Ava's pov
The last thing I remember after reaching Logan's place is that he told me he was going out tonight, so why the hell is he still here? I was lost in my thoughts when I felt something nudging me. I turned to face Logan who had a smirk on his face. "hey nerd, what are you daydreaming now? I know I'm hot but you can just tone it out sunshine". I scoffed "who told you I'm thinking about you? didn't you say you are going out tonight? or is no one willing to open their legs for you?" I remarked. Logan smirk widened "and why do you care nerd? I don't think me whoring around is any of your concern or are you jealous " he said . I became aware of the small space we were in. After the kiss we shared earlier, Everytime Logan is close to me keeps making me feeling conscious. " No I'm not jealous but can you move your body away, you're in my space " I said, trying to scoot away from him until he caught my arm and started pulling me closer to him. " Why? Are you nervous Ava? don't worry I don't bite.. not that much anyway " The audacity of this guy, I crossed my arms" look here Mr, I'm not one of your conquest nor I will ever be, I'm just here because of my situation right now but it seems I made a problem asking you for help because you're clearly not interesting in helping me, might as well as show my way out" I huffed reaching for my duffle bag and started heading to the door when he caught my wrist turning me around. His smirk faded quickly" alright Ava I'm sorry I didn't mean to insinuate anything. just so you know you're welcome to stay here as long as you want. I'm sorry "he apologize I sighed I knew coming here would be challenging but I have nowhere to go right now and on top of that I've no job. " It's alright, but I want to make something clear Logan. I'm not here to impress you nor am I here to start a relationship with you, I'm not like those girls who like to throw themselves at guys like you. I'm sorry but when I'm here I want you to respect me and I'll do the same. our relationship is strictly tutor and student learn to respect that " After finishing my mini speech I looked at Logan and found his expression changed. He didn't seem impressed with whatever I said. Guess he isn't used to not having his way. He clenched his jaw and clicked his tongue in annoyance. " Great! make yourself at home I'll be out in mean time " he said then grabbed his car keys and stepped out of the house leaving me alone. That night I stayed in Logan's apartment lying on the couch in the living room with my laptop. I kept thinking when would Logan fulfill his promise to find me a part time job? I kept digging into every job platform I could to find a job but the more I dug the more nothing I could find. my phone buzzed with messages. one from Logan and one from my dad. I decided to open Logan's message first logan: I'm sorry I left you alone, I was just angry. Ava: angry that things didn't go your way?đ Logan: There is no need to be a sarcastic nerd! alright I'll see you later, have you eaten? Ava: I haven't but I'm good thanks Logan: Don't be stupid nerd! I'll be back in an hour with some to eat bye! I don't know why he seems to care! guess all jocks do this to get into girl's pants. I took a deep breath preparing myself to open my dad's message, what could he possibly want now? Dad: "be home on Sunday we need to talk" Sunday? talk? He can't be serious! after all those years after chasing me out like a dog ,he just out of nowhere commanded me to go home? Ava: "I have nothing to talk to you about". he replied fast Dad: "even if you don't come,I wanted to tell you your siblings are coming there they just got accepted in your university so you better take care of them" Fuck! me living here was already bad enough but now I've got to help Brian and kate. I don't hate my siblings but we don't get along, Kate is mean to everyone while Brian is way worse! I decided to do my homework and presentations. The next few hours passed in a blur of trying to complete my history presentation that I was working on in silence. Few hours later I heard the door being opened and Logan entered, approaching me with a box of pizza with him. He sat down next to me, way too close . What is with this guy invading my private space? He opened the box and instantly the smell of a fresh pizza wafted through my nose. my stomach grumbled. "ooh! and I thought you weren't hungry nerd! " he said wiggling his eyebrows " I was not hungry but this is a biological reaction, everyone in my place will do what I have done stupid!" I retorted fast it was embarrassing enough to do this Infront of Logan. he reached for a piece of pizza and passed it to me " take it I'm sick of your stomach noises so you better eat". " Excuse me! it's not on purpose I told you it's bio ..." he didn't even let me finish " yeah yeah, biological reaction I get it you can eat now nerd" he said feigning exhaustion. I took a piece of pizza and took a bite. " Thank you,but you didn't have to do that, I can take care of myself Logan". He sighedâyeah I know but I wouldn't be a good host wouldn't I? You're my guest and I have to take care of you, you don't have to feel pressured" I blinked stunned, his words touched me. I didn't think Logan was capable of emotions. Before I could thank him again he asked me something I didn't want to talk about âBy the way Ava, I've been meaning to ask you what happened to your place? If i'm to help you I have to know first so can you tell me?" He asked I felt myself getting defensive âso what Logan? So you could mock me with your jock friends? No thank you I can manage myself" His eyes narrowed âwhat the hell Ava? Is that what you take me for? I'm just trying to help, but you got your walls up trying to be a bitch when I'm just trying to find some way to help you.