For most of her life, Avery West had thought of her father as a man without a face.
There were no pictures of him anywhere, her mother and her grandparents never spoke about him, and for some reason...Avery had been okay with that. She never felt any absence of love, her family always made sure of that. Her mom did everything that she could for her, bending over backwards to fill the roles of both parents and to make sure she had everything she needed. If there was ever a situation where she needed a father-figure, like for the father-daughter dance or Dad's Day at school, there was always a grandfather or an uncle there to fill in for her.
She never really needed her dad, so there was no reason to push her mother for details about him. She knew that he was gone from her life before she knew she was pregnant, and that was enough for Avery to determine that there was no reason to hold a grudge about anything.
All of that has changed in the past ten days though, and Avery has been on quite the rollercoaster of emotions. Now not only does she know her father's identity, she knows that he's famous. He's Beck Oliver, for crying out loud! Initially, she had been so upset with her mother for not telling either one of them the truth, for keeping them a secret for each other for so long...but after a few hours, she understood. Everything her mother does, she does for her own good...Avery knows that. She wouldn't have sacrificed so much for her in the first few years of her life if she hadn't thought she was doing the right thing. It would have been so easy for her to show up on Beck's doorstep with a baby in her arms and demand money, but instead she waitressed her way through college and worked tirelessly to get her first book published so she could build a better life for them both. Her mother's intentions were good, and she has no reason to be upset with her about that.
It all felt a bit surreal at first, the idea that she could have a famous father. Sure, Jade is a bit famous too in her own way, but Avery has never viewed her like that. Her mother can run to the super market for groceries, or eat out at a restaurant, or watch one of her volleyball games without being recognized. She does interviews and book signings and press tours, but she doesn't have mobs of fans following her and swarming her everywhere that she goes. Maybe once or twice a month she'll be recognized by a fan who is good with faces, but Avery has never really thought of her as a 'public figure'. She can't say the same for Beck Oliver.
Almost Beck's entire life is public domain, and Avery would be lying if she said she didn't look into him a bit closer once she found out that she is his daughter. She knew his face and maybe a few random facts about him before this, and she could easily rattle off the names of several of his movies, but now she knows even more. The more she researches...the more she understands why her mom didn't want to have anything to do with him.
Beck seems cocky in all of his interviews, like he thinks he's god's gift to the industry. Avery won't deny that he's a talented actor, but she doesn't think he's spectacular enough to behave like that. He's been married twice, which she supposes isn't that uncommon these days, but there's all kinds of articles about issues he's had with his current wife, Ericka Morgan. About a month prior he had stormed off of a red carpet premiere of her's, upset because the interviewers were asking him questions about her instead of himself.
Avery doesn't know what her mother would have ever seen in him. Her personality seems almost the compete opposite of his. They had to have broken up for a reason though, and although Jade has never specified it to her...that reason becomes clearer and clearer to Avery with every new internet page that she opens.
"If things get weird or he makes you uncomfortable, just send me a text." Jade tells Avery as she squeezes her hand tightly "I'll send him back to his hotel, no questions asked."
"Thanks..." Avery nods "I hope it doesn't come to that, but I appreciate it."
"I hope it doesn't come to that either."
Avery hasn't gotten to interact with Beck at all since the paternity test confirmed everything, his filming schedule has been tight. Now today on his first day off, he's coming over to spend some time with her so that they can both get to know each other a little better. Both Beck and Jade agreed that it would be best for Avery's privacy to do it out of the public eye, and that Avery might be more comfortable in her own space. So much to Jade's dismay, her ex-boyfriend will most likely be spending a majority of the day in her home.
She doesn't want to be near him, for obvious reasons, but she doesn't want to leave Avery completely alone with him either. At least not during their first meeting. Rather than running off to the diner like she would prefer, she'll be in the guest bedroom, which doubles as her home office, attempting to get some writing done. She doesn't anticipate her anxiety allowing her to make much progress.
The doorbell rings and Jade and Avery exchange a look, each of them unsure about which one of them should answer. Eventually, Jade is the one to step forward, opening the door to reveal Beck Oliver standing on the other side.
"Jade." He nods
"Beck."
Each of them can tell that neither is thrilled about having to spend time around the other, but they both know it's inevitable.
"Hey kiddo..." Beck smiles a bit when his eyes land on Avery, stepping into the foyer "It's good to...see you again."
He almost said 'meet you', but then remembered that they met just a few days prior. They hadn't meant anything to each other then, but they mean more now.
