RUN!

20. Untitled

Please read the AN at the end of the chapter❤️
  

           Nick is a great host. The first thing he does when we step inside is offer us water which I gladly accept. The house is smaller inside but well arranged, it's obvious that either he or his parents are sick for organization. I try to rein my eyes in so it doesn't seem as though I'm judging the home decor or lack of thereof but it's almost impossible. My eyes jump from one empty wall to another until it lands on Nick's wary ones. In this epiphanic moment I realize that sober Nick doesn't like me that much.

"No pictures. We move a lot." He explains, nodding towards the walls. He hands me my bottle and settles down across from us.

"Your brother?" Reyna inquires.

"He doesn't like strangers. What exactly do you want to know?"

"How did you meet Avery?"

"Everything"

"Just tell us your story." We all echo at once. Our heads simultaneously snap to face one another and Reyna looks like she can claw our eyes out.

"I guess I'll just start from the beginning," Nick announces lazily. He relaxes on his seat and begins his story. "Avery and I met at one of Landon's parties. Actually I've always known her, it's hard not to. She knew me too but she didn't start talking to me until that New Year's party Landon threw.

"It was the first time she didn't look ready to party and we had a good conversation. I wouldn't say we were close because not long after that Avery started buying drugs from me so I think she only started talking to me because she found out I was selling them. But she confided in me a lot although she was never explicit-"

"Her problems. What do you think they were?" Reyna interrupts him. I don't think Reyna likes Blondie either.

Nick chuckles. A real, hearty chuckle.

"I think they were a mountain Reyna."

"That's not very funny," Lee murmurs loudly.

"Listen I don't know much about Avery's family but I know she battled with her body image and I have a feeling it came from her relationship with her mum. And she felt like her dad betrayed her when he left," he pauses.

"Wait, I thought Avery's dad was dead?" I lean forward so Reyna can see my utterly confused face.

"Yeah, dead to her." From her tone it's clear she didn't feel shit for the guy.

"Did you meet him?" Lee asks her.

"I saw him from afar when he'd come visit Avery at school. That was like 6th grade or so and we both believed that he would eventually go back to her mom."

"She also really felt the need to be among," Nick continues. His eyes latch on to Reyna's as he speaks. "Although she would never admit it, her lifestyle was just a way to get praise. Admiration, love. All the things she thought she wasn't getting at home."

"Was Avery being followed?" Reyna asks sharply, not giving a care for any of the backstory. Something in his face changes as he adjusts himself on the seat.

"I don't know, I wasn't following her myself."

"Whenever you guys got...high, or drunk did she ever allude to anything like that?"

"Her words could easily have many meanings but I honestly don't recall."

"That's fine. What do you know about Declan and Avery's relationship?" Lee leans forward to ask. His voice is the deepest in the room and comes out like a heavy bass. Oh the jealousy.