"I thought you didn't know how to cook?"
Avalon turned to him, grinning, "I don't but I can follow directions,"
She tossed him the box of pancake mix that was sitting on the counter. He scanned the box while she plated the few pancakes she attempted, sliding one plate to him. Avalon all but inhaled her food, downed her sugar-laden coffee before marching to her room to change.
"Avalon?" Dick knocked on her door.
"Yeah?" she asked through the door.
"Are you okay?"
"No,"
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No,"
Avalon opened the door, dressed in a tank top and leggings, "Let's get to work," she declared.
He grabbed her arm when she tried to move past him, "Maybe we should work from your room today?"
"Okay,"
…...
Reasons the deadbeat would go to Italy:
To hide from the law.
Startup his drug ring again.
Places he might go in Italy:
TBA
Places Mom would go in Italy:
Venice.
Pompei.
Rome.
(anywhere with lots of historical landmarks-Bird Boy)
Where was DB before Italy?
Did Mom chase him there?
(Italy and the US have an extradition treaty- Bird Boy)
Avalon shut her laptop, pushed the charts and lists from her desk, and spun around to find Dick looking at her shelves again.
"You know for someone who doesn't like reading you have a lot of books,"
"For school,"
Dick looked closer, noticing that the classics that filled the shelves were abridged middle-school editions with pictures. Carmen had gone out of her way to make sure her daughter understood what she was reading.
"Which one do you like most?"
"Matilda followed closely by A Little Princess,"
"Why?"
"Because they overcame their cruddy circumstances," Avalon said, standing from her desk.
"Where are you going?"
"Food, I want food,"
Without waiting for a response she marched from the room, through the kitchen to the garage.
"You have a car?"
"Yes, I'm sixteen,"
"You have a license?"
"For every type of transport, plane boat, hovercraft so on and so forth,"
"So which one's yours?" Dick questioned, eyes sweeping over the line of cars in the impossibly big garage.
"You're looking at it."
Dick's mouth dropped open as he took in the scarlet convertible before him. Avalon closed his mouth as she passed by, climbing into the car as the engine came to life.
"Are you coming?"
"No, I'll stay here,"
"Suit yourself,"
…...
Dick wandered the house curiously. What was hidden behind the walls? What high-tech devices were hiding in plain sight? However, it was hard to look for these things when the family pictures jumped out. There were pictures in the halls, pictures taped to the fridge, pictures on the end-tables, and photo albums under the coffee table. Then there were the sketches-Avalon's sketches-everywhere.
People.
Places.
Things.
It didn't matter how random they were, they were. The fridge, in particular, was covered in them on all sides, as numerous as the pictures.
"Wow,"
Tearing his gaze away from the plethora of photos he returned to Avalon's room picking up the fallen charts and stacking them neatly on the desk before sinking into the nearest beanbag and waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
Where was she?
Nervousness shot through him but he squashed it quickly.
He moved to her closet, knowing it was rude to snoop but he needed a distraction.
Behind the clothes, and haphazardly tossed shoes were shelves.
With movies.
The Land Before Time.
All Dogs Go To Heaven.
Jem and the Holograms.
Mean Girls.
Avalon High.
"What are you doing in my closet?"
He startled, hitting his head on the shelf above the one he'd been looking at. Backing out he saw Avalon looking at him suspiciously, McDonald's bag in one hand, drink carrier with Dunkin' Doughnuts coffee in the other.
"I was just looking at the movie collection,"
"And?"
"Jem?"
Avalon set the food down with a snort, "When Mom brought me home she sent teams out to get movies, toys, books, games, everything a ten-year-old could want,"
"So there's more?"
"I have more than one room,"
"You went to Mcdonalds? Of all places?"
"Tourist town," Avalon nodded, "Let's go to the table,"
Once at the table, Dick spoke again.
"Your mother owns a private beach near or in a tourist town and has no fear of being recognized?"
"Blissful ignorance, like you have room to talk, Richard,"
"Hey, don't get snarky with me!"
"Or you'll put me in a time out?"
"I might,"
"Shut up,"
…...
"Here's a crazy idea, what if your dad lured your mother to Italy?"
"But where? Where in Italy?"
"Your dad used to work for your mom, did they ever strike Italy?"
"I don't know,"
"Think!"
"I AM THINKING" Avalon snapped, "But I don't know, I don't want to sit here and do nothing anymore!"
"Avalon-"
"Get out of my room, we'll do more tomorrow,"
She slammed the door behind him, frustrated tears running down her face. Stalking to her bed, she crumpled onto the mattress, grabbing the journal from under the pillow.
I didn't mean to snap at him. I didn't but I'm upset. I just want my Mom. I want her to be okay. She has to be okay. She just has to!
Please, please be okay!
I need to go through the computer and see if Mom ever struck Italy while Dirt Bag worked for her but I'm tired and all I want to do is sleep, but sleep brings nightmares. I haven't had nightmares since I was twelve! I know that doesn't seem that long ago but for me it was.
I'm scared.
Shocking isn't it?
But I said it, (Wrote it)
I don't want to see those images.
Mom with blood pouring from her chest.
Horrible. chilling.
That could actually happen if I don't find her. I lived in that prison for TEN years! I know what DB is capable of and I'm Terrified.
Please, please, please.
Be okay.
You need to be okay!