Abusing her love *T. Clarkson*

X Six X

Ava sighed as she woke in bed. She knew deep down that she missed tom. But she couldn't go back there. She couldn't go back to that toxic environment. She couldn't put herself through that.

The door opened and Autumn toddled in. She smiled. "Muma dada souting," she said.

Ava picked her up and smiled. She adored her best friend's little girl. "Your mummy and daddy are probably being silly. But they both still love you."

Autumn nodded and started drinking from her sippy cup. Ava smiled and held her close. She knew how hard it was. All she wanted was to fall back into Tom's arms. But she couldn't.

***
Ava went into work. She grabbed Leigh and smiled. "Hey. Is everything okay with you and Max? I heard you and Max this morning."

Leigh sighed. "He's cheated on me. I'm trying to find out who with. I've told him he's got to find somewhere else to live as he's not living with me," she told her.

Ava smiled. "What do you say we give up men and get married to each other? We can raise Autumn together," she joked.

"That's so tempting you know? I just I can't believe he would do this to me. We've been so good. And then he just dips his dick somewhere else? I can't be bothered with it," Leigh said.

***
Ava was sitting in the common room. She looked up as Tom walked in. He walked over to her. "Hey."

"Hello."

Tom sighed. He knew he had messed up with her. But he couldn't get her off his mind. He only wanted her.

Tom knew he had messed up. But he regretted it so much. He regretted how he had ruined everything between them.

Ava looked to him. "You're still here. What do you want?" She asked.

"You know what I want. I want you. And I'm not going to give up on getting you back. I know I've ruined us. But I have to have you back. I love you."

Ava shook her head and sighed. "You don't love me. You love the idea of me. And I'm not doing it anymore. I'm not doing you anymore. I have to put myself first."

Tom took her hand and smiled. "But we can make this work. I know we can. Let's give it one more try," he said.

Ava sighed. She grabbed her coffee and walked off. She had no idea what to do anymore.

***
Ava was sitting in Leigh's classroom with her. She sighed. "Tom just won't leave me alone. I'm sick of it. I don't want him back. I can't put myself through all of that again. I have to think of myself."

"Yes you do babes. You need to make it work for yourself. You have to be strong and not let him manipulate his way back in babes. Okay?"

"I know. I'm going to. I just... I don't know. Part of me misses him so much. But then I think about everything he's ever done to me. And then it hurts me. And my mum would kill ne if I went back to him," she told her.

"I get that. Just know you'll be okay."

Ava sat there and drank her coffee. But she had no idea how she was soon going to find herself back in the arms of Tom.