The Locket and The Eyes

Chapter 5

“Earth to Ava” Natalia whispered as Ava was busy thinking about her summer. She did realise that what she was doing was wrong, but she couldn’t make up her mind.

She had longed to have Zac as her boyfriend and was really thrilled to finally have him. But Aiden made her feel really special and no one else had ever made her feel this way. She wanted to be with Aiden but she knew that this would mean that she was cheating on her boyfriend, Zac and her mom would be really upset if she got to know what was happening between Ava and Aiden. Holy Crap! She hadn’t thought about this ever! What would happen if her mom got to know? She would never want to see Ava again!

Ava had to talk to Aiden about this. She couldn’t believe Aiden was cheating on her mom, Eleanor that too with her daughter. This was really wrong. She was going to talk to Aiden and then keep a safe distance from him and things would be back to normal…at least she hoped so. Her mom was really happy with Aiden and Ava would try and make her sweet boyfriend, Zac also happy. Yes! This was what she would do.

She saw a note dropped on her desk from behind and recognised it as Natalia’s because of her small, cursive handwriting. ‘What is up with u? U seem very distant. Is it because of Zac or something else??? Plz tell me!!’the note said. Thankfully the teacher wasn’t paying much attention to Ava and she kept staring at Natalia’s note. She couldn’t lie to Natalia as she knew when Ava was lying. So Ava quickly wrote ‘Nothing. I’ll tell u later.’ Ava would have to come up with something to tell Natalia.

The rest of the class went fast and Ava was having a mental debate on what to tell Natalia. Her science classes went fast. Her friends noticed that Ava was really quiet but they didn’t say anything. Ava also spent a lot of time thinking what to tell Aiden and end it with him. She couldn’t do this to her mom who was finally serious about a guy and was happy with him. Ava would not ruin it for Eleanor.

During lunch, Natalia sat next to Ava and nudged her to tell what was bothering her. “What did you have to tell me?” Natalia whispered. Ava just looked down at her lunch, a tuna sandwich and diet coke and shook her head. She didn’t feel like having her lunch anymore. Ava put on a fake smile so that her friends wouldn’t be suspicious that something was bothering Ava and ask what was wrong with her. Ava asked everyone at their table how their summer was. She displayed fake interest in what everyone was saying even though the only thing she wanted to do was go home, to her soft, comfy bed and get things sorted out with her blanket around her and Raisin in her lap. She never thought her life would get this complicated during the course of just a summer.

All her friends told her about their holidays. Monica had gone to Maldives and Joshua had been to Hawaii. The list went on and on. The description seemed really good and Ava hoped that she wasn’t so preoccupied that she could take part in the discussion and discuss her trips to those places with her friends. She was least interested and no one seemed to notice except for Natalia and Zac.

Zac raised an eyebrow to ask what was bothering her and Ava put on her best fake smile. Zac didn’t seem convinced but he mouthed “Meet me before the end of the day”. Ava nodded.

There were five minutes left for the break to end, suddenly Ava felt a hand pulling her. Natalia said, “Excuse us for a moment, we need to use the ladies’ room”. Everyone was pretty engrossed in their conversation to pay any attention to them.

Once, they got there, Natalia demanded with her hands on her hips, “Ok, what’s up?” in a stern voice.

Ava looked at the floor, guiltily. She was still thinking on what to tell Natalia. A few minutes passed in this awkward silence and Natalia started tapping her foot. The flushing of a toilet was heard and a girl emerged from the bathroom. She looked at Ava and Natalia with a confused look. The girl reapplied her make up and left.

The bell rang and both of them were standing there. “Nutz, well…” Ava started. “Ya. What?? I’m listening. Tell me what’s wrong!” Natalia said. “My mom has a boyfriend and she seems kinda serious and…” Ava said in a rush and trailed off. “And what Ava? You are not happy with the guy she likes? Is he cheating on her? Just tell me!” Natalia urged.

Ava fought back the tears accumulating in her eyes. The second bell rang.

Ava and Natalia rushed to their classes and Natalia said, “I’m calling you up at night or meeting you today and you have to tell me everything. EVERYTHING!” Ava nodded and went to her German class. This class was her favourite but she just couldn’t concentrate. She was busy debating on what to tell Natalia- the truth or just a version of the truth dropping out the important details? The rest of the classes went in a blur.

The bell rang signalling the end of the day and Ava jumped in her seat. She met Zac by her locker who had a questioning look on his face. She gave him a small peck and then she hugged him. He hugged her back and did not ask her anything. They just stood there enjoying the feel of each other for a few moments. This was what she loved about Zac, her Zac- however stressed she may be he wouldn’t keep on asking her what was wrong. He would wait till Ava would tell him or he wouldn’t ask at all.

Ava thanked the heavens for her amazing boyfriend who understood her, stood by her at all times while giving her space.

Zac gave Ava a small, soft, passionate kiss before saying, “Sorry, but I have to leave. I have football practise. Meet you later, then?” She replied by kissing him softly on his lips and said “Sure! Can’t wait” Ava felt she that she didn’t deserve such an awesome guy. She felt a lot better. But she still had to decide what she had to tell Natalia. She hadn’t seen Natalia at the end of the day. Maybe she had gone out with her boyfriend. She went back home in her black Porsche convertible and she didn’t know she would have to see Aiden just after reaching home.