â I gasped " well⌠thank you now you have shown your true colors I don't think I can stay here anymore". I started heading to the door ready to leave. I would come tomorrow to get my bag,but now I seem to have any energy left in me. But before I could disappear outside I was flung back inside and felt arms sneaking my waist. âI'm sorry Ava! I'm just angry that you do not trust me enough. I didn't mean to call you a bitch,I'm so sorry!" Logan said, tightening his arms around my waist. I know I should fight and wiggle out of his hug but being here in his arms I felt all my worries vanish instantly. I hugged him back âYou aren't exactly the person to be trusted Logan, we've known each in just a week" I said trying to lighten the mood. Logan chuckled â alright then we will work on that, let's get back to the pizza before it goes badâ.Avaâs POVThe morning after our fight, my chest still ached. I kept replaying everything I said to Logan. My anger had been sharp, my words laced with venom, and though I told myself he deserved it, a part of me knew I hadnât just cut him,Iâd shattered something that was barely holding on.He looked⌠broken when he stormed away. But I was hurting too, wasnât I?The bakery buzzed around me, I refused to go to the office. Flour streaked my apron, and the smell of cinnamon and caramel clung to my skin. None of it reached me.He left me.But now I knew he was trying to come back.Was I just too angry to let him?A bell rang overhead. My heart leapt automatically, expecting it to be him again. But it was Levi ,his younger brother.He offered me a small smile, hands in his jeans pockets. âGot a second?âI nodded and wiped my hands before pulling off my apron. âSure. Whatâs up?ââLunch?â he offered.I hesitated, but something about his eyes which were calmer than Loganâs, but just as intens
Logan's povDays passed, and I kept trying. Small texts, short calls, even dropping by the bakery to catch her during a break. Every attempt met cold walls or silence. But I knew beneath the frost, she was melting slowly.One evening, I found her closing up the bakery late. She was exhausted but determined. I stepped inside, my heart pounding. Maybe this might be my chance.I shouldâve walked away when I saw the storm brewing in her eyes.But I didnât. I couldnât ,I wanted a chance, just one chance to show her that I had a reason for everything that happened..âAvaâŚââYou need to leave,â she snapped, her voice like a blade I didnât see coming.I flinched, stepping back like her words were a physical blow.âI just wanted to see if you were okay.âShe laughed, a short, bitter sound that didnât belong to the girl I once knew.âYou wanted? Funny. Where were all these wants when I cried myself to sleep every night you disappeared?âMy throat tightened. âI was...ââGone,â she cut in coldly.
Logan's POVThe elevator dinged, as I stepped out into the sleek, glass walled office that had become my battlefield these past few weeks. I wasnât expecting to see Nate here of all people leaning casually against Avaâs desk, flashing that same stupid grin I remembered from two years ago. Fork Boy.What the fuck was he doing here?!He hadnât changed much. Still smug, still thinking he's too familiar with Ava. And she was smiling. That same reserved smile she used to give me before Iâd pull her into my arms and kiss it away. Now it was his to earn, apparently.Something dark twisted in my chest.I walked forward slowly, each step measured. Nate noticed me first, his eyes narrowing with recognition.âLogan,â he said, casually, like we were friends. Like he didnât know how badly I wanted to deck him.I ignored the greeting and looked straight at Ava. Her smile dropped. She stood straighter, defensive already. Good. Maybe she could feel what was coming.âYouâre a client now?â I asked Na
Avaâs POVLoganâs voice broke the heavy silence. âAva, wait⌠we need to talk.âMy hands trembled slightly, and I took a small step back, my heart racing in a way that wasnât excitement or happiness. It was fear,confusion,pain I hadnât fully allowed myself to feel until now.âNo,â I whispered, shaking my head. âThereâs nothing to say.âHe frowned, his usual calm and commanding presence flickering with vulnerability I hadnât expected. âI didnât mean to disappear on you. I had my reasonsâIâŚâI cut him off, voice barely steady but firm. âTwo years, Logan. You left without a word, without even saying goodbye properly. You donât get to just show up and expect everything to be okay.âHis jaw tightened, and I saw the conflict in his eyes. âI wanted to protect you.ââProtect me?â I laughed bitterly. âBy vanishing? By leaving me in the dark while everything fell apart?âTears pricked at my eyes, but I blinked them away. I wasnât ready to break down here, not now.Logan took a step forward, his
âŁAvaâs POVâŁI woke up with that same tight feeling in my chest, the one that never really went away. By the time I reached the bakery, the shelves were already filled with pastries neatly arranged, warm, and familiar. I kept my hands busy, moving trays and wiping counters, hoping the routine would quiet the thoughts in my mind that refused to let go.I wiped down the counter again, trying to focus on the task rather than the gnawing silence inside me.So much time had passed, but it still felt like I was waiting for something or someone that might never come.I pushed the thought away and forced a smile when a customer approached the counter. âGood morning! What can I get for you today?âAfter serving the few regulars who drifted in, the shop settled into a silence. I took a deep breath and glanced out the window at the sleepy street beyond. The city was still waking up, but for me, every day felt like a slow journey to the unknown .Just then, the familiar jingle of the doorbell m
âŁAva POV⣠(Two Years Later)The city I lived in now was nothing like Westbridge. It didnât have the same old buildings or that annoying sounds in the library steps. It was busier, colder, and the sky was almost always cloudy , a perfect match for how Iâd felt for the last two years.I stood in the cafĂŠ I now worked at, wiping down a table as rain tapped against the windowpane. Another rainy day,another quiet shift ,another memory of him.Logan Carter.Some days, I still expected him to walk through the door with that same cocky grin, messed-up hair, a dumb joke ready on his lips. But he never did. He never would.He was gone.Not officially because there was never a death certificate,no headlines,no funeral. Just... gone. Like he vanished with the wind the night the Carter empire fell.I only know about his father's death,but I haven't heard from him or Levi ever since they disappeared.My fingers tightened around the rag.âStill thinking about him?â Charlotteâs voice pulled me back.