Chapter Three:
"So, how's the book coming along?" Ava asked as she and Q walked side by side.
She loved walking around Tree Hill at night. The sky was so dark and depending on what part of town she was in, she could see all the stars littering it like a perfect painting.
Of course, her brothers typically didn't let her out that late at night, at least not alone, but sometimes she took the liberty of sneaking out of either house for an end of day stroll.
They didn't really need to know that.
And they definitely didn't need to know that she was out with Q. He wasn't a bad person, but his attitude could be very off-putting to those who didn't really know him. Ava honestly believed it was some kind of defense mechanism. When he was around really good friends, he wasn't like that at all.
It was going to take some time for him to drop the act, but she was patient. She just hoped her brothers could be, too.
"It's going." Q stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Yeah, it's pretty slow at first. I'll read it with you during study hall. Two heads are better than one, right?"
"Right." Q smiled. "What time do you have to get home?"
"Not any time soon. It's not a school night." Ava furrowed her eyebrows. "Why?"
"Do you wanna like, go out? On a date?"
A date? Ava had never ever been on a date before. This would be her very first one. This was really exciting for her.
"Now?"
"Yeah, now."
"Sure.…you know, Tric is open. What do you say we have a little fun?"
Ava was always down for a little fun. Tric was a pretty safe place, what was the harm in going?
"You come here often?"
"Yeah." Ava nodded. "My mother owns the place…...she started it like, five or six years ago. It wasn't really an adult club when it opened and— are you kidding me?"
"What's wrong?" Q quirked a brow when she stopped talking so suddenly.
"Look." Ava subtly pointed to where Haley and Nathan were hanging out. The two were dressed up nicely, laughing and talking with friends. This must've been a last minute plan because the two never really frequented Tric on their dates. "I know they said that they were going out tonight, but I didn't think that this is what they meant."
Of all the nights for Nathan and Haley to decide to be cool and go out, they chose this one. And as if her luck could possibly get any worse, Lucas was there, too.
And so was Lindsay, and Brooke, and Peyton.
If Ava got caught on a date like this, she'd be grounded for life. By who? She didn't know. She naturally assumed it would be by whoever found her first.
"That's alright." Q didn't seem to care about that at all.
What was he nuts? 'That's alright?'
"In case you haven't noticed, Nathan and Lucas aren't all that fond of you right now because of your wonderful first impression. What do you think they'll say when they see you and I, at a club, on a date?"
"They won't say anything, 'cause they won't see us." Q gave her a mischievous grin. "Let's see if we can dodge them the whole night. Split up and dodge, or hide together. It'll confuse them and keep them on their toes. We can keep score and everything."
Q always did love a good game. And this one particular would have a very steep price to pay if she got caught, but Ava was nothing if not mischievous.
There was something thrilling about the threat of getting caught and it enticed her.
"Now that sounds like a whole lot of fun." Ava agreed. "Game on, Quentin Fields." She grabbed his arm and pulled him over to the bar.
It wasn't an ideal kind of date, but it did sound pretty fun to mess with her brothers.
"You drink?"
"Of course I drink." Ava scoffed, turning her attention to the bartender. "I'll have a cocktail."
That's whole reason why she had a bottle opener on her keychain. Whenever she got her hands on a drink, she'd use it with the expertise of a seasoned drinker instead of a fourteen year old kid.
And she usually got the drinks at her friends' parties. She enjoyed the feeling she got when she drank, but she made sure that she didn't overdo it.
"Is tequila alright?" He asked.
"Could you possibly get me a Washington Apple?" Ava asked politely, hoping he wouldn't card her.
"Coming right up." He didn't look like he cared enough to ask how old she was anyway. "Can I get you anything?" He asked Q.
"Yeah, just a shot of vodka." Q ordered. "You surprise me, Ava Scott."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, partying, drinking….." He teased. "I thought you were a goody two-shoes."
"That's what my brothers think." Ava smirked as the bartender handed them their drinks. "And it's gonna stay that way if I can help it." She took a sip. "Though I don't know why, I'm always in some kind of trouble."
It was true, she did have a nose for trouble, but it was usually some cute or childish trouble. Never anything to this scale.
