by S. L. Jayne
Note to self: Do not let Rylee pack up a house. Ever!
My phone beeped again.
Mom: Okay that’s good, make sure you girls eat properly. What are you doing tonight? Are you going out? You have to be careful going out, two girls out alone isn’t safe, sweetie. The café sounds lovely, you’ll have to take us there when we visit xxx
I roll my eyes, I know she means well and I love her to bits, but she can nag when she wants to.
Me: We are eating fine, Mom. I promise. We are staying in tonight watching a movie with ice cream, we will be safe when we eventually go out, nothing will happen. Don’t stress! Sure sounds great, we’ll go there. Talk to you tomorrow, goodnight to you and Dad, love you xxx
Mom: Goodnight, Avaloo, love you too xxx
Her reply makes me smile and I forget all about her nagging when she uses the nickname I’ve had since I was five years old. I’m surprised she didn’t throw “More than the stars” in there for good measure.
Rylee walks in the room from the kitchen, carrying the tub of ice cream, bag of chips and a bottle of coke.
“Have you put the DVD in?” She asked.
I look up from the magazine. “No not yet, sorry. Mom texted me, she wants us to eat properly and be safe when we go out,” I let out a small laugh.
She smiled and shook her head. “The usual then, she will want the phone numbers of the bars we go to next!”
I gaped at her. “Oh my god, don’t joke about that!”
We put the DVD on and settled on the couch, we had one of those corner unit couches so it was plenty big enough for us both to lay down on either side with our heads meeting in the corner. By the time we were half way through the movie, we had eaten every last bit of the chocolate fudge brownie ice cream (what can I say? It’s my favorite and those two guys know how to make good ice cream!)
“Pass me the chips please,” I whispered.
She put her finger up to her mouth. “Shh, he’s about to stop by and see if she’s okay.”
I shook my head. “You really are an odd one, Ry, you think all guys are players and mind fucks but yet you swoon over them in movies.”
She giggled. “They are all mind fucks, Ava, and the ones that aren’t players are either virgins or gay, and for the record, I swoon over the movies because it’s fictional, no guy could or would ever be like that.” She gives me her ‘and that’s a fact’ nod.
Shaking my head, I roll my eyes at her and laugh. “Aww, that’s not true. Everyone gets a fairytale ending, you’ll find your sweet badass movie guy one day, and when you do it’ll be true love.”
She makes a gagging noise next to me and laughs. “You’re delusional, Ava. I’m not looking for a guy to sweep me off my feet, I’m staying away from that! You let them in your head and bam you’re done, you lose control.”
I sat up and looked at her. “I’m not saying you will find true love with the first guy you meet, and I’m not saying that you won’t come across assholes and players, but I am saying that you will eventually let someone close enough to get into your head and by the time that happens I know you will be strong enough to handle it.”
She gives me a doubtful look. “I know Ava, but I just can’t see it happening anytime soon, I’m not ready.”
“I know you’re not, but you will be eventually, and when you are you’ll just know.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Well, I’ll let you know when I know,” She said with a cheeky grin.
Chapter Two
I woke up to Rylee shouting at me through the wall. “Answer your damn cell, Ava! How can you not hear it? I swear you sleep like the dead, and whoever that is calling and waking me up at 7am, tell them I said someone better have died!” Shaking my head laughing, I reached for my phone on my nightstand looked at the screen and saw Adam’s name at the top.
“Hey, Adam, what’s up?”
“Hey, Ava. Nothing is up, why would you think something is up, just because I’m calling you?” I can imagine him frowning while he said it.
“Because it’s 7am! What could be so important that it couldn’t wait a couple hours? I was getting my beauty sleep!”
He laughed at me. “Oh shut up, you don’t need beauty sleep, you know you’re gorgeous.”
I wouldn’t say I’m gorgeous, the guys may describe me that way but I’m just me. I am lucky with my complexion I suppose, I have a natural tan, my long dark brown hair has natural lighter brown highlights through it and I have dark brown eyes to match.
