DISCLAIMER: HG CHARACTERS DO NOT BELONG TO ME
Chapter 164-Unexpected Visitor II
Gale forces himself to calm down as he feels his chest begin to tighten up. Reminding himself that he needs to hold it together for Juniper is most likely walking back to the house if she was not already there. Unsure how long he had been sitting there, he closes his eyes, and tries to feel the wind around him. Diligently following Katniss's directions in her video message to him, he tries to calm his mind as his eyes remain closed. After a few moments, he feels a sense of calm overtake him.
When he opens his eyes, he looks up at the sky and raises three fingers in salute. Knowing that Katniss was with him at that moment, he breathes deeply as he begins to relax. Finally able to move, he gets up and wipes the tears from his eyes as he begins walking back to the house. When he returns, he sees Juniper's school bag on the floor by the kitchen island.
He hears her say hello to him as he takes off his boots, seeing her emerge from the hallway bathroom.
When Juniper sees her Father by the sliding glass door, she can tell by his demeanor that something is wrong. She frowns at him as she asks, "What's wrong?"
He gives her a tender look as he says, "Let's go sit down."
June 5 (Saturday)
Gale holds Juniper in his arms as she continued to sob into his chest. Reality not setting into until late last night, she came into his room waking him up in the middle of the night, informing him that she could not sleep for her mind was racing. He decides to do something he had not done in almost four years since Katniss died, he goes with her back into her room and sleeps on the floor beside her bed. Having her Father there helped ease her mind, and her anxiety. But when she awoke the next morning, grief set in, her sobs almost suffocating her.
Gale wakes to the sound of her cries and slowly rises for his joints were stiff from sleeping on the floor. He then silently climbs into her bed and without a word, pulls her into his arms.
When her sobs finally ease, she pulls back and looks up at him and says, "Grandma knew she was dying didn't she? That's why she was avoiding my calls."
"I don't know" Gale says truthfully.
"Why did you send Uncle Rory over?"
"I feared the same thing you did. She sent me a letter and it….scared me."
He sees her face scrunch up as the tears begin streaming down again. He bends down and looks into her eyes as he says, "I'm so sorry." While he was not crying, the pain he was feeling was on full display.
As he continues to hold her, he thinks about Katniss's words to him, how she told him in his dream that Juniper would need Cassandra. Is this what she meant? That Juniper would need Cassandra because she lost her Grandmother? Or did she mean Juniper would need Cassandra because Juniper no longer had Katniss?
An hour later, she manages to fall asleep. Once he hears her breathing change to an almost light snoring pattern, he quietly moves off the bed, careful not to disturb Sophie and Smokey who were both napping at the bottom of the bed, Jade sitting on the windowsill, giving Gale a perturbed look.
Once he is out of her room and in the hallway, he realizes he left his phone in his room. When he retrieves it, he sees multiple messages on his phone. He sees a voice message from Jack, a voice message from Sienna, and messages from Avery, Cassandra, and his Mother.
Last night, after informing Juniper of the news, he called Sienna, Avery, and Jack. He asked Juniper if she wanted to join him in the virtual calls, but she declined. His older children reacted as expected, with shock and disbelief, followed by silence.
He listens to Jack's message first. He hears his Son ask him to call him back, and he hears the grief in his voice. Listening to Sienna's message next, she says in a clinical tone that he is to inform her of funeral details as soon as possible for she will need to arrange with the hospital time off work, for her residency rotation ends on June 30, then firmly reminded him that she was in the middle of her job search as well.
Knowing this behavior was her way of coping, he tries not to be annoyed as he deletes both messages. He then looks at the typed messages he has received. The first message from Avery read:
I'll be arriving to the house around 4 pm after I meet Levi for lunch. I'll be staying over. See you soon.
He then looks at Cassandra's message next:
Hey! I hope you are having a great morning. Just wanted to see what our plans were for today. Are we meeting at the cottage? Or are you coming to the Capitol after Juniper's riding lesson? Love you.
Gale sighs as he types, Come to the house in response. Completely forgetting that they had made plans today, he knows he cannot cancel, and decides if now is not a good time to acclimate her into family matters, there will never be a good time.
He then looks at his Mother's message last:
Call me!
He is glad that it will take Cassandra a while to get here, and that Avery will not be arriving till later giving him time to call his Son and his Mom.
