Falling for the Fire

Chapter 25

I was sitting on my bed the next night after work when I heard Avery's voice echoing through my house.

"You here Ari?"

"Yeah, I'm back in my room," I yelled back.

I still needed to fill her in on my conversation with Brooklyn...and Owen.

"What's up?" She asked as she came in and sat next to me.

"I don't know, you're the one who said you were coming over," I teased.

"I guess that is true, huh?" She shrugged, "well how has everything with Brooklyn been going?"

"Yeah I feel like all I do lately is tell you about the bullshit that's going on in my life," I sighed.

"It's okay," she assured me, "it keeps me entertained most of the time."

I glanced over to see her grinning at me and I shook my head.

I told her about my conversation with Brooklyn the day before, and about texting Owen...and immediately regretting it.

"God he's such an ass for saying shit like that to you," Avery said, "why can't he just be an adult about this for once?"

"Ave, he cheated on me and then felt the need to tell his new girlfriend about my dad dying for no apparent reason," I responded, "he clearly doesn't know how to act like an adult."

"Valid point," she said.

"But hey," Avery continued, "minus Brooklyn saying you called her a slut...that didn't turn out terrible, right?"

"Well I mean she did say that sleeping with me was a mistake," I told her, "but aside from that yeah, it was really great."

"Somehow I have a feeling that she didn't really mean it that way," Avery said as she cautiously glanced at me.

"It's kind of hard to misinterpret that one Ave," I sighed, "and the fact that she said we know it can't happen again."

"Okay I have to admit," she started, "I'm kind of confused about how you're feeling towards Brooklyn. Do you...like her? Or you just want to sleep with her again? Or what?"

"Yes?" I shrugged, "I have no idea, I didn't really get a chance to find out honestly."

"I mean yeah, the sex was great," I continued, "so definitely that part, but I don't know about anything else."

"Well okay then," Avery laughed.

"Hey, you asked," I grinned.

"I did bring that one on myself," she said, "you're right."

"I can go into more detail if you want," I teased, wiggling my eyebrows at her.

"I love you and all Ari," she said, "but please don't."

I laughed at her as I fell back on to the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

"I guess -" I paused for a moment to consider what I was trying to say, "I thought I might like her, but I don't really know now."

"Fair enough," Avery said as she laid back next to me, "we're too old to be dealing with this shit, you know?"

"I don't think there's any we to this," I said as I looked over at her, "your love life is much calmer than mine, I'm jealous."

"Yeah it's calmer because it's currently nonexistent," she responded, "that's not really a great thing either."

"I'd take nonexistent over this right about now," I sighed.

"I guess you're right," she admitted, "you have had it pretty rough lately."

"Yeah," I said as I let out a deep breath, "I went from feeling like I was about to get engaged to being cheated on and questioning my sexuality...I'm ready to go back to boring any time now."

             ***

About a week had passed since Brooklyn and I had slept together, and since everything that had followed.

She hadn't gone back to acting like she was when we first met, but I could tell that her attitude towards me had changed.

We still could barely agree on anything when it came to work, so the fact that we had to go look at the event location together today was going to be very interesting.

Eliana had offered to come with us, and I was extremely thankful when Brooklyn refused.

"Thanks," I said as we got into my car.

"For what?" She asked.

"For telling Elle that she didn't need to come with," I told her.

"Oh," she responded, "I didn't do that for your sake, but you're welcome I guess."

I rolled my eyes to myself and started to drive. It was about twenty minutes away, and we spent the majority of the time in silence.

When we got to the park, it was set up for a big festival that was going to be there this weekend. That was part of the reason why we'd chosen to come today, so we could see what it would look like in this state.

We walked around for a while, both taking notes and asking questions to some of the event coordinators. When we felt like we'd gotten what we needed, we started back towards my car.

"I think this place is going to work out pretty well," I said, "we can just -"

"Ariana, wait!"

Brooklyn and I both stopped at the sound of the person behind us, but the familiar voice cut through me like knives. My body immediately tensed up as I turned around to face the woman.

"Mom," I said through gritted teeth, "what are you doing here?"

I could see Brooklyn glancing at me at out of the corner of my eye, and I knew she was confused.

"Well hello to you too," my mom grinned.

"Don't," I curtly said.

"I saw that there was a big event happening here today," she said, "so I thought, I thought I might find you here."

"What do you want?" I asked as I shook my head at her.

Before she could respond, Brooklyn quickly cut in, "I'm going to uh, go wait by your car, I'll meet you over there."

I nodded at her without breaking eye contact with my mother.

"I wanted to talk to you about Jack and I," she said as she took a step closer.

"Excuse me?" I asked, letting out a sarcastic laugh, "you - you came all of this way to talk to me, and that's what you want to discuss?"

"Yes," she nodded, "it's important to me and I need you to understand why."

"No," I shook my head, "I don't think so."

"Honey, we have to talk about this eventually," she pleaded.

"No," I repeated, "it's fucked up and I'm not discussing it with you, you shouldn't have come here."

"Ariana, please," she reached out and grabbed for my arm.

I quickly pulled it back as my look shot daggers through her.

"Don't do that," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "I - I need to leave."

I turned around and started to walk towards the parking lot, leaving my mom standing there.

"Ari please..." I heard her trail off behind me.

I ignored her and kept going, feeling my hands tremble at my sides. This was the last thing that I needed right now.

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