WESLEY POVAs soon as I got home from dropping Ava off, I felt like I was on top of the world. I parked my truck around the side of the house like I always did, and I got out and looked at the scenery of the woods that surrounded our little cottage. I walked inside and saw dad sitting on the couch watching TV with a beer in his hand. “Hi dad.” I said. “Hi. Where’s mom?” I asked. “She’s in the other room sewing up my work shirts.” He said. And I plopped on the couch next to him. “So, how was dinner?” He asked. “It was good. It was really good.” I said, unable to contain the smile on my face. Remembering back to the whole afternoon and evening that I spent with Ava. “What’s that smile for? Don’t tell me that you’ve gotten back together with Claire.” Dad sighed out. “No. I haven’t gotten back together with Claire. I did see her though, for the first time in ages.” I said. And he looked at me out of the corner of my eye. “You were always right about her dad, she’s a real bitch.” I
AVA POV I got up the following morning after my night out with Wesley, feeling excited, nervous and anxious all at the same time. Wesley was the only thing that had me feeling excited and that got me out of bed that morning. But when I got up, it was early. Everyone else was still asleep so I got changed into a white loose fitting shirt, gray track pants, socks and shoes. I left my room and I started jogging around the perimeter of the yard, passing all of the guards along the way but not paying any attention to any of them. The whole time, my mother’s face was playing on my mind. That photo that I received of my mother was running through my head. I had memorized it and I was thinking about it non-stop. Was there anything in the photo that could give away her location? But the more I thought about it, the more I came up empty. I didn’t have a damn clue where she could be. I ran the perimeter of the yard three times, and by the time I got back to the house I was panting and sw
Wesley picked me up again outside the gate of the mansion and he drove me to school instead of me having to walk the whole way. When we got to school, we thought that people would have gotten over seeing us together, but I was wrong. We were still the sideshow attraction. And Wesley walked me to my locker first when I saw Skylar, Stella and Sarah walking over to us. “Hi there Wesley.” Skylar said, stopping right beside him. But I chose to ignore her and anything that they had to say. “Hi.” Wesley said, simply. “We were wondering what you were doing tonight? There’s a party at Sarah’s house. She’s pretty keen on you coming to it.” Stella said. “I don’t know. What do you think Ava? Wanna go to a party at Sarah’s house?” Wesley asked, and I turned to look at the girls while I was still looking through my bag. “I’d rather be set on fire.” I said. “Well, I guess there’s your answer. We’ll pass.” Wesley said. “The invitation was only for you. Not her.” Skylar spat in my direc
Wesley ended up getting a blanket out of the truck and he laid it on the bed of the truck, still holding hands and we laid down and watched the sun set over the city while we were still parked next to the river. It was getting really cold as the sun was going down, but Wesley stayed pretty close and made sure that I was warm. I don’t think he wanted to leave. “Dad didn’t even tell me what happened back then. I listened to him and my mother talking in the other room.” Wesley said. “I guess they don’t think that we can handle it. Parents suck sometimes. My dad only told me the very basics.” I said. And Wesley scoffed. “You don’t need to tell me. I wish they would realize that we aren’t as stupid as they think we are.” Wesley said. “Well, as long as we keep eavesdropping on them then we might get the whole story.” I said and Wesley started laughing. “That sounds like a plan.” He said. “You know, I think this is my favorite spot in the whole city.” I said, looking up at the
The next morning I stayed in my room until well after breakfast. I didn’t really have any concerns at all with going downstairs and looking at Sandra or Leo. I didn’t even know if they were home, but if they were I really didn’t want to see them. WESLEY - What are you doing? ME - Hiding in my room. WESLEY - From what? ME - Sandra and Leo. If they are downstairs, then I’m not going downstairs. WESLEY - Do you want to go out and do something? ME - I can’t. Dad said that I had to stay here all day because of the party tonight. He needs to make sure that I am easy to find when it’s time to start getting ready. Barf. WESLEY - Well, I have got the tux and I’ll be there at 7pm sharp. ME - You better be. I’m not facing all those people alone. WESLEY - I’ll see you then. ME - Bye. Someone then started knocking on the door so I got off my bed and I went upstairs to answer it. “Sandra. I don’t believe you’ve ever come to my room before.” I said, leaning on the doorframe.
I was still staring at myself in the mirror when someone knocked on the door and I saw that it was just after 7pm. So I slowly walked to the door in my black strappy high heels and I opened the door. Wesley stood there, about to say something until he saw me, and then just gaped at me with his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water for a moment. He finally composed himself and took a deep breath. “You look absolutely beautiful.” He said. “Thank you.” I said, shyly. Trying to hide my face, but he put his hand up to my cheek and made me look at him. “Don’t do that. Don’t hide your face.” He said. “I feel really out of place here.” I said. “I know you do. But you shouldn’t. You look great. Trust me.” He said. “I am going to fall in these heels and make a fucking fool of myself.” I said. He chuckled at me and he held his arm out for me to take it. “I won’t let you fall.” He said. So I wrapped my arm around his and he led me out of my room. We took it really
As I stood there staring at Noah, I could feel dad and Wesley both staring at me but I really didn’t know what to say. I was shocked and confused by the fact that he was even here. “I know that you hadn’t answered my email yet. But I heard about the Ball and I thought that this would be the ideal time for us to meet.” He said. “And how do you two know each other?” Wesley asked. “Ava’s mother set her up for a pen pal program about 8 years ago. I was still in shock then and I was the one that received Ava’s first letter. We’ve been writing to each other ever since.” Noah explained. “But you’re not still in school now?” Dad asked. “No, sir. I graduated two years ago.” Noah said. “You never told me about your pen pal.” Wesley said. “Well, since I moved here the whole pen pal thing has been a little distant. Noah hadn’t been returning my emails and then when he finally wrote to me, I didn’t return his.” I explained. “Oh.” Was all Wesley managed to say. “I would love to get
When Noah pulled up in his black BMW I walked down the front stairs and he got out to open the door for me so I could get in it and then he raced around to the driver’s seat and we left the house. We drove into the city and pulled up outside a really nice looking cafe. He opened the door for me again and we walked inside and sat near the window. “I have to say, I don’t think I’ve gotten over the shock of you showing up last night.” I said. “I know. It was a last minute thing. I’m just glad that your father let me come.” “How did that happen?” I asked. “I just explained the situation to him and he said that he wouldn’t want to see us miss out on meeting because I couldn’t get an invitation. Of course he did a background check on me first.” Noah chuckled. “Yeah. I guess that doesn’t surprise me. Not after he just got me back.” I said. “I was going to ask you about that. When we used to talk, you never sounded like you were in trouble. That you had been kidnapped.” He sai