Friends For Tomorrow

Chapter 3

I opened the front door, straining my ears for some indication of who was home. I stood in the foyer, contemplating if I should enter any further.

It was my house after all.

The light from the muted TV casted a small glow across the couch in the living room. I looked around again, but it was empty. I sighed, the silence a little unnerving after spending so much time away.

Foster and I had parted ways after school, but only after reassuring him that I was fine with coming home. It was Friday, and the least I could do was check up on everything. I couldn't hide away at Foster's forever.

Bypassing the kitchen, I headed straight for the stairs, but something caught my eye.

It was a person.

I let out an involuntary yelp, startled that someone was home besides me. I slinked back to the door frame and peered in, while mentally going through all the possibilities of who could be home.

It definitely wasn't who I was excepting.

"Ava?" I asked in disbelief, staring at my stepmom.

She was sitting on a bar stool in the kitchen, brown hair pooled on top of her head in a messy bun. Her bright blue eyes crinkled as her face broke into a smile. She put down her phone and stood up, coming towards me.

I was shocked to say the least.

Ava pulled me into a tight embrace. "I've missed you so much."

I hugged her back. "I missed you too," I replied, pulling back to look at her. I bit my lip. "Where've you been?"

I hadn't meant to ask that right away, but it'd been a while since I'd last seen her.

Her smile lessened at my question, but she kept an arm around me as she lead me to our couch, shoving books and other junk out of the way. "I just had to clear my head for a little while, you know?" she waved a hand in the air. "But I'm back now—for good. I promise."

I nodded, absorbing all of this vague information. I loved Ava, I truly did. She had always acted more like a big sister to me than a step mom. And I'd missed her immensely when she'd left.

Dad and her had been married for three years; it was nice having another girl around. I never thought she would leave. It surprised us all.

She curled her feet underneath her. "How've you been? How's school? Tell me everything," she gushed once we sat down.

I cleared my throat, shifting in my seat before I spoke. "School is boring, but that's a given," I looked at my hands. "I've been good, I guess. Things have been a little crazy without you, though."

She nodded, like this was expected. "I hope you forgive me for causing any trouble. You know I didn't want any of that. Me and your Daddy... we just needed a break."

I was unconvinced, but I let her keep going.

"But let's not talk about that, I want to know everything I've missed. How's that boyfriend of yours, Freddy was it? He was always such a sweetheart."

I wanted to scoff, but I held back. "Foster," I corrected. "And he's not my boyfriend."

She made a show of rolling her eyes. "That's what I always said about my guy friends, then before you know it, boom. Pregnancy."