"ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀᴇꜱꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ʟᴇꜰᴛ, ɪɴᴅᴇʟɪʙʟᴇ ꜱᴄᴀʀꜱ, ᴘɪᴠᴏᴛᴀʟ ᴍᴀʀᴋꜱ, ʙʟᴜᴇ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪꜰᴇ ꜱʜᴇ ꜰʟᴇᴅ"

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

⋆·˚ ༘ *

If a person were a walking and talking energy drink, Yashna would be one. She was bursting with energy that I didn't know could exist in a person. She was also outright frightening. She was running around in a sports tank top and shorts when I was freezing in my coat and turtleneck jumper.

Basically, she was super hyper, and I looked like the opposite of her, with my stoic face.

She pushed open the door and I hesitated for a second before she dragged me in and announced, "Mom? Dad? We have a guest! Is that okay?"

I heard a voice coming from the kitchen. "Who is it Yashna? I didn't know we were having guests in the morning?"

"Avery Turner. You know the genius student I was telling you about? I ran into her and dragged her home," she said casually, and I found my face getting hot.

"I wouldn't say that I'm-", I started to argue and she interrupted me.

"Stop lying to yourself," she told me and I stayed silent.

In a matter of seconds, her mom walked out of the kitchen. She looked nothing like Yashna - her skin was pale, the color of ivory, and her red-gold hair was in a neat bun. She was incredibly beautiful, looked like a model, and definitely didn't look like the mother of teenage children.

She gave me a warm smile and pulled me into a welcoming hug and I found myself at ease at their magnificent house.

"Nice to meet you, Avery. We've heard so much about you, but it's actually nice to finally meet you. We had no idea whether you were a real person or not!" she said, giving Yashna a look.

Yashna looked embarrassed. "Well, now you know, she's not just a figment of my imagination."

Her mom laughed. "We wake up early in the morning Avery, and the boys never seem to get up."

Yashna grinned mischievously. "I call dibs on waking Dad up!" she screamed and ran upstairs while I stood there smiling at this family, which was very unlike mine.

Her mom led me into the dining room which was refined-looking. The table was a big oval, able to fit 8 people. It was polished to gleam in the light and the chandelier that was hanging above glowed on the table. The china was arranged around for seven people, including me, with the silverware in perfect angles.

"So, Avery, you're a junior right?" she asked while straightening the linen on the side of the table.

"Yes ma'am." I answered and she waved me off. "Call me Emily."

I nodded curtly, and I was startled when thundering footsteps made their way down the stairs. I turned around to see a middle-aged man in a suit, might I add, and a beaming Yashna behind him. He looked energetic, walking down with a small smile on his face. Yashna had been gone for a few minutes, so he was either already up and ready, or he slept in his suit. The first prospect seemed more likely.

He smiled curiously at the sight of me, and Yashna pointed at me. "Dad, this is Avery Turner."

When they stood next to each other, I could see the resemblance between Yashna and her dad. Their complexions were surely different, which made me slightly curious but, she had the same long nose, the same hazel eyes, and the same energy that radiated off Yashna.

"So, you're the famous Avery Turner! Glad to know that you're expanding your social circle to a better one, Yashna," he said pointedly and Yashna frowned.

"Dad! My other friends are cool!" she told him and he chuckled.

"Yes, none of them can hold an intellectual conversation for two minutes, much like your brother."

Yashna's mom, or Emily, cleared her throat disapprovingly as if to remind them that there was a guest in their house.

"Sorry Avery. They enjoy bantering like little children," she told me, glaring at Yashna and her dad who exchanged looks with each other.

I felt at ease in front of them. They seemed so fun to be around. I imagined what it would be like to have a family that valued each other so much and enjoyed one another's presence. It felt like a dream straight out of a novel, because I've never seen it before in real life.

It made me smile.

"So, Avery. Tell me about yourself. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" Yashna's dad asked.

"Will", Emily warned and Yashna whispered to me. "Don't freak out. It's Dad's standard question for every teenager he meets. He judges them on it. No pressure though."

"Um, Princeton. I'm leaning towards Physics or Astrophysics right now," I said and he smiled approvingly.

"I expected something like that. Why Princeton? Is your dream to do calculations on the same chalkboard as Einstein?"

