Troublemaker

by Heather Beck

  “Shhh…” Ava tried to comfort him. “Help is on the way, and once they get here, they’re going to take great care of you. I promise.”

  Nate looked up at Ava, his eyes fluttering open and closed.

  “Ava, is he…?” Tessa asked in a shaky voice.

  Ava turned around to see her sister standing behind her, looking as worried as she did. As sirens sounded in the distance, her mind flashed with images of everything that had happened tonight. She had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that their lives were about to change – forever.

  * * *

  Chapter Two

  Ava clutched her phone as she dialed a number and then listened anxiously as it rang four, five, six times. It felt like she’d been waiting forever when someone finally picked up.

  “Hollywood General Hospital. Intensive Care Unit,” a female receptionist answered in a rushed tone.

  “Um, hi,” Ava said. “I’m calling about Nate Donovan. He was brought in three days ago with a gunshot wound. I was wondering if he’s…”

  “Are you a family member?” she interrupted.

  “No, but…”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t release any information about Mr. Donovan’s condition to non-relatives. It’s against our policy.”

  “I understand that,” Ava said before she could hang up, “really, I do. It’s just, I was with him the night he got shot, and it’s killing me not knowing whether he’s going to be okay or not. If there was some way I could talk to him, it would mean so much.”

  There was silence on the other end, making Ava wonder if the receptionist was still there, but finally she heard a sigh. “You’re the same girl who’s been calling about Mr. Donovan for the last three days, aren’t you?”

  “Yes,” Ava said, hoping that she wasn’t about to have her number blocked.

  The receptionist sighed again. “I shouldn’t be saying this, but if you want to get an update on Mr. Donovan’s condition, you should come in person. His wife has barely left the hospital since he was admitted. Maybe she’ll give you the answers you’re looking for.”

  “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”

  After ending the call, Ava let out a sigh of her own. The only reason she hadn’t visited the hospital yet was because her parents had her and her sister in lockdown. After hearing about what had happened at Live Luxe, they’d freaked out, her dad immediately changing their home security system, furious that Christopher had been able to get that close to Ava, and her mom barely letting either of her daughters out of her sight. Her parents’ paranoia was running so high that they’d even made Ava and Tessa cancel their autograph signing at the local mall – not that Ava really cared, although her sister definitely felt differently about it.

  “Hey, Ava,” Tessa said, making Ava jump a little at the intrusion. She was always doing that – coming into Ava’s room without knocking first. “Who were you talking to?” Her eyes lingered on the phone that was still in Ava’s hand.

  “Hollywood General.” Ava placed the phone on top of her white dresser. “Not that it did much good.”

  “Are they still not telling you anything?”

  Ava shook her head. “Only that he’s in the ICU and not allowed visitors – definitely not good signs.”

  “Don’t think like that, sis.” Tessa wrapped her in a warm hug. “Nate will be fine – he has to be. Besides, worrying won’t help anyone. We need to stay positive for his sake, okay?”

  “Okay,” Ava said, feeling a little bit better. That was one of the things she loved most about her sister – she always knew the right thing to say.

  “Good,” Tessa said with a smile, breaking from their embrace. “Now, come on. Mom sent me up here to get you. She says dinner’s almost ready and that she’s cooked. I think we’re all eating together, too.”

  “Seriously?” Ava asked as she followed her sister downstairs. She couldn’t remember the last time they’d had a home-cooked meal together as a family, especially when the cameras weren’t rolling. Between all their different jobs and passion projects, they never seemed to get a chance to spend much quality time together.

  “Yeah,” Tessa said, nodding. “I guess their maternal instincts have kicked into high gear. Annoying, isn’t it?”

  Ava shrugged. She didn’t mind that their parents were being overprotective. In a way, she even liked it, because it showed how much they really cared about her and her sister.

