6.
Of course Mark wasn't at school the next day. Or the next. By Tuesday lunchtime, word had spread about Mark's mother and how he had found her body. The rumors were horrible. Avery paid them very little mind after hearing the first few. None of the kids touched on the possibility that his mom had been killed by his stepfather. It was more a morbid curiosity on how Mark had found her, what she had been doing, wearing, and how messy it had been.
The funeral for Mrs. Williams was set for the next day. Avery did not expect Mark to show up for school then either. She knew she wouldn't. Ellie had been grilling her for the past two days, sensing that something had happened, but guessing nowhere near the real thing. She only figured that Avery might know something about Mark's disappearance.
By the time the day ended, Avery had a headache. She was getting ready to go when her dad beckoned to her from the doorway to the office.
"Isn't Tuesday your usual study date with Mark Calaway?" He'd asked.
Every time someone said his name, Avery felt like she had been sucker punched in the stomach. Would it ever stop?
"Yes. But finals are over."
"Still." Ted held out an envelope. "This came for him. If you see him at the library, can you give it to him? If not just bring it back. We'll mail it to his house."
Avery took it with numb fingers. It was an official looking letter from the college that Mark had been talking to about his scholarship chances. "Sure dad. I'll see you at supper." She gave him a hug and tucked the envelope into her nearly empty backpack before heading outside.
She had honestly had no intentions of going to the library but...since Mark hadn't popped up anywhere else, maybe he would show up there. Avery tried not to get her hopes up as she walked into the quiet building. She went to her usual spot, the table in the far left-hand corner. Empty of course. There were only a few people here, and no one from school. Avery sank down into an empty chair and pulled the letter out of her backpack. Feeling just a tiny bit guilty, she used a fingernail to carefully rip open the tap that held it closed.
It was an acceptance letter. His grades were good enough that they were willing to cover his scholarship. Avery oddly felt tears prick her eyes. It was something to celebrate, not cry over, but it was Mark's celebration not hers.
She tucked the envelope away and roamed the stacks for a bit, idly pulling out books and putting them back. Nothing caught her eye. She decided to leave. No sense in hanging out. Her reputation as a nerd didn't extend quite to the point where she had a chair in the library reserved for her, and she would like to keep it that way.
As she was gathering her things, she happened to glance toward the door. And would have sworn she saw Mark. Just a fleeting glimpse as he headed outside. It was hard to mistake him for someone else – nobody in town had his height and built.
Feeling like her stomach had jumped into her throat, Avery grabbed her backpack and hurried outside. And of course Mark wasn't there. Either her mind had been playing a particularly realistic trick on her, or it had been wishful thinking. Dejected, she started to walk home then reached for the letter again. She would make one pit stop on the way.
In ten minutes she was nearing Mark's house. Once again, nobody seemed to be home. No cars in the driveway. She debated then decided no. She wasn't going to give Mark's stepfather that satisfaction of reading the letter before he did. She hurried down the road to her own house. While her mother was busy cooking supper and her father was outside shooting baskets with Joe, Avery carefully re-taped the letter and put it on top of her dad's briefcase.
Since her mother had been uncharacteristically nice over the past few days, Avery ventured into the kitchen. She had a question to ask and was dreading it because she knew how her mother usually reacted when someone brought up the Williams family or Mark.
"Hey, Mom?"
"Hmm?" Suzanne was mixing something at the stove. She glanced at Avery, noted her serious look, and set the bowl aside. "What is it?"
"It's...could I leave school early tomorrow to go to Mrs. Williams' funeral?" Avery just spit it out.
Suzanne wiped her hands on a dishtowel and frowned a bit, thinking it over. "if it's all right with your father, than it's fine."
And again, Avery was stunned to silence. No fight? No argument that she needed to stop running around with a family that's beneath them.
"Don't look so surprised. You want to pay our respects and support your...friend. That's admirable, Avery. Your heart is in the right place." Again she hesitated ever so slightly. But then she complimented without the undertone of 'do better' that Avery was used to.
"Thanks Mom." She impulsively kissed her mother on the cheek, something she never did. Her mom didn't usually instigate or invite affection. This time though, she smiled softly and put her arm around Avery's shoulders for a quick hug.
The funeral was at 2. Avery left early enough to go home and change into a navy blue dress. Several people from school were there, along with a few dozen people from town. There was a handful of people that Avery didn't know as well.
Mark was conspicuously absent. So was Rob. The chairs reserved for family at the side of the grave sat empty the entire service. Avery told herself it wasn't disappointment anymore so much as worry. What had happened, where could he be, to miss giving his mother a proper goodbye?
Saturday soon arrived. Graduation day. Avery should have been ecstatic, but instead she just felt empty. She got dressed in the beautiful dress her mother had chosen for her, then let Suzanne fuss over her hair and makeup. Once the cap and gown were on, both Suzanne and Ted had trouble holding back their tears.
Avery accepted her diploma but barely remembered the walk across the stage. She had turned down the chance to be valedictorian, because she hated public speaking and what could she say? Use condoms? At least she could honestly say she had experience there.
She smiled for pictures and accepted congratulations from everyone, but it had felt so empty. Mark hadn't even bothered to show up for graduation. She had to make herself face it. He was truly gone. Away, just as he'd said. Nowhere in particular, but no longer here.
Avery finally put it behind her. It was the finality of graduating that did it. She would be leaving for college in a few months, and she still had a dance recital to prepare for. She had fancied herself in love with the guy, and he'd done exactly what her mother had hinted at all those times she had brought him up. She should be glad he had left.
But that left her feeling empty as well. Empty and a bit scared. Because Rob hadn't left. If he had murdered Elizabeth, as Mark suspected, that meant a cold blooded killer was living just a few blocks away. College was looking better and better. If she just kept telling herself that she was over him, eventually it would be true. Avery could only hope as her last summer at home stretched out in front of her.
