Chapter Three

You're walking on thin ice. Don't slip

-A

Avery stared at the text, the text had came when she was in an art course when her phone beeped, and she had let her guard down when yesterday passed and A didn't contact her even though Dean came in her apartment. In surprise, she had dropped a whole can of black paint on herself, the teacher instructed her to clean up. So here she was, in the bathroom, leaning on the sink, sick to her stomach and covered in paint.

She jumped when her phone rang. Shakily, she pressed answer button. "Hello?"

"Avery," Spencer's voice carried through the phone. "Can you come over? Dean's finally an afternoon off and I need some company."

The brunette thought it over for a few moments. "Avery?" Spencer called.

"Yeah, sure. I'll come." She will not let someone control her life not someone who didn't even show their face. She hung up with the teen, gathering her stuff inside her messenger bag from where they scattered on the counter besides the sink. She declared her shirt officially ruined and took it off, replacing it with a thin dip dyed camisole over her skinny light blue jeans.

She took her car, not able to help herself from glancing continuously at the side mirror to see if anybody was following her. She parked and went inside the Hastings home, Spencer wasn't in the living room, though Dean was.

"What are you doing?" She asked before she could control the words. Dean looked up from the vegetables he was chopping.

"Making lunch." He answered, going back to slicing.

"I'm here for Spencer. Is she up in her bedroom?" Avery said. Dean nodded in response. She shuffled her feet awkwardly towards the stairs.

"I can make more for you." Dean called. The text kept running through her head. You're walking on thin ice.

"We'll see." And with that, she went up the stairs, heading to Spencer's room. The teenager was sitting on the bed, staring up to the ceiling.

"Contemplating plans to conquer the world?" Avery leaned against the doorway. Spencer shot up, a relieved smile on her face. To the older girl's surprise, Spencer hugged her quickly before moving back and keeping her hands to the sides.

"Let me guess." Avery entered the room completely, the corner of her mouth twitching upwards. "Need another company other than Dean's?"

"Desperately." Spencer groaned a little. She gestured for Avery to sit anywhere she like and went back to sit on the edge of her bed. Avery took a seat on the desk's chair.

"So what do wanna do?" Avery asked.

"I want to ask you something." Spencer's tone was cautioned. "About Dean." She could see the Avery's posture tense but she nodded nevertheless. "You two were dating, for how long?"

"Four years." Avery said softly. "I met him when I was sixteen and he was eighteen, we only broke up last year."

"That's why you disappeared in Philly all those years." Spencer realized. "You were with him."

Avery nodded. "I came back a week after we broke up."

"But why did you do it?" Spencer asked.

"Spencer," Avery sighed. "It's complicated."

"Come on, give me something." Spencer said, "This is the closest thing I'll get to gossip."

"I thought you didn't like gossip." Avery said. Spencer gave a look. Luckily, or maybe not, a knock on the door ended their conversation. Dean pointed towards downstairs. "Food's ready."

"I bet it's rabbit food again." Spencer muttered as she walked past him., leaving Avery and Dean standing alone in her room.

"Don't let her get to you." She didn't know why she felt like she had say something.

"It's fine." Dean shrugged. "I don't take it personally. Someone with mood swings taught me that."

She scowled, regretting she tried to help him and walked past him. Avery saw the meal he made, they used to make it together, joking around the kitchen and throwing small pieces of vegetables at each other. Unlike her sister, she wasn't a vegetarian. She still struggled with her previous issues, so she tended to eat a lot of food and exercise a lot to burn off the edge. She used to jog at night but then she began to flinch at every sound she heard and started jogging in the morning. When she and Dean were trying to stay off drugs, they would do everything together, she would help him, and he would help her, stopping or distracting each other whenever they craved.

"Why do you have paint on your jeans?" Spencer asked her. She glanced down to see black spots on her, she was used to smearing paint all over herself and clothes, but she wore beat up shirts and shorts when she drew.

