Chapter Twenty Seven - "Don't Mind Me Then."
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Avery's P.O.V

I couldn't sleep at all that following night. My mind kept circling as Jade filled my mind, making me remember the scene that took place before the police took my sister away three years ago.

"Jade Rose Leighton, you are under arrest for the murder of Samantha Amy Leighton and Scarlet Elaine Graham. Anything you say or do will be used against you in court. Do you understand?" The police officer asks, handcuffing Jade. Jade let's out a scream and starts kicking her legs everywhere.

"This is fucking bullshit!" Jade screams, looking around at her family for help. No one moved and thats what made Jade more angry. Jade looks between Joshua and I and glares at us.

"When I get out, I'm coming after the both of you. I hope you fucking die, bitches!" Jade screams before the police officer drags her to the back of the police car. We all watch as Jade starts pounding on the window with her elbows, trying to get out but it's too late and the car drives off.

I still can't believe my own sister would even try to go this far because she wanted revenge. How does she even know about River? Has she been spying on me? Is she out of jail this soon?

No, she can't be.

"Avery, you seem a little distracted." I hear my father say and I look up at him and nod.

"Thats because I am." I say, resting my elbows on the table. My father takes a seat next to me and frowns.

"Is it about Logan?" My father guesses and I shake my head.

"No..." I say and my father nods slowly.

"Then who?" My father asks and I let out a sigh.

"Two days ago, I got this message..." I say and I take out my phone. I go to the message and my father reads is slowly, his eyes widening at the words.

"Who even is this? Oh boy, they are so-"

"Dad, please let me continue." I say and my father nods. "Anyway, since Logan had River that day and we were texting about River, he said that he got a weird message too. It was nothing like mine but it was leading to the same direction. So, when Logan returned River to me that night, we decided to go see Patrick and ask him to find out who it is." I say and my father frowns.

"Did you find out who it was?" My father asks and I nod.

"Yeah." I say and I look at River who is dancing around in the living room to the music from the television. I turn back to my father to see the frown still across his face like he is waiting for me to tell him who it is.

"The person who sent Logan and I those messages is..." I take in a deep breath and let out a sigh. "Jade." I say and almost immediately, I hear familiar gasps from behind me. I turn around to see my mom, Aunty Heather and Joshua.

Oh god.

"What..." Joshua says quietly and my mom walks into the kitchen, biting her lip and Aunty Heather watching me curiously.

"She is not taking my granddaughter!" My father growls before standing up and storming out of the house. I stand up and give everyone apologetic looks.

"Its okay guys, I have this under control." I say but it sounded like I am trying to convince myself more than my family.

I really hope I do have this under control.

●●●

"Mommy," I hear River call as I am about to walk out of her room. I stop and turn around.

"Yes, baby?" I ask, walking up to my beautiful child. River smiles as I sit on her bed.

"Can you read me a bedtime story?" River asks and I nod.

"Okay, so do you want me to make it up or read it from a book?" I ask and River grins.

"Make it up." River says and I nod, a small smile forming on my face. I begin to think of a story and I let out a pleasant sigh, looking down at River.

Just as I am about to start my story, someone knocks on the door and I give River and apologetic look before allowing the person to come in. Joshua walks in and smiles when he sees River and I.

"What are you two doing?" He asks and I shrug.

"Well I was about to make up a bedtime story for River until you interrupted." I say, a small smile on my lips and Joshua chuckles, sitting on the chair beside the bed.

"Don't mind me then." Joshua says and I roll my eyes before looking at River again.

"You ready?" I ask and River nods, the smile still on her cute little face. I chuckle and place my hands on my thigh, clearing my throat.

"Once upon a time, there was a little girl named..." I stop for a second and think of a name. I smile to myself and look back at River.

"Penny."

●●●

After telling a bedtime story to River, Joshua said that he wanted to talk to me so here we are, in his bedroom with him sitting on his bed and me sitting on the beanbag.

I am not going to sit on that bed. Who knows what happens on that.

"So, I think we need to talk about Jade." Joshua says and I nod.

"Yeah, me too." I say, looking at the floor.

"Okay well, I think this is revenge for what we did to her." Joshua says and I look up at him, my eyes welling up with tears. I stand up and begin to pace around Joshua's bedroom.

"Of course this is revenge! She said it herself that day the police took her and now she is going to take my baby and ruin my life! She might even-" Joshua stops my ranting before it's gets a little too much and holds my shoulders, looking into my eyes.

"Avery, she is not going to take River. Mom is going to get the police here so you can explain to them what your thinking and then they will go to Jade and sort everything out. Remember she is behind bars, she can't get out." Joshua says and I shake my head.

"If she was in jail, how does she now about River? How does she even have a phone? That is a maximum security prison and they just can't give out phones to each and everyone in there! How is she doing this, Joshua?" I scream out in frustration and Joshua frowns, not saying a word.