Cassandra contemplates if she should pack a bag or not. With Gale's response being so short, she didn't know what to do. Figuring she could just take a train to Red Rocks, she also figures there is the possibility that Juniper could be staying over at a friend's house, hence the invitation. She packs a small bag to last till tomorrow, figuring if she needed additional stuff her options were heading to the cottage, borrow what she needs from one of the Hawthornes, or buy it in Silver Lake.
She arrives to the house at 1:45 pm. As the train approached Silver Lake, she had messaged him letting him know she would be arriving soon, and he messaged back telling her to come in the front door. Taken aback that he would not be meeting her at the station, she had to look at the town map at the station to make sure she was heading in the right direction since all the homes and cottages in the town surrounded the lake.
As she timidly opens the front door, she hears him call out to her from down the hall. She closes the door behind her, heading toward the kitchen, and sees him preparing what looked to be a large meal for dinner.
"Hey" he says as he finishes slicing a tomato, then places the large knife down and walks over and embraces her.
"Cooking dinner?" she asks.
"We have to talk, come here" and he takes her hand pulling her into the great room. Placing her bag in front of the large stone fireplace, they sit on couch and she feels her stomach turning, wondering what he is about to say for she can tell he is upset.
He takes a deep sigh then says, "Katniss's Mom is dead. She had been acting off for the past few weeks and yesterday I received a letter. It was a goodbye letter, I panicked and called her twenty times, she didn't answer, so I called the apartment's management office and sent Rory over. They found her, lying peacefully in her bed under the covers. She had been dead a couple of days."
Cassandra's mouth opens in shock. She immediately reaches for him and hugs him tight, saying softly into his ear how sorry she was. Once he pulls away, he says, "I ordered an autopsy. I am expecting a call either Monday or Tuesday, then we will have the funeral."
"Is she going to be buried with Katniss?"
Not knowing Katniss's true burial site or where, for Gale was not ready to disclose that to her just yet, he shakes his head and says, "No, she had made arrangements and had paperwork drawn up shortly after Katniss died what she wanted for her funeral. She's going to be cremated, her ashes scattered in the ocean in District 4. She considered District 4 her home for a long time."
"I'm surprised she wouldn't want to be where Katniss is buried, or maybe where…your family plans to be?"
"My family hasn't made those kinds of arrangements yet. But I think Katniss's Mom…wanted to be cremated because….it is similar in a way to how her other Daughter died."
Cassandra looks at Gale sadly in response, for he had told her not that long ago regarding the circumstances of Prim's death, and the rift it caused for years between him and Katniss.
"How's Juniper?" she asks.
"As expected, she was in shock yesterday but late last night and this morning it finally hit her. She's been in her room since last night, I just hope I can get her to eat something tonight."
"Is that why you are cooking such a large meal?"
"I'm making one of her favorite meals-stuffed vegetable shells. She and Avery love it."
Cassandra becomes tense at hearing Avery's name, realizing why he is preparing such a large portion.
Seeing the look of unease on her face he says, "Avery is coming over, she'll be here around 4. Juniper needs her older Sister with her, and she needs you. And I need you both here with me too. So, I hope you will please stay."
"Does she know I am coming?"
"I'll handle it."
"Gale-" she says with unease.
"I meant it when I said I wanted you to be a part of this family. And I want you to stay in my room, with me tonight."
Shocked by his offer, she immediately says, "I can stay downstairs, I don't want any trouble, I'm okay with that-really."
"Up to you, but go on up there, you will see the room looks a lot different than the last time you saw it."
Wanting to remind him what happened the last time she was in his room and that he yelled at her to get out, she knows now would not be appropriate to do so at this moment, and she appreciated the fact he was making a real effort to include her.
"Okay, I'll take my bag up and let you get back to cooking" she says, giving him a small smile as she rises.
As he stands up, he looks down at her and gives her a quick kiss in response.
When Cassandra walks into Gale's room, she is stunned by what she sees. The room was completely different than the last time she saw it. Before, the walls were painted a dark shade of green, resembling the color of a forest. Now, the walls were painted a dark shade of gray, with lighter gray curtains. She sees brand new furniture, with light gray sheets and a dark gray bedspread. The only thing remaining from that area she recognizes, is the beaded circular object still hanging in the same spot as she last saw it-untouched.
She places her bag by the bed and goes over to the new dresser now located along the wall. She sees the same pictures as she saw before, the various pictures of Katniss, and his children. She sees a new picture of Juniper posing on top of her horse, dressed in her riding competition outfit. Beside the picture of Juniper and her horse is another new picture as well, a picture of the two of them.