"Accident at art, spilled the whole can on my shirt too." Avery answered, feeling a bit sad since she liked that shirt. "Goodness knows I have enough clothes ruined by paint."

"It looks cool," Spencer said. "Gives off an artistic vibe." She looked back at Dean, who was silent, he was watching Avery. Something is going on between them, if they meant to or not. She thought. "I have a question."

"Your questions are trouble, Spencer." Avery commented, smiling to show it wasn't a big deal.

"Earlier, you said reading books helped you during recovery of your problems." Spencer said evenly. "You never said what problems."

Avery exchanged a glance with Dean without meaning to. The only people who knew of her drug addiction were the both of them and her mom. She got on and off drugs as quietly as she could.

"You know if I tell you, I'm gonna have to tell Aria." Avery said.

"Aria doesn't know?" Spencer asked, her eyebrows raising to her hairline.

"Technically, no one really knows." Dean entered the conversation. A does. Avery thought bitterly. "Avery, you don't have to tell anyone if you're not ready." He told her, concern and understanding evident in his eyes.

"No, it's okay. I can help Spencer." She turned to the young girl, bracing herself for the story and its troll on her.

"I used to be addicted to drugs." Avery said, Spencer's eyes widened, but smartly she didn't say anything. "It started when I was fifteen, I got into all sorts of heavy stuff. meth, cocaine, and alcohol. And the people I hung out with, we used to play a game where we would fill coffee cups with whisky or bourbon and drink them at school, so by the end of the day, we were all drunk of our asses. After a year or so, one of my friends, Jenny, overdosed," She noticed Dean moving to stand besides her, shoulder to shoulder, offering comfort. Jenny was her best friend, and she watched her die. "I was there, and I couldn't help her because I came too late."

"I'm sorry, Avery." Spencer apologized, feeling guilty that she wanted to know so much about her. "You don't have to go on."

Avery tried to discreetly wipe her eyes, but she wasn't fooling anyone. "I decided to quit drug and stay sober, I relapsed a few times but I got through it. I went through all sorts of crazy diet and exercise to keep my mind of the addiction. I didn't want for my family to know, I kept it a secret until I was sure I'm good. I got a job and payed for a cheap doctor myself." She took a deep breath. "My mom accidentally picked up the phone when he called and found out. We fought for days, I wanted her to keep it a secret. If dad knew, I would've been sent away to rehab or boarding school. I would've been a terrible example to Aria and Mike. Eventually, she agreed as long as I stayed sober."

"When was that?" Spencer asked quietly.

"When I was sixteen."

"Avery," Spencer sighed, moving over to hug the older girl. Avery hugged her back hesitantly, scenarios of how she was going to tell Aria and her siblings. "Wait." Spencer pulled back, "Where does he come in?" She pointed at Dean.

Avery bit her lip, "Umm, he-"

"Avery," Jenny groaned in frustration, throwing her head back against the headboard of Avery's bed. "Why are you so difficult?"

"I'm not difficult." Avery said, she was sitting on the only chair in her room, her legs crossed under her. "I'm realistic."

"No," Jenny said. "You're delusional."

"He doesn't like me, Jen." Avery stated, "It's obvious."

"I swear, he's like one step away from falling in love with you." Jenny told her, she got off the bed, grabbing a brush from her overnight bag and brushed her blonde hair in front of Avery's full length mirror.

"Show me proof." Avery challenged. "You can't because there isn't."

"I totally can kick your ass if you keep annoying me with your negativity and denial." Jenny said. "I can ask him." She was already reaching for her phone. Avery jumped quickly to stop her, but Jenny held a hand to stop her, the clear sound of a number being dialed made the brunette stop.

"Jenny?" Dean's voice was confused. "Why are you calling me?"

"Dean," Jenny's voice was cheerful. "I'm so glad you picked up." She looked at Avery's horrified face, knowing she was afraid of what she was going to say. "Listen, I gotta ask you a question."

