Abandoned and Recovered

Chapter 2

"I really liked that! I've never seen Blade Runner before. The setting was so cool. I loved the costume designs."

Sadie continued to gush as she looked over the blu-ray case and read the information on the back. Her enjoyment of the movie had momentarily distracted her from the earlier sadness and anxiety she felt.

"I'm glad!" her friend said with a genuine smile. "There's so many you need to see. You should come over more and we can watch some others!"

The small girl bit her lip. She would really love to spend more time with Ava. However, she was only allowed places when her caregiver said she could go.

Even still, she nodded her head.

"What do you want to eat?" the black haired woman said suddenly. "I can make something or we can order in. Anything's fine. I've got a coupon for pizza if that's cool?"

Green eyes widened with the mention of pizza.

"That would be n-nice. Doesn't matter what kind" she said politely.

Victoria never gave her pizza or let them order in. She had no quarrel with the kind of pizza because any kind would be a nice treat.

"You say that. But what if I said anchovies?"

"Ewwwww" the tiny girl said through laughter.

Ava only winked and turned around to grab the coupon in question. She picked up her phone and prepared to dial before checking to make sure Sadie would indeed eat pepperoni.

While they waited, the redhead asked to look through the rest of the movies and see how many more Ava owned that she had yet to see.

The two then fell into easy conversation as the girl rifled through the movies. Their discussion was only broken when an incoming call came to Ava's phone; alerting them that the pizza had arrived.

As the tall woman stepped out to go retrieve the food, Sadie could not help but think how much she wished Ava was around more and Victoria was around less. She then felt instantly guilty at allowing such a thought to pass through her mind. The brunette was her caregiver, gave her a place to stay, fed her, and clothed her. She could be cruel sometimes, yes, but the girl thought cruelty was better than homelessness.

"Get ready, cutie pie. This pizza is going to be awesome."

Sadie giggled as her thoughts were broken by Ava's dramatic entrance. She stood to grab the pizza box so that the other woman could get plates.

Once each of them had a slice, the two sat down at the table and began to eat.

After several moments, Ava dropped her hands on the table and looked at her guest pointedly.

"So what's the deal? With you and Victoria that is. I know that business trip story is absolutely bullshit. But I'm really curious as to why you went along with it."

Sadie felt a shock run through her. She had always appreciated Ava's candor, but it sometimes made her feel nervous.

"Uh...well. She...I don't..."

The tiny girl stumbled over her words as she wrestled with telling the truth.

Ava suddenly looked uncharacteristically sheepish as she watched her friend struggle.

"Sorry, babe. It's just that the call came from nowhere, Victoria left right away, and she apparently didn't even fill you in the cover story. So what's up? She sounded particularly pissy on the phone."

Seeing that the older woman was clearly on to her, Sadie was feeling more and more worried about having to admit what happened. Ava was too smart to believe another lie and she was running out of options.