She picks up the picture and takes a closer look at it. Quickly remembering where the picture had been taken, the orchestra concert he had taken her to at the President's mansion in April. Her hair blue at the time, she is wearing a long, navy-blue dress, with him wearing a matching navy tie with his black suit. She smiles as she sees the look of happiness on his face in the picture, his arm around her waist.
She had not realized he had gotten a copy of the picture, let alone framed it.
Her hair now back to its natural shade of dark blonde, for she did not have many modeling jobs lined up now and the ones she did have scheduled did not require a certain hair color or style.
She places the picture back on the dresser and sits down on the bed. In awe at how soft the brand-new mattress is, she knows the mattress he has gotten is the new super soft line of mattresses that recently came out.
As she looks around the room again and sees the brand-new furniture, new curtains, and new paint, she reminds herself not to feel guilty for what she will need to ask him later. With her rental payment due June 30, and not enough income coming in, she exhausted the last of her savings to make her rental payment in May. Planning to ask him if he can pay her rental payments, she knows she cannot put off telling him the truth about what happened with Ethan and Kyle, and how most likely her modeling career in the Capitol is finished.
Juniper pets Sophie as she lays on her side. No longer crying, she knows her face is a mess. Still in her sleep clothes, she has been in her room all day sleeping off and on between her constant tears. She is not sure if she is crying because she lost her beloved Grandmother, or if she is also crying, because this overwhelming feeling of sadness she felt after the death of her Mother has also resurfaced, hitting her like a bolt of lightning.
She hears a knock at the door, when she does not answer she hears the door open slowly and when she looks over, she sees her Father in the doorway.
He slowly comes over and sits in front of her on the bed. Careful not to disturb Sophie, he gives the fluffy pointed cat a few pets on her head then says, "I'm preparing dinner for tonight, I'm making your favorite. Avery is coming over."
"I know, she sent me a message" she says in a monotone, almost robotic voice.
Gale scrunches his face in response. Hoping that his Daughter would feel slightly better after sleeping for so long, he decides not to put off what he is about to say any longer and says, "Cassandra is here. I invited her over to join us for dinner."
"Are you sure that's a good idea? Her and Avery eating together?"
"They are going to have to get along eventually, right?
Finally seeing a slight reaction, for she curved her bottom lip up in a slight smirk, Juniper then says, "What about Jack and Sienna?"
"I talked to Jack about an hour ago. You know he is taking a summer class at school that ends next week. I told him that I'll make sure not to make any plans for Grandma E's funeral until he gets back. And Sienna sent me a voice message, she will take off work once I give her the details, you know they both want to be here, but I told Jack to stay in District 3 and concentrate on this class he has to take."
"I haven't heard from them."
"I'm sure you will hear from them later. You know Sienna is probably working today knowing she'll be taking off in the coming days."
"Why didn't Cassandra come say hello?"
"She didn't want to disturb you; we weren't sure if you were still sleeping."
"Grandma H called me. But I haven't called her back yet."
"Well, you know you will have to call her back later, or else I won't hear the end of it" he says giving her a warm smile.
"I will. I just….it's so hard Dad, first Mom, now Grandma E" and Gale watches has his Daughter's deep blue eyes fill with tears.
He leans forward and wraps his arms around her as her sobs erupt again. He does not tell her it is okay, for he knows it is not. He just does what he did last night and this morning, holds her.
When she finally pulls away and wipes her face she says, "Will Cassandra be going back to the cottage after dinner?"
"About that-I-invited Cassandra to spend the night here. If you want me to stay in here with you tonight, I will do that, I'll do whatever you need me to do."
"You know Avery will stay here with me. But thanks for the offer" and she then moves back down on her bed and rolls over, signaling to him that she wished to be left alone.
Unsure if he should hug her one last time, he rises instead and says, "I love you."
As he opens her door to leave, he hears her say, "Love you too Dad" before closing it.
When Avery walks up the front stairs of the house and goes in the front door, she immediately closes the door behind her and locks it. Placing her bag by the stairs, she hears voices coming from the kitchen. Knowing it is not Juniper's voice and fearful it's who she thinks it is, when she emerges into the kitchen from the long hallway, she sees her Father and Cassandra by the large island. She watches as her Father's eyes shift from Cassandra to hers, and he gives her a warm smile as he says, "Avie" coming over and embracing her.
Knowing her Father had not called her 'Avie' in quite some time, she gives him a stern look as she pulls back and says, "Can we talk, in private?"
"I can go downstairs" Cassandra says, putting down the knife that was in her hand for she was helping Gale slice the dinner bread.
