Apocalypse [Pentatonix AU | Kavi / Scomiche]

Chapter 30 - Confession

Kirstie was woken by the shuffling of feet from outside her tent as Scott and Kevin switched shifts. She knew her shift was coming in a few hours, and her body was begging for rest, but she couldn't bring herself to sleep. Being alone was bringing back memories that made it physically impossible for her to even shut her eyes.

Peeking her head out from her tent, she made sure that Kevin's back was turned and that he was far enough away so that he wouldn't hear her. Luckily enough he was, and very quietly Kirstie hurried out from her tent and into Avi's, only a few feet away.

She climbed in quickly, and Avi sat up in bed in alarm. She suppressed a laugh at his groggy expression and messy hair, approaching him and putting a comforting hand on his arm.

"It's just me," she whispered gently. "Sorry if I woke you."

"Is everything okay?"

She nodded. "Can I get in bed with you?"

"What?"

She sighed, and with a smile climbed next to him on the air mattress, which was almost completely deflated. She could feel him tense up momentarily next to her in surprise, then gradually relax. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him protectively, pressing his cheek against the crown of her head.

Kirstie hadn't forgotten the paper in her pocket, hadn't forgotten Jeremy. And she did feel some guilt still, being wrapped in another man's arms. But she knew she eventually needed to move on. Jeremy wasn't coming back.

She needed to move on for Avi.

Kirstie spun over so her face was inches from his and placed her fingers on his jaw. Tilting her head upward she pressed her lips against his, and, like their first kiss, it was completely electrifying. His hands were immediately on her waist as he deepened the kiss, nibbling on her bottom lip and earning himself a soft moan. Kirstie could feel his lips turn upward into a smile, only further turning her on.

Kirstie then repositioned herself so she was straddling Avi, who in turn sat up slightly in bed, now moving his hands up and down the small of her back, grasping her hips. The slow, passionate kisses were rapidly becoming more intense. Kirstie couldn't remember the last time she kissed anyone like this, it must've been college.

Avi suddenly began to tug at the hem of her shirt, attempting to pull the fabric upward over her head. But she quickly stopped him.

"Wait," Kirstie said, pulling back and tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.

"Sorry-" Avi started, but Kirstie cut him off.

"No, it's not you. It's just," she climbed off of him, running her fingers through her hair in anxiety. If she really wanted to move on, to move forward with him, she knew she couldn't keep lying. She had to finally tell the truth. Avi deserved the truth.

Kirstie took a deep breath. "There's something I need to tell you. I've been lying to you, about my old group."

"I've been lying too."

This surprised Kirstie. She looked at him wide eyed, but quickly overcame her bewilderment. She'd had her suspicions but had kept her mouth shut. She never expected him to tell her the story of his past, and she had come to terms with that.

But now they'd finally learn one another's secrets.

"You have?" Kirstie said, egging him on.

Avi took a shaky breath, looking at her with nervous eyes. "If I tell you this Kirst, you need to promise you won't panic, you won't leave. Because honestly, I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you. I don't think I could go on without you. So I need you to promise you'll at least try not to be angry, please."

"I promise you, Avi. I'm not going anywhere."

With another deep breath Avi stretched to the other side of the bed, grabbing his backpack. He unzipped the front pocket, taking out a small, worn photo. Slowly he handed it to Kirstie, who immediately examined it through the minimal light.

Three smiling people stared back at her. At first she didn't even realize that the lone man in the picture was Avi. He looked like a completely different person, aside from the familiar, gorgeous emerald eyes. His beard was almost nonexistent and he was chubbier, lacking the muscles she'd assumed he always had. His skin was clean and unscathed, and he looked so innocent, so genuinely happy. Not even at his best had Kirstie seen him like that.

Next to Avi sat a strikingly beautiful woman with gleaming hazel eyes that went deeper than the oceans. She barely had any makeup on, but she didn't need it. Her hair fell in golden locks, framing her heart shaped face. She was no model, yet still she managed to be one of the most naturally pretty women Kirstie had ever laid eyes on.

Between Avi and the woman sat a young girl, who looked to be around four or five in the picture. Her smile trumped both of theirs, reaching quite literally from ear to ear. Almost every feature on her face matched the woman's, expect for her eyes, which were pure emerald.

And that's when it clicked. Kirstie looked toward Avi in shock, who she hadn't noticed was staring at her tensely.

"Is this?" Kirstie asked breathlessly.

"My wife and daughter."

"Oh." There was no point in hiding her disbelief.

"Aleen and Rose. That picture was taken by Kevin actually."

"Aleen was your wife?" Nod. "And Rose, that's your daughter?"

"Yes."

Kirstie allowed her eyes to drift back downward to the photograph. So Rose was his daughter. She'd been wondering that for months, ever since Kevin mentioned the name. Avi was clearly still extremely anxious, and she realized she hadn't said much to calm his nerves.

"They're gorgeous," she finally smiled, and Avi breathed a sigh of relief. "Both of them."

He nodded again. "They were."

Kirstie acknowledged that it was now her turn. She handed back the picture, and after glancing at it Avi stuffed it back into his backpack carefully. He then turned to face Kirstie.

"I don't have a picture," she said, "but his name was Jeremy."

"Husband?"

"Fiancé."

Avi nodded his head in understanding. Kirstie was shocked at how seemingly unfazed he was. Though she probably seemed generally unfazed to him as well.

"Do you miss him?"

"Everyday. You miss your family?"

"Everyday."

They stayed staring at one another, and Kirstie realized she'd never loved Avi more than she did in this moment. She'd finally opened up to him, something she'd been anxious to do since day one. Now that they finally knew everything, there was nothing else between them.

"I love you," Kirstie whispered, leaning in.

Just as their lips brushed, Avi replied, "Oh Kirstie, I love you too."

This time, Kirstie let Avi take off her shirt. And it wasn't long until his was off as well.