Love and Flames

SIX

AVA

I paced back and forth, my forefinger and thumb pinching the bridge of my nose, and I huffed out.

"Girl, you need to slow down," Ivy said, sitting with her legs crossed on my bed. Besides her sat Olivia, who nodded in agreement.

"If you aren't ready, you need to make that clear," Olivia said, smiling sadly at me.

"I've been here a while now, and I'm not getting any younger; I'm just..." I searched for the correct word. I felt damaged. It was like Noah took pieces from me. I don't know where to find those pieces; it's like those puzzles you buy from a charity shop; a piece is always missing. That always ruins the fun. I huffed, feeling defeated, and sat on the floor. I don't want to be broken forever.

Ivy and Olivia both joined me on the floor, each sitting on either side of me, sandwiching me between the two of them. These girls had quickly become two of my most trusted friends.

"I'm still missing pieces that I don't know how to find, and I don't want to make that someone else's issue," I finally mutter. "I don't want to get hurt again."

Olivia and Ivy both gave me a side hug. They didn't talk, interrupt, or huff at how ridiculous I sounded; they listened.

"I like Caleb; he's nice, and he makes me feel all weird inside, but I don't want to push myself," I said, looking between the two girls.

"Then don't; you don't have to push yourself. Just be honest with him, and if he doesn't understand, it's not worth it." Olivia said, patting my leg. I groaned and threw my head into my hands.

"Fuck Noah, and fuck his stupid dick that he couldn't keep in his pants," I said, and anger surged through me suddenly. I let him control my life from so far away. I let him stop me from doing simple things, like going on a date.

"You go girl!" Ivy cheered. I laughed lightly at her.

"Ava, I hate to break this to you, but you've got an hour, so hurry your arse up or you can go in your joggers and bra." She said, her tone sounding final, that there was no room for debate on the matter.

I stood up and went to the hanger hanging from my bedroom door frame. I looked at the pale pink dress, then took it from the hanger and put it on. I shimmied it up my body.

"Zip me up, please?" I said to both of the girls, and Ivy nodded before pulling the zip at the back.

I had already applied makeup. I pulled my hair out of the messy ponytail it was in and brushed it until it was back to its usual state.

I breathed in, looking at myself in the mirror.

"Ready." I sighed, turning around and looking at the girls; they both nodded and smiled.

"You got this!" Ivy exclaimed; she was such a big ball of energy; it was refreshing.

"And be honest!" Olivia added.

I nodded and checked my phone; as if on cue, a message from Caleb appeared.

I'm outside x

I read it, and suddenly my nerves took over, my chest got tight, and my eyes welled up. "Fuck," I said as I walked down the stairs.

Olivia pulled me into a tight hug, with Ivy following suit. "You are going to be fine," Olivia whispered in my ear.

I nodded once more, regaining my composure and breathing out sharply.

"I'm going to be fine," I repeated Olivia's words to myself.

I didn't want to give myself more chances to get worked up. So, I opened my front door to see Caleb standing right outside.