A V E R Y
I think we should talk.

The text had popped up in the morning, whilst I was in the shower. It had taken me by complete surprise, because although Mason had said we'd talk, I didn't know it'd be the morning after our brief texts.

And god dammit, I was worried and confused - what did he want to talk about? I thought about it as I blow dried my hair, the heat and noise of the hair-dryer blocking out the sound of the Green family waking up and heading down for breakfast on a Saturday morning.

I could still hear Mia and Ivy bickering, though. Something about a lost doll? I sighed. Their ignorance of everything was comforting, somehow. At times I wished I was their age again, blissfully unaware of all the bad things in the world, all the hate and war and poverty.

All the unfairness.

Another text popped up.

Avery? Are you awake yet?

Boy was impatient, too.

Yes. I'm awake. Do you want to meet?

Meet me by the river in an hour?

Way to make it sound like some kind of romantic date, Mason.

Way to get my bloody hopes up, you mean.

Okay. See you soon.

There was only one river he could be talking about. When the town was built, the founders wanted to forge a river running through, near the market, and they aimed to make it a tourist attraction.

They named it The River Indie. It was the busiest place to be in our town, and there was always a birthday party or a celebration going on over there.

I stared at myself in the mirror. Blue eyes stared back at me. Taking a deep breath, I slipped on jeans, a shirt, some flats and trudged downstairs.

My sisters, Damien, and Martha were crowded round the breakfast table, laughing and jostling each other as breakfast was served. They made it look so easy.

Martha looked up, 'Hey sweetheart. Are you going to stay for breakfast?' She asked, eyeing my clothes. Everyone else was lounging around in their pajamas.

I grabbed a plate and then walked over to give her a hug. 'I'll take some food with me. Maddie and I are going for coffee.'

Martha nodded, 'That's fine, just let me know if you need anything.'

I smiled again, but inside I was crumbling from her love. Love I didn't deserve. At all.

Walking to the river would take me no time, and even then I'd have to wait another half an hour at least for Mason. So I changed my path and went to the coffee shop on the way. Might as well get my daily dose of coffee to wake myself up, before starting a conversation with Mason.

Slipping inside, and reveling in the delicious heat, I ordered a coffee and snuggled into a booth.

Then I began perhaps what was my favorite hobby of all.

People watching.

There was a family in the corner. A mum, dad and an adorable mixed-raced baby. The baby was squawking and laughing as the mum made stupid faces. Though she looked pretty even as she did that.

On the opposite side, across from me, there was a couple. And from the way they were talking as if it was as easy as breathing, they'd been together for quite a while. There was a ring on her finger, too. Newly engaged, then.

I wanted that so fucking badly.

I looked away. Seeing couples like that, all loved up, made me want to cry and hurl at the same time. Because I wanted someone.

And no matter how independent I was, how angry I got at sexism... The truth was still there.

I, Avery Green, wanted a boyfriend. A boy who loved me and took care of me. A boy who I didn't have to lie to. A boy I could trust with my secrets, whom he could trust with his.

It wasn't too much to ask, right?

A drink was placed in front of me and I nodded to the waiter, not bothering to look them in the eye. I'd managed a polite nod, and that was that.

At least, not until a very familiar male voice drawled, 'Now, now, Avery. Is that how we treat old friends?'

Looking up slowly, my eyes went as wide as saucers.

Because standing there, in all his glory, was Luke. Luke Warren Scott, former friend, former everything.

'Luke?'

'Yes, Avery, it's me.'

'Jeez, um, you look... Good.' I cleared my throat awkwardly.

He laughed. 'Yeah, California will do that to a person.'

I pulled on Luke's arm. 'California? Sit down, and tell me everything.'

Luke used to work for the Salvation, but when I was fourteen, he left, and I never knew if it was because he quit or something else.

As he spoke, I studied him. Now that I noticed it, he did have an American twang to his voice. His hair was the same, those bright eyes the same.

Dark stubble coated his jawline, and even from a distance you could tell he was muscly as fuck.

And fine, maybe hot too.

'So when I told Damien I was going to leave, he gave me the option of either quitting the Salvation for good, or working undercover in California.'

He sighed. 'So I chose California, and by the end of the month, I was gone.'

My voice wavered a little. 'Why didn't you tell me, Luke? I would've understood.' There was a hurt look on my face, I knew it.

Luke squeezed my hands. 'I was a stupid, stupid boy, and I didn't know it would hurt you as much as it did.'

He kissed my hand where it was still interlaced with his. 'I'm here, now, to make up for lost time.'

The happiness didn't last long. It was ten minutes until I had to meet Mason.

'I'm meeting a friend soon, Luke, so I should go.' We stood and he smiled at me softly. I ignored the butterflies that danced in my stomach. I didn't like him like that, he just looked good.

'Come here,' he murmured and I stepped forward as he scooped me into a cologne-scented hug.

I had truly missed him, I realized, as one solitary tear pricked at my eyes.

'See you soon.' I mumbled and walked out with as much dignity as I could manage at the time, which wasn't much.

There was a bench overlooking the river, so I sat on it, watching the water ripple, a million shades of blue sparkling in the light of the sun.

A minute later, my phone buzzed.

I can't make it. Sorry. Rain check?

I bit the inside of my mouth, willing the urge to scream to go away.

Yeah, sure.

Rain check indeed.

Asshole.

***

As promised, another chapter... What do you think of Luke? And where is our mystery boy?

Comment, vote and SHARE!

-M