She was drinking underaged. This was serious stuff.
"Ever gotten drunk?" Q downed his shot.
"Once." Ava confirmed. "But it was totally by accident. It was my first time drinking and I had no idea what I was doing. The headache I got the morning after was something that I wouldn't wish on anyone."
Ava had her first drink at ten years old. It was right after Haley and her brothers went off to college. Karen was really busy withe the baby and she was beginning to feel very empty. So, in order to fill that emptiness, she went to her father's beach house and downed a can of beer.
It wasn't as if Dan was going to miss it anyway. He was in prison. What was one can going to hurt?
In hindsight, she was very lucky to not have gotten alcohol poisoning, but the pounding headache she had the day after felt just as bad.
She never told anyone about it, until now, and she never got into any trouble. But she made sure she never ever drank over her limit again.
"I hear you." Q definitely knew a thing or two about hangovers. "That your favorite?"
"This drink? Yeah, it isn't all that strong and it's enough to give me that little buzz I like."
That 'buzz' was exactly what was filling that emptiness Ava felt from time to time. That little 'ping' she felt whenever she consumed alcohol allowed her to temporarily forget how inadequate she viewed herself to be.
She was playing a very dangerous game.
"Hey, you wanna mess with them now?" Q motioned towards Haley and Nathan, sensing that she needed the conversation to change.
"Sure. Go for it." Ava chuckled. "I'll be here."
Q rubbed his hands together and walked right over to the couple, pretending not to have seen them at all. "Jack and coke, bro." He told the same bartender.
"You got it." He said, pouring the drink. This guy really must not have cared much for his job. He could get fired for this!
"Coach and Teach." Q 'noticed' them. "What're ya'll doing here, man?"
"We should be asking you the same thing." Haley quipped, eyeing him carefully.
"Me? Nah, I"m just taking a study break from 'Les Mis'."
"Well, don't stay out too late." Nathan told him. "We've got an early morning practice."
"Oh? All work and no play? C'mon, man. Ain't I been on time for every practice?"
"Yeah." Nathan could give him that. He had to respect that, too. Q loved the game so much that he was willing to do things he didn't normally want to do. "You have been good."
"What can I say, man? I'm learning from the best."
"You could learn a lot from Nathan than just basketball." Haley stood up and left the two on their own, clearly unimpressed.
Ava, who was across the room watching, threw her head back and laughed at how horribly Q had been rejected. She knew he was trying his best to impress Haley in a last ditch effort to make up for how awful he had been to her, but he failed. Miserably.
"Hey, Little Scott." Brooke managed to sneak up behind her, pulling her in for a hug. "I missed you at the opening."
"I'm sorry, I had cheer and dance was running later than it should've. I would've come if I could. I heard it went well?"
Ava felt terrible about having missed Brooke's grand opening for her new location for 'Clothes Over Bros', but with her busy schedule, there was just no making it.
"It went very well." Brooke sat down beside her. "So, tell me, what have I missed with you? When I left, you were all small and cuddly, and now, I find you at the bar drinking alcohol, making eyes at that guy over there with Nathan."
Four years ago, they hadn't really been all that close. Which, was understandable because Brooke was a teenager and Ava was a little kid. They didn't have anything in common.
But now, it seemed like they were building a new relationship, a friendship even.
"Yeah." Ava smiled nervously. "I just wanted to have a little fun tonight."
She hadn't really expected to be called out for drinking. She thought that by acting like it was no big deal, Brooke wouldn't notice.
Hidden in plain sight, right?
Not with Brooke Davis.
Brooke took the drink from her hand and sipped it. It wasn't at all strong. It was actually more juice than alcohol. She didn't like that she was drinking at all, but she would watch her to make sure she didn't do anything else she wasn't supposed to be doing. Ratting her out didn't seem like the right call, Ava would probably just get sneakier. "Let this be your only drink. I don't want to see you with anything else, understand?"
"Yes, ma'am." Ava took the glass as she handed it back. "It'll be my only drink. I promise."
When did Brooke get so stern? That was Haley's department!
"I'll hold you to that." Brooke winked. "So, what's going on between you and this boy over there?"
