Her Touch

22

AS WE WALKED out of the gates and onto the street, the cool wind whipped my hair, making it scatter wildly in the air, before falling to rest. "Cutie, are you trying to seduce me in public with all the hair flowing?"
"Maybe," I grinned, as I walked between mom and Ava.
"You two are getting too comfortable with me," mom mumbled.
"You're the inappropriate one," I pointed out.
"Whatever," she rolled her eyes, "Ava, you should teach Kylie to use her mouth for more pleasurable purposes," my eyes widened, making me shove her.
"Mom! Seriously!" I yelled, my cheeks tinted with embarrassment.
"Oh shut it, I bet you'll love it."
"I don't think so," I grumbled.
"I used to say that, but then I realized that it is the best sex act. Do you know what it's like to feel someone's tongue inside of you, it's complete euphoria..." I quickly jogged ahead, until I couldn't hear her voice anymore.
"Damn, you run fast," Ava breathed, as she ran behind me.
"You should stay with mom. It will be less suspicious."
"I'm taking a walk with my godfather's granddaughter, what is so wrong about that?" I scrunched up my nose.
"You're basically my cousin, gross, I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore."
"Shut up, you're stuck with me."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are, and we're not blood, so don't make it inappropriate," I pressed my lips together and looked down at the ground, as we continued to walk, "Kylie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."
"It's okay, by the way, where do you live? I'm just following you," I attempted to change the subject.
"Oh, not too far, we're already on Marlboro Lane, so two more blocks and we'll be there."
"Marlboro?" She nodded, making me laugh.
"Yeah, I know, cigarettes, whatever."
"Yea, it reminds me that I should start smoking," Ava shoved my arm.
"No smoking, you have to be healthy if we are going to grow old together," her eyes widened, as the words slipped out of her mouth.
"That sounds nice. I always saw myself being stuck in old folks' home alone."
"Aw, cutie, we can be stuck there together," Ava chuckled, before I looked behind us to see that mom had about half a block to catch up with us.
I stopped in my tracks, making Ava stop as well, deciding to wait for mom to catch up. She had to calm down by then, "you left me stranded and all alone," she sniffled, before wiping away a fake tear. as she got closer.
"Suits you for being inappropriate," she patted my back.
"I only joke, baby."
"Yeah, sure," I mumbled, before she linked her arm with mine.
"So, I was wondering if you would be my maid of honour. You know, since you're my daughter and all," I bit down on the inside of my cheek, as I considered the idea, "please, please, please. Kylie, I'm begging."
I rolled my eyes and nodded, "no puffy dress, okay?"
"Sure thing, wear a suit for all I care," she chuckled, before dropping her arm from mine.
"Ava, you're still coming, right?" Ava nodded.
"Of course, Miss Blanckaert, but I don't think you should expect my parents anymore," her tone of voice dropped and sadness was evident again.
"That's okay, sweetheart," mom lowered her eyes to the ground.
"Babe, you'll be okay, don't worry too much. She'll come around," I reassured her, wanting to take her sorrows away by planting kisses all over her face, but couldn't, since we were in public. What's gotten into me lately?
"We're here," she opened the fenced gate to enter the yard. We walked up the pathway and toward the front door.
"Did you call ahead for someone to know we're coming?"
"Mom's always home around this time," Ava pressed the doorbell. I would assume that she had a key, but felt like a guest instead of a resident of the house.
Surprisingly, Ava's father opened the door, "Ava, honey, I'm glad you're home," he smiled, before stepping aside to allow us in, "Jaclyn, Kylie, it's nice to see you, why are you here, might I ask?"
"They're helping me with collecting my things," Ava walked into the house, with us behind her.
"What? What's going on?" He questioned.
"Why are you home, dad?" She asked instead to avoid his question, "I thought you'd be at work."
"I got home early because I had to pick up Natalie from school," he furrowed his brows.
"Ava," Natalie ran into the room, before latching her tiny arms around Ava's leg.
"Hey sweetie, you missed me, huh?" She picked up the little girl into her arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek, "soon I won't be able to lift you anymore. You're getting so big," Natalie giggled and kissed her sister on her forehead.
"I miss you, are you staying?" The little girl questioned, sadness laced with her voice.
"That is what I want to know as well." Mr Reese interjected and walked over to Ava.
"You should probably ask mom," Ava mumbled, as she placed Natalie to sit on her shoulders.
"She's been upset all night and won't tell me what's wrong."
"Daddy, I know why mommy is mad," Natalie raised her hand, as Ava put her down.
"You know?" The little girl nodded, "I doubt it, sweetie, you're too little to understand," Ava playfully pulled on the little girl's earlobe.
Natalie placed her hands on her hips and frowned, "I'm not stupid, I was right there, you know."
"Well, what is it, Natalie?" Mr. Reese insisted.
"Ava's gay," the little girl shrugged and walked over to her father.
"What?" The man asked confused. He rubbed his temples, before noticing Mrs. Reese walking down the stairs.
"You're here?"
Her mother rose her brow, "just to collect my things," Ava sighed.
"Okay then," Mrs. Reese turned her attention away and walked into another room.
"Diane, come here," Mr. Reese called, as Ava was about to head up the stairs, "Ava, you too," Ava stopped and stood on a step with her arms crossed over her chest. Mrs. Reese re-entered the room with an irritated expression, "so, what's the problem here?"
"Didn't you hear or have you gone deaf? Your daughter is saying she's a lesbian."
