Look At Me Now

Chapter 22

          I swallowed my nerves as Mr. Porter began to explain everything to my mother; the agency, my "kidnapping", the cover up, my training, my assignment, and my brother.

When he was done her eyes were wide, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Y-you took them both from me." This time she didn't scream and fight. She just slumped forward and cried into her hands. I rubbed her back, not really knowing what to do. When her tears finally ceased she looked up at me. "Avia, it's time to go."

"B-but, Mom—"

"No, Avia, you're not staying here any longer." She looked up at Mr. Porter. "I'm not sorry, sir, she is my daughter and I want her home. She's my baby. My son was just killed in front of her. It is time she comes back home. We won't tell a soul about your operation if you just let us go."

Mr. Porter hesitated before answering. "Okay." This shocked me. "We will let you go."

Gabriel rushed forward, worry clear on his face. "Clint—"

Mr. Porter cut him off with the wave of his hand. "It's alright, Gabriel. There will be periodic check-ups. We will come by and make sure you've kept your end of the deal—kept us a secret. As long as you don't tell a soul, Eve—my apologies—Avia can stay home, with you. If we discover you have told another person then we will act accordingly."

"Seriously?" I asked, rising to my feet. "You're just going to...let me go? Why now? You told me before that—"

"These are much different circumstances," Mr. Porter said. He met my eyes. "I trust you now, Avia. I trust you to follow these rules."

"Thank you, sir, thank you so much," my mother said, shaking Mr. Porter's hand. "Avia, let's go get your things and we'll go home. Your room is the same—"

"Wait," I said. "Everyone thinks I'm dead...and what about Evelyn?"

"Don't worry; we've got a plan for that. We've decided to leak a news story. You were kidnapped. The man made it look like you were dead. You lost your memories, thus creating the identity of Evelyn Price. Gabriel, as your older brother, was another victim—we'd rather not frame him for your kidnapping—your memory came back, you called the police, and the man, trying to escape, was shot."

My mouth was open as I tried to conjure a reply. I couldn't. It was an unbelievable scenario yet...it seemed feasible.

"Could you take us to get her things please?" My mother asked.

"Gabriel will escort you to the dormitories."

Gabriel, jaw clenched and fists tight, nodded. My mom pulled me with her as she followed him out of the office.

*

In my room she was like a hurricane; running around and around packing everything she could. I stood to the side, with Gabriel, trying to figure out something to say.

I didn't want to leave. That much I knew. Though I hadn't initially had a choice in coming here, I loved it. I felt so much more important here; like I served a purpose.

"Avia, you should say goodbye to your friends. We'll be leaving soon." My mother's tone was disapproving—she didn't want me to have friends here.

I nodded. When my eyes moved to Gabriel he was already looking at me. I pulled him from the room, to the hallway. "I don't know what to say," I admitted after a moment of deadly silence.

"Then why say anything?" he asked bitterly.

I looked up at him. "Gabe," I said softly. "I don't want to leave, okay? But I don't exactly have a choice." My voice was shaking.

He cupped my cheek with his hand. "I don't want you to leave." His hand trailed down a strand of my hair. "I like having you around."

I gave him a small smile. "You do?"

"Of course I do. You're very entertaining, you know."

I bit my lip, trying to find a way to say goodbye. "We can still hang out and stuff, right?"

He hesitated, his eyes on my lips. "I don't know. This hasn't ever happened before."

"I hope we can."

That was when it happened. I didn't expect it, not at all. He leaned in and his lips were against mine. It felt like things went in slow motion. His free arm curled around my waist and pulled me against him. My hands went up and tangled in his hair, it was soft. My knees felt weak.

This was a short lived euphoria. "Avia Lilith Jensen!" It was my mother. I could hear the shock in her voice. She jerked me back, breaking Gabriel's hold on me almost immediately. My eyes met his to see a mixture of shock, pain, and other things I couldn't pinpoint. "How dare you touch my daughter! You have no right to—"

"Mom, stop," I said, touching her shoulder. "Please, stop."

"I will not stop, Avia," she said harshly. "This man kidnapped you and now you're kissing him? Avia, this is ridiculous. You've obviously been manipulated. I won't stand for it any longer. I am still your mother and—Oh stop crying, Avia!" I didn't realize I was crying. "We're leaving." She turned to Gabriel. "And I don't want to see you around my daughter ever again."