A Different Light

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Ava's POV

 Everyday is a new struggle right now, who knew that one rumor could take over your entire life. This is my normal day now. I wake up at 7:15 everyday to get ready for work. I no longer can look in the mirror for along period of time because all I can see is the rumors. I eat a small breakfast because the last thing I need is a rumor flying around that I'm fat. I drive to work with low music so as to not draw attention to myself. When I arrive at the station I keep my head down till I reach my desk. I begin to work on my story for the meeting. Most days I have a pretty good one but I don't say anything because I know what they are all thinking. The big rumor right now is that I'm using Jackson to get big stories. But I'm not, I go to every press release and interview I can attend just like all of the other reporters. After a long day, I go back to home and drink my problems away. Okay, that sounds worse than it was meant to be. I drink maybe two glasses of wine every night. But hey, I'm legal. The best thing in my life right now is being with Jackson, he makes me forget about the outside world and focus on the now. I wouldn't say that I am in love with him, because its only been a couple months, but I definitely like him a lot.

 The day we saw the story on TV, I completely broke down. But he helped me and was with me even when I didn't want him to. I cancelled my breakfast with Marcus the next day and he understood why. But my karma came back to not only affect me, but my brother too. The Giants beat the Cowboys, Marcus playing really bad. He told me that he was thinking a lot about me and not the game, it was like a dagger to my chest. Lately things have been getting better, the terrible rumors have slowed and things with Jackson are stronger than ever.

 Today, I was having lunch with the eldest in the family. My older brother Aaron was a lawyer in New Jersey. He and his wife have two beautiful children, Andrea and Lucas. Having my busy schedule I hardly get to see them. Aaron was never one for the spotlight, unlike Marcus and I. He still goes home every weekend to see our parents and watch the game. Today was our monthly lunch so that we don't lose touch like so many families have. This morning I wasn't feeling well and was going to call off the lunch. Jackson insisted on staying with me, but he hadn't been to a real practice in a while and I didn't want to be the one holding him back. He left for practice with Evan once Keeley came over. Things between them were still awkward, and I tried to talk to Keeley about it but she always clams up and won't answer. At around one, Aaron called my cell phone, hungry for lunch.

 "Come on, Ava. You have to go out. This is the only day I have off this week that I can come into New York." He whined. Sometimes I wonder how he could be the oldest of the family.

 "I told you I don't feel well. I just want to stay here and sleep." I pulled the sheets back over my head.

 "How 'bout lunch at Mcglarins? Its just a little diner, no one will even see you."

 "Fine, only because it's Mcglarins, not because you'll be there. Let me shower and get ready and I'll meet you there."

 "Sweet, but I have a few places to stop so you might beat me there." I scoffed at his answer and headed towards the bathroom. After my shower I dressed nicely, maybe if I dress alright people won't notice how terrible I feel. I drove mindlessly to our favorite little diner. My high school boyfriends parents owned the place and it was the ultimate hangout when I still went there. Now that we all graduated, its just another family diner with homemade food and cheap drinks. When I got to Mcgalarins, I noticed that there weren't too many cars in the lot. I brushed the thought away and headed inside. As I opened the door I noticed that nothing had changed. A girl I didn't recognize acted as the hostess and sat me in a booth. I pretended to look over the menu even though I knew what I already wanted, a ham and cheese omelet with hashbrowns and fruit as the sides. The familiar ding of the door made me look up to see Aaron walk through. I immediately started to feel better when he hugged me. The lunch went by pleasantly, just as old times. About half way through Aaron said something that startled me.

 "I don't mean to alarm you but there is a guy who has been staring at you all of lunch." He said. He pointed behind me to a booth across the diner and low and behold Jackson was looking at Aaron and I. He was with some tramp of a girl in skin tight clothes and think makeup. What a whore. I bet he's seeing her on the side. WOAH, where did that thought come from. I shouldn't be assuming something so rash. Last time he did that, he thought I was dating my brother. And here we are in the same spot. Me thinking that he's dating some skank and him thinking I'm with another guy.

 "Oh yeah, him." I said brushing off the sour feeling in my stomach. We continued our lunch as if nothing had happened, talking about kids and work and football. We had a family reunion coming up this summer, where everyone comes to my parents house for a couple of days. At one point Aaron excused himself to go to the bathroom and I took this opportunity to go see who Jackson was with. I casually walked over to the table where only the girl sat. She was examining her phone with great focus. I cleared my throat so that she would look at me. At first she looked nice but the act soon dropped.

 "Hi, My names Ava Collins." I said sticking my hand out.

 "Sapphire Novak." She said with a smirk on her face. Why did she look so familiar?

 'Do you mind if I join you?" I asked politely.

 "I'm actually here with someone." she replied bitchely.

 "Oh really who?" I asked with curiosity. I took a sip of Jackson's water.

 "My boyfriend." She stated matter o'factly. I choked on the water.

 "Okay listen. I don't know who you are and I don't care. You can hang out with Jackson all you want. But don't ever call him your boyfriend. Do I make myself clear?" I asked. I took another sip of water. Fear flashed through her eyes but she covered up really quick. She glanced behind me for a couple of seconds before turning back at me and smirking.

 "You may not know me or care to know about me, but what you should know is that Jacks and I have a special bond. That night where he blew off your date, he was with me." She leaned back and smirked in triumph. Jacks? She just called him jacks and he was out with her that night? What was going on.

 "Also today he told me he loved me and that after all of the rumors that have been circling around you, he just can't take all of bad press. Its probably best if you leave now and save your dignity while you still have it." Tears came to my eyes, I couldn't believe what she was saying. But how couldn't I. He was with her the night of our first date and now he was with her again. I didn't want to look at her anymore so I stood to get my purse. Jackson was just staring at us. We connected eyes and time stopped. He didn't say anything or make a move towards me.

 And this is the moment that I gave up on Jackson Bates.