She had seen the way Q and Ava acted all lovesick around each other. There was definitely something going on there.
"Oh him?" Ava acted aloof. "He's a friend of mine."
"Uh, excuse me." Brooke forced her to look her in the eye, ignoring all the loud noise around them. "Have you forgotten who you're talking to?" She scoffed. "I am a love expert. I can see a connection from miles away. What's going on? The truth."
"Well, we became friends like, last year." Ava knew she couldn't keep this from Brooke for much longer. "We hung out over the summer and well, he kissed me."
"He kissed you?!" Brooke got overly excited as she usually did.
"Brooke!" Ava hissed. "All of Tric doesn't need to know!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Brooke tried to compose herself, but the smile never left her face. "When did it happen? How did it happen? Did you enjoy it? I need details!"
"It happened a week ago…..we were at the Rivercourt and we were both venting to each other. We stopped talking and then all of a sudden, he kissed me." Ava shrugged. "And I kissed back."
"Was that your first?"
"How can you tell? Is it that obvious?"
"It's glaringly obvious, honey." Brooke laughed. "You've got that first kiss 'glow'. It's okay, it's cute. Are you gonna introduce me to him?"
"And risk Lucas and Nathan finding out? Yeah, right."
"You're gonna have to tell them sometime."
"And that time isn't now." Ava finished her drink and set it down.
"Owen!" Brooke called the bartender. This one was different from the one who served Ava and he looked like the type to card her. "Put that drink on my tab."
"You got it."
"Thanks, Brooke."
"That was my little celebration gift from me, to you." Brooke cupped her chin. "Have fun on your little date. No more alcohol, get me?"
"No more. I promise, Brooke." Ava hugged her before moving to find Q.
It wasn't all that fun dodging her brothers when they didn't even know she was there.
"Owen, right?" She stopped to talk to the bartender. He was a pretty large dude; good looking, but large. He could probably double as a bouncer if it was needed.
"That's right." He nodded. "I'm not giving you any alcohol, kid. My coworker may not take this seriously, but I do. I give you a drink, you get drunk and do something stupid and get hurt, and then I'm held responsible. No way."
"Well, it's a good thing I wasn't going to ask for any alcohol." Ava grinned, cheekily. "Can I have a ginger ale, please?"
"That I can give you." He smiled, picking up a glass and filling it up before plopping a straw in it and handing it to her. "Enjoy, kid."
"Ava."
"Huh?"
"You keep calling me, kid." Ava clarified, her voice light and un-offended. "My name is Ava."
"In that case." Owen threw towel over his shoulder. "Enjoy your ginger ale, Ava."
"Thank you." She smiled before finally making it to Q like she had planned. "Drinking again?"
"Just a little bit." He smirked, pointing to his shot. "What about you? Is it happy hour yet?"
"No." Ava held up the glass. "It's soda. I've been cut off."
"That sucks for you."
"Depends on how you look at it." Ava teased.
"Alright, that better not be yours." Lucas crept up on the two, making Ava nearly jump out of her skin.
"Make a noise, will you?" She rolled her eyes, picking up a napkin to wipe up what little bit of her drink spilled on her sleeve. At least Ginger Ale was lightly colored, even if it stained, it wouldn't show.
"Aw, nah, man." Q shook his head. "It ain't mine. I don't even drink shots….please." He pretended to be appalled at the insinuation. "I-I'm more of a….I'm not old enough."
"Well, then whose is it?" Lucas gave his sister a sharp look.
"You're kidding, right?" Ava took a sip of her soda.
If he ever found out what she had before this, he'd kill her. Lucas could be very intimidating when he needed to be, especially with his little sister. She had taken things a bit too far at times and learned very early on that he could make her just as miserable as he did make her happy.
If she had to compare the three adults in her life, Lucas would be the worst. She didn't know if it was because he had a hand in raising her growing up, or because after Keith died, he decided to step up even more than he already had to help their mom out. Whatever it was, she knew better than to test his limits. Despite all that, she knew she could come to him with anything. If she ever needed anything, she never had to be afraid to approach him.
Haley came in second. She could give her a hard time, but could also let a lot of things slide. Now that Ava was a teenager, she was really trying to give her room to grow and make mistakes.