I smiled. "Not particularly. Many reasons to be honest. Undergrad teaching is better, so is the legacy, and the family-like campus. Wonderful facilities, there's a lot to like!" My dad also went there and probably lives around there too. I didn't mention that part to Yashna's dad.

My mom didn't know that I was religiously planning on going to Princeton. Yes, I was furious at my dad for leaving me and my sister with her. I hated that he didn't bother to check up on us, and I despised him for not caring about me enough.

However, I think it was three years ago that I was starting to understand why he left my mom. I could see it. I couldn't leave because I had no other option, but if he left us, he might've had a reason.

Then, there was also the possibility that he tried to contact us, but couldn't if my mom was interfering.

Curiosity killed the cat, Avery.

Did I know for sure that he was in New Jersey? No, I did not. Did I see the place on a postcard that my mom desperately tried to hide? Yes.

Was this an utterly stupid plan? Also, yes.

I didn't exactly want a relationship with my father, but I wanted answers. My mom wasn't going to give me honest ones, so my dad was the next best option.

The next member of Yashna's family to arrive happened to be her little sister whom she mentioned earlier. She looked the most relatable out of this entire family and she was wearing her grey penguin pajamas. She looked not much older than six. Rubbing her eyes, she whined. "Mommy, can I sleep for ten more minutes, please?"

"No, Isha. We have a special guest. Don't you want to meet her?" Emily told her and Isha suddenly opened her eyes. She stared at me, gaping, and screamed. She ran back upstairs, leaving me confused.

"She's mortified that you saw her in her penguin pyjamas!" Yashna laughed at my puzzled expression.

"Yashna, can you go tell him to come downstairs for breakfast or he's not getting any," Emily asked, exasperated, as she arranged the food on the plates hurriedly.

"Awww, mom! Can't you do it?" Yashna asked and her dad gave her a look.

"Fine!" she grumbled and left.

"I'm so sorry Avery. Teenagers are impossible. Your parents are so lucky to have you!" she told me and I bit the inside of my cheek to stop any response from coming out. They're better off without an insinuation that my parents were actually wishing that I didn't exist.

Emily and Will, looked exactly like I imagined a rich, Greenfield Avenue family would look like. I didn't see much dysfunction and I pride myself in figuring out how people act around each other. They could totally be faking because I'm a guest but I've seen the way Yashna's mom and dad look at each other.

Kind of like the way I look at my Macchiato in the mornings.

Speaking of Macchiatos, I still needed to get that coffee.

Snapping me out of my daze about coffee, Emily asked, "Avery, would you like to put your bag over there?" I obliged, forgetting that I was carrying my backpack this entire time.

The table was set and the food smelled absolutely delicious. It was 6 o'clock now and I couldn't help but admire the way the entire family woke up around this time to have a meal together. Emily and Will looked at each other and occasionally glanced at the staircase, possibly waiting for their kids to get their asses back down.

It was getting awkward and I had to say something before the social anxiety in me exploded.

"Thank you for having me. I know this was probably unexpected."

"Oh, no worries at all Avery. Although I wish Yashna told us earlier so you wouldn't have to see this mess..." Emily said checking her watch.

Just then, Yashna came down and sat next to her dad. "He said he's coming down," she said. "On a better note, Isha is taking a shower without us telling her to!"

"All right. Let's start eating. They'll come down soon," Will declared and Emily nodded. Yashna clapped her hands together and I took a bite out of the egg sandwich.

Jesus, it was good!

Yashna thought so too, and although I was taking small bites out of the sandwich, Yashna practically inhaled the sandwich.

"Mmmm, so good," she managed to get out and her parents burst out laughing and so did I. Emily immediately regained her composure and warned Yashna to be more polite but her dad was still laughing. Emily gave him a look.

"Hey, mom. Hey, Dad. Something smells good!" I heard a very familiar voice say, quite happily and I was sure that I was mishearing things. Removing our attention from Yashna, we all looked to see who the new arrival was.

My jaw dropped.

It fell to the floor.

The egg sandwich that I was going to take a bite out of fell from my grip to the plate. It went unnoticed, thankfully, because everyone there was focusing on the startling presence in the room.

"Nice of you to finally join us Kyran." Will said and Yashna moved over a little to give Kyran Drake some room to sit.

