Tied Up

Chapter Three

Darlene crouched in front of her daughter, "If you go to Logan's, you can call daddy in the evening. How does that sound?"

Avery seemed to debate her choices, "Okay. For a really long time though, right, mommy?"

"Uhuh." Darlene was currently trying to convince her daughter to go to her eldest son's house for the day. She had to take care of the business with her ex.

She smiled at her daughter as she picked her up to give her a little hug. "Sam, get your shoes on. And get your sisters too, please."

Sam lazily got off the couch and walked into their room to grab his shoes and his sisters. As he walked back out he questioned, "How long are we staying at Logan's place?"

Darlene accepted the shoes for Avery and set her down to start putting the pink shoes on her feet. "I don't know, a few hours."

Sam nodded and started to put his sneakers on. "Where's Spence then? Is he gonna come to Logan's apartment?"

"He's out with friends, if he's done in time he'll meet you guys at Logan's. Why the sudden interest?" She wondered. Darlene placed Avery on her feet and headed to grab a headband for her.

"Nothing, he just promised we'd play video games later," Sam explained. Spencer usually kept his word when it came to video games, so Sam was still looking forward to it. He stood up and headed around the door to stand next to Avery.

Avery was too busy stomping around with her light-up sneakers that she stepped on her brother. "Get off, Avery!" He pushed her away, a little too hard.

Although he noticed, his first instinct was to brush off his shoes.

"Ow!" As soon as her chin met the floor, she twisted around and her face crumpled.

Sam's eyes widened, he didn't wanna get his game privileges taken away again for 'hurting' his little sister.

"Shoot. I'm sorry. Don't cry, it was an accident, I swear!" Sam started to say when he already saw tears in her eyes.

Avery pushed him back, not nearly as hard as he did. "It hurt!"

Sam stumbled back. "Look, now we're even, right? We don't have to tell mom. 'Cause, you technically pushed me too."

Avery contemplated it. She would get in trouble too, so maybe she should keep this to herself just this once. She then gingerly touched her chin, it felt bruised.

"Okay," She quietly said. Sam reached out a hand for Avery so she could get up just as soon as their mom entered the room.

Darlene pushed Avery's hair back with a sparkly pink headband. "You guys ready?" She asked, picking up Avery to put her on her hip.

"Yup," Sam said, eyeing his sister that still had tears in her eyes. Usually, their mom would notice if she cried, or had tears in her eyes. But this time, she didn't. Something must have been in her mind.

Darlene put her hand around Sam's shoulders and walked out of the door.

***

Logan answered the door, and as he caught sight of his little sister, he crouched down and spread out his arms. "Hey, sweetheart."

Avery saw his arms clear, but she darted around him, heading into the living room.

Logan paused for a second. Taking it all in, he stood up and brushed his sweatpants with the palms of his hands. "Okayyy then."

He didn't think she would still be angry at him. Avery had never held a grudge for more than an hour so this was new territory.