Salient Secret

Chapter 44

I find myself walking around my room, basking in the memories around me, my 3rd grade trophies, old pictures of Maya and I, letters we wrote to each other in class, I miss her, I do, she's my best friend, that is probably the reason why I can't face her, I can't trust her anymore and if I see her then I have to accept that as my reality. 

I stumble across the plastic folder that I slipped all the letters, pamphlets and funeral plan into, as well as the  USBs, I can't throw these away just yet, I have to be realistic, I'm up against a threat that I don't know that well, I could lose and death could be the consequence.

"Avery hunny, dinner is ready!" mom shouts from downstairs.

"Be right there!" I shout back. I take the folder and slip it into my drawer, underneath the old letters and pictures. I walk downstairs and see my sister showing Kai how to play with slime. 

"I hate to interrupt this play-date but dinner is ready and you two kids need to wash your hands," mom says breaking up an adorable moment, Kai looks up and sees me standing there watching him. 

"What? It's fun to play with," he defensively says while walking towards me, kissing me on the cheek and making his way to the bathroom to wash his hands. 

"Hey Ave," dad says passing me from behind and taking his seat at the table. 

"Hey dad."

Everyone makes their way to the table, my dad at the head, my mom and I sitting beside each other, Kai directly across me, and Chloe sitting on the other side of my dad, just as we're about to grace Jason makes his way into the room. 

"You invited Jason?" I whisper harshly to my mom.

"I had to, I don't care if you two are fighting, he is not missing your first birthday in years that you're cancer free," she whispers back and then says loudly, "Jason take a seat, we're about to grace." My dad starts and everyone holds hands, when Jason reaches for mine I ignore it. 

"Amen," everyone says in union.

"This is delicious Lucy," dad praises. 

"Thank you Bryce, now let's talk about Avery's birthday, we have 2 weeks to plan."

"Mom, please, nothing too extra."

"Avery hunny, shut up and eat your food," she says smiling as if that makes it better. 

"We can host a party here, invite all her school friends and aunts and uncles," by aunts and uncles she means my one aunt and my parents' friends. 

"Yes because nothing says party better than adults and teenagers mixing," I comment. 

"Come on Ave, you're turning 18, we can't not make a big deal," my dad chips in.

"We can have a dinner party at your favourite restaurant we'll rent it out for the night and everyone can have dinner and drinks and we'll make space for a dance floor oh it will be perfect," mom says so fast she has to gasp for air at the end of that sentence. 

"That's a great idea! I'll call the restaurant tomorrow," Kai responds. 

"I'll take care of decorations and we can both do the invites," mom says to Kai. "Bryson, you can take care of funding the food and drinks and Jason you have to take care of the music,  Chloe can assist you," she continues with the biggest smile on her face. "We're making this formal, as in dress like  you're going to a ball type of formal," she says eyeing me, and I slouch down into my chair. 

After dinner I thank my mom for the food, but I have to get out of here, I make my way to the front porch bench. I left Kai to help my mom in the kitchen, so when the front door opens I thought it would be my dad, but it's not, it's Jason. He walks to me not saying a word and sits on the other side of the bench. 

He eventually breaks silence, "Ave, I'm really glad you don't have cancer anymore." 

"Me too," I say knowing he wanted a different response. 

"Can you just not be mad at me for  a few minutes. I miss you Ave," I miss him too but that doesn't change anything so I just keep quiet. 

"Avery please," he says now right next to me. "Dammit  Avery say something!" he says grabbing my arm very tightly, what is the matter with him?

"It's pretty clear she doesn't want to talk to you," a familiar voice says walking up to the house.

"Sorry," Jason says releasing my arm, that was unlike him, it's clear that he thinks so too. He gets up and walks back inside. My mysterious 'hero' emerges from the shadows.

"Malachi? Hey, what are you doing here?"

"Can't a guy just pop in to see his favourite friend," that's clearly a lie. 

"Okay now try the truth," I say and he sighs in defeat.

"I never could lie to you. The gang is... arguing about something and I just had to get out of that toxic environment, I didn't know where else to go. You're the first friend I thought of going to." 

"I wish you'd come sooner, you just missed dinner, I'm sure my mom would have loved to see you after all this time." 

"No it's cool, I'm not hungry, but I am wondering why you're sitting out here by yourself."

"I just had to get out of there, they're planning my birthday."

"Oh yesss, in 2 weeks I believe, do they not know you hate celebrating your birthday?"

"Oh they know, but since I'm..." the truth almost slips out until I remember Melanie telling me not to tell anyone outside of my family, "...turning 18, they want to make a big deal."

"I don't blame them, if I had a daughter who was half the person you are I'd celebrate everyday like it's her birthday."

"Are you seriously trying to flirt  with me?" I say laughing.

"Of course not, you seem happy with Kevin."

"It's Kai. If you forget, just remember your name is Mala-Kai," I laugh a bit too hard at his reaction to my words. 

"Or you could just keep my name out of your mouth altogether," Kai says, I didn't even hear the front door opening.

"Can't you see we're having a private conversation here man," Malachi says now right up in Kai's face. 

"I think your little conversation is over now."

"What makes you think you can tell me what to do?" as soon as Malachi says that he starts screaming out in pain.

"Kai what did you do!" I say rushing towards Malachi crying out on the floor.

"Nothing really, I just shapeshifted his kidney to a kidney that is inside out," he says grinning, I place my hands on Malachi and start healing him. When he stops crying out in pain, I still have Palmers powers, so I take his memories of his conversation with Kai and make him think he has to go now.

"Bye Avery, I'll see you around," he says smiling and walking towards his motorcycle.

"Kai, you can't just use your powers on anyone who pisses you off. You could expose us," I say sighing at all the toxic masculinity that I just inhaled tonight.

"You're right I'm sorry, but he had it coming."

"Yes he did, but next time, do it without your powers. Okay?"

"Okay. That reminds me, I've been thinking about the first day we met at the hospital, the guy that was stalking you that day, do you think that could of been one of Danes goons?" I've never thought of that, it makes sense.

"Who else would stalk me? Other than you and Dane," I tease, and he pushes me playfully to the side.

Third pov

"Sir, you were right, the boy has powers, I'm on my way to you now."