Amiss

Chapter 16 - Ava

I take a sip of my fresh cup of coffee and realise I've completely forgotten the sugar. My head is in the clouds at the moment, and I can't seem to concentrate on the smallest of tasks. I went for a jog earlier to help clear my head from my mounting assignments, but dropping into the Deli for a bottle of milk, only served to make me more distracted. I shouldn't even care who Trey's with, but the memory of Mia clinging to his side makes my nostrils flare. I hate her and her stupid blue hair.

I'm still reeling from Trey's coldness ever since he showed up looking for his phone. I've tried going over that night to piece together the black spots in my memories. Something happened between us. I can feel it in the pit of my stomach. Shutting my eyes, I imagine his deft fingers smoothing down my hips as he lays hot kisses against my neck. It feels so real, but I don't know if it happened. If it did, why's he so cold now? The distance between us is maddening, coupled with the fact I haven't heard a peep from Kyal or Katy. Not even a sorry we've fucked you over. Just complete and utter silence.

I've been re-reading the last line of my assignment for the last hour, but it's no use my head is so full of everything else. So, I decide to stop putting off a call to my mum. She really ought to know what's going on, even though she's probably going to beg me to come back home. I will make her understand that home isn't a good place for me right now. Before I chicken out, my fingers hit the call icon, and she answers on the third ring.

"Ava darling, it's so good to hear from you. I wanted to call you but thought you must be busy," my mother's voice soothes across the distance. It's good to hear her voice.

"Hey, mum. Yeah, a lot's been going on here. How are you?"

"I'm good, keeping myself occupied while your father's been busy with the charters," she tells me and prattles on about Dad's work for a while. It's nice to hear about normality even though, in truth, I find my dad's charter business beyond boring.

"That's good to hear you're both well. Have you seen Kyal or Katy around lately?" I ask fishing for something, anything.

"No, dear," my mum's voice says over the phone. "I'm sure you're missing them a lot, but Kyal will be there very soon." I gulp roughly, knowing the moment to spill everything has come.

"No, he won't." I sigh, heavily ready for the onslaught of pleas to come home.

"What do you mean, dear, has his transfer been delayed again?"

"Not quite. There's something you need to know, mum..." I take a deep breath and tell her all about Kyal and Katy's betrayal. Although, as expected, my mother is beyond distraught by the news, she had always liked Kyal. My father, in particular, loved Kyal, viewing him as the son he had always wanted.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner, Avie? You shouldn't have to deal with this alone," she asks once she's recovered enough.

"I guess I didn't want to worry you."

"Honey, it's my job to worry about you." My mum sniffles making me feel incredibly guilty for not confiding in her sooner.

"I haven't been alone, though. My friends here have been so nice," I tell her all about how I've had Letty and Trey in my corner. Even though I can barely keep up with Trey's hot and coldness, they have both been so supportive.

"I'm glad to hear you have people looking after you there. But what are you going to do? Do you think you'll keep the apartment?" My cheek feels hot from where the phone has been nestled against it for too long. I blink back tears, sick of this hopeless feeling and shuffle the phone to my other ear.

"I don't know. I can't afford it by myself... plus I think I should move. Kyal chose it after all."

"I think you're right, dear. Maybe it's best to move, get a fresh start and something affordable," I have a feeling I know where the conversation is going, but surprisingly, she doesn't beg me to come home, which I'm relieved about. I hear a knock on the front door and use it as an excuse to wrap up our 2-hour long conversation.