I laughed. “Yeah yeah, we are already friends you can stop with the compliments, it won’t make me sleep with you.”
He burst out laughing and was more than likely shaking his head at me too. “I know it won’t but, you can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“You’ve been trying since senior year!” I couldn’t stop laughing.
“Yeah, I can’t work that out, I think you have the decent taste part of your brain missing. Girls usually fall at my feet,” I could sense his smirk through the phone.
“Oh please! They can’t want you for your bad taste in music so it has to be your endless supply of beer, I can’t think what else you have to offer!” I bit my lip to stop from laughing again.
“Ouch, Ava. Way to bruise my ego!” He feigned a sob.
“Oh stop milking it, someone has to keep you grounded! So if it wasn’t to polish up on your charm, what did you call for?”
“I was calling to ask if a few of us can come visit in a couple weeks, will Rylee be up for it? We won’t bring Charlotte.”
I screwed my nose up. “I’m glad you’ll leave the bitch behind,” he laughed at my bitter tone. “But it will be good to see you guys, I’ll ask Rylee and then text you.”
“Okay, I’m sorry for waking you up, I forgot about the time difference. I’ll tell them all you said yes. Bye, baby girl!” He hung up before I got a chance to tell him it wasn’t a definite yes.
I couldn't get back to sleep so I decided to get up. Going into the kitchen to make coffee, I sat on the stool at the breakfast bar and pulled out my phone to check my Facebook. I scrolled down my newsfeed and stopped at Adam’s status.
The guys and I can't wait to party it up in Cali with Ava & Rylee. It's gonna be a heavy night!
I shook my head reading the status, I can't believe he posted that! I haven't even told Rylee about it yet, I think she will be okay as long as Charlotte isn't there. I need to tell her before she checks her Facebook though. I finished my coffee as Rylee walked into the kitchen.
"Morning, sweetie, coffee is in the pot. I'm going to jump in the shower in a few.”
Sipping on her drink she looked at me. "Mmm, I need this after being woken up at ridiculous-o'clock! Who was it on the phone?"
I turned to her. “It was Adam, he called to ask if it’s okay for him and a few of the others to come and visit in a couple weeks. I told him I’d text him to let him know after I asked you but he has gone and put it on Facebook already.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Which others is he bringing?”
“I didn’t ask exactly who, but he did say he wouldn’t bring Charlotte, he knows better than to bring her,” I said with a smirk.
She shrugged her shoulders. “That’s okay then,” she smirked, “I don’t think she will want to be around me again, especially if you’ve had a drink.”
I let out a laugh as I remember the incident Rylee is referring to, it happened when we were eighteen at one of the very few parties Rylee got to come to. I had lost count of the drinks I had had but I know it was more than Rylee, she had to slow down because she wasn’t allowed home drunk.
“Don’t look now but bitch-Barbie just walked in.”
I casually turned my head looking around the room to see where she was standing. “Ugh! Why couldn’t she just stay in bed with whoever her latest victim is and not bother showing up?”
Rylee laughed and that caught Charlotte’s attention, she walked over and gave us a fake smile. “Hi girls! I see you were a
llowed out tonight, Rylee, did you eat all of your dinner like a good girl?” She smirked and you could see the bitch dripping off of her.
I saw Rylee close her eyes, it’s what she did when she was embarrassed or someone had hurt her feelings.
I turned to face Charlotte, giving her a sweet smile. “Did you sleep your way to an invite or did Adam give you one out of pity? Oh, and word of warning, keep your bitchy comments to yourself.”
“I don’t have to sleep with guys for an invite, sweetie, they give me one because they need something good to look at, Rylee here isn’t giving them much, she’s holding onto her virginity like it’s made of gold!”
I raised my eyebrows. “You’re right, you sleep with them for much less than that! And as for Ry, say one more thing about her and I’m going to have to shut you up because you seem to be struggling to keep your mouth shut.”
She grinned at me. “Well isn’t that why she isn’t drinking much, because it’ll upset daddy?”
I went to say something and Rylee cut me off.
