Ava's Roulette

Chapter 11: Change

I did not cry. I was close. But it did not happen. Rob and Liz were completely shocked for once. I had always told them everything regarding my parents, and we had known each other since grade school. So, they knew that our relationship was distant, as they called it, but I guess they never thought they would ever go that far. Of course, this is not what happened exactly, but to me it was the same. They made no effort to avoid the points I set out for them. I weaved a different dinner story. In this recount, the Larson's were not there. It was all about the discussion of my career and their business. A replayed classic with a more finite end this time. Liz hugged me and rubbed my back, her eyes large and watery. She did all the crying for me. I once again patted her on the back with one finicky hand. For a second, I wondered whether I had gone too far, because even Rob gave me a quick hug.

"I'm sorry about that." He said. No quip, no lecture, no sarcasm. Liz reminded me how they were both there to help and support me. Her words plucked at my heart; they did mean a lot to me. Yet all I did was thank them. We ended the conversation with me leaving up to my room again. I looked back to make sure they were not looking at me, and I watched as Liz cried into Rob's shoulder as he now held her with both arms.

Ace kept trying to call and text, but I blocked him. I felt a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions in my head, I could not deal with him at the time. The only good thing about not having to deal with my parents and Ace is that I caught up on all my classes over the weekend. I finished all my notes and was ready for the coming week. It was gratifying. I had nothing to worry about academically. So, the week went by almost eerily still. Nothing stood out, not even bikers. To be fair, I was too caught up in my own thoughts to search for them.

However, it was getting to the second week after Thanksgiving that I started waking up in the middle of the night. I would have dreams of myself running but I would not make any progress. I felt an intense fear as I somehow knew something was chasing me, but I could not get away. It was like trying to run in zero-gravity. When I woke up, I felt like everything was a dream. Like I was not really awake. Thanksgiving had been a dream too, there was no contract, there was no Charles. It was in this half-dream state that I heard knocking downstairs. I stopped the music I was playing on my laptop and looked up from the notes I was writing. I waited. I needed to know if the knocking was real or if I was going insane. My hand hovered over the spacebar, and I held an earbud in the other. Nothing.

A few minutes later I heard someone running up the stairs and knocking on my door. This was real. I opened it to see a perplexed Rob on the other side.

"Hey Ava, there's a guy at the door looking for you" I must have turned gray, pale, or something in between because Rob furrowed his eyebrows "Were you expecting someone?"

"Uh, not exactly" He walks into my room and closes the door to not let our conversation out.

"Well, he said his name is Charles and that you two know each other. He's been trying to call you all week"

"Oh. Right" I said dryly. Rob crouched next to me and made direct eye contact with me.

"You all right? Should I tell him to leave or call the police?"

I shook my head "No, I just forgot about today" I lied, pretended we had both planned this. Regardless, Rob followed me as I stood up and walked downstairs. There we heard Liz talking enthusiastically with someone on the other side of the door. I could hear Charles' deep, refined voice responding. Even without looking at him, I could hear the confidence in his posture. Rob walked ahead and opened the door quickly, as if rushed all of a sudden. We all filed out and Rob put a hand on Liz's shoulder, I assumed it was to let her know we were both there.

Charles had his aviator shades on. I could only see his eyebrows rise as he saw me exiting the hallway to the outdoors. He nodded to me.

"Avery" I could see Rob and Liz flinch. They could immediately tell we were not close, I never introduced myself as Avery. How was I supposed to convince them we were dating? Let alone in love? In love enough to get married. This man will be the end of me for fuck's sake. I thought bitterly.

"Ava" I responded forcing a smile.

"I'm just teasing" He smiled wide enough to reveal the dimple on his left cheek. At least he's a good actor, maybe this will work. He had his hands in the pockets of his black leather jacket but extended a hand to help me in going down the one step of the front porch. I hated the thought of touching him, but Liz and Rob were watching. I accepted the help, and just as I was about to ask what he was here for, as if reading my mind, he answered for me. "Thought I'd take you out for a ride" He nodded towards the sports car in the driveway. I held back my shock. I shot him a quick look, and remembered my friends were watching all of this unfold.

"I'll be back in a bit" I smiled. Liz's eyes widened excitedly, she even pushed both her hands into her cheeks, as if to contain herself. It kind of scared me, how happy she seemed about it. Rob now had both hands on her shoulders, and he gave Charles a stern look. His eyes shifted towards me, and in seeing my (fake) smile, he looked to the side and tilted his head. He was thinking, but he was not going to say anything. Oh god. Rob knows something's off.

"Alrighty, just don't come home too late" Liz winked at me. I felt a shiver running down my spine. What the fuck had Charles told her?! Why was she so... into it?

"Yes mom" I whined to play along. Rob said nothing and directed Liz towards the door as she vigorously waved her hand at me. Rob gave us one last look and closed the door.

Charles, still holding my hand, pulled me towards the car. I slipped my hand back.

"We really don't need to do that" I said annoyed.

"Darling, you know we do" He didn't turn to look at me. Just put his hand back in his pocket until we got to the passenger's seat of the car, and he opened the door for me.

"Thanks" I mumbled. The contract was most certainly real. I sat there with my arms crossed as I waited for him to sit down beside me and drive off to who-knows-where. As I looked in the passenger's side mirror, I noticed a man on a large bike staring at us. My blood froze, and my eyes widened. I tried to keep myself together in front of Charles. He was completely unaware.

"Where are we going?" I asked to keep him focused on anything but the man who now leaned forward, as if focusing on us two.

"To the park. Just out for a walk" I turned to look at him at the strange proposition. I'd never been on a first date to the park. "Nothing more I promise" He raised his hands defensively.

"Ok" was all I could muster as the man in the bike revved his engine and sped down the street, giving me one last look.

Shit.