Chapter 1
"Avery, wake up! We have company." Emmaline's hands rip the blanket away.
The cool air on my skin makes goose flesh rise. "Leave me alone! I need my sleep." I groan, rolling over.
"No can do. You kind of want to be up for this one." She pulls the pillow out from under my head.
"Oi! I said to leave me alone!" I sit up, irritated. Heaving a sigh, I cast a glance at my best friend.
Emmaline smiles at me, her hands on her hips. "Get up, c'mon. He's been here for the last ten minutes, waiting to see you."
I rub the sleep from my eyes and give her my best death glare. "You are so not my favorite person right now." I slowly scoot off the bed, pausing to stretch.
She walks over and goes through my drawers, tugging out a pair of slim fitted jeans and a v-neck shirt. Emmaline holds them out to me and herds me into the bathroom when I take them from her hands.
"Wait, hold on." I spin around. "Who, exactly, has been here for the last ten minutes? You and I both know I don't know any 'he's.'" I use my hands to make air quotes.
"You'll see when you come out. Now get dressed. In the time it took me to get you up, he's been here at least another five minutes." She turns on her heel and disappears out of my room, the door closing behind her.
I sigh softly, dressing in the outfit Emmaline chose for me. I run my fingers through my long, dark hair to secure it back in a messy bun. Curiosity forces my feet to move and I walk out of my room. "Em?" I call out, wandering into the kitchen.
A tall, well muscled man stands with his back to me, chatting with Emmaline. His short, black hair sticks out everywhere. I pause, recognizing his voice immediately. "Damian?"
They both pause in their conversation, Damian turning around to look me over. "Avery. You look well."
I glance over at Emmaline, hurt that she would let him come here after what happened between him and I. She mouths, "I'm sorry," and splays her hands out, palms up.
"How could you?" I spin around and stomp away, my chest tight with emotion.
"Avery, wait!" Heavy footsteps rush after me and grab my upper arm tightly, stopping me in my tracks. "Please don't be angry with Emmaline. She's trying to help. We need to ta-"
I whip around and invade his personal space. "Do not say we need to talk!" I yell, angry tears slipping down my face. "You left! You had plenty of opportunities to talk to me but you missed your chance, Damian. You have no right to be here, none whatsoever!"
Damian lets go and steps back, holding his hands up as a sign of his surrender. "Avery, listen, plea-"
"No! Why are you here pestering me now, after five years? Why can't you just be happy without hurting me again?" I shout, angry.
Emmaline steps towards us, holding her hand out. "A-avery, please. I'm sor-"
I jerk away from Damian and step back from Emmaline. She stops, her face falling. "From him, I could understand. But you?" I laugh wetly, wiping at my tears. "You I trusted." I run to my bedroom, Damian's heavy footsteps thudding after me.
"Avery, come back! I just want to talk!" He says.
I slam my door behind me and lock it, quickly finding sneakers and pulling them on. I grab my car keys and my wallet, pulling on jacket as I walk back to my door.
Damian pounds on the door. "Let me in! We need to talk!"
I fling the door open and dart around him, breaking into a run. Emmaline chases after me. When I make it outside, I head for my car. Seeing that I won't make it into the car before Damian will have the chance to grab me, I sprint down the driveway and into the road without looking.
"Avery, no!" Emmaline cries.
Honking and yelling fills the air and I jerk my head to the side, looking up at the oncoming truck. Terror slows my movements.
"Avery!" Damian screams, his arms looped around Emmaline's waist to keep her from charging after me. She cries and fights against his hold.
The impact sends me flying backward, and then the world goes black.
