A Smile and a Chance

9 A YES OR A NO

*UNEDITED

"Ava, what the hell?!" I said in protest as my twin sister made her way towards Maia. She shouldn't even be here, she was supposed to be on a flight going to – well, somewhere else, but...

"I knew it. I was right." Ava said as she looked at Maia who was in total and complete shock at the moment.

"I can't believe this..." Maia whispered. "Oh, gosh...thank you!" then she jumped from her seat and ran towards Ava, and gave her a hug.

"Wait, you two know each other?" I said after I finally composed myself.

"Remember a couple of years ago when I went 'berserk'?" she gave a knowing look at Maia. "Their words, not mine."

"I don't think that's going berserk at all." Maia replied in defense of Ava.

"That was Maia?"

Ava nodded.

"She had way shorter hair back then...but yeah, that was her. I hope that douchebag boyfriend of yours learned his lesson."

"He wasn't my boyfriend." Now Maia faced me. "You already know him."

"Franco?"

She nodded and I suddenly felt a familiar surge of anger and I knew Ava felt it too. I saw it in her eyes but I tried not to let Maia know.

"Who's Franco?" Ava asked.

"Her douchebag cousin." I said in between clenched teeth. "Is he still hurting you?"

Silence. But I heard Maia's answer loud and clear.

"I didn't have the chance to thank your sister at that time. After Franco fell to the ground, security officers came and escorted Ava away and one of them brought me inside the hotel and asked me to wait for the cops."

"I hope you filed a case against him."

Silence again.

"You didn't?" I asked in disbelief as Maia looked back at Ava, maybe asking for some support.

"It happened a few years back, Liam." My twin sister spoke, her eyes telling me to back down for just a moment and hear her out. "Besides, I got him real good, right, Maia?"

"Franco said your kick felt like he got hit by a truck. He was in bed the whole week, in pain all the time."

I'm actually thankful Ava had a short fuse for once, and that she took taekwondo lessons. I can't imagine what would have happened if she didn't go 'berserk' and kicked the life out of Franco that time. Maia wouldn't be here with us now...probably. I cringed at the thought. And what I just found out a while ago, that Franco still hurts her, why isn't she doing anything about it?

"Good, come with me." it was all I heard from Ava as she grabbed Maia's hand and led her out of the kitchen.

"Wait!" Maia and I both said at the same time.

"Ava, where are you taking her?"I asked and ran after them.

"We're going to pick out a dress for her and you're coming with us. You're driving."

"What?! Wait a minute! We're supposed to be making candy bars for Hana."

"That can wait, right?" Ava replied as she asked Maia – no, it sounded more like a suggestion than a question that all Maia could do was nod helplessly.

There was no use protesting. I won't win this one anyway. Once Ava's set her mind on something there was no stopping her. Besides, she did save Maia before, so I owe her this one. Besides, I was already planning to buy Maia a dress but I needed someone who was knowledgeable in styling and I'm not thinking of my sister; I'm thinking of Uncle Vic or Olivia. If this doesn't work, I can always call Uncle Vic if Ava's plan fails.