The Silence Between Names

Chapter Seventeen: A True Gentleman

My phone vibrated. It didn't affect me anymore. I'd been receiving texts from unknown numbers for the past two weeks. I looked down at it.

I'm going to make you wish you were dead

They had slowly grown to become more hostile. Without Peter's protection since our fight, I wasn't entirely certain how I would be able to survive. I nervously played with my hair, reading the text over and over again. 

"Ava?"

I realized I'd been standing at my gym locker in the cheer room for almost ten minutes. Annie gave me a look of concern. 

"You okay?"

I nodded. I hadn't told her about my run in with Peter, nor was I planning on it. I slowly walked out of the gym room and towards Jack's car.

Jack looked at me. He and I had been on good terms for the past week. Everything had gone back to normal.. that is, besides my weird stalker texts I'd been getting. But there was no way I'd tell anyone about that. Driving down the sunny road, Jack kept his gaze on me. I couldn't tell him it wasn't there anymore. Our magic, our spark, our relationship, had slowly dwindled down to a nothingness. I sighed, breathing in and out. 

"How's Peter?" Jack asked.

I froze. How did he know about Peter and I?

"What?" I gulped.

Jack looked at me as though I had just said the strangest thing. He eyed me up and down.

"He's solving Lily's murder.. how is it going?"

A sigh of relief. 

"Fine. Dunno. Don't really talk to him." I replied shortly.

Jack shrugged it off and dropped me off in my driveway. It was my favorite time of the year, Friday night bonfire parties. I slipped up the stairs and looked around my silent home. It was dead silent. It was almost eerie. The only sound was my golden retriever Daisy happily padding down the hallway into my kitchen. I kneeled down, letting her sloppy tongue lick all over my face. Her nostrils flared into my forehead, and I scratched behind her ears. Her tail wagged happily, and her shackles rose, like she was ready to play. I picked up her toy and tossed it across the house, where she happily pounded after it. I rolled my eyes and laughed, heading upstairs to get ready for the party. My baby pink bedroom had been decorated lavishly since I could walk. I'd always been spoiled since I was young. My parents felt it was a way to compensate for their lack of attention over the years.. they were right. Changing out of my clothes, I slipped into a pair of jean shorts and a black tank top. I realized how it was still warm at this time of year. Slipping on a pair of sneakers, I moved to the garage to see what I'd been looking forward to for weeks. My cars had finally arrived. On one side of the garage sat my Jeep, painted in white colors. On the other side sat my black audi. I was finally free from catching ride from people. In order to make it all the way to the forested area where the bonfire was, a good car to handle that kind of terrain was needed. I slipped into my Jeep and felt the wheels with my finger tips. I pulled out of the garage and sped down the road into the woods. 

I was met with the familiar thick scent of smoke and blaring of music. When I pulled into the grass, I parked next to Walker's Mercedes. Hopping out of the Jeep, I searched for my friends in the massive pool of people. I saw Walker on top of one of the wooden stages, surrounded by his friends, and of course, lots of girls. I rolled my eyes. Prick. Shawn and Jack headed over my way. It was weird being out without Annie. She wouldn't be back for another day, and I missed her more than life. Jack took my hand in his, his breath already thick with booze. Snatching the handle from his hand, I gulped it down, without a chaser. The taste was like little needles sticking me in the stomach, and I bathed in the feeling. Shawn gave me a look of jealousy when he saw Jack and I. I felt caught. I needed to slow down, and really think about what I wanted; Who I wanted.