جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 30

Ava crept back into the living room to pick up her phone.She had left it on the side table earlier, and now there was so little going on about the house that every slightest noise was exaggerated. The lights were low. Everybody had retired to their rooms. Ava was walking slowly so as not to be caught.At the point of the hallway where the back door was, she heard two people talking.She froze. It was Elena and Marcus. Ava’s breath hitched. She had not intended to overhear what was being talked about, but she could not draw her feet back.“I said we have already discussed this.”That was not an answer, Elena replied. “You’re just dodging it.”Ava crept a little nearer to the wall, and her heart began to beat.Elena continued, “I have only asked you something really easy.”There was a beat.“Would you still love some other person?”The words struck her like a chilly shower.Someone else.Her breath became tight, and her hand wandered to her stomach. She knew she should walk away. She

Mark was twenty minutes late.As he entered the bridal shop, the bell over the door tinkled, and he twirled his jacket off, and not paying much attention to the room, as if it were nothing more than a dream."Ava?" he called.Half-dressed, just as she was about to leave the mirror, stood Ava, in an ugly white dress that the seamstress was prodding at her waist."You're late," she said lowly."Sorry," Mark replied. "Traffic."That just sounded like an FYI.The seamstress pleasantly smiled at him. "You must be the groom."“Well, yes,” Mark said, but you could read the tone.He approached nearer, looked at the dress a moment, and walked off.Ava saw it. "Well?" smiling, the seamstress inquired. "What do you think?"Mark stammered. "It’s…nice."Just nice. Ava felt her chest tighten."You don't like it?" she asked.Mark dabbed his neck. "I didn't say that."“You were not very sincere about it, Ava said.The seamstress laughed. "He's probably just nervous."Mark nodded. "Yeah. Nervous."Av

Riley saw Ava standing on the school steps all by herself.It was late afternoon. The majority had already bounced, and the place was not very noisy except for the chattering in the distance and speeding cars. Ava huddled by herself, gazing at emptiness."Ava," Riley whispered.Ava looked up, startled. "Riley."Up came Riley and sat down beside her. I have been searching everywhere for you.Ava gave a weak smile. "I just needed some fresh air."Riley looked at her. "You look wiped out.""I'm fine," Ava shot back.Riley sighed. "You always say that."They simply stood and gazed at the ground for a moment.Then Riley replied, "Bella has been posing a lot of questions.Ava froze."What kind of questions?" Trying to hold her voice back, Ava questioned.Riley glanced about and then spoke in a lower voice. “Of you and of Mark, and when it all came about.”Ava's heart started pounding. "Why would she do that?"Riley frowned. "That’s what worries me."Ava swallowed. "What did you tell her?""

Mark did not knock as he walked in. He banged the door behind him more than he needed to and was loud enough to make Ava flinch. She already sat on the brink of her bed, gazing at nothing, but the atmosphere was unmistakably that of a solemn interview, not a mere play-frolic."We need to talk," Mark said.Ava looked up slowly. "About what?"Mark clenched his fists. "Don't freak out. Do you have the slightest idea what is happening?”Ava rose with a slight separation between them. “You need not shout, you see, you are mad.”"I'm not shouting," Mark snapped. Thereupon, he drew a breath, rubbing his face. I am attempting to learn what is going on, Ava. I know the things do not add up, and I am sick of feeling like an ass.Ava’s stomach tightened. "What doesn’t add up?"Mark laughed bitterly. "Everything. The dates. The way people look at me. The questions Bella keeps asking. And how you shudder every time someone says that night.“That is not fair,” Ava said to herself. "I’ve been under

Elena waited until the place was very quiet in the house before she slipped into Lydia's position. It was all soft and a bit revealing of the windows, through the afternoon sun. When Elena sat down opposite Lydia on the couch, he was scrolling through her phone, and she was looking cool with rampant eye power.“Can I ask you something?” Elena said.Lydia looked up. “Sure.”Elena clasped her hands. “It’s about Ava.”The fingers of Lydia stopped on the screen. “What about her?”Elena watched her closely. “You have been with her more than anybody. I only want to know what you think about her. Honestly.”Lydia bit back and passed a little smile. “She’s… quiet.”“Not an answer, that is not, not really,” Elena answered.Lydia heaved a sigh and put aside her phone. “You’re serious.”“Yes,” Elena said. “Very serious.”Lydia shifted on the couch. “I don’t dislike her. I just… feel something is off.”Elena bent forward a little. “Off how?”“I do not know,” Lydia said, frowning. It seems that sh