Hey guys it's Cerise. I know sorry isn't sorry if I keep doing the thing over and over again, but uni has been so hectic, first mid semester exams, then the fact that I've actually had to drop out of one of my subjects and all this chaos, has caused this massive delay in updating.

This chapter is kind of boring because there's just a lot of information I need to include as background for the next chapter (the BIG CHAPTER) and it's been so long since I've written that the style of speech I write for Ryan is slipping a little so he might sound OOC :(
Anyway I hope you enjoy guys and that you also forgive me!!!
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RYAN'S POV

When will I ever get things right?

As soon as I handed Melissa the t-shirt and she put it on, I turned to leave the room. But her hand shot out and pulled me back, pressing herself up against my arm as she prevented me from leaving.

"Do you need something else?"
I asked, confused as to what her intentions were.

"I'm so embarassed Ryan!" She whimpered.

"Ah, um, don't worry I'm sure neither of them will bring it up again."

"Are you sure?" She looked up at me with teary eyes.

"Yes I am, but I'm going to explain it to them just in case." I said, hoping to appease her so I could leave already.

"Thank you Ryan!" She gushed dramatically.

But after taking just one step away from her, she let out a shrill "Wait!"

"What's wrong?'" I was starting to feel frustrated.

"Oh nothing, I think I can find the bathroom by myself,"

"Ok, I'll be back soon." I told her. It felt like she was purposely stalling me or something, maybe it was just my imagination.

Imagination or not, by the time I got around the corner they weren't in the other room like I first thought. I checked all over the house, I even checked Brad's room upstairs but they weren't there either. (I must admit I was relieved)

Standing at the banister I heard the swish and thud of the front door being opened and shut and I raced downstairs, only to find Brad walking back inside.

I opened my mouth to speak but he just patted me on the back as he passed by.

"That's some girl you've got there." He said, exhaling audibly as his hand rested brotherly on my shoulder.

"Why did she leave?" I asked.

"I sent her home" he said briefly, blinking at me like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"What, why?!" I protested.  Once again I managed to blow my chance at making things better between Ava and I.

"What why to you too!" He tsked, "Topless girls in the sitting room with wet patches on the skirt  around the crotch when did you start thinking with your dick not your brain?"

"Are you kidding me Brad?" I said irritatedly, loosely shrugging out of his hold. I thought that as my brother he would know me better than to think I would do something like that.

But all at once a sinking feeling of fear and regret that that was the same conclusion Ava had come to, grew in the pit of my stomach.

"Is that what it looked like?" I asked Brad fearfully.

"Calm down, anyone could tell that somehow she'd spilt water or a drink on herself and you oh-so-chivalrously offered her a dry shirt to wear." He assured me as we stepped back into the kitchen.

"...it was champagne," I explained. "I accidentally bumped her at the luncheon and mom insisted I take her back here, and I just didn't expect her to have taken her top off before I even came back with the t-shirt..." I rambled, I could feel my cheeks heat up slightly at the embarrassment of the memory.

I mean, it was awkward to have seen her in that state let alone being caught by my brother and the girl I'm in love with (who were looking friendlier with each other than I liked, i'll admit...). But that was the only reason I blushed. The embarassment of the situation only. I felt no attraction towards Melissa, not even an ounce of lust.

How could I when I remember so vividly how it felt to have once had a nearly naked Ava, *cough*, grinding on my lap...

"Yeah well that's the kind of explanation you should have given us the second we walked in on your little debacle." Brad admonished, breaking me out of my reverie, "I'm guessing Ava is astute enough to figure out what really happened but in any case, for anyone it would be pretty awkward to walk in on the guy you like with your arch enemy semi-naked." He mused.

I disliked the way Brad sensationalised everything, and the way he waltzed back into my life and made it seem like he knew everything that was going on.

"Brad you've only known Ava for a couple of hours, so don't act like you know anything about her at all. Also, she's made it clear she doesn't feel the same way I do." I said bitterly.

His face scrunched up in distaste and he looked at me like he was disgusted by my apparent lack of intelligence, "What is with the two of you and all of this angsty teen drama? I swear my highschool life was never this complicated..."

"You don't need to remind me of that Brad, I'm well aware of how easily you glide through life." I said, quite put out. My manners were slipping, I hate to be rude but I always feel provoked whenever my brother is around; worse still when I know he's trying to mess with someone I care about.

"And you're right, I don't really know that much about Ava but I know enough to tell that she is a genuinely good person underneath all that sarcasm and sass." He added as he folded his arms.

It was then that I noticed how unguarded and expressive his face was.
Whenever he got in an argument with anyone he was usually the calm one, the voice of reason with an unnerving poker face. Why break that façade now? What had changed?

"And you forget that I've known YOU your whole life, so don't tell me I don't know anything about my own brother." He continued, raising an eyebrow that challenged me to go against him.
He did have a point there.

" I'm not going to interfere with your life, but –geez I can't believe I'm saying this to you of all people – just don't do anything stupid."

