Fighting For Ava

*04*

The rain was threatening heavily when Gavin's bicycle stopped in front of the roadside cottage surrounded by a wobbly wattle fence.

"Remind me never to take your ride again" Jethro huffed as he alit.

"Guess you've got back your bicycle from the bald drunkard." Gavin laughed and his face instantly met with a displeased look from his friend.

" You promised never to talk about that again." Jethro snorted, remembering that funny night he lost his bicycle. He had cycled to Gavin's house in the dark, knocked on his door, and lied to his mother they wanted to see a favorite movie by the street. His mother had been glad as her son was not a fan of movies and she had packed them some croissants which they fed on as they rather trailed Finn and Ava to a restaurant. Jethro had earlier heard Finn inviting Ava to dinner and his head had sparked jealously. Curiosity then took over him and he told Gavin who suggested they should trail them.

"Remembering the crazy night, right?" Gavin chuckled as he watched Jethro's dreamy eyes follow a languid man staggering along the sidewalk, hoping to beat the time before the rain begin to pour.

"We should have come out that night." Jethro sighed as the hilarious scene replayed in his sight. Finn and Ava had suddenly moved out of the restaurant and to avoid being seen, he and Gavin had lurked at a corner. And right there from their dark corner, they had seen a bald, drunk man taking Jethro's bicycle away.

"And Ava will see us stalking her." Gavin chuckled.

"She doesn't know us." Jethro dismissed.

"But Finn does." Gavin pointed out.

"And what will he do?" Jethro snorted defiantly, imagining what would have happened if Finn had seen them that night and challenged them. Maybe he would have hit him as he did to the lanky boy today. He giggled at the thought of it. He would hit the popular Finn. That would have turned into a wild fight.

"Speaking about Finn, why was he yelling at Katie?" Gavin asked when he noticed Jethro was over his crazy imagination.

"You keep asking questions I can't answer." Jethro grunted and took in a cold breath as the rain breeze surged towards the wattle fence, "So when do we go to see Ava?" He inquired when Gavin would not say a word.

"I suggest the weekend."

" Weekend?"

"Trust me, Ava wouldn't want to see anyone at the moment." Gavin quickly explained, reading the expression on Jethro's face so well. The weekend wouldn't be too late, it wouldn't be too early either.

"Alright." Jethro conceded and turned to enter into the fence.

"Not even a goodbye kiss." Gavin joked and Jethro just shook his head, not knowing what to say. There was no difference between Gavin and his little sister, Rose. They were actually both frustrating and yet funny.

"Gavin at school. Rose at home." He breathed in despair as he pushed the brown door open.

Kitty was sitting under the dim light, stooping over her bowl of milk and she winced on seeing him. He remembered the scratch he had received in the morning and hissed as he threw his backpack on a sofa. The leather thudded and everywhere went silent before a cackle suddenly broke out from the kitchen.

"What if that man is here too." He mouthed in pain as the wild laughter of mother and daughter continued. He wished his Dad was here as well. The bond between Mother T and Rose oppressed him always.

"No, not that callous man." He remembered something dismal and then ditched the thought. He threw his room door open with a punch and fell recklessly on his little bed. Something rustled in his pants as he did so and he was reminded of the envelope he had taken in the morning. He dipped a hand into his pocket and brought it out.

' To the one, I've so much let down, Finn Maxwell.'

He read at the top of the envelope and curiously tore it open. He knew it would be some pathetic letter from Ava. He shifted on his bed, his eyes eager as he read.

' I know I'm the last person you want to hear from right now, I know I disappointed you, I know I should have obeyed when you said I shouldn't come to the party. But you've been avoiding me shortly before then and I thought that night would be the best time to ask whatever I've done wrong.

I know what you're thinking right now but I didn't defy your warning because of Stan. I didn't come to see Stan. I came to see you and ask why we've both suddenly gone quiet. I know it's hard to believe this but even till now, I couldn't explain how I ended up with Stan. I hope you'll find a place in your heart to forgive me, this might be the last time you'll hear from me. I'm dying Finn, my soul is aching but....'

The door suddenly creaked and Jethro squeezed the paper under his bedspread as Rose's head poked in inquisitively.

"Jeth," Her feline voice called and Jethro threw her a glare, "Heard what you did at lunch today. Why would you hit someone for a..."

"Is that why you fluffed your Geometry test?" Jethro cut her off harshly.

"Huhn!" She gasped in shock.

"I met with Della and she told me how you did woefully in your first test." He sniggered.

"Shit." Rose spat in disappointment. She jammed the door closed immediately and muttered some angry words as she moved back to the kitchen.

Jethro gave a grin as the door shut. He had just won that. Rose would have frustrated the life out of him if he had not dismissed her that cute way.

Thanks for Della.

He sighed in relief and smiled as he took back the paper and finished reading. He sprawled on his bed afterward and brooded over what he had read.

Ava had claimed to never know how she ended up with Stan. Was she drunk when it all happened? Or she was drugged?

And she said she was dying, she said this might be the last time Finn would hear from her. Was she planning to do something grave?

Something grave....like...

Suicide?

Jethro's eyes bulged.

No. No.

He shook the negative thought off his head but then curiosity and anxiety took hold of him. A Series of questions flooded his head and a big fear gripped him to assume the abject state Ava would be in right now.

He took in a lungful of air and then decided he would go see her as early as tomorrow. He had to call Gavin and notify him of the change of plan.

He reached for his cellphone and hastily dialed the number.

"Hey, dude.." He started but was instantly interrupted.

"Sorry, the owner of this phone left it at Liam's inn." A familiar voice rasped in and Jethro quickly recognized it. It was the sweaty woman who had spoken.

"Damn." He made a foul sound and put the phone down.