“He is NOT my dad!” She gave Charlotte a dirty look and stormed off.
I took off after her but stopped in my tracks when I heard Charlotte laugh and then shout. “Yeah, I wouldn’t claim you either!” In that instant I saw red, I walked back over to charlotte clenching my fists with anger, without saying a word to her I lifted my arm and punched her in the mouth, the force of the punch made her step back and the next thing we all saw was her land on her ass. Her eyes went wide as she brought her hand up to her mouth and wiped her lip, she stared at her hand, “You BITCH! You made me bleed! I don’t know what Callum see’s in you!”
I laughed at her. “Don’t bring my boyfriend into this, just think yourself lucky I didn’t knock your fucking teeth out, whore!” I turned and walked away from her to search for Rylee.
Shaking my head I let out a small chuckle. “I can’t see her even asking if she can come here. That was the first time I had to punch someone while defending you, and it was soo worth it!”
She laughed. “And I love you for it, Ava. You have always had my back, who knew playing long rope and making shapes out of clouds would turn into drunken punches and moving almost three thousand miles away together.”
I smiled. “It’s the best pinky promise we ever made.”
Rylee wanted to check out the shops so we got ready and headed out, after I had picked up the red top I spotted last time we were in here, I was waiting for Rylee to finish up drooling over the dresses.
“Ohhhh, look at this!” Rylee held up a gorgeous black strapless chiffon dress, with a lace cut out down one side stopping at the hip.
It was a fitted one and Rylee liked them to hug her figure on a night out. “That. Is. Gorgeous. You have to get that to wear tonight!”
She looked at me with her ‘well, duh!’ look. I laughed at her as she practically ran to the check out. After going in and out of a few more shops we grabbed some lunch at the café, I texted Adam to tell him it was okay for them to visit.
***
It’s almost eight o’clock and we’re in the cab on our way to Morgan’s Temple, it’s a bar downtown, apparently it is a good place to start according to miss-I-love-mornings at the café.
“I’m so ready to check out the bars and the guys in this place!”
I laughed at Rylee as I turned to face her. “Be subtle with your checking out please, I don’t want to have to tell the guys you bat for the other team to stop them flocking when they catch you staring!”
She let out a loud laugh. “You wouldn’t!”
“Don’t try me, Ry, it’s our first night out here and I don’t want to have to worry about you disappearing with Mr- Pretty because he has a great smile!”
She gave me her innocent look. “Come on, Ava. I won’t be disappearing with anyone, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the moment. You told me I needed to have fun, so yeah, I’m blaming you!”
“You’re right, I did tell you that and I do want you to have fun but we’re not leaving a trail to our door, deal?” I held out my pinky finger towards her.
Hooking hers around it she nodded at me. “Pinky promise,” She said with a wink.
Walking into the bar the music is loud and there are a fair few people sitting and standing. The bar was straight ahead, we headed over to it and sat on a stool. A bartender came over to serve us. He’s tattooed and hot… really hot.
“What can I get you gorgeous ladies to drink?” He winked.
“I’ll have a vodka and cranberry please,” I looked over at Rylee, she was staring, just like I knew she would! I saw her swallow and hoped it wasn’t her pride.
Her face broke into a huge grin. “I’ll have a screaming orgasm please.”
He raised one eyebrow at her and smirked. “That can be arranged,” He said, and winked again.
Damn, Rylee is almost a puddle on the floor. I looked over to the left and saw a dance floor that went round to the other side of the bar, on the right there was an area for karaoke, a few girls were doing a bad job of Gloria Gaynor, but who am I to judge; I can’t hold a note in a bucket!
“Here you go, ladies, enjoy your night.” We paid for the drinks that Mr- I’m-too-drool-worthy handed us and we made our way to the dance floor area.
“Come on, Ava. Let’s dance!” She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the middle of the dance floor.
The music is loud and I can feel the bass vibrating under my feet. We have been dancing non-stop except for the times we stopped to get more drinks, but even then we had danced back to the bar.
