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Chapter Nine ✯¸.•'*¨'*•✿✿•*'¨*'•.¸✯
Mechanic talk wasn't her ideal conversation.
Stuck in the middle of Charleston, running a little more late as the clock ticked by. Avery was leaning against the car door and stared aimlessly at the mechanic and Pope, their conversation going straight over her head. She wasn't trying to listen. All that was on her mind was why they were in this predicament in the first place. Why was this mystery letter was so important? She began to wonder if it was worth it, or if it was some hoax that will do nothing to help them.
Her eyes trailed over to JJ and Kie. The blond boy had diverted over to her minutes ago, complaining about the problem they were trying to solve. His leaned posture and backwards cap would have made her knees knock, finding him overly attractive. She didn't want to admit that he still had the same effect on her as he always has, one she wished she could ignore. Her gaze flickered between the two, wondering what they were talking about. A heavy feeling occurred in her stomach, an emotion she wasn't all too familiar with. It couldn't be jealousy, surely.
Then JJ's eyes caught onto hers, making her blink away. Unable to help herself, she looked back to see both of them looking back at her. Their lips were moving but from the her distance, Avery couldn't work out a word they were saying. She forced herself to turn away, shuffling into the spot on the other side of Pope. Pope acknowledged her presence, briefly glancing at her, frowning lightly as she nodded cluelessly along with what the mechanic was talking about.
•✿•✿•
Avery was the first one out. She had claimed a corner of the truck, curling up to rest her eyes. It took her a while to drift off, listening to the muffled conversations her friends had as they settled down for the night. They managed to pay off the bill for the fixes, leading them to camp in the middle of nowhere, in a field with the humid night air. The blonde finally got her mind to rest, silencing the swirling thoughts and sleep crept in.
Watching Kie and Pope's interactions, JJ felt his heart ache. He had unintentionally taken the spot besides Avery, not noticing until he laid down. As Kie placed a kiss on Pope's cheek, the blond looked over at the girl laying still besides him. Her head had sunk to the side, bound to give her an ache in the morning and her lips were slightly parted, yet not a sound came from her. He didn't mean to stare but she looked so peaceful, and beautiful, he couldn't not.
Carefully readjusting his position, he let his mind wonder. A sigh slipped though his lips, he leaned up a little to remove his cap and gently rested it over her face. He knew she hated the morning light. The action wasn't unnoticed, Kie had seen and it made her lips twitch upwards a little. It had been so long since the pair were JJ and Avery, like they always had been, that seeing them act that way again was strange. Kie hoped that they would continue to move forwards, holding hope that they would rekindle.
•✿•✿•
"You think that was too much?" Pope asked nervously. The large lion shaped knocker stared back at the Pogues.
"It echoed the entire house. That's for sure. So, they definitely heard it" JJ quietly replied.
"Maybe nobody's home" Kie suggested, equally as anxious. She glanced around for any sign of anyone around, yet it was only them.
"Maybe knock again?" Avery queried, about to reach up for the knocker herself when the grand wooden door swung open to reveal a stranger.
"You must be Pope" The man pointed a finger at the boy.
"Um, are you Mr Limbrey?" Pope stuttered, fiddling with the letter in his hands.
"Ms. Limbrey was expecting you yesterday" He reminded them, making Avery scrunch her nose. If this was a shot, she hoped they hadn't blown it.
"Oh. I'm- I'm sorry. My car broke down on the way up here–" Pope started.
JJ butted in, "carburettor blew up in the middle of Nowheresville. Sorry about that"
"Yeah, she was, uh, real upset when you didn't show up" The man told them.
"We wanted to call but there wasn't a number on the invitation to call" Avery spoke up, lingering behind Kie.
"She also expected you to come alone" He pointed out, directly talking to Pope.
"I mean, these are my friends. They helped find the Royal Merchant too. I–"
"Yeah. The instructions were explicit. Your friends can stay outside" He cut Pope off, telling them more than asking.
"We're kind of a package deal, man" JJ spoke up, not liking the idea of Pope going alone.
"JJ," Pope caught his eye, "It's okay. I got this. We good?"
"Yeah, we'll be right here" Kie reassured him, grasping his hand behind his hand. Avery noticed this gesture, looking away quickly and acted like she hadn't.
It wasn't long until the group retreated back to the truck, waiting for Pope to reappear. Avery sat anxiously in the back and refused to look away from the grand house. The moment she looked away, of course, was the same moment the man from the door appeared at her window. His two finger knock startled the teenagers. The blonde's head snapped up and stared back at him with wide eyes.
Gesturing toward her, Avery turned to face JJ and Kie. They wordlessly communicated with her, although she wasn't sure what they were exactly trying to tell her. Slowly rolling down the window, Avery questioned the man, "me?"
"Ms Limbrey has asked for you. She's waiting for you with your friend" He shortly told her.
"Why does she want me?" Avery asked, hesitant to obey without reason. She was finding to hard to trust these people.
"Didn't ask," He bluntly replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Must be important though"
•✿•✿•✿•✿• Author's note! I apologise for the late update. I was at a wedding yesterday, so had to time to get anything published on time. So, there is a late update!
