Edited 16/5/17

Hope you are enjoying the story so far!

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Chapter Eight

Caleb's Point of View. 

"Yeah, cya Ava." I reply, watching as she waves goodbye. 

What is it about her?

I shake my head trying to get rid of my thoughts.

I drive away quickly, worried if I stay by her any longer I won't be able to go. There's something about her that I'm fascinated with. I want to know everything about her, I want her to trust me. I want to be there for her.

When she smiles, a warm feeling erupts in the pit of my stomach. I would do anything to see her smile, or laugh.

The moment I had seen her, I was drawn in. When she was pushed around by Adam in the hallway, I was intrigued by her strength. She can handle herself, but that didn't stop me from wanting to protect her. She has trust issues, I don't know why. She is just someone I want to be around. 

I was silently thankful when Mr. Dom assigned Ava as the student I get to tutor. Then when we got locked in school, and we started talking about ourselves. She mostly let me talk, but when she did, she only talked about Finn. 

The more time I'm getting to spend with her the more involved I become. The more involved with her I become, the more I feel a sense of protection towards her. For what Adam had done; the bruises, the scars. Anyone would assume Ava had done something to Adam, but honestly I feel as though Adam's home life is the only reason for his behaviour. He feels weak in his abusive home, therefore uses Ava as a punching bag to stay superior. 

She doesn't seem affected by it though, which is unusual. it brings me back to her strength. She didn't wince once when she moved, and she didn't hold her stomach in pain at any time. If he doesn't hurt her physically, then whats left is emotionally. 

Adam can bruise and scar her all he wants, but at the end of the day, its going to be Ava that questions; What is actually wrong with me for Adam to hurt me? 

I wish I hadn't walked away from her when Adam started dragging her away. Out of  all the stupid decisions I have made while being in North Shore, walking away from Ava was what I regret most. She needed someone even if she won't admit it, and yet I didn't help her. I feel like if I can't protect her, Ava still has someone in the background. The man from the Cafe. The 'family friend' as Ava had identified him as. 

He is the kind of man, when walking along the footpath, you switch to the opposite footpath just to get out of his way incase he pulls a shotgun from his pocket and blows your head off. 

How Ava knows a man like that is beyond me. But for now, I will make the assumption that the man from the cafe, cares about Ava, and if he cares about her, she will be safe. 

"Caleb!" Gabby shouts, opening the front door and greeting me as my thoughts are lost from the drive home. 

I lift her into my arms and carry her back inside.

"Hey Gabbs!" I reply cheerfully, a wide grin covering my face.

I put gabby down on the floor, she crosses her arms and gives me her 'angry' look. I try not to laugh.

"Why weren't you home last night? We were going to watch a movie." She says pouting.

I kneel down to her small height.

"I know Gabbs, I got locked in school." I apologise, hugging her.

"Did you really?" Mom asks, a laugh edging into her voice.

I stand back up, walking over to mom.

"Sorry mom, I was tutoring this girl and we got locked in after losing track of time." I say shaking my head and chuckling. The whole situation was quite funny.

"Who is this girl?" She asks, her eyebrow shooting up.

I smile thinking about the way Ava's eyebrows pull together when she is trying to understand something.

"Can I meet her!!?!?" Gabby shouts excitedly, running around the house.

"Why?" I laugh.

"Invite her for dinner tomorrow." Mom says, a smirk covering her face.

I shake my head. "Absolutely not, I barely know her." I mutter.

"You like her don't you?" Mom asks, leaning against the door frame.

"Seriously? She's cool to be around and all, but I just don't know her well enough." I reply lazily. 

Mom stands there, eyebrow raised a smirk on her face. Waiting for me to speak.

"It's to soon." I conclude.

Gabby stops running, a pout on her face copying moms. They look so alike.

"Well we want to meet her, tutor at home next time." Mom says happily.

I simply nod, to make her happy.

Making my way upstairs, I lie down on my bed and run a hand through my hair.

Why am I still thinking about you?

I feel pathetic. I've only just met this girl, yet she is taking over my brain space. I need my brain space for COD, and GTA. 

Looking around my room I see the unpacked boxes fro moving here. I head for my shower to drain off yucky school germs.

When I get back to my bed, clean and smelling good. I plug my phone onto the charge and grab my laptop from my desk.

After looking through Facebook, for many hours I decide to do something. It's 5 o'clock and I'm not sitting in my room all night.

Grabbing my coat, I chuck it on and text Sam.

- Where's my best friend? 

I wait a moment, my mind drifting back to Ava. I wonder what she's up to right now?