  As Ava and Tessa walked into the open-concept dining room and kitchen, a sweet and savory aroma filled the air. Their mom, Isabelle, was hard at work, putting the finishing touches on dinner, but when she saw her daughters, she cast them a beautiful smile. Like her smile, Isabelle was beautiful inside and out. She was of Swedish descent and had light blonde hair, blue eyes, and a heart-shaped face. Anyone who knew her said she had a heart of gold because of her kind demeanor and the fact that she’d dedicated most of her life to charitable works.

  “We’re having lasagna tonight,” Isabelle said, taking dishes from the cabinet and placing them on the table that was already set with glasses, placemats, and cutlery. “I used Grandma Riley’s special recipe. I remember how much you two used to like it.”

  “Sounds perfect,” Ava said, a little curious why their mom was putting so much effort into tonight’s dinner. “Can I help you with anything?”

  “No, I’m almost done.”

  “You sure?” Ava pried, knowing how much her mom hated to ask for help, even when she needed it.

  “Of course, sweetie. Go ahead and sit down. Dinner will be served in a few minutes.” She went back into the kitchen to carefully take the dish of piping hot lasagna out of the oven.

  “Suck up,” Tessa teased Ava under her breath as they sat down next to each other.

  “Lazy,” Ava teased right back.

  Pretending to be offended, Tessa punched Ava lightly on the arm, but all it did was make the two of them laugh.

  “Now that’s a sound I could listen to all day,” their dad, Mitchell, said as he walked into the dining room. He was a tall, handsome man with blue-green eyes and brown hair that was only starting to turn gray. Even though he was almost ten years older than his wife, he looked young for his age – something that he credited to his daily workout routine and deep passion for his work.

  “Hi, Dad,” Ava said as he kissed her forehead and then Tessa’s.

  “How was work, Dad?” Tessa asked.

  “It was busy, but good.” Mitchell slipped his work phone, which he still had in his hand, into his pocket and then sat down. Even though he was smiling, Ava had a feeling that it was somewhat forced. “How was your day?” he asked, looking at both of his daughters.

  “Oh, fine,” Tessa said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice, “considering we’re practically prisoners in our own home.”

  “You have to trust that we know what’s best for you,” Mitchell said.

  “Your father’s right,” Isabelle agreed, bringing the lasagna into the dining room and placing it on the table. She served them each a generous slice as she continued. “We’re only doing this to keep you safe. It won’t be for much longer, anyway.”

  Mitchell cast Isabelle a look that Ava couldn’t read, but whatever it was supposed to mean, it made her mom turn away.

  “What do you mean, it won’t be for much longer?” Tessa asked, her eyes growing wide and her voice rising with excitement. “Are you trying to tell us that the police caught that psycho, Christopher? That we can go back to our regular lives?”

  Ava bit her lower lip nervously at the mention of Christopher’s name. The police hadn’t caught him on the night he’d shot Nate, and the last she’d heard, they were still looking for him; that he could be anywhere. She feared that he was close by, maybe even watching her, and planning his next crazy move. She could only pray that she was wrong and that her mom knew something she didn’t.

  “I’m afraid not, honey,” Isabelle said, causing Tessa’s face to fall and Ava’s heart to sink. “Christop
her’s still out there.”

  “The police should’ve had him in custody by now,” Mitchell scoffed. “They’re useless. That’s the reason why we have to take extra steps to make sure you’re both protected.”

  “Extra steps?” Ava questioned, her eyebrows raised. “Tess is right – we’re already prisoners in our own home. What extra steps can we really take?”

  There was an awkward silence between Isabelle and Mitchell until finally, Isabelle spoke. “We could leave,” she said.

  “Leave?” Tessa repeated, as if she hadn’t heard her mom right.

  “And go where?” Ava asked, just as surprised. They’d lived in their white eight thousand square foot Hollywood home for as long as she could remember. It was where she and her sister had taken their first steps, where many childhood memories had been made. It was hard to imagine them living anywhere else.

  “We’re going to Mexico.” Isabelle’s voice was gentle, as if to soften the blow of what she was saying.

