Pattern

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

// Avery //

I learned a few things that evening, and the main one was that Prudence cannot cook. She tried, and she failed, manically running around the kitchen until I smelled smoke. I nearly freaked, but I didn't. At least it was only her around, because no one else would get it. I guess everyone has those things they panic at, and for me it was the smell of smoke. I have an instant urge to run.

She made pasta in some nice sauce in the end, and it tasted pretty good, so we ate at the table, slightly awkwardly. But Prudence can talk for America when she wants to, so we discussed everything, from Howard to annoying parents. I obviously do not get on well with her dad, and though she loved him, she didn't seem to either. I didn't want to go in to my own father issues, because they went on forever, and neither me nor him had any idea what to do, or if we even wanted to try.

"So, what do you do at home, for hours and hours?" She asked, picking at the pasta. "Since it's clearly not homework."

"Ouch," I muttered. "Well. I used to go around getting beaten up because I couldn't pay back money to people, the kind that I really shouldn't have borrowed from in the first place. Sometimes I still do.. but it's less. I don't owe much anymore. Now.. I just sit around."

"You do nothing?" She asked, staring at me. "At all? No hobbies, apart from stealing?"

"I don't do that anymore, jeez," I muttered, then shrugged. "I play guitar sometimes, and sing."

Her eyes lit up. "Dude, you can sing and play? That's really cool." 

"I never said I was any good," I muttered, but she continued. "I could actually see you in a boy band, but a metal punk one, being the really cool guitarist and lead singer.. Do you have tattoos? Because you should." 

I shook my head. "I want some though." I had my right ear pierced twice - I'd done it myself, because I was hardcore when I was fourteen. I guess I did have a pretty metal appearance, but it was mainly my hair. My hair was shoulder-length, like a girl's. I was used to getting slagged for it, but I didn't care. I liked it. Everyone is used to it now.

"I'm going to make it a goal to hear you sing," She said, grinning wickedly and taking up my plate, then loading it into the dishwasher. 

"Yeah, that'll happen," I said sarcastically, but Prudence loomed over me creepily. "Oh, it will." She glanced at the clock. "My dad will be home soon. Are you okay to go? I guess you can stay in my wardrobe if you need to."

She was pushing it, and I could see she wasn't sure herself, so I got up. "No, no, I'm fine. I'll go. Thanks for the food. Bye." I speedwalked out the door, and the way home, with her waving from the door.

I was polite with Prudence. It was strange. Even though she knew I wasn't a gentleman, I still wanted to seem well-mannered. And at the same time, I was myself.

When I got home, Dad took one look at me, muttered "Filth" and left me to go up to my room. I eyed my guitar for a while, then decided to practise, and sung away, softly, so my dad wouldn't hear and shout at me to shut up. 

And then I slept. There wasn't much else to do when you had no-one.

--

Friday hit me like a ton of bricks, but Prudence was around and Howard wasn't, and they were both pluses. I kept away from her though, her friends either hated me or were scared of me. I didn't care really, they were like the rest of the world. 

Nothing really happened, but I got shouted at by a teacher and Gareth sniggered from down the classroom. Him and his little posse were eyeing me lately, or perhaps they always had been, I'd just noticed it more since their newest member had punched me in the face. Several times. And I wanted to punch something when some girl called out "Love the face!" as we were leaving. I didn't want to be a little bitch, but it had been going on for years. Everything they said was old and unoriginal and it still bothered me, even though I'd decided that I didn't need approval, from anyone.

The icing on the cake, though was when I got home. 

It was about seven o'clock, and I was watching a crime drama (I'd become somewhat interested in them lately), when my phone rang. I didn't recognise the number. I didn't have many numbers on the phone, and I hadn't given out my number to like, anyone. But I picked up anyway.

"Hello?"

"Avery?" The voice on the other line was none other than Prudence, which I probably should have expected, since the last two weeks had just been me spending too much time with her. But she sounded ridiculously scared for some reason.

"Yeah, it's me, what's wrong?" I stood up, pausing the TV. Something was clearly very wrong, from the tone of her voice.

"They found Lucy's body, Avery. She's even worse than Hanna. She was fifteen. I knew this would happen, but I didn't do anything to help, and now there's another girl dead, and it could happen again next Tuesday but I won't be able to help because I don't know anything." She sounded so desperate, even though it wasn't her fault at all. 

I guess I'd been expecting it - I mean, I hadn't really thought they'd find Lucy alive and well, but it was still shocking. It was still difficult to register that someone else I knew, just vaguely, a face in the hallways, was dead. Murdered by someone else, possibly someone I knew. I'd never see her face again. Nobody would ever see her alive again. 

"It's not your fault, nobody's expecting you to solve it," I said quickly. "Just relax. When was she found?"

"A few hours ago. My dad just told me."

"That's a day longer than the last one."

I could almost hear her bite her lip. "I know. They're doing an autopsy now, I'll see if I can find the report later. I thought I should tell you."

"Thanks," I said, then hung up. Hanna's funeral was tomorrow - it had been delayed because of all sorts of circumstances revolving around the murder - but now another one would follow it.

And everyone still thought I was the cause of it.