If Only She Knew REVISITED

Chapter 17

seventeen

Nolan's POV

"Nolan..." Ava speaks yet again as she lifts her head slowly from the couch.

Closing my eyes, I try to convince myself that this is just a dream and that I will just wake up from. But that's not the reality.

"Shit..." I run my hands through my hair then look towards Ava who is now wide awake leaning upright shooting a confused look towards us.

"Ava." I kneel down to her level, that is until she looks behind me seeing Val placed within Amelia's arms.

"What-" Her voice again turns into a panic as she realises what she encountered was indeed true.

"No this isn't—" She begins to shout while scrambling back towards the end of the couch, her eyes still placed on Amelia and Val.

"Ava please listen to me." I try my hardest to plead with her emotions to make her listen to me.

As I begin to softly reach for her hand my skin soon connects with hers as I feel her tensions release in an instant.

"Do you want me to get her out of here?" Amelia's voice emerges subtly from the background.

"Yes please." I answer coldly without looking in my sister's direction.

"Val, come with me..." Amelia leads her out into the spare bedroom.

"What's going on?" Valerie's voice slowly fades away into the distance as my sisters guides her away.

"Look at me Ava, no one else." I lock eyes with Ava and grab both of her hands, I stroke them in a circular motion in hopes to comfort her and calm her down.

"Okay, okay... Please just take your time, I can't explain anything to you unless you are calm, okay?" Ava breathes in through her nose and out through her mouth repeatedly.

Rising from my knelt position, I place myself onto the couch next to her as I drift my hands to her back.

"Take your time, I know it's a lot right now..." I take a gulp as the words emerge from my mouth.

How the hell do I tell her? Nodding, she closes her eyes preparing herself for my explanation.

"Valerie's back, and she doesn't remember a thing, this could be a sign of head trauma, and by that I mean, she could have been attacked, most likely by the same guy..." We both revisit the memory of that night in silence.

I couldn't tell her the truth. Not yet. It's not fair on her, she doesn't need to find out about us this way.

Looking back towards Ava, I keep silent as I give her time for her brain process the information, that is until she erupts.

"We need to tell the police that we have found her and that she is safe." Ava stands and grabs her phone beside her, that is until I rise rapidly and grab the phone out of her hands as she shoots me a confused glance.

"What are you doing? Nolan, give it back." Her voice flips from shock to anger.

"We can't tell the police right now, I'm sorry but whoever attacked you that night must have attacked Valerie, we know that now, I can't put you both at risk, calling the police will just draw more attention to us, to this house, then the whoever the bastard is will know where to find Valerie, and you." Running a hand through my hair, I place the phone down on the couch like it never left its place.

Peering back to Ava, a look of confusion takes over her expression as I find her reverting her gaze to the ground before making her point.

"Are you crazy? That is not a good idea! You can't be serious right now. The whole town is looking for her. We need to tell them. It's the right thing to do. It's the only thing to do." Her words reach my heart as I feel myself trying to hold in the truth.

"Ava you need to listen to me please..." My voice becomes stern as I lower myself to the couch trying to compose myself.

"I know this has something to do with you and that guy?!" Her words take me by surprise as I peer up sheepishly.

"I'm not stupid you know, even though you may think I am, and I'm thankful that you are trying to protect me but this is getting too far, look I don't know who that guy is and why you won't tell but I have a missing person in my house, I want to know the truth, Nolan, before this gets out of hand." She speaks quietly hoping to get what she wants out of me, but that's not going to happen yet. Deep down, I think she knows it too.

Rising from my position I slowly make my way over to Ava who has made her way over to the kitchen counter.

"You're right. I am trying to protect you, which is exactly why I ain't tellin you shit! That's the way it's gonna go. My main priority is keeping you, Val and my sister protected. That's what I'm doing. If you don't like it then tough luck Ava, because that is what is happening, I don't want you to go through what you did again, and as for that guy, I— he's known around these parts for... disturbances and sob stories. But you don't need to worry anymore, he won't be back." I utter as I look down to her face, she doesn't blink not even once. She just accepts with a simple yet small nod.

Sighing, I reach both of my hands onto each side of her face as I look at her within her eyes.

"You're safe Ava. I can promise you that." After my words she reaches close as our lips touch and trust meets in the middle.

"Thank you." A little smile appears at the corner of her mouth as I open my eyes. The bedroom door suddenly opens revealing a worried Val and Amelia

"Can we come in?" Amelia asks politely, nodding in approval, I walk away from Ava as she makes her way to the couch where Val is now placed.

"Nolan I need a word now..." Amelia's voices behind me as she drags me by the arm into Ava's kitchen, once we arrive she slaps my arm.

"What the hell?" I voice in annoyance as she rolls her eyes to the back of head and smacks her lips together forcefully.

"What was that for?"

"You didn't tell her. Did you? No, you promised you would Nolan." Amelia's finger points to my face as I lower it away.

"How the fuck would you know if I didn't tell her Amelia?"

"I'm not stupid Nolan, far from it. If you did tell her she certainly would not be acting like this now would she?" Amelia directs her view towards Ava and Val who are seated upon the couch while Ava is comforting her by stroking her back.

"What did you want me to do Melia? I didn't know how. It would break her. She's not ready yet." I try to explain my train of thoughts as Amelia crosses her arms over her chest.

"I just don't like lying to her, Nolan. She's a nice girl. She doesn't deserve to be lied to. We can't do that to her." Amelia tries to come to terms with me but it doesn't work.

"How do you think I feel? I hate it."

Amelia stands watching me in silence for a moment as I try to think how this situation could have been avoided. However every scenario in my mind leads to this. She's not ready to know the truth.