And Nathan was nowhere near the other two. He'd let her get away with everything if Haley wasn't around. He never raised his voice at her, he never glared or lectured. Well...almost never. He kind of just shrugged and let the chips fall wherever they may.
"It isn't hers either." Q came to her defense, though he didn't have to. She could take care of herself.
"Oh, that's mine." Nathan swooped in, saving Q. "I just walked away for a second."
"Walking away." Lucas nodded. "Sounds like a good idea."
Ava just subtly winked at Q as he did just that and sat down.
But not before Lucas grabbed her drink and took a sip of his own.
"Dude, it's ginger ale." She chortled when he handed it back.
"And that's the way it's gonna stay."
"What if I want a Sprite? Or Pepsi?" She began to mess with the two. "Why limit me to only one type of carbonated beverage when I have so many other options?"
"You know exactly what I meant." Lucas set his jaw. "Don't push me."
"Got it." Prime example of Ava knowing when to stop. "Hi, Owen."
"Lucas, right?" Owen questioned.
"Yeah."
"This is for you." He set a martini glass down in front of him, 'pouring' a drink, but really, it was just a check.
From Peyton.
"Nice." Ava didn't even try to hide her amusement. "I'll see you boys later."
"Yeah, don't drink any alcohol!" Nathan called after her.
"Wanna dance?" Ava put a hand on Q's shoulder when she found him.
"Sure." Q led her out onto the floor as a slow song played. Ava was so wrapped in him that she couldn't even tell what song was playing. That didn't even matter to her.
The two made sure that they were hidden amongst the sea of people so that no one would have to see them together.
Ava put both her hands behind his neck as he snuck his arms around her waist, swaying to the music. She'd never had anyone hold her like this before. It was new, and it made her a little nervous, but it felt nice, too.
"I need to ask you something." She hesitated. "That kiss? It was nice. Like, really nice. But where does that leave us? I mean, I like you and you like me, but I love our friendship, you know?"
"Me, too."
"And I just want to know if that kiss is gonna go anywhere or if we're just gonna ignore it. I don't know what you want from me or if you even want anything from me….."
"I want you to be my girlfriend." Q just came out with it. There was no point in going around in circles, because if he did, he might lose his nerve. "I wanna be able to kiss you, and hug you, and talk to you about anything and everything."
Ava stopped swaying and looked directly at him. It was so blunt, she had to take a second to process it.
He wanted her to be his girlfriend.
Wow…wow.
She hadn't expected to hear that so soon. She thought that they would date for a little while at first, and then talk about something like this later.
"We've been friends for a long time now." He seemed to have read her mind. "We know each other and I know that I wanna be with you. I wanna make you laugh, I wanna be a shoulder to cry on when you're sad…I wanna be there for you, Ava."
Ava had no idea what to say or how to respond to that.
It all sounded nice with good intentions. But no one had ever said anything like that to her before.
She didn't know what to do, so she let her heart lead her.
Sometimes the heart knew best.
She stood up on her toes and pressed a gentle kiss on his cheek, moving to his lips with a tender and innocent passion. Before they knew it, the two fell into a rhythm, forgetting about everything and everyone around them.
All that matter right now, was each other.
Ava had never felt like this before. It was weird, but it was a good weird.
All the fluttery butterflies in her stomach were dancing in harmony to the beat of the song in her heart.
"Can I buy you a drink?" Jason, the jerk that had been let go of by Peyton and Haley began to flirt with Carrie.
He was in a band that Peyton wanted to sign onto her new record label, but she needed to fire him, because he was such a tool and impossible to work with.
"Actually, my date took care of that."
"Well, we're halfway there then."
"I hope you're not trying to sit on my lap." Nathan slid into the seat next to Carrie before Jason could sit down.
It seemed like he was saving everyone tonight.
"I'm just looking for someone to dance with."
"No, thanks."
"You know where to find me." Jason ignored him, addressing Carrie before he left.
"I've never seen you jealous side before." She seemed weirdly amused by the very thought of this married man being jealous for her.
"And you still haven't."