"I can't hook you up." Dean said on the other side of the phone. "I don't deal."

"I'm not talking about that." Jenny said. "I want to talk about Avery." There was silence on Dean's side which made Jenny call out his name.

"Why do you want to talk about Avery?"

"See," Jenny moved away from Avery and sat at the edge of the bed, the black and white quilt blended in with her black tank top and pale pink skirt. "There's this guy." She lied easily. "He wants asked her out, but he came to me first because he wanted to know if she was going to reject him or not."

"What does this have to do with me?" Dean asked, his voice strange.

"-and he's really hot, like super attractive with a hot bod and gorgeous eyes." Jenny's words made Avery face palm, she was itching to smack the phone out of Jenny's hands. "I honestly can't see why she wouldn't agree, I mean, it's obvious as hell that she's into him but is in denial."

"Jenny," Avery hissed quietly. "Stop talking."

"-So," Jenny ignored her, a wry smile on her pale face. "What do you think?" Dean didn't say anything.

"Look, I'm just looking out for you, for the both of you. I wanted to run it by you first before Avery makes a decision. Meet us at the old swing set at the park in half and hour." Jenny hung up before he could refuse.

"Jennifer Forbes," Avery said through gritted teeth. "You're out of your goddamn mind."

"Doesn't matter." Jenny jumped on her feet, "Come on, let's get you dressed in a less hideous outfit. You look like a hobo." She carelessly opened Avery's closet, flinging clothes she doesn't like to the ground, after a few minutes, she threw one of the dresses her mother bought her in hope she'll grow out of her band t-shirt and black outfits.

"If you're making me do this. I'll wear what I want." Avery reached into her closet and pulled out one of her band t-shirt-she didn't even look at it before she put it on, and grabbed jeans shorts. She can sense Jenny's disapproval burning at the back of her neck as she put on a black pair of boots and laced it up.

"At least let me do your hair." Jenny bargained. Avery sighed but complied, letting the girl have her fun. She pinned her bangs away from her face and quickly brushed the rest of it so it became wavy. "Why is your hair so awkward? I can't do anything with it. It's not short, it's not long." Jenny smiled, showing she was kidding. "Who the hell are you?"

"Someone with gorgeous hair." Avery flipped her hair to side dramatically, making Jenny squeal and brush her hair again.

"You're like a kid." Jenny grumbled. "A small, mind not fully grown child."

"You know you love me."

Avery remembered that night clearly. Jenny dragged her to the car and drove her to the park to drop her off and wait to check that she wasn't going to run off. Dean was already there, waiting for her, or them. It wasn't hard to realise he wasn't sure what to expect. For once, they were both sober and sat on one of the benches in the park and talked. Just talked all night. He offered to walk her home since Jenny had turned off her phone and wasn't picking up.

"I gotta run." Avery dropped her fork down to the plate with a clunk, she grabbed her bag and sling it over her shoulder.

"You didn't finish your food." Dean said. Avery shook her head.

"I'm not hungry anymore". Avery said. "And I can't come back tomorrow."

"Why?" Spencer asked, getting up on her feet.

"I have classes all day. Maybe I'll see you the day after." She opened the door hastily, letting it shut behind her without looking.

Spencer looked at Dean, a glare on her face. Dean met her gaze, shrugging indifferently as he could. She stared at him until a couple minutes later, he gave up. "Alright, I'm going." He grabbed his keys and phone and went out of the door as quickly as Avery did. Spencer noticed something on the floor near the door. She got up, walked softly and bent down to pick it up. Avery's phone, black and shiny. She unlocked it, curiosity overpowering her. It didn't have a password. There was one message still opened on the screen. You're walking on thin ice. Don't slip. -A

She stared at the text numb and in shock. They were all getting A texts, they never knew Aria's older sister got them too, never even thought of the possibility. She scrolled down to all A messages. It went back for a couple years. All about threatening to tell her family about her drugs issue. Jenny, Dean, Mike and Aria. This had been going on before them for a long time. She quickly closed the messages, opening the contact list and dialling the first number that came. Hanna's.

