With A Cherry On Top

Chapter Three: Looks like the dog's out of the bag

Song: I Forgot That You Existed by Taylor Swift

Chapter Three: Looks like the dog's out of the bag

I've never been this panicked before in my entire life. The jig's up! He's gonna tell everyone. He'll blackmail me. Hell, he'd even sell the information online. My life is over.

Calm down.

Don't tell me to calm down, you're not the one being blackmailed.

I kinda am.

Arghh! I'm going crazy. I'm insane. I'm, I'm... I'm gonna be in so much trouble.

Should I say something? Or should I just keep looking at him with a stupefied expression?

Maybe, you should start with picking up the wig.

Oh, yeah right. I rushed to the wig and picked it up before turning back to him. I took off the glasses as well.

"Looks like the dog's out of the bag." I expected him to be smirking, but all I could tell from his expression was a hint of amusement.

"Dog?"

He nodded. "I'm sick of cat expressions. I love dogs."

I love dogs too, but cat expressions make more sense.

I didn't reply so he just continued, "So what do you have to say for yourself Cherry?"

"It's Avery." I hissed.

"Is it?"

I just stared, dumbfounded.

Since I said nothing, he continued. "How did I not notice this before?"

"You and everybody else."

"I'm the only one who knows?"

"Do I really have to answer that?" I deadpanned.

"For someone who was just caught red-handed, you sure seem calm and collected."

Okay, good. That means he can't see that I'm panicking the hell out.

"Can I just ask one thing?"

"You can, but that doesn't mean I have to answer you."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why hide under a disguise?"

"I don't have to tell you."

He shoved his hands in his front pocket. "You don't have to, but you will."

I scoffed. "Was that a threat?"

"See it however you like."

I stuffed the glasses and wig in my bag. I sat down on the floor and rested my back on the wall.

"You don't have to sit down. Wouldn't want you to get your jeans dirty, am I right?"

Not trying to be rude. Wouldn't actually want him to get his jeans dirty, they probably cost times three of my whole outfit. He chose to ignore my words seeing as he walked up to me and sat a respectable distance away.

"Ever since my dad, walked out on us 2 years ago, it's been hard." I fought the tears that threatened to fall. The tears I've shed these past years are more than I would've shed in decades if he hadn't left. "We barely see my mom anymore. She's always working. She doesn't want us to help but I want to. No, I have to. If not for her, at least for me. So a year and a half ago, I put on this disguise and looked for work."

There was silence, so I continued. "It's just not fair, you know." I started rambling.

This can't really be happening. I didn't mean you should go this far.