(Chats with Avery)
Avery
Hey, just wondering how everything's going?
Natalie
It's going
Avery
Nolan warmed up to you, yet?
Natalie
I thought we were getting somewhere, but he just left.
Avery
I'm coming over.

She texted as I started freaking out my body was scarred and bandaged. When I was in my apartment I never had to worry if people were coming over it was just me. I couldn't stop her, maybe I could cover it up.  I didn't want to lie or tell her a phony truth.

I got up out of the warm bed and hoped that if I took a shower it would cause the scars to fade. I was wishing for a miracle. I stripped my clothes off and turned the faucet on as I checked the temperature making sure it wouldn't scorch my body. I found myself in the mirror above the sink, I saw my trashed body, my extremely red stomach, my arms had gashes in them with old blood surrounding them. I was disgusted by my body it made me feel gross. I was gross, the water ran as a tear escaped my eye. Leaving me vulnerable on the floor.

My face was untouched, he made it a rule for himself to never punch or kick my face, knowing I wouldn't be able to cover it up. I whispered for myself to 'hold on' as the tears fled.

I stepped in the shower feeling the spikes hit my figure as I scrubbed and scrubbed trying to make each scar fade into non-existence. It never worked, I repeated, trying to calm myself. This man caused me so much pain, that I never really felt it till now. He was supposed to nurture and care for me, but instead he caused my worst nightmare.

Horrible thoughts roamed my mind as I shut the water off and climbed out grabbing my towel and drying my soaked figure. I was strong, I knew I needed help, but in this world you don't know who to trust and that was my dilemma.

I dried myself off thinking of the way Nolan saw me now. I never used to care how the kids at school saw me or the people I worked with, but with him his opinion mattered to me. He was the first person to give me attention, something I never received and I felt myself getting too attached to this person I called a stranger a few days ago.

Depending on someone else to wait on or even to provide for you, was the scariest thing for me. My whole life I had been dependent on my mom, and after she passed my world shattered so I made it an effort to never rely on someone. I went against my logic and here I was living in a man's house I hardly knew. I depended on him more than I should have.

I limped over to my closet across the room to find a sweater to cover my scarred flaws. I found a pink fuzzy sweater, and I pair of sweatpants. It was warm outside, heck I went swimming the other day and now it looks as if I'm a sick penguin.

The doorbell ringed as I held the railing and went down each step with caution and ease. As I made it down the last step the door opened to Avery.

"Oh I had a key", she said as she closed the door in her pair of shorts and ripped sweatshirt.

"Avery it's so good to see you", I said as I made my way over to give her a hug. She hugged me back with the same loving affection I had towards her.

"I was starting to get worried for you, I figured he was driving you crazy", she said as I tried to laugh along, but all I could think about was Nolan running out the door.

I guided her to the kitchen as we made small talk and she watched my legs as I moved around trying to make sure I wasn't limping and the question I knew was coming was earlier than usual.

"Are you okay", she asked as I felt a tear wallow down my cheek.

"Yeah just my legs hurt so sore", I said as she laughed at what it sounded like.

"YOU HAD SEX WITH NOLAN", she yelled so loudly that everyone could hear her. I shook my head trying to keep in my giggles as she sat down in disappointment.

"You had me for a second, there", she said as she dusted her jean shorts off and took a seat back on the couch.

"He's a jerk", I zoomed off in my fantasy of the fire surrounding him, he did look good melting though, hot even.

"He can't be that bad", she tried to make it seem better than it sounded and I corrected her.

"Oh trust me he's bad, he drives me completely mental", I told her as she squealed.

"You two drive each other crazy, you definitely like him and even if you don't I can just imagine it", she piped up as I began to tell her just because two people drive each other to the edge doesn't mean they like each other.

"I don't like him, it would be hard to even talk to him everyday, he has no respect for me, he's arrogant, rude, conceited, obscene, impolite, vulgar, uncivil, insolent, ill-mannered-", I was interrupted as Avery tilted her head to see someone in the doorway and ran for the door. I turned my head to see Nolan carrying groceries, but he was staring straight at me dead in the eye. I was glad he heard my words, let him hear my true opinion.

"Oh don't stop on my account, keep going", he said setting the groceries in the kitchen and Avery settled back onto the couch.

"Thank you, I was just telling Avery how you love interrupting people and causing a scene, one of your many traits", I said as Avery covered her face with a pillow.

"Is this about how I ruined Ice Princess time, if you wanted some time to yourself to play, just put a sock on the door", he said as Avery couldn't help but add her 'ooo' sound effects.

"I will next time, but just know I did a better job than you ever could", I boldly stated and Avery pushed the pillow back on her face. He took a seat next to me on the couch.

"Lets go upstairs and I'll show you exactly what I can do", he whispered into my ear and he caught me off-guard by how erotic and pleasing it sounded. He got up off the couch as the beaming Avery hopped over.

"Just fuck already, you'll feel better, the sexual tension is definitely there", she whispered very happily, as I sat there partially embarrassed by how much I liked the talk, the whispers.

Avery ventured into the kitchen and a swift hand pulled me towards the bathroom.

"I haven't been able to get you off my mind", he whispered seductively as he pinned me against the bathroom door.

"I'm still mad at you", his eyes felt like they had frozen my mind as my heart and the wet pool in my panties took over. His hands were sneaky and just as his hands held me at the waistline of the sweatpants, I held his hands back.

"I'm not a fuck-buddy, let me know what we mean to each other then we can continue this", his facial expression looked pissed and his eyes were ice cold, but as he took a step back allowing me an out, I quickly walked away.