DENSE || LYDIA MARTIN [1]

||2||

CHAPTER 2 || JOCKSTRAPS

——

"I HAVE some incredibly bad news."

Madison's head turned from her locker to the sound of my voice, brown eyes looking almost apologetic.

"Ah, I see you have your puppy dog eyes," I gestured to her big soft sad orbs as you approached. "But don't worry prematurely- I already have a way out of it, so-"

"Ava, I have some bad news, too."

"So it's not the best of circumstances, but like, I'm sixteen now, and they can't really make me do anything I don't want to-"

"Ava."

"So I'd have to figure a few things out, but luckily I have some ideas!"

"Ava."

"Like for example, I don't need working papers anymore as a sixteen year old here, at least I think so... I'll brush up on New York laws later, but-"

"AVA!"

My mouth snapped shut, eyes blinking owlishly at my girlfriend, who looked way too apologetic. Why did she look apologetic?

"When I got home today," Madison began slowly. "My mom was waiting for me."

I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned. "So you're grounded? That sucks, since it's my birthday and all, but not terrible?"

Madison winced. "Not exactly grounded..."

My head tilted to the side with confusion, long dark hair falling at the center of gravity switch.

"Ava, my mom knows," she whispered, eyes combing the halls around us. "She knows about us."

My frown deepened. "That sucks, are you like, out of a home?" My eyes worriedly scanned her face for signs of upset, only finding an apologetic, slightly guilty expression staring back.

"No, but.." She took a deep breath. "But I... I have to be out of a girlfriend."

The last word was whispered, almost silent, and with my Argent trainee hearing, it was crystal clear.

My heart plummets for a second time today.

"You... you can't be serious," I scoffed after a moment, but Madison only purses her lips, adverting her gaze. "You're serious!"

"Ava, please, I had to!" A pleading edge creeps into her voice before dropping to a mutter. "She found out, and she gave me an ultimatum, and I did what I have to do."

My eyes snapped up to meet hers, a fury I've never felt with her igniting them. "You mean she gave you a choice between your inheritance and your relationship and you chose the money."

Madison bit her lip, undenying.

"You're unbelievable." I laughed humorlessly, hitching my bag further on my shoulder before turning away, a distress rising in my chest. I schooled my features to anger, knowing I was about to cry, suppressing it.

Argent hunters don't cry. Not in front of people.

Her hand, petite, tanned and perfect, grabbed my shoulder before I completely turned. "Ava, wait!"

I glared, wrenching my shoulder from her grasp, but didn't leave.

"Ava, you don't get it. Your parents, your family, they love you and you can do as you please with no consequences," she started. I rolled my eyes. She didn't get it. "My inheritance- that's going to be my college fund and my money for the rest of my life. I play my cards right, I won't have to worry about poverty."

She took a deep breath. "Breaking up with you is playing my cards right. I have to think about my future."

I scoffed. "I thought I was your future."

Her mouth, her lips, normally so pretty and perfect, a set of lips above all, seemed basic and unimportant to me now. They opened and closed, no words escaping .

"I came to tell you my parents told me we're moving," I announced. Her expression flickered, shock and sadness overtaking the guilt. "Yeah, California. I was going to tell you I wasn't going with them. I was going to tell you I was going to find a job and a place and throw away my future and my own inheritance for you."

"Ava.." she breathed, but I didn't let her continue.

"No, my turn, although I'm glad you went first. You see, I love you. Loved you. And I didn't want to move across the country without you- so I was going to leave my family for you." My voice, normally loving and gentle with her, was hard and unforgiving. A single perfect tear slid down her face. "So I'm glad you went first. Im glad I'm not throwing my future away for someone who wouldn't do the same."

"Ava.." she whispered, voice breaking but I shook my head.

"I'm leaving today. So, I guess we won't really see each other anymore, huh?" She sniffed, more tears running and ruining her mascara. "Goodbye, Madison. I hope your inheritance treats you well. Play your cards right."

With that, I spun on my heel, ignoring her pleas.

——

"Happy Birthday to me."

——

"You okay?"

I turned my glaring at the clouds to my sister, Allison, whose brown eyes were boring holes into mine.

"Peachy." With that my gaze was back to the plane window.

"Ava, I heard about Madison," she whispered, unfazed at your lack of response. "I'm sorry it turned out like that."

I hummed noncommittally.

She sighed.

"If it means anything, I might have spread a rumor around that she wears a jockstrap during gym. It stuck."

It was silent for a minute.

We both peeled into fits of giggles.

When the laughter died down, I turned to my sister, a small smile gracing my face.

"Thanks for that, believe it or not, that actually helped."

Ally grinned, dimples prominent. "Hey what am I good for if I don't ruin my sister's ex girlfriend's lives?"

"Absolutely nothing." I commented evenly, grinning when she slapped my arm with her magazine.

"Ugh, it's just so hard," I mutter. "We move somewhere, I meet a really cute and awesome girl, and then we move again a year or two later."

She shrugs, nodding. "Yeah, maybe for you. I just don't get attached."

With that she turns her attention back to her book, headphones in, and I'm left to ponder her last statement.

Don't get attached..

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7/2/18 not edited