  Ava and Tessa looked at their mom and then at each other, an expression of shock on both their faces.

  “Are…are you serious?” Ava choked out. “We’re actually going to Mexico?”

  Isabelle nodded.

  “But how?” Ava asked. “How can we just pack up and move there?”

  “Yeah,” Tessa said, finding her voice. “What the hell is going on?”

  “I know this comes as a shock and must seem very sudden, but the truth is, I’ve been thinking about going to Mexico for a while now,” Isabelle began to explain. “Five months, to be exact. That’s when I applied for a visa to volunteer at Corazón de Artista, a non-profit organization that gives Mexican artists the tools and workspace they need to create beautiful works of art. Many of the clients are youths and people who have experienced hardships in their lives.”

  “Corazón de Artista sounds amazing, Mom,” Ava said, “really, it does, but why all the secrecy? Did you think we wouldn’t support you? That we would refuse to come with you?”

  “Of course not.” Isabelle reached across the table to give Ava’s hand a loving squeeze. “It was nothing like that. I didn’t want to tell you and Tessa until I knew for sure that my visa application had been approved. And honestly, the initial plan was for me to go by myself for a few months. Your father and I didn’t want to interrupt your studies with your tutors or take you away from your work commitments, but after what happened at Live Luxe, we had a change of heart.”

  “We didn’t come to this decision lightly,” Mitchell said. “Your mother and I have talked about it a lot, and we both agree that it’s the best thing for you girls, at least for now.”

  “Whereabouts in Mexico? And when do we leave?” Tessa asked, her expression inquisitive but otherwise emotionless.

  Ava was surprised by her sister’s reaction, or rather, her lack of one. She thought Tessa would be freaking out by now, refusing to leave Hollywood and all the glitz and glamor behind.

  “We’ll be staying in the Yucatán Peninsula, in a town called Mar de Lágrimas,” Isabelle said. “I’ve rented this gorgeous villa in a gated community that’s really close to the sea. You’ll both love it – I just know it. As for when we’ll leave, the sooner the better. I was thinking a week would give us enough time to get packed.”

  “A week?” Ava asked, her eyes wide. “But what about our visas? Didn’t you say it took five months to get yours?”

  “That’s because I’ll be volunteering full time. There’s no need to worry about waiting for your visas – you won’t be volunteering but instead continuing with your studies online. You can get your visas before we board the plane. That will allow you and Tessa to stay in Mexico for up to six months. I’m certain that Christopher will be caught by then, but if by the slight chance he isn’t, we can decide together what you girls would like to do next – apply for another visa and stay longer or return back here.”

  “So, we’re still keeping this house?” Ava asked, a little confused about what was going on. In response, all she got was a nod from her mom.

  “Well, I can’t say I’m happy about bailing on all the jobs we’ve booked,” Tessa spoke up. “Seriously, what will the PR managers think?” She paused for dramatic effect, but before she’d even continued, a smile began to spread across her face. “Filming our show in Mexico so makes up for it, though. The beach parties in Cancún, hitting up the markets, exploring ancient Mayan ruins…We’re going to have so much fun and get such amazing footage!” She let out a little squeal of excitement. “The fans are going to go crazy for it!”

  “Mexico does sound pretty amazing,” Ava agreed. “I’ve always wanted to experience their culture and don’t get me started on their food. Filming there might actually be a really good…” Her words were cut short as her dad cleared his throat very loudly.

  “I’m glad you’re both excited about going to Mexico,” he said, “but I’m afraid you’re not going there to film. I’m sorry, girls, but our show has been canceled.”

  “What?” Ava gasped. “Why would they cancel us?” She was more shocked than disappointed, wanting to know how they’d gone from having a hit show to being pulled off the air. But before her dad could answer, Tessa laughed loudly.

  “Yeah, right,” she said, rolling her eyes. “As if the network would really cancel us. We start filming in less than four weeks, and we’ve already been renewed for a sixth and seventh season. Your jokes aren’t funny, Dad, and they definitely won’t work on me.”