I waved my hand in front of Rylee to get her attention, “Shall we go get another?”
I stopped when I saw a guy approaching us, he stopped behind Rylee and put his hands on her hips and pulled her closer to him. She gave me a huge smile with wide eyes and started moving her hips in time with his.
I winked at her and mouthed. “I’m going to get another drink.”
She nodded and winked back at me. I’m a little more than tipsy right now so I carefully walked back to the bar, I didn’t want to fall over in these heels. I stood resting my body on the bar, it’s helping me balance. Standing waiting to be served, out of the corner of my eye I see a guy approach the bar and stop next to me. I glance round to look at him, he was a good 6’2” with short blonde hair and dark blue eyes. He smiled at me and nodded his head once, I smiled back.
Mr- winks-a-lot came over to serve me. “Same again, gorgeous?”
I nodded. “Yes please.”
He frowned at me as he looked around the bar area. “Where’s your friend?”
“She’s still on the dance floor, I’m going to have to drag her off when it’s time to go.”
He laughed. “She seems like a lot of fun to be around”
“She is, she can be crazy when she lets herself be,” I smirk.
“Oh, I’m sure she can be,” he said and winked as he handed me the drinks.
As I passed the money over to pay I felt a hand on my arm.
“Let me get these for you.” I turned towards the blonde guy next to me, he was smiling at me, and damn he has a great smile.
I smiled back. “Thank you, that’s really nice of you,” I didn’t know what else to say.
I walked back to the dance floor and saw Rylee full on dirty dancing with the guy I had left her with.
I joined her and handed her drink to her as I shouted. “Having fun?” I said with a huge grin on my face.
“Lots of fun. This guy can dance!” She gave me a subtle wink and carried on dancing.
I shook my head and started dancing. I was lost in the music when I felt someone behind me, I ignored it and carried on moving my body in time with the beat. I felt his arm snake around my waist and he stepped closer pulling me into him, I let him guide me. He was moving his hips against my ass and his hands were gripping my hips moving me with him, lifting my arms above my head I hooked them around his neck, my heart was pounding in my chest as he ran his hands up my side
s and trailed his fingers back down.
Dropping his head to speak in my ear, he whispered. “You are fucking sexy. I’ll buy you drinks all night if it means I get to be this close to you.”
It’s the blonde from the bar!
I smiled and turned to face him. “It’s as close as you’re getting so you better enjoy it while you can,” I smirked at his fake shock expression.
“We’ll see,” he winked at me.
I rolled my eyes at him and dropped my head back. He took that as an invitation. Pulling me closer he brought his mouth to my neck, trailing kisses up to my ear.
“I’m thinking about how sweet your mouth is. I really want to taste it.”
I moved my head to say something but it was too late, his mouth was on mine and as I took a breath in he slipped his tongue in and slid one hand into my hair while the other hand was gripping my ass, I lost all train of thought, wow, this is hot. I pulled back breaking the kiss.
He looked down at me with a smirk. “I knew you would taste sweet, but damn girl that was something else.”
Shaking my head and smiling. “Thanks, you didn’t taste too bad yourself.”
Giggling I turned to find Rylee, we needed to get out of here before I let myself get sweet talked by Mr- melt-in-your-mouth! I can’t go home with him, there is a pinky promise in place.
I spotted Rylee in the far corner with her arms around the guy and his face buried in her neck. I tap her on the shoulder as I reach her. “You ready to go, Ry?”
She turned around with a huge smile on her face. “Sure, I was just telling Chris here how I have lost my cell and don’t have a number I can give him.” She gave me her go along with it look.
I bit my lip to stop from laughing. “Yeah, you’re terrible at remembering to pick things up!”
She burst out laughing and gave me a sarcastic look. “Ha. Ha. Let’s get out of here.”
June 1999
“I’m never going to learn how to jump in time!” I shouted to Lillie-Mai who was standing away from me and my jump rope so she doesn’t get hit.
“You will, Ava. You just have to jump when you see it come in front of you,” she giggled.