Hanna picked up fairly quickly. "Avery?"

"Hanna, listen, It's Spencer-"

"You stole Avery's phone? She's going to be pissed." Hanna said.

"A has been threatening Avery before us. She's got like a fifty text or so." Spencer rushed the words impulsively.

"Hold on for a minute." Hanna told her, she heard shuffling and Emily's voice came on the other side.

"Avery too?" Emily asked.

"Yes, you gotta find her." Spencer said. "Tell her we're getting those too, she's not the only one."

"When's the first text?" Hanna questioned. Spencer mumbled 'a second' and went back to the text messages, she scrolled until she reached the very first one.

"About the time Alison started getting texts." She answered. "Look, she ran off, Dean's chasing after her."

"Who's Dean?" Hanna said confusedly.

"He's my counselor and Avery's ex. Where are you guys?"

"We're at the Brew." Hanna replied. "Wait, I think I see her."

Avery pulled her car in front of the Brew, she leaned her head against the steering wheel for a moment, before getting her courage together and got out of the car. She tried to walk confidently for her sake not to draw suspicion. She ordered a large black coffee and just as she grabbed it and turned to walk outside, she bumped into someone. Dean stood in front of her, his arms crossed.

"We need to talk." He said.

Avery forced herself to snort. "No, we don't." She tried to walk past him but he grabbed her wrist.

"You're not running away. Not again." Dean shook his head. She yanked her hand from his and slid her body to walk away.

"I'm not running, I'm walking away, there's a difference." She shoved the door open, not aware of the two pairs of eyes following her and Dean. Emily and Hanna stood and watched from the window.

"There isn't with you. Avery, I know you-" Dean followed her out, his words sharp but his voice wasn't raised.

"You know me?" Avery turned around, an angry glint in her eyes. She pointed at herself. "You don't know shit about me."

"I don't know you?" Dean said out loud in disbelief. "Avery, I know you better than I know myself."

"No, no you don't." She grabbed her car's door handle.

"Fine, then tell me how is that I know you're wearing an anklet around your right leg right now?" Dean's words surprised. The anklet was hidden by her combat boots, no one knew she even owned it. "The same anklet I gave you when you woke someday and decided that it was our seventh month and twelve days anniversary." Hanna and Emily perked their ears, hearing everything that was being spoken.

"How about that fact that you like wake in the middle on the night to cook? Or that once every few weeks, you get all the junk food you can get your hands on and watch movie marathons." Dean stepped closer to her, his face so close to hers that she could feel his minty, cool breath on her face. She was frozen in place. She didn't expect him to actually pay interest to her little, useless habits and quirks.

"You used to sneak to over twenty one clubs to watch your favorite bands play. And those were the times you weren't drunk or anything. You have all sorts of coffees and chocolate in your house-" She stopped him from talking by crashing her lips to his. He was confused for a moment before he returned the kiss eagerly. His hands moving to cup her cheek, something she always liked, she knotted her hands in his hair, drawing her body closer to his. One of Dean's hands moved to her waist, wrapping around her thin figure. The intense, slow pulls of their lips made a shiver run down her spine, making Dean smirk against her mouth.

He pulled away first, laying one last butterfly-like kiss and another soft one one her forehead, pressing his lips longer than necessary, not that either one of them complained. Dean pulled her to his arms, his hold tight. Avery buried her head in his shirt, inhaling the scent of him.

"I know you," He whispered softly. "So don't run away from me." He brushed his lips against her ear.

"Okay." Avery said quietly.

"Okay?" Dean asked, loosening his grip lightly to see her face.

She nodded, her fingers coming to wrap themselves around his. "Okay, I'll tell you everything."

Thanks for all the favs/follows/reviews! I'm trying to go on a steady update schedule, so see ya every Thursday! And does anyone think I should publish my Kol/Oc story? Let me know what you think.