  “It’s not a joke, honey,” Isabelle said, casting Tessa a sympathetic look.

  “And it wasn’t the network’s decision to cancel the show,” Mitchell added. “It was ours.”

  “What?” Tessa’s voice was so shrill that Ava was afraid it would break a window – or two. “How…how could you do this? That show is my life.” She jumped up from her chair and started pacing back and forth, nervously chewing on a perfectly manicured fingernail, as if thinking hard about ways to rectify the situation. “Get the network on the phone now,” she demanded. “Tell them you’ve made a massive mistake and we’ll be ready to film as scheduled. Tell them whatever they want to hear as long as we get to keep our show.”

  “It’s done, Tessa,” Mitchell said firmly. “I had to pull favors to get our contracts with the production company and network terminated, and I’m not about to change my mind now. I can’t help feeling that exposing our lives to strangers was a mistake in the first place. That’s why you three have to get out of Hollywood, even if it isn’t easy on any of us.”

  Ava felt herself go numb. Suddenly, it all made sense – the awkward looks that her parents shared, her mom’s special family dinner, the hint of sadness in her dad’s voice. It was all a build-up to the most shocking revelation of all – their family was about to be apart for longer than ever before.

  “Oh, that’s real nice, Dad,” Tessa seethed in disbelief. “Me, Ava, and Mom have to run away from our real lives and hide in Mexico, while you stay here and what…work on that new historical miniseries you just got funding for?”

  “I have responsibilities here. You know that.”

  “Yeah, well so do I. Or at least I did until you took them all away from me.”

  “Please, Tessa,” Mitchell said, getting up so he could place his hands lovingly on her shoulders, “try to see it from our point of view.”

  “No, I can’t believe you’d do this, Dad.” She ripped herself from his grasp and shot him a nasty look before turning to her mom. “And you, Mom, I can’t believe you’d go along with this. I don’t want to speak to either of you – for the rest of my life!” With that said, she turned on her heel and ran up the stairs, a loud bang echoing as she slammed her bedroom door.

  “I should go talk to her,” Isabelle said. She started to stand up but stopped when Ava reached for her arm.

  “That’s not a good idea, Mom. Tess needs time to calm down. If anyone talks to her right now, it will only make things worse.”

  Isabelle sighed as she sa
t back down. “You’re probably right.”

  “I know I am.” Ava thought about all the times Tessa had behaved like this. From getting braces in the sixth grade to reading not-so-nice comments about herself on the internet, Tessa had a tendency to overreact, as if it was the end of the world. Still, it was hard to do nothing when her sister was hurting, especially since she’d never seen her this upset before.

  “This isn’t how we wanted to tell you girls,” Mitchell said, frowning deeply.

  “We were hoping to have at least one nice family dinner before leaving,” Isabelle added. She cast a sad glance at the lasagna, which had gone uneaten and was now stone cold.

  “I understand,” Ava said, even though she really didn’t. She couldn’t see how tearing their family apart was a good idea, and all of this – canceling their show and moving to Mexico – seemed a bit too drastic. She couldn’t help but feel like there was something else going on, like their parents were hiding something from them. What it could be, though, she had no idea – yet.

  * * *

  Chapter Three

  Later that night, at the stroke of midnight, Ava stirred in bed, slowly awakening to a sound coming from the hallway. Her eyes fluttered open and then she sat up in bed, her mind still foggy from sleep. The sound came again, louder this time, and suddenly, she was wide awake. Those were footsteps in the hallway, and they were coming straight toward her bedroom.

  “Who’s there?” Ava called out, her voice sharp with worry. As soon as the words had left her mouth, the approaching footsteps came to an abrupt halt. She waited anxiously for what seemed like a very long time, but she got no response, everything now still and silent – too still and silent.

  Creak...The sound of someone right outside her room, trying to open her door that she’d thankfully locked last night, caused her blood to turn ice-cold.