Trapped And Freed

Chapter 5

Nicole's pov:

After Lexi got done giving me a tour of the house, she showed me my room and said she'll leave me alone for now, and come get me when dinners ready. When she left, I sat on the bed, and immediately looked out the window.

It's been about ten minutes since Lexi left, and I finally look up when I hear a knock on the door. Seconds later, the girl who looks like me walks in and shuts the door, crossing her arms as she leans against it.

After a few seconds of staring, she speaks. "So, mystery girl. I heard you can't talk?" She raises a brow, and all I do is blink.

She chuckles and shakes her head before speaking again.

"How about this. I teach you how to talk, read, and write, and in exchange you stop looking like me. Get colored contacts, cut your hair, dye it. Just do something to not look like me. I feel like I'm looking in a mirror," she looks me up and down.

Once again, all I do is blink, and she sighs and shakes her head.

"Look, do you want to learn how to talk, or not, mystery girl?" She asks, and I think about it for a minute before nodding.

She smiles and claps. "Good. Then all you need to do is stop looking like me, and we'll be good. So how about I help you with that too?" She asks, and I once again think before nodding.

"Great! So let's go into the bathroom and get you set up for a haircut," she grabs my arm and drags me towards the bathroom in my room.

She grabs a still from next to the door, and places it in the middle of the floor before pushing me to sit on it. She then looks through the drawers and cabinets before finding scissors, hair ties, pins, and a brush. She grabs all the items, and sets them on the counter.

She then walks behind me with the brush, and gets ready to start my hair, but is stopped when we hear Lexi and Liam calling us down for dinner.

Ava puts the brush down, and starts leaving the bathroom. As she leaves, without turning around, she says, "we'll finish this after dinner."

Once she's gone, I stand up and walk downstairs, heading towards where I remember Lexi saying the dining room was. When I walk in, I see a table with 4 chairs, and all but 1 are taken.

I sit in the empty seat which is next to Ava, and watch as Liam puts some food on a plate for me.

I take a small bite, thinking the food will be as disgusting as the food my father gave me. But my eyes widen at how good it is, and it feels almost as if the flavors are exploding on my tongue.

I look up when someone clears their throat, and see everyone staring at me before Lexi asks, "do you like it?" And I nod as I take another bite.

"I'll have Liam make this more often then," she says with a smile before beginning a conversation with Ava.

"So, Nicole..." I look up from my food when Liam starts talking.

"Ava here told us that she's going to teach you how to talk, read, and write?" He asks as he raises a brow, and I nod.

"Oh, that's lovely!" Lexi says as she smiles and claps. "Then we can talk about all the drama going on!"

"Yes. Lovely," Liam mutters, and Ava only rolls her eyes as she continues eating.

"So, Ava. Where are those... dogs you bought? Liam asks before taking another bite.

Ava swallows her food and takes a sip of water before answering.

"I took them over to Ali's house this morning. When mom called and told me to prepare a room, I didn't want the puppies getting in the way and ruining things. So I took them to her house. I was going to go get them after dinner.

All Liam does is hum and nod as he continues eating, but it's obvious he's still not very happy about the dogs.

"And why does your girlfriend have these dogs?" He asks.

"She wanted to see them," Ava shrugs.

"It's not her responsibility to take care of your dogs."

"This isn't even about the dogs anymore, is it?" Ava asks as she barrows her eyes. "This is about Ali now."

"I just don't understand-" Liam starts to speak, but Ava cuts him off.

"You'll never accept her, will you?!" Ava yells as she stands. "You just can't accept the fact that I love her!"

"Ava. I didn't mean it like that-"

"Yes you did!" She yells, cutting him off.

"You just can't accept the fact that I love women? You don't like that I don't like men! You can't even talk about Ali without sounding disgusted!" Ava tells with a slight voice crack, looking and sounding like she's going to cry.

Lexi claps her hands and cuts in. "Why don't we talk about this later, hmm? Ava, honey, why don't you go get ready to get the dogs from Ali's. And maybe take Nicole with you? Help her meet new people?"

Ava looks over at me, before looking back at Lexi and nodding. She then starts walking towards the stairs, and calls to me without stopping or looking back.

"Come on, mystery girl. I don't have all night."

I look back at Liam and Lexi, and see Lexi giving me a small smile as she holds Liam's hand. She just gives me a small nod, telling me to go.

I stand up and give a small smile as thanks, before walking upstairs to find Ava.