The Disaster at Hexside

Chapter 16 - Avery

As we are heading back to Lili's house, I remember that it's getting late.
'Hey guys, I'm gonna head home, my Mum is probably wondering where I am.' I shout to the other girls. I hear them all shout back various versions of 'ok' and I start to turn around to head to my house. Before I get far, Thyme comes up beside me.
'Hey, any chance I could stay over tonight? Things at home aren't great again.' She says. I nod.
'Of course.' I answer. Thyme had stayed over at my house more than any of my friends. This was because her parents argued a lot, so sometimes she needed a refuge. I practically had a mattress that she owned. We touchdown in my front yard and I let us in. As Thyme comes through, Mum calls to us.
'Avery, where have you been all day?' She asks. I rush over to her and give her a big hug. She hugs me back, smiling.
'I heard you had become one of the unconscious students, and I came to see you a few times while you were under. I got a message from Mr Cutburn that you had woken up earlier today but I couldn't come because I was in the middle of my shift. By the time I'd gotten to the school, you were gone.' She explained. She sounded like she was barely holding it together.
'How long was I unconscious for?' I ask.
'Four days.' Mum says.
'Five.' Thyme quietly corrected. Mum notices her for the first time since we got back.
'Thyme! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there.' Mum apologizes, wiping her eyes. She walks over to Thyme and gives her a short but tight hug.
'Thyme's staying over tonight Mum, if that's all good?' I ask.
'Of course, of course!' Mum answers. 'I'll go grab the mattress.' She disappears down the hallway as Thyme and I walk to my room. We sit on my bed and I put my hand around her, pulling her in, slightly squishing the ears in my hair, which allows me to have better hearing. When Mum comes in with the mattress, she smiles to herself upon seeing us. We set up the mattress, and then have dinner. After dinner, Mum surprises us with a Fairy Pie. When we finish eating it, Thyme and I start to head back to my room to go to bed, but Mum stops me.
'Avery, could I talk to you for a second?' She asks. I look at Thyme, who nods and continues to my room. I walk back to Mum, who is smiling.
'What?' I ask, confused.
'So are you and Thyme finally a thing now?' She asks, smiling even wider. I smile.
'Yeah.' I say happily. Mum's smile shrinks a little bit.
'Your dad would've been proud.' She says, looking like she's tearing up.
'I wish he was here to see it.' I say sadly. Mum looks away from me. At first, I think it's so she can hide her ears, but then I notice she's muttering to herself, and she seems panicky.
'Uh, Mum are you ok?' I ask. She looks back at me and smiles unconvincingly.
'Yeah, I'm fine Avery, go to bed now. Good night.' She says quickly. I look at her suspiciously and walk to my room, where Thyme is sitting eagerly on the edge of my bed. As soon as I enter the room, she jumps off the bed and grabs my hands.
'Ok, I'm sorry but kinda overheard most of that but please fill me in.' She says smiling. We sit down and I explain what happened.
'So I think she's hiding something about my Dad.' I finish. Thyme has been looking at me intently the entire time I've been recounting, and she's now deep in thought.
'Maybe she killed him!' She says. I look at her incredulously, realising she's only half joking.
'No! She wouldn't do something like that. Maybe they're just divorced and he doesn't want anything to do with her. But then why have I never seen him? Maybe he did die, but not when Mum said he did. Ugh, why is she lying about it?' I say quickly. Then I realise what I said and look at Thyme. Divorce is a touchy subject around her since her parents are probably going to be getting one soon. She's looking down, appearing to be deep in thought, but I can see some tears running down her face. I put my hand on hers to comfort her.
'We should stop talking about it, let's get some sleep.' I say, smiling. Thyme gets into her bed and I get into mine, dangling my arm off the side. A few seconds later, I feel something grab it. I flinch, but I realise it's just Thyme. I slept better than ever that night.