Dirty Little Secret (A One Way Or Another Series)

Chapter 17: Acceptance of the Challenge

NEXT DAY

~*~

Avery

"Your up late, it's three in the afternoon." A voice trailed behind me as I opened the fridge. "Yeah, I came in late last night, I was really tired." I replied. "I can tell." She replied as I turned around to see my mother drinking a cup of coffee at the counter. "Where's dad?" I asked. "He went out-", "Your dad is worried about you Avery." She added. "There's nothing for him to be worried about, you know that mom." I replied. "I wish I did, but with you running off like that and not telling anyone where you were, I'm not so sure anymore." She replied. "I didn't know I needed a watch dog." I muttered. "With that attitude of yours, maybe you do. Just remember this is your life Avery, maybe for once you should be grateful that others care about you.", "Maybe, I don't need anyone to care about me." I snapped grabbing my glass of orange juice and marched back up the stairs, "Avery-" as I slammed my room door. "You seem pretty tense.", "Yeah, well that's what happens when you live with my mother for seventeen years.", "-No one can know your here." I replied passing him the cup of orange juice as I examined his bag in the corner near my door. "So um, what more information do you have on Skylar?", "So far I've got nothing.", "Haven't you been keeping in touch with the Sonclares'?", "Ever since they moved, no." Jeremy replied. "Then why are you here?" I asked turning my back away to face the window.", "I'm back in Vegas the same reason your here, for answers." He replied. "Well sorry to disappoint, but you won't find any here and if that's the only reason your here then get out." I replied. "Fine by me." He said as he got up and reached over to grab his bag. "Maybe you should listen to your mother Avery, I think she knows what she's talking about more than you would know." He replied and left out the window. "Mother knows everything." I mocked and grabbed the paper I was hiding in back of me. "So far I've got nothing my ass." I said as I examined the paper.

~*~

Skylar

"I think it's time we tell her."

"She's not ready-"

"Sky-"

"Jason, we can't. At least not now, you know that."

"You better hope this game turns out good in the end, or your death won't be just make believe."

"Jason it's better you know who your enemies are and those who are trying to help you."

"But come on Skylar, we both know that..-"

"Avery"

"Yes, Avery is gonna find out anyways."

"Alex, shut up. Who's side are you on?"

"The winning side of course, because in the end I don't wanna die."

"You think either of us want too? Were just worried that someone close to us, might if we put her in the game."

"See the thing with the both of you is that you think you have to protect Avery. Has it ever occured to you that she hates being treated like a kid, that's what makes her stubborn and determined."

"We've known Avery longer than you, I think we know how she is."

"You sure about that? Because the looks of it now, she isn't the same girl I've heard about."

"She's killed two people already, Daniel's right; how are we sure there won't be a third?"

"Skylar what are you afraid of?"

"Her losing who she really is. She's not ready and it's final. If you would've got her like I told you, right then and there she would've been, but you messed up."

"Skylar-"

"It's final."

~*~

Daniel

"You got the paper?" I asked as I heard the door close. "Yeah, it's in my bag.", "How's Avery?", "Well she's a bit tense right now, but she doesn't know what's going on so far." He responded. "Great, the less she knows the better." I replied as I got up off the couch heading over towards Jeremy. "Where's the paper?" I asked as I saw him rummage through his bag looking for the paper. "It's not here." He replied. "How is it-", "It's not in here, I had it in here before I-", "Before you, what?", "Went to meet Avery.", "-Shit." he muttered. "You do realize what's on that paper, right?", "Yes, everything that links to Skylar.", "Exactly." I snapped. "You-you, have to get that back." I added. "I know, I'm on it." He replied placing his bag over him and headed for the door.

~*~

Avery

"Where are you going?" My mother said as I headed out the door. "I'm going over to Luke's house, to tell him I'm back." I replied. "You still talk to Luke? I thought your father told you to stay away from him?" She asked I chuckled, "Yeah, just like he told me to stay away from Jason." I muttered. "I'm not letting you go over, get back in the house." She said. "Mom-", "Inside." She replied as I went back into the house and slammed the door shut and went up to my room. I pulled my iPhone out of my pocket and dialed Luke waiting for the phone to ring.

"Hello?"

"Yeah, I can't come and see you. My mother's being an ass today."

"Oh, it's cool."

"No, it's not we have to talk."

"What's wrong?"

"Skylar-"

"Where's the paper, Avery?" a voice said behind my back.

Immediately I hung up the phone.

"I don't know what your talking about?"

"Avery, who are you talking to?"

"Just an old friend, mom. I'm okay."

"Where's the paper?"

"I don't have it."

"Your lying."

"Am I really?"

"Avery, give me the paper."

"Why did you lie?"

"Avery-"

"Why did you lie?"

"Avery, give it to me-"

"Tell me or I'll scream."

"Tell me."

"It's not safe. That paper means more than what you think and you having that puts you in danger."

"Danger, what danger?"

There was a knock on the door, I turned around immediately as my mother stepped in.

"I'm going to the store, you want anything?"

"No, I'm good. Thanks." I replied as she went out the door and I close it shut and quickly turned back to see the window open and the paper gone.