… less than thrilled.”
Chloe. Again. Damn it!
“It’s just an interview, nothing else” I whispered
“Is it?” She started walking up the stairs, slowly. “Mom and Dad would love to hear more about your interview,” she whispered, her eyes gleaming dangerously. “Can you imagine their expressions? Their daughter, joining a newspaper firm after being warned to keep distance from stuff like this… this would just confirm everything they think about you. That you’re dramatic, uncontrollable, and desperate for attention.”
She is right. She is absolutely right. That’s exactly how they would see it.
And so what?
I looked at her–at her perfect, smug face and smiled.
“You’re right,” I said, my voice losing its tremor. It was now as flat and cold as hers. “They’ll be furious.”
Ava’s smirk faltered for a fraction of a second. This wasn’t the reaction she wanted. She wanted tears and pleading from me.
“But if you tell them,” I continued, leaning forward just a little, “you should know exactly what you’re unleashing. I will also snitch on any little thing you do to them. If I’m going to be punished for pursuing
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Chapter 36
something good, something that is entirely mine, then I have nothing left to lose. Nothing to hold back.” I held her gaze, “So go ahead, Ava. Tell them. But be sure of one thing, I won’t let you off easily.
Her face went pale, her eyes widening in genuine shock.
“You wouldn’t, you wouldn’t try to hurt me,” she breathed, her confidence visibly cracking.
“Try me,” I whispered.
田
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.