"No-we'll go upstairs" Avery says through gritted teeth as she turns and begins walking down the hall. She goes straight upstairs to her room. Realizing she forgot her bag, as she turns to head for the door, she sees her Father standing at the doorway, her bag slung around his shoulder.
"Thanks" she says as she takes the bag from him and motions for him to close the door. He looks around the room for he had not been in her room in months, for two housekeepers clean the house twice a month.
"I know you were not expecting to see Cassandra here" he says in an unapologetic tone.
"I know what the re-model in your room means. But this is a family matter Dad."
"All the more reason she should be here. I want her to be a part of this family Avery."
She scoffs in response and says, "She wasn't working today?"
"No, we had originally made plans to spend the day together. I figured the four of us can have dinner together. She's spending the night as well."
"Then you'll have time to ask her about her employment situation."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Giving him a smug look, she says, "I heard from some of the models over at AMB that she no longer works for MC2 Models. That she's been looking for work but that she can't find anything full time."
"And who's fault would that be?" he snaps back.
She glares at him as she says, "I'm not proud of what I did. You know that. But if she's hiding things from you, you can't blame me for that" and she brushes past him and walks out the door.
He calls out to her in his 'Dad' voice, and she stops without hesitation. Not wanting any tension before they even begin eating, he reminds her that everyone is grieving right now and politely asks that she try to make an effort at dinner to include Cassandra as part of the family. She nods her head in assent before turning around and knocking on Juniper's door then heading into her room.
Gale tries not to let Avery's comments bother him as he heads back down to the kitchen, but his mind begins racing. Realizing Cassandra has had a lot more availability than before, he begins wondering how she is paying her rent, and if she finally quit MC2 Models or if something else happened.
Wanting to ask her right away what is going on but knowing that Avery or Juniper could come downstairs at any moment, he decides to wait until tonight when they can talk in private.
Once Cassandra helps him set the table and prepare the large salad bowl ready to serve, he hears Avery and Juniper's voices in the hall.
Pleased to see his youngest Daughter dressed and showered, he smiles as he sees Juniper greet Cassandra and give her a hug. He watches as Juniper shake her head as Cassandra gives her condolences softly in her ear.
Nervous at first for right after the four of them filled their salad bowls, Cassandra stood back, unsure which seat she should take at the island. Avery immediately stating she will sit with Juniper, sits down in the middle of the island, and pats the chair signaling for Juniper to sit beside her. He watches as Cassandra's face contorts in confusion, for Avery taking one of the middle chairs left her either sitting beside Juniper or sitting off to the side, depending on where he sat. To help put her at ease, he nudges her to sit beside Juniper and he takes the seat beside Avery.
But as they begin eating, he is relieved when he sees Cassandra and Avery begin to have a decent conversation, thanks to Juniper's help, his youngest Daughter getting the two of them to begin talking about a place they both love-the Capitol.
He listens silently as Avery and Cassandra begin a friendly banter back and forth about which neighborhood in the Capitol has the best nightlife, food, shopping, and entertainment. Both agreeing on shopping and entertainment, but not on food and nightlife.
He lets his mind goes blank as he chews, then snaps back to the present when he hears Juniper say, "What do you think Dad?"
"Hmm? Sorry sweetie, I didn't catch what you said" he says as he moves his head inward to look at Juniper's face.
"What do you think about the horse racing track they are building southeast of the President's mansion?"
But before he can answer Avery interrupts and says, "You mean the former President's mansion? The area that was torn down long before we were born. You know Dad avoids that area of the Capitol. He and Mom almost got blown to bits there."
Gale cringes at Avery's casualness, speaking as if she was there that day. He sets the record straight by saying, "We could have gotten blown to bits at any step or turn we took in the Capitol when we infiltrated during the war. But the area you are referring to, we saw people die instantly from a purple light, their bodies bled out. Then the ground caved in and I was holding on to a door of an apartment building until your Mom blew the door open with her gun and I managed to get inside. Until I got captured by Peacekeepers a second later."
"They didn't teach us that in school" Juniper says softly.
"No-they wouldn't. Everyone who witnessed what I saw is dead now."
"Let's change the subject" Avery says quickly. Gale noticing that Cassandra was giving him a look of sorrow, mixed with admiration.
"Oh, that reminds me. We are going to your Grandmother's house tomorrow. She wants to see the two of you. She's cooking of course, Cassandra, she would like you to join as well."
"Will our Cousins be there too? With Uncle Vick and Aunt Layla" Avery asks.
"No-just us" he says.