"You too." Avery smiles nervously
They each move towards each other to hug, and when they do it feels a bit surreal for them both. Avery never thought she would ever hug her father, and Beck had no idea that Avery existed until just a short time ago. Hugging each other is strange, but also wonderful at the same time. For Jade...watching them hug feels like a bit of a fever dream. She's always known there was a small chance they would meet each other one day, but she never actually thought it would happen. She finds herself becoming emotional, although she isn't sure if it's in a good way or a bad one.
"Well..." Beck says to Avery when they break their hug "What do you want to do today?"
"I, uh..." Avery hesitates, looking from Jade back to Beck "I thought we could just hang out here."
"You're okay with that?" Beck looks to Jade as well
"Mhm." Jade nods, shifting her weight uncomfortably "I'll...leave you guys to it. Av, I'll be in the guest room if you need me."
"Okay."
Jade kisses the top of Avery's head gently before moving out of the foyer and towards the guest room, then Avery and Beck are left alone.
"What's she going to do in the guest room?" Beck asks the teenager
"It's where she writes." Avery tells him "So...I guess I'll show you around."
There isn't much to show, the house is only one floor. Just enough for Jade and Avery, nothing excess. Avery gives Beck a tour of the kitchen and living room, then the backyard that is complete with a patio and hot tub, then brings him back inside to show him her bedroom.
The first thing Beck notices are the posters. Pictures of boybands and pop stars cover the walls, including an autographed Cat Valentine poster. The second thing he notices is the bookshelf. It stretches floor to ceiling with seven individual shelves, and is almost completely full.
"You like to read, huh?" Beck smirks as he wanders over "I'd expect nothing less, with your mom being an author and all."
"Yeah." Avery nods "She's been putting books in my hands since I was old enough to hold them. Can't say I mind though...reading really is one of my favorite things to do."
"What else do you like to do?" Beck asks her "For fun?"
"Hang out with my friends, go to the beach, listen to music..." Avery shrugs as she sits down on the bed "I dunno. Typical teenage stuff?"
"Do you swim?" Beck notices the collection of ribbons and medals hanging on the far wall
"Everyone around here swims." Avery tells him "We live less than half a mile from the beach."
"You any good at it?"
"Well..." Avery rolls her eyes "I've never drowned."
"God..." Beck can't stop himself from laughing "You are just like your mother."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"I..." Beck holds his hands up in surrender "I won't go there. She raised you, it only makes sense that you're a little copy of her."
"A copy of her with your eyes." Avery reminds him "Or so they tell me."
"Alright kid, what gives?"
"I think you're a narcissist." Avery says matter-of-factly "I'm having a hard time believing you're genuinely interested in forming a relationship with me. I think you're doing this because you feel like you have to and once you go back to LA, Mom and I will never hear from you again."
"Did she put that idea in your head?"
"Nope." Avery assures him "I've looked into you. You haven't done a great job of painting yourself in a positive light."
"I'm one of the greatest actors of all time!"
"Spoken like a true narcissist."
"Alright..." Beck sighs, running a hand through his hair to pull it out of his face "Alright...I get it. You looked me up and the internet didn't exactly do my reputation any favors. I'm here because I want to be though, not because I feel like I have to be. I've always wanted to be a dad, you can ask your mom. Even back when she and I dated, we talked about having kids one day and I was all for it. I've missed out on fifteen years of your life so far, and I want to make up for as much as it as I can. Choose to believe me or don't, but I love you and I want to be in your life."
Now it's Avery's time to sigh. She came off a bit harsh right out of the gate, and she realizes that. Subconsciously she was putting up a wall so that Beck wouldn't be able to get in, and it wouldn't hurt as much if he left. It's not conducive to do that, she knows it. If she wants to have any chance at all at having a normal father-daughter relationship with this man, she has to make an attempt at it. It seems like he's trying, so she should too.
"Those medals are from junior high..." She admits "I used to swim, I don't anymore. Now I play volleyball."
"Volleyball, eh?" Beck raises an eyebrow at her "I remember your mom was quite the volleyball player."
Jade had never played for any formal team, but she always kicked everyone's ass in PE class when they would play. She was always the first one to suggest it when they would go to the beach with their friends too.
"That's what she tells me." Avery nods "Do you play at all?"
"Never on a formal team, but a bit for fun."
"I have a ball out in the garage." She tells him "We could go out back and volley back and forth? If you want?"
"I'd like that." Beck nods "Yeah, let's do it."
"Okay, cool." Avery turns to retrieve the ball, then stops herself "I'm sorry for being a bitch, I guess I just have my guard up."
"S'alright." Beck assures her "This is new territory for all of us."
"Is it okay if I just call you Beck for now?" Avery asks "I dunno if I'm...there...yet."
"Sure." Beck agrees "Whatever you're comfortable with."
"Okay, thanks." Avery smiles a bit "I'll get the ball and meet you out back."