"Okay." Carrie smirked, getting up to walk away. If he wasn't going to flirt back, then she would have to play hard-to-get.
In Ava's opinion, she was already hard-to-want. She didn't know why she kept throwing herself at her older brother.
"What's up, Nate?" Q took the woman's place while Ava sat on the other side, sandwiching Nathan in.
"Yeah." Ava tapped her brother. "What're doing?"
They both had seen the entire exchange between him and Carrie and honestly wondered if he was flirting right along with her, or he was just more of an idiot than everyone gave him credit for.
Either way, Ava was not amused. And this just solidified her dislike for Carrie.
Nathan gave her a look of confusion, but didn't offer any answer. He could tell by the look on her face that she had a bone to pick with him.
"Yo, thanks for having my back earlier in front of Old Man Scott." Q held his fist out to Nathan, lightening the mood.
But Nathan made no move to reciprocate. "Quentin, how stupid are you for trying to drink in the same club as your coach?"
"Look who's talking." Q scoffed incredulously. "You're flirting with that hot nanny in the same club as your wife."
Straight to the point. Ouch.
"I'm not flirting with anyone."
"Oh, okay." He chuckled. "You had my back, so I got yours, but I know flirting when I see it. And it looks like she does, too." He looked in Carrie's direction before leaving Nathan to ponder on his words.
The woman had found Jason and was dancing up against him, apparently, trying to make him jealous.
"Uh, hello?" Ava slapped the back of his head.
"Ow!" He flinched having been successfully snapped out of his thoughts. "What was that?"
"A wake up call, you idiot." She flicked his forehead. "What do you think you're doing?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Carrie's been flirting with you for the past month and you're letting her." Ava flicked him again. "What's up with that?!"
"What's up with you and Q?"
"Nothing! I already told you and Lucas that, and you both are unbelievably annoying and full of it to even ask me that more than once! And we're not talking about me, we're talking about you. So, again, what are you doing?"
"I'm not doing anything." He insisted. "And drop the attitude."
He was so infuriating!
Ava could see that she wasn't getting anywhere with her brother, so she gave up. There was no use in causing a whole scene in public. She she would let it go.
For now.
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes, fighting the urge to hit him again. "I'll see you at home."
"Ava—"
"—Whatever!" She didn't look back once as she stormed away.
"Hi." Mia spoke into the mic.
"She any good?" Q asked his girlfriend, his arm slung around her shoulder. She was so clearly in a rotten mood because of her conversation with Nathan, but there was nothing he could do about that. Nathan had to be the one to wake up and put an end to all of this.
There was really no way that Ava could help. At least...not right now.
"I don't know, I've never heard her sing." Ava shrugged. "But Haley and Peyton say she's really good and they know music."
"Am I ever gonna hear you play? Maddie told me that you're some sort of musical genius."
"I wouldn't go that far, but….we'll see." A grin worked its way onto her face at his excitement. "Shhh. She's starting."
"Get off the stage!" Jason shouted right as the poor girl opened up her mouth. "You suck!"
There was always one, huh?
"Shut up!" Nathan defended the girl, knowing how hard it was to get up in front of all these people to sing.
But Mia made it look super easy.
As soon as she started strumming her guitar and opened up her mouth, she stopped the room.
Her voice was so beautiful and it made everyone feel something. She was commanding the crowd with her pretty notes and moving melodies.
Ava just knew that she was going to make it in the business. Peyton and Haley had really found something with this girl. Her tone was so rich and she had so much breath control, Ava didn't hear a single mistake.
"Thank you so much." Mia smiled shyly once she finished.
The crowd erupted in a huge applause, letting her know that she had rocked the house.
"Let's go congratulate her." Ava practically dragged Q away.
And he let her.
He had no problems with it.
"Thank you, Jason." They saw Mia talking to the guy who had continuously torn her down. "If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been so good."
"Nice." Q smirked.
"You think you were good?" Jason just wasn't ready to admit defeat. "The only reason people were clapping is because I told them you were retarded."
"You're just upset because the talent left your band." Haley defended Mia.
"Not as upset as I am that you left your granny panties in my bed." He slapped Haley on the behind.
Ava glared at Jason and lunged, but Q held her back.
