Chapter 7

1997

September 8th - Avienne

"Bye, kids! Have fun!" I waved, peering over the two little heads dressed in their adorable little uniforms who headed their way towards their new teacher. Surprisingly, Ms. Walker was still going to be their teacher, as we found out that the whole reason she knew about the Lerner's School was because she was transferring here as well. Go figure.

Max turned around with a frown on her face and cupped her mouth with her hands to holler. "No, we wooooon't!"

I looked over at the woman next to me.

"They grow up...so fast," she sighed, looking at her daughter thoughtfully.

"Yeah, I know. We were either lucky or unlucky enough that ours grew twice as fast...mentally," I said, noting their astounding intelligence. At that moment, my pocket started ringing.

"Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, so tell me what you want, what you really really want, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want, so tell me what you want, what you really really want, I wanna, I wa-"

"Cal, it's you!" I exclaimed through the phone. "Where are you, hon?" I felt my eyes lit up, and everything seemed a whole lot brighter. Not going to lie, I might have squealed a little inside.

"You really need to change that ringtone," she muttered, and I elbowed her oh-so-sweetly. "Yow! Or at least answer it quicker. What the hell is your elbow made of? Bones? Wait, no, don't answer that."

"Hey sweetheart I'm in uh, New Orleans. Listen I-" he began but I cut him off.

"I haven't heard you in ages! Oh, I have so much to tell you. Nicholas started school last week but he was too smart! And Max was too smart too! And they had transfer to this prestigious school and it's beautiful here. Oh, hon, you would love to see this. Aren't you so proud of Ni-"

"That really does sound great, Ave. I'd really love to hear that story when I get home next week. But I'm sorry, I actually called 'cause I was wondering if you can fax those documents on top of my desk to me as soon as you can. I really really need them, okay?"

Okay, the lighting up thing? Totally out the window. Did it suddenly get dark in here? Hello? Anyone here? What am I even talking about? Is this even a metaphor? Ugh. I think Val felt my inside trouble because she mouthed What's wrong? to me with a frown. I mouthed back Later to her.

"Oh," I said bluntly. "Oh, well, okay. Yeah. I'll get to that when i get home. I'll talk to you later then," I hesitated, thinking over my words. "I love you."

"Okay, bye."

The dial tone rang in my head as I stood there silently for a few moments digesting this conversation. He didn't say I love you.

"Ave? Ave? Ave, what's wrong?" Val asked worriedly, shaking my shoulders slightly. "Are you alright? Avienne?"

I blinked at her. "Yeah. Sure. Let's go home."

He didn't say I love you.


Maximum

"You're pretty," a voice behind me said. I whirled around to see one of the boys from my class, staring at me oddly. I hopped off the slide ladder to look at him properly. The school had a typical uniform. Typical black and green plaid skirt, white polo, frilly green socks, bow tie on both my collar and my hair; for the guys, it was typical white polo and green plaid tie and pants for the guys.

I flat out refused to wear the frilly socks and opted to wear my green and black stripey, knee-high ones (Max's outfit in profile) and Fang flat out refused to wear the plaid pants and sported his own plain black pants. For some reason, we didn't get in trouble. We liked to think we were special enough.

The other kids thought otherwise and thought we were just no-good rulebreakers-like we didn't deserve to be here. But they'll see.

"'Scuse me?" I asked, crossing my arms at the weird boy, who I think was named Sam, wearing the funny pants.

"You are excused," he grinned cheekily and bowed to me, like we were taught in Etiquette class (I feel like stabbing the person who invented etiquette). He stayed in that position for a few seconds, waiting for my supposed curtsy back.

I don't curtsy.

It took him a while to realize that I wasn't going to do anything and for Fang to run up silently behind him and kick him right in the keester.

"Don't. Stare. At. Her. Like. That," Fang quietly hissed.

Sam landed face first on the dirt ground. He didn't seem to be hurt or anything, but he still started crying.

What a marshmallow.

"Fang!" I yelled. "Why did you do that?"

He shrugged, wiped his hands together in a gesture of a "job well-done," and glanced at Sam nonchalantly but with slight disgust. "You took too long when I was waiting for you by the end of the slide so I went back here. And that guy," he jerked his thumb over to Sam. " was looking at you weirdly."

Huh. Who knew Fang was quite the jealous three-year-old?


"You know if you could just tell me what he sa-" Val reasoned.
"No," Avienne interrupted.
"But how can I ev-"
"No."
"Be reasonable about th-"
"No."
"But you d-"
"No."
"I didn't even say an-"
"No."
"AVIENNE!"
"No."

Val sighed. It was too bad Fang was going to inherited her mother's stubbornness. She thought it would have saved so much time and effort if she was a little more open. Callum had started to pay very little attention to Avienne, as far as Val could tell. He was never home, judging by how much Avienne has gradually spent more and more time with Val's family the past year. Of course, she loved her best friend around, but she wasn't as cheerful as she used to be. Val was afraid that stress slowly killed Avienne.

Until one day, it was just going to break her.


2010

January 1st

"Fifteen Euro," the crabby driver mumbled with a heavy Italian accent. He held out his hand to Valencia. She forked over a wad of bills and slid out the door, grumbling about customer satisfaction.

Impatiently, he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and glared at the absent-minded Max through the rearview mirror. She didn't notice him until he coughed violently, with a deathly look that evidently said Get the hell out.

Mustering all the strength she had left, she unlocked her door and slid out to help her mother with the luggage stored in the trunk.

Valencia took one look at Max's reddened and swelling face. It seemed as if her daughter had aged about ten years during one short car ride. There were large bags under her eyes that were now more obvious than ever, due to the lack of sleep and constant stress in her life. The color of Max's skin, especially on her face, seemed to have drained considerably and her hair was quickly losing its once shimmer.

For a sixteen-year-old, Max could pass as almost thirty. And that was not a good thing.

Val decided to brush off her questions as she knew Max would just deny anything was wrong. She knew this. Max knew this. It was always this way.

When the last of bags were pulled and the trunk was finally slammed shut, the cab took off swiftly and disappeared to the curbside within seconds.

Welcome to Italy?

Since the trip was literally just planned a few hours ago, Val didn't think to even book reservations for a nearby hotel-as she knew even though this is a serious visit, they would be welcome with open arms at the home of her one true best friend.

Max and Valencia used their hands as shades as they squinted at the large Verona Hospital sign. Briefly, Val glanced at her daughter.

"Are you ready?"

Max sighed and gave her mom a not-so-convincing, weak smile. "As I'll ever be."


Chapter meaning (Her Suspicions [on]): Callum's odd call, Fang's jealousy, Fang's disappearance

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