Highest Bidder [[ON GOING]]

Chapter 1

Avery POV

"Hello?" A smooth male voice could be heard. I didn't think it would be a man, and for a second I almost hung up, but I held on tight to the phone and went for it. 

"Hi, my name is Avery. A friend of mine gave me this number." 

"Yes? How can I help you?" 

"Yes? "What can I do for you?" 

"Uh, I'm interested in the... uh, the sale? I refer to the sale. Could you please explain which service... the virginity auction?" 

"Oh, okay. Send us a picture to this number, and we'll take it from there." 

"Okay."

~Days ago..~ 

"Hello, sweetheart. I'm cooking supper. I got your favorite beluga caviar and am steaming those small potatoes you like so much so you can eat them together."

"Mom!"

"What?"

"What part of 'we're totally broke' don't you get? We have already missed a few regular payments. We could lose our home at any time. You bought caviar?

"It is your favorite thing and..."

"Yes! Dad was still alive. When we were fucking rich and not on the verge of being fucking poor. Did you take out a loan on Grandma's house to open the shop?"

"Yes."

"But you said you had some money saved up and that you had sold some of your jewelry." 

"I did, but it wasn't close enough to King's Road to get a spot there."

"So you took out a loan on the only property we still owned? That's the only place where you can live. Even when everything was falling apart, Dad never touched it."

"I did what had to be done, Avery. You know it doesn't make sense to open in a dull area. Even my own friends wouldn't come see me if I opened in Brixton or Peckham..." 

All at once, it became intolerable. Tears welled up in my eyes, and my voice cracked.

"What are we going to do, Mom, if the shop doesn't do well? Mom...."

I sat there, at a loss for words and thoughts.

"Mom!"

She had my sympathies, but I was much more disappointed with myself than in her. I stormed out of the kitchen, only to double back in my rage.

I yelled after Avery, "Avery... Where are you going? Avery!"

I didn't glance back to see whether she was following. After slamming the door, I sprinted (or rather, jogged) to the bus stop.

-MADDIE HOME- 

When I was standing freezing on Maddie's doorstep, my best buddy opened the door for me.

"What are you doing?"

"Visiting you." 

I was dragged inside, and the door was locked behind us. As soon as she turned around, I encircled her in a hug. Her arms wrapped around me without prompting, and we stood there silently for a moment. Then she asked softly.

"What's the matter, Avery? Did something happen to your mother?"

"......."

"So what happened? Why are you like this?"