She may have been small, but she could definitely do some damage. After all, she did grow up with two older brothers and all their guy friends.
She picked up a whole lot. She had to pick up a whole lot.
"Ava!" Q tried to calm her down, but her nostrils were flared and her fists were clenched, and she was stronger than she looked. "Ava, calm down!"
He was learning something new about this girl every single day. Who knew she was so fiesty?
No sooner did Ava lunge at Jason, did Nathan step up to him threateningly, pushing him away.
Now that's not something anyone wanted. Nathan had just gotten out of his wheelchair. The only reason he had been in it at all was because of a fight that had gone wrong.
No one wanted to see him end up like that again.
"Nathan!" Haley did the same thing to her husband that Q was doing to Ava. "Nathan! Hey! He's not worth it, okay? Let it go!"
"Yeah, it's not worth it, Nathan." Jason provoked him.
"You're lucky." Nathan actually listened to his wife and allowed her to pull him out of Jason's face.
Ava felt Q release his grip on her and as quick as a flash, he leaped over and decked Jason, sending him flying.
So much for keeping it cool.
"You ain't that lucky." He glowered, looking at the man who was now on the ground.
"Q!" Ava gasped.
She had heard something crack when his fist connected with Jason's jaw. If it was Q's hand, it wouldn't be good news at all.
"I'm fine." Q shook his hand, confirming Ava's suspicions. "I'm fine. I'll drop you off at home."
"Nathan….." Ava looked at her brother.
"Go." He gave her permission. "Make sure he stays out of trouble."
"How's your hand?"
"It's alright." Q flexed it a few times. "It hurt a little at first."
"I can imagine." Ava took his injured hand in her own to take a look. "You shouldn't have done that."
"Me? What about you? If I wasn't holding you back, you would've done the same thing."
"I know, but now you're hurt." Ava conceded to his point. "But thanks for that. Nathan is in no position to be getting into any fights and it was nice to see you defend Haley."
"It just felt like the right thing to do, you know?"
"I know."
"So…" Q whistled as they walked down the sidewalk, their path lit up by the moon and the few street lamps. "Nathan and that nanny….is there something going on there?"
"I think it's more of a one-sided thing. She's flirting and he just sorta….lets her do it. I don't know."
"What's up with her anyway? I thought she was just there to take care of Jamie?"
"She is." Ava shrugged, kicking a pebble that had been in her way. "I mean, Jamie loves her. But he loves anyone who smiles at him and lets him rattle off about whatever he's into these days, so to me, that doesn't really count for much. I didn't like her from the start. I caught her flirting with him at dinner and I couldn't believe how bold she was to do that right in front of Haley."
"What're you gonna do about it?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. You're like the only one that sees the problem. You have to do something."
"Honestly, it's none of my business…..but I'll think of something."
She wasn't one to meddle. It had never been her thing. She liked to live and let live. But this was too important for her to stay out of.
The two fell into a comfortable silence, walking hand in hand as the cool night breeze nipped at them through their jean jackets.
"That was some date, huh?" Ava joked to lighten the mood.
"Oh yeah." Q laughed unabashedly. "Drinking a little, dancing, and bar fights."
"Just your normal date in Tree Hill." Ava giggled. "It'll be one for the books, though."
"No doubt." Q shook his head as they made it to the front door. "I guess this is it."
"For tonight." Ava wiggled her eyebrows.
"Well, goodnight." Q pecked her lips.
"Goodnight." She kissed back. "I had a great time tonight, all things considered."
Q smiled and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss, but this time, Ava pulled away with a toothy grin.
"Ah, ah, ah." She wagged her finger at him. "Anything in excess is never good."
"Oh, come on, you can't do me like that."
"Get home safe and keep reading that book." She teased. "Or else no kisses for you."
"This is cruel and unusual."
"Goodnight." Ava blew him a kiss, disappearing into the house, locking the door behind her.
The night had been pretty eventful and a little confusing, but there was one thing she was certain of.
She was completely and absolutely, without a doubt, in love with Quentin Fields.
"So word around town is, you and Q are a thing now." Maddie nudged Ava as the two girls walked arm in arm.