Kyran Drake.

I had ended up in Kyran Drake's house for breakfast.

Replay that sentence and see how ridiculous it sounds.

Yes, I know.

Of all the houses in Greenfield Avenue, he had to be here. Of all the people I could run into, I just had to run into his sister who happened to know of a super-fandom that involved me.

He was just as dumbstruck as I was, even more so than me, and he didn't take the seat that Yashna offered him. We just stared at each other in shock, for at least 20 seconds before he exclaimed, "Avery?? Wha- How, wait, why are you-"

I was staring at him confused, and he was staring at me with full-blown fear in his eyes. I'd never seen Kyran Drake looking so frightened before, and honestly, I wished someone would take a photo of this because this situation was entirely so comical that I'd appreciate seeing it when I'm old and gray.

Will broke the disastrously long silence. "You two know each other?"

"Um, well. Yes, we sit next to each other in English and-" I began before Kyran cleared his throat. "Yeah, and we have a group project together in AP Chemistry, right Avery?"

Kyran was pleading with his eyes to play along. With his deep gray eyes narrowed and his eyebrows raised, he was uncomfortably standing there as his parents were watching me intently for my response. It was the most statistically improbable situation to ever occur and I had smartly assumed that his parents probably didn't know that he failed his sophomore year so badly that he needed a tutor.

"Yeah. Yeah. AP Lit and Chem. Right," I replied awkwardly. I mentally face-palmed myself for this idiotic response because my brain cells seemed to have died that second. I'm a great liar so I had no idea why the hell I said something so ridiculous and off-putting.

How to die of embarrassment 101. Avery Turner, you have passed with flying colors.

Kyran took a deep breath and sat down next to Yashna who poked him, more like stabbed him with the fork beside her. He didn't flinch but just gave her a death glare.

"So, what brings you to my house at -" he checked his phone. "6 a.m. in the morning Avery?" he asked, still apprehensive.

Yashna answered before I did. "I ran into her earlier and brought her home for breakfast. Got a problem?"

"No, not at all," he replied, relaxing in his seat. The earlier apprehensiveness was suddenly gone and now, there was classic Kyran Drake awful batshit charisma/ idiocy etched into his eyes.

I took a bite out of the egg sandwich.

"Well, Avery. It is certainly nice to see you out and about, I thought you didn't like being outside around people very much," he announced dramatically and I gritted my teeth and glared at him.

He shrugged with a smile.

"Oh, really Avery? Not a people person?" Will asked curiously as I smiled nervously. Yashna seemed to realize what Kyran was doing, hitting on sensitive topics, and she gave him another stab with her fork.

Thank you, Yashna.

"I just prefer spending time focusing on my future than wasting time partying," I replied and Will nodded.

"I can only hope that you learn something from her," he said, glaring at both Yashna and Kyran. Yashna took it lightly and shrugged but Kyran, who was subtly attacked by his father, gave me the dangerous Kyran Drake look.

Sucks to be you, Kyran.

Kyran's fork was prodding the plate viciously and no one else noticed. I gulped, startled by his sudden change in mood. He looked up again, caught my eye, and looked back down. The silence that followed that exchange was awkward, to say the least. Emily and Will had noticed Kyran's sudden temperament. Emily gave Will a sharp look of disapproval and Yashna smiled, pretending she didn't know what was happening.

Then, Yashna dropped the bomb. "Hey, Kyran? What got you smiling last night?" she asked vaguely and Kyran looked at her confused.

"Huh?"

"Yesterday. 10 p.m. Who were you texting? You were smiling a lot, unlike now," she said and my face was starting to burn, and I was sure that I was positive that I looked like a cooked tomato.

Yeah, he was texting me at 10 last night.

Kyran knew that too, and after giving me severe eye contact, and a sheepish smile, he went back to eating his sandwich.

"Kyran, if you have a girlfriend, I'd love to meet her, you know!" Emily beamed and Will laughed. "Emily, you know Kyran is busy with football. Speaking of football, when's the Notre Dame rep coming? Ms. Walton called me yesterday."

Thank god for Will changing the subject, and my facial color was restored to its original shade. Kyran, on the other hand, looked slightly more stressed.

"After January, Dad." he said and Isha had arrived so quietly that I didn't notice her take a seat next to me. I gave her a warm smile and she turned red, looked away, and ate her sandwich.

