"For god sake, just call him already!" Tally cried, snapping Avery out of her trance-like state. She glanced around, her cheeks going red at other customers curious looks in their direction.

"Tally," she hissed, trying not to look at the smirking older waitress as she placed down their smoothies. "Keep it down, will you? Betty's isn't the place for a loud discussion."

"I'm just saying, I brought you here to get your mind off Aden, not sit there glumly. No offense, but right now, you're really bad company."

Avery didn't mind the jab, she knew Tally was giving her some tough love, but to be honest, she was about half a smoothie away from pulling out her cellphone and dialling his number.

"Sorry, it's just...I feel horrible," Avery muttered, looking into the creamy brown froth in her see-through cup. Tally's painted fingernails tapped on the wooden table rhythmically, the bright pink distracting her for a second.

"Do you want to tell me why you're fighting with him?" Tally prodded, but Avery was already shaking her head. It wasn't her secret to tell, even if it had caused this argument between them.

"Av? You know I love you, and I love hanging out with you, but go away and ring him." Tally's face said it all. Avery almost threw her arms around her best friend in gratefulness, but not wanting to cause a scene, she stood, smiling at Tally.

"What about you though?"

"I'll call Scott or someone. Now go!"

"Thank you, I'll make it up to you!" Avery called over her shoulder as she pushed open the cafe front door and flipped out her cellphone. Ringing his number once, twice, she groaned and looked around. Nice, hot day, sun shining, he had to be at the beach. She jog-walked along the pier, scoping the sand and water for him. Finally, she made out his silloette against the blue waters, lying on his surfboard.

Spotting his towel and shirt, she took off her shoes and walked barefoot towards them. Sitting down, she waited.

Avery was under no illusion that he hadn't seen. She was in plain sight, and she knew he was just biding his time. Five minutes ticked by, he rode some waves. Another five.

Fine, if he wanted her to wait, she would wait.

Finally, he emerged. Slowly, he walked towards her, wiping his face and shaking his hair out, like a dog would if it had just been swimming and shook all over an unsuspecting victim. She couldn'y help it, and even though he was mad, she had to admire his build as he walked closer.

Not saying a word, he sat beside her, close enough to know he wasn't about to shut her out, but far enough away to know he still had reservations.

Aden, I-I'm so sorry, I just didn't think! I was so selfish and self-centered, asking you to not like Barker because of my own stupid reasons! Which, by the way, aren't even related to me directly, but I had to stick my nose in and look where that got us, but I don't want to let you-"

"Av, I'm not mad, so you can breath before you suffocate."

Avery gasped, looking at him in shock. His handsome face turned towards her, and she saw the hint of his old smile returning.

"What?"

"I'm not mad."

"But-" She stuttered, and his expression filled with amusement as she struggled for words, "I would be mad at me!"

"Good thing I'm not you," he replied, and relief washed over her so swiftly, she almost felt dizzy.

"I just needed a bit of time to think. And I'm sorry for not calling, I was a jerk about that." He continued, and Avery couldn't believe how amazing he was. She had come to do the apologizing, and he had flipped it so he was the one doing it.

"No, seriously, Aden. I'm so sorry, really, about Barker, your mother-"

"Let's leave that for now, hm?" He asked, and she felt his wet forearm snake around her waist, pulling her to his side. Avery fought the smile about to burst odd her face and jump into the water itself. She could feel the water soaking through her shirt from his arm, but at that moment, she didn't care.

"Are you sure, I mean-"

"I'm sure, Av. Later." He said in a low voice, and tilted her face up to kiss her. It was a sweet, slow kiss, one that had her toes curling and smiling part way through.

Leaning her head on his shoulder, she watched the surfers riding waves. "You're the best." She murmured, and felt his lips on her hair.

"I know."