It was the weekend, and every weekend, Maddie and Ava hung out from dusk to dawn. What they did varied every single time they got together, but they always had fun.
"Word around town?"
"People talk, Ava. They saw you guys making out at Tric last night." Maddie scoffed. "What I wanna know is, why I had to hear it off the street rather than from my best friend?"
"Gosh, I'm really sorry about that." Ava facepalmed. "I was definitely gonna tell you, that's exactly why I wanted to hang out with you, but I guess people had other plans. Big mouths."
"So, it's true then?" Maddie gasped. "I can't believe it! I mean, I can believe it, because you two have had some wild chemistry from the start, but it's about time! You guys are so cute!"
"Thanks." It felt nice to have her best friend on board with this.
"Speaking of couples…." Maddie bit her lip. "Lindsay and Luke are still together?"
"As far as I know." Ava shrugged, glaring at a cyclist who nearly ran the both of them over.
He wasn't even supposed to be on the sidewalk. Delinquent.
"Are you and Lindsay having 'issue's again?"
"No, no. Nothing like that. It's just...you know how much Luke loves Peyton. He spent years pining after her and then finally got her and they were so happy."
"But then he proposed and she said, 'someday'."
"Exactly! And he moved on…..with Lindsay." Ava continued her point. "And to be fair, she's a really nice person and it took me a long time to see that. But now, Peyton's back in town and things are getting messy."
"You think she came back for your brother?"
"Oh, I know she did." Ava laughed. humorlessly. "But that's not the issue. The issue is, he proposed, she said, 'no', and he was so hurt."
"Yeah, I remember." Maddie nodded. "It was hard to watch."
"I never want to see him like that again, you know? He was awful back then and when Lindsay came around, he started to act like himself again. I love Peyton, I do. But I can't sit and watch her hurt him like that again."
"Maybe she won't." Maddie shrugged. "Maybe things'll work out for the best."
"Yeah."
"Is this it?" Maddie asked, standing outside of Brooke's store.
"Yeah." Ava led her in, noticing that Haley and Jamie were already inside. "Only in Tree Hill."
"Okay, um, your dad's gonna pick you up after practice." Haley cupped Jamie's chin. "Alright? Bye. Thank you, Brooke."
"Bye."
"Hi, Hales. Bye, Hales." Ava and Maddie waved.
But before Haley could leave, Lindsay strutted in, with a new glow.
"Haley, I'm so glad you're here."
"Oh, I've gotta go, actually, but is everything okay?"
"Oh, everything's great." Lindsay held up her left hand, showing off an engagement ring. "I mean, as long as this town's big enough for two Mrs. Scotts."
And Ava recognized it immediately.
It was the same ring Keith had gifted to her mother when they made plans to get married. She hadn't seen it in a while, but she never forgot what it looked like.
It was a piece of her uncle that had been given to Lucas to give to someone special.
All of a sudden, that ache in her chest began to throb again.
She remembered how happy her mother had been, wearing that ring. She beamed with pride because it was from Keith.
Because after so many years, they had finally gotten their act together and fallen in love.
Because, they were meant to be together.
But not forever.
How was it possible that after all these years, it still hurt?
"Hey." Maddie noticed how tense she had gotten. "You okay?"
"Huh?" Ava jumped.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Maddie knew she was lying, but she wouldn't push it.
Ava would tell her when she wanted to. If she wanted to at all.
That was her way. Something would bother her, she'd shrug it off and berate herself for ever entertaining such a thing, bottle it up inside, and then, when it all became too much, she burst.
"Are you sure?" Lindsay looked concerned. "You totally zoned out on us."
Ava looked around and caught everyone staring at her. She hated it when people stared at her. It made her feel like she was doing something wrong or she was something to be pitied.
This wasn't about her, this was about Lindsay. Getting married was supposed to be a joyous occasion.
Ava had no right to feel anything other than happiness. Any other emotion would be selfish.
"I was just thinking about something…I think I had an essay to do for Monday, but I got the dates wrong." She lied. "It doesn't matter." She shook her head. "Congratulations."
There was no essay due Monday, but she was sure she could find something else to bury herself into that would distract her from her own selfishness.