I was brought back to reality when I heard my phone beep. I was naturally not looking forward because I knew who this text was from.

Sighing, I clicked on the notification and of course, it was from the devil herself.

Why did you leave the house?

Where are you now?

School. Group project.

I don't believe you.

I resisted the urge to type out 'I don't care' but I knew that it wouldn't end well. I cleared my throat. "Excuse me, just one second."

 I walked away from the table, pretending not to see the confused glances from Kyran and the rest of his family. Walking past the well-lit hallway, I opened my backpack and took out a textbook, notebook, and laptop.

I arranged the textbook on the left, opened it to a random chapter, and opened my laptop. I was kneeling next to the floor right now and I opened the camera.

I clicked a picture, avoiding any glimpse of the staircase, or the rugs that decorated their living room. It took three takes and two seconds of editing but I sent the picture to my mom and awaited her response.

Packing my stuff back, I neatly kept the backpack where it was and made my way back to the table.

"Everything all right, Avery?" Emily asked apprehensively and I nodded.

"Yes, all's fine. Just called my mom telling her where I was."

They didn't seem too bothered - it was an ordinary response, but Emily spoke out unexpectedly.

"You're a Turner, right? I know a few Turners in this town actually. Jennifer Turner, she's an architect. You know Will, she was featured on Forbes!" she exclaimed.

"And- Jack Turner, that mechanic on the east side?" Will added.

"Are you related to any of them, Avery?" Emily asked and I shook my head. She laughed.

"Sorry. Turner is a very common name. I don't know why I assumed. Like, you know Melissa Cooper? Well, she married a Turner. He left her and the kids and no one knows where he is.", she told Will and I nearly choked on my bite.

Covering it up as a cough, I swallowed slowly, and my eyes were suddenly watering.

"Are you okay?" Yashna asked concerned, and I nodded curtly.

How was I supposed to tell her that her parents had suddenly landed on a topic that concerned my family?

I sat there taking slow sips from the glass of water next to me while eavesdropping on a conversation that wasn't very well contained. I felt a certain queasiness listening to them talking about my mom, in a way I didn't know.

To me, mom had always just been 'mom' – the woman who controlled every aspect of my life and the woman who had never loved me or realized that I needed love and affection too.

"Yeah, Melissa and I went to the University of Essex. She majored in... biology, I think. She was always so stuck up and had that holier-than-thou attitude. She prided herself in not having friends! She thought that people were a waste of time!", Emily ranted, and I was pleasantly interested in this conversation. I was about to mention that I was Melissa Turner's daughter but after listening to the dangerously accurate description of my mother's personality, I couldn't help but listen to this conversation.

I didn't know if Emily and Will gossiped about others in front of their children so blatantly, but I wasn't judging.

Will shook his head. "She used to live in Greenfield. Before her husband sold the house. I want to feel sorry for her, but hear this, Jessica Garner saw her drag her daughter inside the house last night. I think the older one. She has two daughters, right?"

"Yes, two. She sends the younger one to a private school, and the older one to a public school. Now obviously there's nothing wrong in sending your kids to private schools! But, oh my god. I heard that the younger one can do no wrong in her mother's eyes.", Emily told her husband as I sat there motionless as my life story was being laid out as a breakfast conversation.

If they realized that I was slightly uncomfortable, they didn't say anything about it. I covered my sleeves even more, pulling at them until they couldn't stretch anymore.

The conversation suddenly switched to a debate on private schools and I was relieved. As much as I wanted to find out some truths about my mom's life, I didn't want my life to become a tragic story.

Not that it isn't a tragic story.

Kyran suddenly got up from the table. "Mom, I'll be heading out earlier today. I have some work to do." Turning to me, he said. "Plus, I owe someone a coffee."

He discreetly winked at me and I looked down smiling.

"You're going to school early? Who are you, and what have you done with my idiotic brother?" Yashna cried out, clutching her chest dramatically as Will patted Kyran on the shoulder.

"Glad you're on the right path son," he replied.

Yashna whispered something in Kyran's ear, to which he blushed for two seconds, glared at Yashna, and left, but not before hugging Isha.

"You're my favorite family member. I hate them all," he told Isha who beamed.