I shake my head and head downstairs to see my family. My family consists of my mom, my sister and me. My father died when I was 13 during a car accident. Gabby was 1. I was distant with my father growing up, he was always away on business. He ran the company Peterson Properties. After he was killed the company went to his brother; my uncle.

My father was very detailed about money, and had set up an account in case he had died. That's where the money is that pays for our house. My mother however, is the kindest and the most loving woman you will ever meet. She owns a small bakery in the city, and supplies me and Gabby with everything we need. 

I blink back to reality when I feel my pocket vibrate.

- I'm coming over!

I laugh at Sam's response. Sam and I have been friends since birth.

When I moved away, Sam always kept in contact and made sure we skyped regularly to stay in touch. When we moved back, he's been like a brother and has always been there for me. Through my fathers death, through, well everything.

"I'm home." Sam shouts as he enters the house. I laugh and greet him at the door. 

"Hey Sammy." I say pulling him into a bro hug.

"How has everything been without me?" He jokes.

"Is that Sam?" Mom shouts from the kitchen.

"Hey!" Sam shouts back, and mom starts running from the kitchen.

"Sam!" She squeals hugging him. Like I said. He's like a brother.

"How was New York?" I ask. Walking with Sam and mom to the living room.

Sam's been in New York for the last 3 days for work. I'm jealous he gets to travel around the country for his work. I don't actually know where he works, but it pays well and that's what matters. We never really talk about it though, I just assume he is on some specific contract. 

"Well, airport, hotel, meeting, hotel, meeting, hotel, meeting, airport." He replies blankly and we all laugh.

"I'm dishing up dinner, you hungry?" Mom asks Sam, but replies to her own question. "Who am I kidding, of course you are." She says chuckling as she leaves the room.

Sam always vaccums our fridge when he's over.

"Thank you!" He shouts back. We make our way to the dinner table, Gabby hugs Sam and we all sit down and discuss everything and anything over lasagna. 

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"Why have you been staring outside for like 20 minutes?" Sam asks me curiously.

I turn back to the TV, and ignore his question.

"What's up with you? You're very distant. At dinner you were staring at your hand, and now you stare at the moon." Sam says, pausing the TV.

"Sorry." I mutter.

He's right, I wasn't really 'there' throughout dinner, and during the movie.

I was thinking about Ava. My hand, felt really weird when she took it in hers and dragged me from the cafe this afternoon. I'm seriously, very, badly thinking of her again.

"Is it a girl?" Sam asks, trying to get to the bottom of it. 

I shrug.

Why am I acting like this? 

Grow up Caleb. 

"Who is she?" Sam asks seriously.

"This girl at school." I mutter, with a role of my eyes. 

"What's so special about her?" He asks.

"I have no idea, but there's something." I admit, thinking about the way she looked staring out the window in my truck.

"What's her name?" He asks.

I shake my head and stand up from the couch.

"It doesn't matter, it's probably nothing. I think I'm just tired after sleeping at school." I say quickly.

I told Sam all about what happened at school, he just laughed and called me an idiot.

"Sure." Sam says smirking, I roll my eyes.

His phone beeps, he picks up his phone and stands up from the couch.

"Sam." He answers.

"Tell her I'll be there in 10 minutes." Sam replies into the phone. He must be meeting up with a girl.

I lift my eyebrows in a joking matter. He just rolls his.

"Yep." He hangs up the phone and I chuckle.

"Girlfriend?" I ask, and we both laugh. It's funny because Sam doesn't do the whole 'girlfriend' thing.

"Sorry Caleb, gotta go to work." He says, grabbing his coat. I follow him out to the door.

"This late?" I ask looking at the wall clock which reads 11:30pm.

"Duty calls." He huffs and opens the door.

"Catch up tomorrow?" He asks, and I give him the thumbs up.

"Bye." He replies, climbing into his ute.

I wave and shut the front door, locking it behind me.

Turning off all the lights I make my way upstairs to my room. Mom and Gabby went to bed hours ago. Mom has catering to prepare so has to get up early tomorrow.

Climbing into bed, Ava fills my mind again.

That night I dreamt of her.

Just kidding I'm not that whipped. I really dreamt of motorbikes and pirates.

Yep.

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Ava's Point of View

After talking to Tommy, we both decided to completely forget everything that happened today. After some usual temperament, a little outburst of shouts, and the agreement to forget about it. We were back to usual within the hour.

Finn, however, was upset but understood I couldn't call him or break out of the school, because I was with Caleb.I told Finn I was getting tutored. He worried at first about my grades like a nagging family member would, but then understood, only under 1 condition.

