If Only for One Night

Part 3

You're not Aria are you.

A cold sweat slid over and blanketed her entire body at those five little words. Until that very moment, Avery was having too good a time to think about the dishonesty of tonight. Of the culpability of months of lying and tonight that her and her sister have done. No. It was time to stop lying. She should've said something as soon as she opened the door. She didn't know why she didn't.

"No, I'm not. My name's Avery."

Jenny crossed her arms underneath her bustier, as if to hold herself back from punching her out first before she got an answer if Avery's face was worth a visit from her fist. "So care to tell me what's going on?"

Avery sighed, almost wished for the punch instead and looked up at the night sky. "I met Austin first. Don't know when but sometime later he met Aria and thought she was me."

"Damn. No offense but your sister's a bit-"

Avery swung her head back down, though she was in agreement, said in a terse, hard voice, "Don't say it."

"She went and told me to cover up the tattoo I got for my mom who passed away from breast cancer." Avery groaned. "So forgive me if I'm not all happy happy joy joy about your sister."

"I'm sorry my sister was so insensitive."

Jenny shrugged and leaned back into the balustrade. Avery did the same and watched as Austin and A.J. crossed the room, standing together in silence. Avery wished again, to know what she was thinking. Then she took it back. Apparently, the stars and the night weren't going in her favor.

"I like you Avery. In fact I'm glad it was you who showed up on Austin's arm. If I wasn't, if it was your sister, I would've told you 'bye Felicia' a long time ago."

Avery didn't know what to say.

"But you're going to have to tell Austin."

"I know," Avery replied, glancing back at the doors. But how should he tell him?

"And soon. He might've been blind while he was dating Aria. And you're in luck he's not into social media. But he's bound to notice sooner or later the differences between you from a few weeks ago compared to now."

Though she tried her best to ignore it, Avery knew Jenny was right, and noticed herself the curious looks Austin given her.

"Can I ask you a question," she whispered.

"Sure."

"How did you find out?"

"Easy. He's much happier with you than he ever was with her."

Avery blushed. She really wanted to know how much happier but Austin and A.J. already returned.

Austin went to stand beside her and handed her drink of sparkling water.

"It looked kind of serious between you two," asked Austin looking back and forth between her and Jenny. "What were you talking about?"

Heart racing Avery watched from the corner of her eye as Jenny took her drink from A.J., kissed his cheek and answered, "Girl stuff."

She breathed a sigh of relief but from the pointed glance Jenny threw at her Avery knew she wasn't in the clear. The time to come clean and tell Austin the truth couldn't be stalled. Sensing her decision Jenny nodded as if to say good luck then dragged AJ back inside.

Alone at last, thought Avery, immediately becoming nauseous. She took another sip for courage and another.

"You know," said Austin as she took another sip, "I thought you didn't like that stuff."