I got up as well. "Thank you for having me today. It was lovely, can I help with anything?"

"It was lovely to have you here Avery", Will said, gathering Kyran and Yashna's plates. "I'll take that, and you can get to school. You probably have work to do."

I handed him the plate and thanked Emily and Will once again before heading to the deserted hall to retrieve my backpack. Just then, Kyran stopped me at the front door.

"Thanks for not telling them about my, um, grades and the tutoring stuff." he told me and I scoffed.

"Yeah, unlike you, I don't believe in making your life a living hell."

"I don't make your life a living hell!" he recoiled, and I folded my arms.

"What's with that comment about me not getting along with people?"

"It's true. I've never seen you outside of school. And, that 10-minute walk from the other day doesn't count", he said calmly and I was getting angrier.

"Look, it wasn't my plan to come here. Your sister invited me, and trust me, she's a whole lot nicer to be around than you."

Shots fired.

"Excuse me? I'm a delight to be around!" he whined like a child, and I took a deep breath.

"Can I go now? Unfortunately, I have to meet a certain someone whose presence requires at least 10 coffees."

"Well, I'm buying you one of those, so let's go," he said, pointing to the door and I groaned before following his lead.

I had completely forgotten the cold that awaited me outside because I was getting so accustomed to the warmth of their home. Stepping outside, I shivered, pulling the coat closer around me, and walked down the stone steps of his home.

He couldn't keep up with my pace like Yashna could, and he started panting like a child in the first few minutes of our walk across the estate.

"Seriously, stop walking so fast. No one is chasing us."

"You are.", I replied shortly, and he snorted. "Yeah, as if I would go chasing you."

Okay, that hurt.

Ignoring him I walked even faster and he put his hands up. "Okay, I'm sorry."

There was one question bugging me and I thought that he was the best person to ask. That's because I didn't care what he thought of me, and if he got offended or hurt, who cares?

I don't.

"If you don't mind me asking," I asked, slightly slowing down. "Yashna and you don't look alike at all."

He laughed. "Yeah, that's because she's my step-sister. So, is Isha. I thought I told you I lived with my step-sisters and my step-dad."

I didn't reply because he did indeed mention that yesterday. It just completely flew over my head because I was more focused on avoiding his question than listening to his answer.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry," I replied sheepishly, and he smiled. "My dad cheated on my mom and then tried to sue her for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yashna's dad happened to be her lawyer. Yashna's mom had just died after giving birth to Isha. So, yeah. He helped her win her case and then fell in love."

"Sorry," I started to say, and he stopped me. "Don't be. Will is the dad that I never had. And he actually cares about Mom and our family. I've grown up with Yashna and Isha so even if we're not biologically related, we're closer than real siblings would be."

He wasn't wrong. Looking at his dynamic with his sisters, I was incredibly jealous. I didn't need to get started on my sister. That rant will take up way too much brain power. I did wish that Eliza could be the sister that Yashna was to Kyran. They were teasing each other and hitting each other but they both were there for each other too. Meanwhile, in my house, I was the one there for my sister.

We were very close to Oakland High now and it was 7 a.m. already. I knew Ms. Walton was wondering where I was, but I was enjoying this walk, even if I didn't have my Macchiato.

Until Kyran said something that stopped me in my tracks.

"I know Melissa Turner's your mom, Avery. What happened yesterday?"

I didn't turn around to look at him and instead, I raced across the last stretch of the walk to school, ignoring his calls. Leaving him there, I felt like a coward, and maybe I was, but this is a part of my life that he can't find out anything about.

No one can find out about it.

And I'm prepared to lie about it for as long as humanely possible.

⋆·˚ ༘ *

Hello and welcome back, my favorite people!

I know we're only a week into 2024 🥳, but I've lost all motivation with my New Year's Resolutions. I still need to create a list, and everyone wants to know what I'm gonna do but there's nothing I really wanna do.🤔

Plus, boy problems. 😒 Nah, not in the way you're thinking. I'm still single. The guys in my college are downright horrible, and my friends are confused as to why I love fictional characters.😁

Well, duh!

Q: Which fictional character are you in love with?

Anyways, thank you for reading this chapter, you wonderful people. I hope you liked it and if you did, please leave a vote.

Until next week,

Audrey. 💕😘