"You seem to have forgotten your sexuality, Diane," mom pointed out, "I thought you would be more understanding."
"As I said, those were mistakes, and I never labelled myself to be such a thing either."
"Such a thing?" Ava fumed and closed her eyes, her anger evident, "I'm a twenty-three-year-old woman who has never had a decent relationship until now, just because I was afraid of your judgement, but no longer will I hide who I am."
"Until now?" I pressed my lips together and Ava inhaled deeply.
"Until now, I have finally decided to be my true self."
"Is it because Kylie is open about herself? It's since she has been here that you're speaking such things," Mrs. Reese looked at me, making me gulp.
"Don't bring her into this," Ava grumbled, "and don't worry about me anymore, I'll pack my things and leave."
"Ava, don't," her father called after her, as she hurriedly walked up the stairs, "Diane, what's wrong with you? Stop being stupid. Just because your family didn't accept your bisexuality, doesn't mean we shouldn't accept Ava," he rubbed his temples again, clearly stressed out.
I made a bold decision and headed up the stairs, not caring what assumptions anyone would make. All I cared about was Ava. I heard sobs, as I stepped on the flooring of the upstairs, but I wasn't sure which room she was in, "Ava, where are you?" I yelled, as I peeped into rooms, as I walked. I finally found the one that she was in. She was sitting on the floor, hugging her knees, "babe," I mumbled, as I walked over and knelt in front of her.
"Can you just leave me alone?" Her voice was broken, "I want to be alone."
"No, you don't," I whispered, as I used my hands to lift her face up. Her eyes were filled with sorrow, and the tears managed to smear across her cheeks, making them damp.
"Hug me please," she whispered, as she stretched her legs out. I placed a knee on either side of her legs and wrapped my arms around her neck, allowing her to rest her chin on my shoulder. We stayed in that position for a few minutes, my fingers finding themselves lost in her soft, raven hair, "thank you," she pulled away from me, "help me pack?" She used the back of her hand to wipe her face. I nodded and got up from hovering over her.
As I stood, I took the chance to admire her room. The picture frames on the walls, which were painted in a light shade of blue, caught my attention. I walked over to one to see Ava with a black kitten in her arms, which I assumed was Midnight.
"You're not giving me your cat anymore, are you?" I questioned, as she lifted a suitcase onto her bed.
"He's probably in the backyard. I'll go get him when I am done," she walked into her closet and started to take out her clothing.
I sighed, as I walked over to her and cupped her face with the palms of my hands, even though her arms were filled with clothes, and pulled her into a kiss, "be strong," I whispered. She gave me a small smile, as I stepped back and she threw the clothes into the suitcase.
"Can you ask Grandpa to come pick us up? You know, since I'll have a lot to fetch," I nodded and slipped my phone out of my back pocket. After asking grandpa to pick us up, I helped Ava pack all of her necessities, and since she only had one suitcase, we had to pack most of the stuff into laundry baskets and an old duffel bag that we found in her closet., "I think that is it," she placed her hands on her hips. I looked at the stuff on the bed and sighed. There were two baskets, one large suitcase and a giant duffle bag. After we took everything downstairs and rested them by the front door, I heard my mother's lecturing voice coming from the kitchen.
"Be more supportive, Diane, it isn't healthy to be angry at your daughter for something she has no control over."
"Save the lecture, please, deal with your daughter and your own problems, don't try to solve mine."
"I know this is hard but..."
"Just stop," Mrs. Reese grumbled, holding her hand up.
"Diane, I know it was unexpected, but get over it already," Mr. Reese interjected, irritated.
"Fine, let her be mocked and humiliated by the town along with us. What will people think of Natalie, huh? Have you thought about that?"
"You're being too dramatic. Are you blind or don't you know that it's legal to be with whomever you choose and a lot of people in this town are either gay or bisexual, or whatever gender they call themselves."
"I don't want to fight anymore," Mrs. Reese breathed deeply, before noticing our presence.
"Ava, you're not going anywhere, don't worry with your mother," Ava shook her head and pressed her lips together.
"No, dad, it's time that I move out. I know I'll be staying with grandpa until I find my own place and honestly I think I'm going to find a job in another state. It will save all of you the embarrassment of having a lesbian for a daughter," she walked into the kitchen and out the back door.
"See what you have done?" Mr. Reese grumbled.
"She'll be safe with us, don't worry," I assured him that Ava was in good hands.
Ava came back with Midnight in her arms. I looked at how she cradled him like a baby and pouted her lips while talking to him.
"Kylie, this is Midnight," she placed the furry animal into my arms. He squirmed and jumped down, before he ran behind Ava.
My eyes widened in surprise, and I frowned, already knowing that he didn't like me.
"Ava, don't make such drastic decisions."
Ava picked up Midnight and kept him in her arms, as he purred, "I'm making choices like a grown woman should," we then heard the doorbell ring, the person likely being my grandfather.
Ava walked out of the kitchen and toward the door, likely already concluding who it was, and opened it, "thanks for coming."
Mom and I walked over to her luggage and began to fetch them into grandpa's trunk.
"She's in good hands, Philip, don't worry so much," my grandfather patted the man on his shoulder, before walking over to his truck and getting into the driver's seat. Ava hopped into the back seat with me and mom sat in the front with grandpa.
"You got everything you need, dear?" Grandpa asked, as he buckled his seatbelt.
"Yeah," Ava mumbled, as she pulled Midnight closer and rested her chin on top of his head.