"Okay, it will be easier for me to head back to the Capitol. Guess we will be on the same train then" Avery says as she looks at Cassandra.
"Uh-yeah. I guess so" Cassandra says with a hint of confusion.
"Good-we can sit together on way back" Avery says as she gets up and helps herself to seconds.
"I think that was the longest conversation I have ever had with Avery" Cassandra says happily to Gale as she sits down on his bed. After finishing dinner, the four of them watched a movie then Gale played a board game with Juniper as Cassandra and Avery sat at the island and talked.
Knowing that Avery was sleeping with Juniper in her room, he closes his bedroom door but does not lock it, just in case.
"I'm glad to finally see actions instead of words, it is long overdue" he says, standing by the foot of his bed.
"Well, I know she adores Juniper, Juniper must have worked her magic somehow" Cassandra says jokingly then gets up off the bed and leans up to give him a kiss.
When his lips meet hers, she can tell immediately something is off. When she pulls away, she hears the soft sound of their kiss ending, and looks up at him in confusion.
"I need to ask you something" he says softly.
"Sure, anything."
"Are you still working at MC2 Models?"
He sees the look of unease form on her face, seeing her pause, as if thinking how she should answer the question before she says, "I had to quit."
"Had to quit?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"End of March."
He takes a deep breath, trying to hold his composure then says, "When were you going to tell me?"
"Tonight, I swear I was going to tell you."
"Before or after?"
She looks at him in confusion then says, "I'm not following…"
"Were you planning to tell me before or after we had sex. Because I know when you give me the look you just gave me before you kissed me, it means you want me to fuck you."
"Gale-" she says, clearly hurt by his insensitive words.
"Don't be embarrassed, Katniss used to give me a similar look too."
What she does next is something she never fathomed she would ever do to him. She slaps him across the face, hard. Three times.
Glaring at him as she watches him touch his cheek in response, he quietly says, "I know I deserved that."
"I'm not embarrassed, and I'm sure your wife wasn't either."
He looks down, unable to meet her eyes as he says, "Is it true that you have not been able to find another job?"
"Where did you hear that?" she says defensively.
"Avery. She heard from the other models at AMB."
"Of course," Cassandra says bitterly. "Yes, it is true."
"What happened?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Cassandra, I'm sorry about-"
"I'm done talking Gale. I just want to go to bed" and he watches as she strips off her clothes and pulls on her silver nightgown and climbs into bed.
A few minutes later he slips into bed, thankful the bed is large, enabling enough distance for he knows the last thing she wants is for him to touch her for her back was turned, clearly indicating she wanted to be left alone.
The next morning, he tries to make amends by gently stroking her shoulder, but she rebuffs him. Telling him that she is only going to his Mother's house to be there for Juniper. They shower separately, and do not talk while he shaves and gets ready in the bathroom, with her fixing her hair and putting on her makeup beside him. He knows she is still angry at him and rightfully so.
Knowing he should not have lost his temper; he could not control his emotions when she confirmed what Avery had told him earlier. Not wanting to hear major events in her life through gossip from his Daughter, he couldn't help but feel the significant growth they had a made as a couple had just taken ten steps back. He also knew that it was due to his grief over losing his Mother-in-Law and dealing with the upcoming funeral arrangements that he unfairly channeled his emotions by insulting her in retaliation for keeping things from him.
While on the train to his Mother's townhouse, she sits with Juniper while he sits with Avery on the other side of their assigned box compartment. He tries to make eye contact when the opportunity presented itself, but she refused to meet his gaze, despite the fact she could feel his eyes on her. Thankful that Avery chatted his ear off, it helped to distract from everything that was going on. Knowing that something transpired between her and Kyle, he remains angry at himself for letting his temper derail all the progress he had made with her. Fearful that she might not ever tell him the truth regarding what happened, and why she cannot find a job.
Their visit with his Mom however goes by quickly, and he finds it is easy to keep his distance from Cassandra for he and his Mom tended to Juniper for she cried frequently during the visit.
After they finish eating dinner, Avery lets everyone know she needs to head to the train station to return to the Capitol. Cassandra quickly saying she will join her; he finally manages to pull her away to talk privately downstairs. Once they are alone, he apologizes for his behavior last night, but she only nods in response. When she turns to head back up the stairs, he asks her if she will be joining them in District 4 for the funeral. Her response surprises him when she says, "I think it would be inappropriate for me to be there."
"Why? It is only going to be us, along with my Mom, my Sister, my Brothers, and my Brother's wife and my Nephews. I want you to be a part of this family."