"How..." I mumble, before breaking down in front of my younger brother.

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"So, your birthday is coming up." My mom smiles at me and I nod.

"Yep and I and not interested in doing anything for it." I say as I walk into the kitchen, grabbing out and bottle of water. My mom chuckles and shakes her head.

"Don't say that. You love when your birthday comes around." My mom says and I shrug.

"The last time I actually enjoyed my birthday was when I was twelve. All the birthdays after that were nothing to me." I say and my mom shakes her head.

"Well then, your twenty first birthday is going to be better than amazing. I will make sure of that." My mom winks before walking out of the kitchen and I roll my eyes and walk out of the kitchen.

I hear someone knock on the door and I walk towards it, opening the door and my face falls when I see Ryan.

"Hey neighbor." Ryan smiles and I watch as he walks in, a small smile on his face. I turn around and look at Ryan who is furrowing his eyebrows at me, his smile still on his face.

"Are you going to stand there and keep gawking like a fish or are you going to move?" Ryan chuckles and I close my mouth and leave the door open, not bothering to close it since I am going to get Ryan out anyway.

How the hell am I suppose to say 'get out' politely?

"Uh, Ryan-"

"Before you say anything, let me speak." Ryan says, turning around and before anything can come out of his mouth, Joshua tackles him. I gasp and run over to Joshua, pulling at his arm.

Yes, I told Joshua about Ryan because, well, he is my brother. I can tell him anything.

"Get the hell out of my house!" Joshua screams, landing a punch in Ryan's face and I wince when Ryan's face turns cold.

"Joshua please-"

"You just punched me!" Ryan growls and he rolls over so Ryan is now on top of Joshua and he throws a couple of punches at Joshua. My breathing begins to quicken and before I can shout 'stop', Logan runs in and grabs Ryan off Joshua.

"You are so going to pay for that." Joshua scowls and before he can do anything more to Ryan, I pull Joshua back.

"Please... don't do anything." I say, letting the first tear fall. Joshua's face falls and he wipes the tear away, pulling me into a hug.

"I'm sorry, I forgot." Joshua mumbles and I nod slowly.

When my brother was younger, about four years ago, he got into a little bit of trouble and started to get into street fighting. When I saw him fighting a guy, I made him stop because just by looking at the guy, he was so close to death if Joshua kept going. That's why I hate him fighting because he could kill someone. I mean, he has nearly done it before.

Joshua breaks the hug and looks at Ryan. "Get out." Joshua says, glaring at our neighbor and Logan pushes Ryan out of the house, closing the door in his face.

"I still hate you but I won't stop from saying thank you." Joshua says, walking up to Logan with a small grin. "Thanks." He says and Logan nods.

"Its fine." Logan says and he looks at me, a small smile on his face.

"Hey," Logan says and I wave at him, not bothering to say anything. Joshua frowns at Logan and crosses his arms over his chest.

"Wait, so why are you here?" Joshua asks and Logan shrugs.

"I was going to ask Avery something but I guess that got a little delayed because of the fight." Logan says and Joshua nods.

"Why did I hear screaming?" Aunty Heather asks, appearing at the top of the stairs with a towel around her body and one around her hair. Logan turns around, a little uncomfortable about the sight and I chuckle. Joshua groans and turns around also.

"God, Heather, go get some clothes on then I will tell you." Joshua says and Aunty Heather chuckles and nods.

"Okay, Joshy." Aunty Heather smirks and Joshua turns around to say something but stays silent and turns back around when Aunty Heather is still standing there with a towel covering her body.

"Go get some clothes on." I laugh and Aunty Heather nods and walks into her room. When Joshua and Logan hear the door shut, they both turn around, a sigh escaping their lips.

"So, uh, I'm going to go and bang my head with a fry pan because Heather just happens to be stuck in my head." Joshua says as he walking to the kitchen and I burst out laughing.

"Ew, your disgusting!" I say and Joshua frowns at me.

"She started it, Avery!" Joshua argues and I roll my eyes when Joshua enters the kitchen, closing the door behind him.

"So, where is River?" Logan asks and I point upstairs.

"Playing with my mom." I say and Logan nods.

"Okay, well, I want to take you somewhere if that is okay with you." Logan says and I raise my eyebrow at him.

"Since when do you even ask for my permission?" I ask and Logan smirks and grabs my hand.

"Your right." Logan says, pulling me out the door and I let out a laugh.

Typical Logan.

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I'm back bitches! What do you all think of this chapter? I'm juts going to leave this one short because I have nothing to say so yeah.

Don't forget to vote and leave a comment.

Lofd - "Ohh the way that you pop girl makes me go cray. Show me what you got girl, you can be my new thang."

-XmysterysmileX