"Thank you." Lindsay pulled her in for a quick hug. "I know this is sudden, but, will you do me the honor of being my bridesmaid?"
"Of course." Ava forced a believable smile onto her face. Her cheeks hurt and her eyes didn't light up, but Lindsay looked like she believed it. "I would love to…..Look, I hate to hug and run, but I just remembered that I actually do have something to take care of."
"Oh, okay." Lindsay looked a little disappointed, but nothing could fully take away her happiness from her engagement. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." Ava nodded, heading for the door. "It's due soon and if I don't get it done, then I'll probably fail, so….I'll see you later."
And with that, she was gone.
"It was something I said." Lindsay sighed. "I thought we were doing so well."
She tried so hard to show Ava that she really did care about her. She did her best to show her that she wasn't going to hurt Lucas.
But that girl was a really tough nut to crack. She had wall after wall built up to protect herself, and just when Lindsay thought she had broken through the final one, she ran right into another.
"It isn't you." Brooke assured her. "She's probably just shocked because the news was so sudden."
"Yeah, she likes you." Haley added. "Sometimes, she needs time to process things, you know? She'll come around. It had nothing to do with you, I promise."
"Ava, what are you doing here?" Lucas smiled as his sister walked into his office. He liked to put in extra work to be prepared for basketball practice. He was actually kind of surprised that his sister had shown up, this was usually hers and Maddie's time.
"I just came to say, 'hello'." Ava leaned against the doorframe. "And congrats."
She wanted to talk to him. She wanted so badly to tell him that this was a big mistake. She wanted to tell him about that pain she was feeling and how it was getting stronger. She wanted to tell him how much she needed him right now.
But she didn't. She couldn't.
He was so happy. He was coaching the Ravens, he was working on his second book, and he was engaged to be married to a girl that he loved.
She couldn't be selfish.
"Lindsay told you?" He sat up. "I wanted you to hear it from me."
He really wished he had caught her before she left the house that morning. That kind of news shouldn't have come from anybody but him. He wanted her to be the first to know.
"Luke, I'm not five years old. I know how to share you with other people." There was a small trickle of bitterness in her voice that he didn't catch.
She felt like slapping herself silly for even saying it. Why wouldn't she be able to 'share him'? She was fourteen years old. She wasn't a toddler that was incapable of comprehending that he had bonds with other people.
She needed to get it together. Fast.
The family had just overcome Nathan's problems and they didn't need her piling it on with her own.
Besides, his problems were real. Hers were just stupid and superficial. She was behaving like a spoiled brat and it needed to stop.
"I know, but that's not it." He shook his head. "I gave her Keith's wedding ring and I didn't want it to catch you by surprise."
"It's okay." Ava forced another smile. "It's none of my business. You love Lindsay, so you're marrying her. Typically you pass on an engagement ring. It looks good on her. She should wear it."
If she acted like it was no big deal, then she'd be able to trick herself into believing it was no big deal.
Who cared if he gave her Keith's ring? It was only a ring.
A piece of metal with a shiny rock.
It didn't matter. None of it mattered.
Why did it hurt then?
Her chest felt like it would burst!
Make it stop! Cut it out!
"I know that that ring brings back memories—"
"—None on this end." She shook her head, fighting an internal battle. "I was only nine, remember?" She forced an authentic laugh. "Relax, okay? I'm really happy for you. She loves you, right?"
"She does." He smiled. He didn't know who his sister thought she was fooling, he knew her better than anyone, but he wasn't going to confront her right now.
Whenever Ava felt like she was being backed into a corner, she attacked and it wasn't pretty.
"And she you love her? Like that can't eat, can't sleep, reach for the stars, over the fence, world series kind of love?"
"Yeah." Lucas laughed at the reference. "That about sums it up."
"And she makes you happy?"
"She does."
"Then that's all that matter to me. That's all that's ever mattered to me." She walked further into the room and kissed his cheek. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Lucas brought her in for a bear hug, she desperately needed it. "More than you know."
A/N: Oh, Ava, just talk to someone! This poor girl is on a downward spiral and it's only getting worse from here. If she isn't careful, she's going to fall. Hard.