Unfortunately Finn wants to meet Caleb.

So, now I have to ask Caleb. Which would be extremely awkward. I really don't want to get involved with Caleb. I need to keep my head low, get through high school, and leave my undercover life behind.

"Call Sam." I say to Tommy as I make my way through the hallways to my office.

"Why?" Tommy asks, but still reaches into his pocket and gets his phone.

"I want to talk to him, about how New York went." I state, opening my office door.

"Yes ma'am" Tommy replies, leaving my office and heading towards his own.

My office is mostly white, with a large desk facing the door. I have my huge windows over looking North Shore to my left and a wardrobe to my right. My office is big, white leather couches sit opposite my desk for visitors. The office itself is sound proof, and I had two guards outside at all times.

The door buzzes and I open it using a button on my desk.

Tommy comes in with his training gear on.

"Sam's on his way." He says, sitting down on my couch.

I open my computer, to answers emails.

"Thanks Tom." I smile.

He nods a smile on his face then stands up and comes around my side of the desk.

"Did you get the email from Authur?" He asks practically breathing down my neck.

"Yeah, I'm answering it now." I say, pointing towards the opened email from Authur.

"He said he had trouble sending it." Tommy states, walking back around my desk and towards the door. "I'm going to train, call me if you need me" he says, waving over his shoulder as he leaves. I nod and wave, aware that he can't see me.

He shuts my door and I begin answering my emails.

Four emails later and my door buzzes.

I know it's Sam, so I open the door.

He strolls in, his blonde hair bouncing as he walks.

"Hey!" He says happily, sitting down comfortably on my couch. I laugh.

"How was New York?" I ask, scrolling through more unopened emails.

"Very successful, the meetings were long and boring but I got our point across firmly." He states.

I chuckle, picking up my coffee.

I sent Sam to New York to have meetings with large companies who want half our heist money if they fund us for the heist, basically people who are rich want to be more rich. Sam went and told them to stick there money where the sun don't shine.

Sam has always been good at getting a point across.

"Good to hear." I reply. 

We sat talking about everything up until 1 am. Tommy came in and sat with us after he was finished training. It was nice to just hang out with my friends, not talking about the gang. I stayed once they left and answered all my emails, and at 3 am I decided I should be getting home. 

"Home ma'am?" Patrick my driver asks me as I sit down in the passenger seat of the SUV.

"Thank you" I reply, leaning my head against the window.

We drive in silence all the way home.

Once we pull into my home, I nod goodbye to Patrick and head inside.

Finn will be asleep. So I tiptoe around the house, hoping not to wake him even though he is a heavy sleeper.

After not sleeping last night, I'm surprised I'm not dead right now.

Crawling my way upstairs, I reach my room and find a brand new iPhone 6, sitting on my bed. I told Finn my phone fell out of my pocket when I was running and it smashed. He said he had one laying around I could have. I don't like lying to him, but in this instant its easier for everyone if I do. 

I smile at my nice looking bed, making my way to my bathroom I get out my sleeping pills. Changing into my pjs, I crawl into my soft blankets and sleep takes over me.

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I wake, birds chirping the sun gleaming  through the curtains. Thankfully I didn't have a nightmare last night. I smile and make my way towards the bathroom for a shower. Putting on my sweatpants and maroon shirt,  I let my brown hair flow freely down my back. Looking at the time which reads 12:30pm and make my way downstairs.

Finn isn't here, as I assume he has gone to the warehouse. My phone beeps with a message, and I see its from Tommy. 

- Be ready in 10, we are going out for ice cream. 

I smile and reply with a quick confirmation. 

Deciding to change my pants, I go with black skinny jeans instead of my sweatpants, and I place my wig and glasses on. This is for me to walk around town without needing any body guards, or the police realising who I am and arresting me.

I head downstairs to hear Tommy blowing his truck horn outside. Climbing into his truck I throw a hefty punch into his shoulder to stop him from the honking. 

Tommy grins, and I smirk while turning up the radio of which familiar old music is playing.

Tommy and I belt out lyrics all the way to the ice cream parlour. When we arrive, Tommy follows me into the shop as we discuss random things Tommy had seen when scrolling through his Facebook. 

We take a seat at a slightly hidden table and decide on our ice creams. 

"The moon landing was fake." I state to Tommy, who gives me the most shocked face ever. I start laughing. 

Completely entranced into the conversation that I barely notice a little girl with blonde hair, that runs up to the counter, but who follows in after her, has my laughter stopping short.

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I'm sure you can all guess who just walked into the ice cream parlour...?

xox

Mcjennels