***

"Hurry up!" Avery half-scolded, half-giggled as Aden quickly pulled on his t shirt, hiding his amazing chest she'd just been snug up against for the better part of an hour. Unfortunately, Fiona had pulled up, and Avery wasn't in the mood to be caught getting hot and heavy with her boyfriend.

"Ah, Avery?" Aden said, hiding his smirk well. She put her hands on her hips, looking at him with impatience.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing."

She groaned, leading the way out of her bedroom, and down the stairs. Fiona opened the front door just as they sat on the kitchen stools, and she dumped her paperwork on the kitchen island, tiredness etching under her eyes.

"Hey, Fi." Avery said, but she couldn't help but notice Aden still trying to hide his smirk. She shot him a look, one that froze water, and turned back to her aunt.

"Hey, love. I've got some news on the case-" Fiona cut off when she looked up at Avery. Avery frowned, getting increasingly annoyed, especially when Fiona and Aden shared a knowing look.

"What is wrong with you two?!" She cried, throwing her hands in the air.

"Honey, your shirts on backwards." Fiona stated simply, and Avery looked down. Gasping in horror, she went a bright shade of beetroot, before turning to glare at Aden.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You were being mean, so I left it."

"Really mature, Aden."

"A piece of advice," Fiona laughed, opening the fridge doors and finding a leftover carton of yogurt, "make sure you're dressed as you were before the clothes started coming off." Fiona winked, and Avery's face flushed even more, if possible.

"You said you had news on the case?" Avery veered the topic off her and Aden, and re-focused on the present. Fiona nodded, taking a mouthful of yogurt before replying.

"Turns out the person responsible doesn't know this place very well. It's a small town, Rocky Cove, so it has to be an out-of-town-er. We think male, although we can't be too sure just in case it's not, and we also think that Brittany's shooting and the note-tagging are related." Fiona didn't go into too much detail, but Avery heard enough.

"So...are you any closer to finding him?" She asked, and Fiona grimaced. She took it as a no.

"We talked to Alex at the beach earlier, he said he hasn't seen any new faces either, but we don't know how trust-worthy he is." Fiona explained, and Aden played with the corner of Avery's shirt, frowning.

"I trust him. I mean, a lot of people around town think he's a bad guy, but he's not." Aden said, and Fiona nodded, knowing the guys reputation was enough to leave her wary anyway. Accused drug dealing, dodgy deals, that type of thing always got the cop-radar in her beeping.

"Okay, so I have to go back in soon, so are you two doing anything tonight?" Fiona asked innocently, finishing off her yohgurt and throwing it in the trash. Avery blushed, and Aden threw an arm arounf her shoulder and grinned.

"We were going to watch a movie, actually."

Fiona rose an eyebrow, then shook her head, laughing. A car horn beeped out front, and Fiona leaped into action, grabbing her bag and leaving the paperwork, then checking her phone.

"That's Sophia, I'll see you later on, okay?" Fiona said over her shoulder, heels clicking before they yelled a goodbye back.

"Use protection!" She yelled, before the door was slammed shut.

"Oh god, that's my aunt." Avery said, mortified. Aden laughed, wrapping her up in a hug. She felt his warmth seeping through his clothes and onto her, and welcomed it.

"What movie do you want to watch?" Aden asked, going to look at Fiona's surprising large DVD collection. Avery thought for a few seconds, a finger tapping her chin.

"How about a-"

"Die Hard 0.4? Good, me too." Aden smiled, putting it in quickly before Avery could protest. Just as she raced him for the couch, sprawling on top of him and giggling to try and reach the remote, her phone beeped and vibrated, the urgent message beeping louder, louder.

Frowning, she flipped open her phone, and read the message from Tally:

Help! Scott's just been abducted!!

Avery gasped, and in her mind she thought of the tagged note meant for her. Her body shut down, becoming cold, and she started to panic.

"Aden," she whispered, fear laced in her voice so tight it almost spoke for itself. "Scott's been kidnapped."

Another little twist :o please comment and tell me what you think! Thank you for reading if you are :)