The Fifth Hawthorne

Chapter Five

(Jameson's POV)

When I woke up I could hear shouting. It opened my door to discover that it was just Gray and Xander. They were both fully dressed, suggesting that I had slept in. 

My phone started to buzz, Ash was calling me.

"Hey, where are you?" I asked.
"Sword practice, have you heard the news?"

"Ash, I just woke up. Do you really expect me to check the news first thing in the morning?"

"I guess not," I could practically hear her shrugging. "Words got out that Grambs is the heir." That must be what the arguing was about.

"Do you know who?"
"Who told the press? Apparently her sisters boyfriend. Alisa texted me just now. She wants me to go to the hotel, try and distract the paparazzi."
"When are you leaving?" 
"Now, I've literally just walked out of the house. I'll text you later." She hung up.

In a matter of minutes, I had found Avery's number.
Avery Grambs: Who is the Hawthorne Heiress?
I sent an image of the headline to her as well.
Hey, Mystery Girl. You're officially famous. 

(Ashley's POV)

I arrived at the hotel faster than I thought. I stepped out with my hood up, the taximan left as soon as I had shut the door. 

I knocked on the room door. It opened and Alisa smiled at me.

"Hey, thanks for coming. You still got the stuff in your room here?" I nodded and left.

The dress was a deep green. A maid did my hair in a fish tail plait and my makeup consisted of winged eyeliner and deep red lips. 

I re-entered Avery's bedroom. She was staring at me with eyes wide. 
"How... How did you that so fast?" She stuttered.

"Practice," I mumbled. 
I looked over to her sister (who's name I had learnt was Libby). "Oof, who did that to you?" I eyed her black eye.
"My ex boyfriend," she muttered.

We walked out of the hotel. Within seconds, everyone's eyes were averted from Avery to me.

"Ashley, how do you feel about your money being stolen from you?"

"How do you feel about this situation?" 

I just ignored them and stride to the car. Oren had started driving before I even had time to close the door.

There were more paparazzi outside Hawthorne House. We only just managed to get through the gates. Avery reached for the doors, but they were locked. 

"Legally the Hawthorne family is required to provide you with keys. Practically speaking...," Alisa glared at me," the Hawthorne family are a pain in the ass." 

"That a legal term?" Oren asked dryly.
Avery ripped open an envelope to find the keys. 

"Any idea which of these are supposed to open the front door?" she asked me.
"That's for you to figure out," I smirked. 
"You'll figure it out," Jameson said over the intercom. I rolled my eyes. 

"Cut the games Jameson," Alisa ordered. "This isn't nearly as cute as you think it all is."

There was no reply.

"Jameson?" Alisa asked. I coughed to hide my laugh.
"I have faith in you M.G." Then Jamie was gone. 

"God save me from Hawthornes," Alisa breathed. 
"I should be offended but I really am not," I lied. Alisa was sometimes over judgemental, but she was there when I needed help. She helped me through my first period when my mother was too mindless to care and aunt Zara had never cared for me.

"M.G.?" Libby asked. 
"Mystery Girl," I clarified," my brother has a thing with nicknames."

Avery was staring at the keys, flipping through them. 
She picked one out and fitted it into the lock. 

"How do you know which one to use?" Libby questioned.
"Sometimes," Jameson said. "Things that appear different on the surface are actually are actually exactly the same at their core."

Avery gave me an expecting look. "Heiresses first." I gave a mocking bow and let everyone else enter the house.
"Welcome home," I smiled, patting her on the shoulder. "And now I am going to get dressed into something a bit more comfortable."