He waits in anticipation as she is silent for a moment before saying, "I'll let you know if I can make it, message me once you know the details" and goes up the stairs without giving him a chance to respond.
"Star is really a pain to work with, she's so entitled" Avery chats away to Cassandra as they speed through the mountains as they sit beside each other on the train.
While Cassandra is relieved that Avery is continuing to get to know her after all this time, she wanted to tell her that she felt she is entitled too only in a different way but holds her tongue. For Cassandra did agree that Star, one of the models at AMB was entitled, self-centered, and one of her least favorite people when she worked there.
"I admit, I don't miss the backstage drama at all" she says to Avery as their window goes dark for the train had just sped into a tunnel.
"But you miss working at AMB?" Avery asks.
"I do."
She watches as Avery makes an uncomfortable face, her guilt on full display. Avery shifts in her seat as she says, "If I could take back what I did that day I would. A lot was going with me then, I was-"
"Pregnant, I know."
She sees the shocked look on her face, then watches as her face becomes more neutral as she says, "My Dad told you."
She nods and says, "Not right away, I found out…..about four months ago."
"When the two of you got the place in Red Rocks?"
"Mmmhmm. I felt terrible when I heard about what happened to you last summer, but….you hurt me too."
"I know, and it might be too late, but…I'm sorry. I want us to start over, truly I do."
She forms a small smile and says, "I would like that."
Avery gives her a big grin in response then says, "Okay then. What happened with my Dad? I know you are angry with him, that was an uncomfortable train ride to my Grandmother's house."
She makes a face in response then says, "Do you think Juniper noticed?" thankful that an opportunity presented itself to get out of answering Avery's first question.
"Well, my Sister is wise beyond her years, but she's been so upset about Grandma E that I don't think she was paying attention."
"Forgive me for saying this, but….you seem to be holding up well?"
"It…helps for me to be around people. Once Juniper fell asleep last night, I got emotional. I will probably be a mess at the funeral."
She gives a look of sympathy and says, "I'm really sorry for your loss, all of you" and lays a hand on Avery's shoulder.
"Thank you. It's just been really hard, my Dad tried to get Grandma E to come to District 2, but she wouldn't leave 4. I think for my siblings and I, we will always wonder, as we got older-should we have reached out more to her-she was a very….closed person."
She nods, knowing a little bit about Katniss's Mom from what Gale had confided in her, he had explained to her that his Mother-in-Law was someone who he was close to, yet not.
"I'm sure she knew you loved her, all of you" she tries to say supportively.
"My Mom was a closed person too, but not with us. She had her inner circle of friends she trusted, along with Grandma H, my Aunt, and Uncles. I think one of the reasons she was such a good Mom, was because when she loved someone, she loved them with her whole heart. She always put others needs before her own. She and my Dad were lucky-to be each other's best friend and spouse. And my Dad still needs that, a best friend, I'm glad he has that with you."
"I don't think I'm anywhere near the best friend stage with your Father."
"He wants you to be."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know my Father" she says with a warm smile.
"Yeah" Cassandra says softly.
They sit in silence for a few moments, no longer in the tunnel, they stare at the scenery outside before Avery says, "I have to confess, one of the reasons I resisted your relationship, is because I was afraid-that you were taking advantage of him. That you were only with him because he has a lot of money. He's so much older than you, I couldn't fathom what the two of you have in common, but, after seeing you with my Sister yesterday and today, I can tell you do care."
"Thanks" she says in appreciation, her mind now racing of how she can come up with the money to pay her rent. After hearing Avery's confession, she knows she cannot ask for the rent money now, not after their argument and not after hearing that his Daughter's resistance to their relationship was due to her concern that she was only with him for his money. If Avery found out she asked for rent money, would she go back to hating her? It was too great of a risk she was not willing to take, especially after the conversation they just had on the train.
When the train pulls into the station, she tells Avery she hopes to see her soon and they exchange phone numbers. When she arrives back to her apartment, she sees that she forgot her toothbrush, leaving it behind in Gale's bathroom. She rummages through her bathroom closet and is unable to find any spares, figuring she must have taken the spare ones she had to Red Rocks. She grabs her purse and slips on her shoes and heads out the door to run across the street to the convenience store. Quickly grabbing a pack of toothbrushes so she has spares, as she heads back across the street and through the main door of her apartment building, she turns the corner once exiting the elevator and as she walks towards her apartment door, she sees movement in the corner of her eye before the feeling of suffocation overcomes her.
A/N: I hope to update sooner next time!
