Left Behind

Missing Them

 Author's Note: This chapter is going to be different as I decided to do a chapter on what was going on with Ava because I wanted to show how she was dealing with all of this as well. I promise I'll get back to Carlos and Mal after this, but I just wanted to do a chapter like this first. Oh and please let me know if you would want me to do more chapters like this that explores Ava's side because I feel like I haven't focused too much on that in my other story. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter and please let me know what you all thought.

Ava sighed as she looked at the picture that Carlos had just posted on his Instagram. She was really starting to miss her little siblings, but she knew she had to do this. She was protecting them.

"Hey Ava are you okay," Nolan asked his secret girlfriend as he looked at her after seeing how upset she looked, making Ava sigh as she put the phone down. "Yeah I just miss them," Ava told Nolan as a few tears slipped out causing Nolan to pull her close to him.

"I know, but you're doing the right thing," Nolan told Ava who sighed as she looked at the picture again of her little brother laughing as he sat on his bed cuddled up with their baby sister and they were watching a Christmas movie.

It was hurting to see how big Mal looked as she wasn't a newborn anymore and the baby was smiling along with Carlos. "I know, but this is Mal's first Christmas! I should be there," Ava told her boyfriend who just put Ava's phone down as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"I know Ava, but you remember how those people reacted when they found out who you were. You don't want them to go through that too right," Nolan told Ava, making her sigh as she realized he was right about that.

Someone had found out about who she was despite her using her middle name and it started a huge thing. Now everyone was treating her differently and people wouldn't stop tormenting her and judging her for what her dad did.

On top of the fact that the paparazzi wouldn't leave her alone either all because of some stupid rat that completely ruined her life. Ava wanted to see her siblings so badly and talk to them, but she didn't want people to find out about who they were.

They were both minors, so Ava made sure they kept Carlos and Mal's names out of the media. The only thing people knew about them was that she had two younger siblings, but no one knew their names and what they looked like.

But if Ava started talking to them and seeing them then everyone would know who they were and they would ruin Carlos and Mal's lives too. She couldn't do that to her little siblings. They didn't deserve that and besides Ava wasn't ready to be a mom.

Carlos and Mal were better off without her even if she was really missing them. She had to keep acting like they didn't exist to keep them protected and safe. Ava sighed when the phone went off again and she saw it was Carlos.

"He's calling again," Ava told Nolan who just took Ava's phone from her, making Ava cry as she just wanted to talk to her brother, but she couldn't risk it. Ava cried more when she heard the voice mail go off as she knew she was hurting her brother even though she was trying to protect him.

"Ava please answer! I miss you so much! Oh guess what! My friend Ben and his family surprised me and Mal! They gave us a surprise Christmas! It was the best! Mal loved it! You should have seen her! Please Ava I really miss you!" Carlos said through the voicemail making Ava start crying more as she could hear the hurt in her brother's voice.

Ava waited for Nolan to fall asleep as she grabbed her phone and went to Carlos' number as she hovered her finger over the name debating on whether she should risk it or not. If Beacon Guard caught her talking to them then someone else may find out and then Carlos and Mal's name would be all over the media.

But she was missing her family more and more now and it was obvious Carlos was missing her too. Ava just sighed as she couldn't do it anymore as she decided one time wouldn't hurt.

Ava smiled when she heard the phone ring for a second before she heard her brother's adorable squeaky voice. "Ava!" The twelve year old screamed out excitedly over the phone making Ava laugh as she had missed her brother's voice.

"Hey pup!" Ava told Carlos, making him laugh. "I don't go by that anymore Ava! That's Mal's name now! I'm too old for that silly name!" Carlos told his big sister, making Ava laugh while she was feeling a little hurt inside hearing her brother say that.

"Oh okay well how is everything," Ava told her brother, making him laugh as he picked up Mal and brought her over.

"Oh Mal and I were just watching Sesame Street before bed! She loves it! How was your Christmas! Mal and I had the best Christmas! We thought it was gonna suck since we didn't have anything, but bam! My friends Ben and Jane and their amazing family were actually planning a huge surprise Christmas for us! It was the best! We just left a few minutes ago!" Carlos rambled out excitedly making Ava feel hurt again as she loved hearing how much fun her brother and sister had, but she was feeling bad knowing that she wasn't a part of it.

"That sounds awesome! I'm glad you had a good Christmas! I didn't really celebrate. I just spent my time home with my boyfriend," Ava told her brother, making Carlos laugh. "OOH! YOU HAVE A BOYFRIEND! DID YOU HEAR THAT MAL! AVA HAS A BOYFRIEND!" The young boy screamed out making Ava roll her eyes at her brother's reaction.

Ava was surprised when she heard the adorable giggle as she realized that was Mal's giggling. "Oh wow she's laughing now," Ava told Carlos in shock making Carlos laugh. "Yeah I know! It's crazy right! Ava I really miss you," Carlos told Ava who nodded.

"Yeah it is crazy and I miss you too buddy," Ava told Carlos, making him laugh as he remembered something. "Oh speaking of Buddy did you know Mal has a crush on baby Buddy from Elf! She got so excited when he came on the screen even though he's way too old for her! Like he was crawling already and she can barely lift herself up during tummy time! Who does he think he is!" Carlos rambled out making Ava laugh as she found it adorable how overprotective Carlos was especially over a movie character.

"Well in Mal's defense he is adorable," Ava told Carlos back, deciding to mess with him a little, making Carlos get upset. "Ava she's too young for boys!" Carlos told Ava making her laugh again at how serious Carlos was taking it.

"Oh come on Carlos I was kidding! Anyway it's getting late. Night Carlos I love you and I miss you and Mal so much," Ava told Carlos who smiled. "Yeah you're right Mal is falling asleep and I am getting pretty tired. Night Ava love you too! And Ava please don't ignore my calls anymore," Carlos told Ava who sighed knowing this was probably the last time she would talk to them because of everything that was happening, but she didn't want to tell Carlos that.

"Yeah of course buddy! Anyway I gotta go! Bye Carlos I love you and tell Mal I love her too," Ava told her brother as she ended the call and immediately started crying as she looked at the phone knowing that was probably the last time she would get to talk to her brother because of that supid rat who had outed who she was to everyone.