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

"What I mean is that you're young and confused and you think you know what's going on but you don't, you really have no clue about what some of the people in your life are actually like."

That was even more cryptic than what he previously said.
It sounded like he was simultaneously warning me not to trust some people and telling me to keep an open mind about others…

"Speaking of which, where is that redheaded viper now?“ he asked abruptly.

"Hey, watch your language,” I reprimanded him; Melissa hadn’t done anything yet that deserved being called names by Brad, “She went to the bathroom I think."

“Ok, whatever”

"And can we change the subject? I don't want to talk about this, whatever this is, anymore."

Shrugging his shoulders he diffused the tension in the room just like that.
I always liked that he had the ability to do that, I never could hide my true feelings very well and it always made situations like this…well more awkward.

“I don't know if mom told you already but the Elizabeth Weatherly society for eligible young ladies charity fete is coming up and we both know what that means.”

I shut my eyes and sighed. The society was, as Brad likes to put it, a league of debutantes launching themselves not only into society, but directly at the rich and famous.

 as usual, we the Haywood sons have to help organise it. She's made me in charge of the booths and attendant allocations and you in charge of organising a third of the kiddie rides and attractions.

"Apparently," he said emphatically, "according to mom, you being a teenager means you get to roam free on the day while I'm now considered too old to have fun," he made a disgruntled face as he continued on, "so I'm being forced to run around and make sure everything is in order and boring shit and whatnot.”

"I'm starting to like having you back more and more Brad" I grinned with satisfaction.  He never used to complain about the responsibilities he was dealt with by our parents, he just... did them.
Like a robot.

 I'm glad to see him being human again.

"Yeah well don't forget that we're both expected to attend that huge high tea party afterwards as well. Mom's going to give a speech to the debutantes and we have to standby and look pretty."

"Well at least there won't be the annual 'who-gets-to-make-Brad Haywood-their-escort" competition since you'll be at Harvard again making up for your medical leave." I joked optimistically, "That fashion show last year wasn't the most entertaining thing to have to judge."

"You're not wrong about that,” he grimaced, probably remembering all the times that the lucky girl who won clung tightly to his arm the whole night, “but it's Grandma's favourite part of debutante season so we can't get rid of it. Which reminds me, she told me to tell you that since I can't be the 'prize' this year she's going to make yo-"

*THUMP*

Suddenly we heard a loud hollow thud that caught our attention as the sound echoed through the hall.

"Are you sure our 'guest' is in the bathroom?” Brad asked sceptically, “Because that noise definitely came from your bedroom."

I frowned in suspicion, "I'll be back." I told him as I turned and headed towards my room to investigate.

"Take your time," he replied before muttering incorrigibly to himself, "Damn. 2 girls come over here today and both are only interested in getting into his room. It used to be /my/ room girls wanted to get into..."

Nudging my door open, I found Melissa in my room standing suspiciously near the dresser next to my desk, far from where the bathroom was.

"Um did you need something?" I asked politely, confused about what she was doing here.

"I um, I know I told you I could find the bathroom by myself but I ended up in your ensuite because I couldn't find the main one." She said with a saccharine-sweet smile as she looked up at me innocently through her long eyelashes and bit her lip.

I had to hold back a laugh, if she was trying to be cute she succeeded only at being comical. She looked more like a rabbit with her 2 front teeth showing.

Whenever Ava bit her bottom lip she looked so irresistible to me that I could barely control the urge to take her into my arms kiss her long and hard.
But looking at Melissa now…well it was hardly the same reaction.

"Oh you should have just come back to ask me." I managed to get out.

"I didn't want to disturb you and your brother, Brian was it? It seemed like you were having an important discussion about something, but don't worry I didn't eavesdrop or anything. I would never~ do something like that." She said, dragging her words with unnecessary emphasis.

“Actually his name is Brad and I'm sure you wouldn’t, but we heard a loud thump, is everything ok?”

“Um yes everything's fine I just__ dropped my phone on the dresser. By the way is SHE still here?” She explained, very quickly changing the subject.

From the resentful way she referred to Ava, I had this gut feeling that Melissa was up to something, but so far she's been really nice to me. Maybe it’s my imagination; I guess just because she doesn't like Ava doesn't mean the same dislike applies to me...

“No, Ava left already,” I responded, unable to hide the tinge of forlornness in my tone.

Her lips formed a sly smile and she walked seductively towards me.

"You know," she purred running her manicured index finger down my chest "you can tell me anything Ryan, I know you must find it unbearable having to pretend to be friends with that hussy.”

A growl threatened to break loose from my throat as I firmly removed her hand from where it rested on my arm.

I could not tolerate anyone badmouthing Ava, or any one of my friends for that matter.  But Melissa was one of the debutantes in the society my Great-Grandmother co-founded. For my mother's sake and all that she's worked for for charity and for these girls, I willed myself to silently endure Melissa's awful condescending tone.

"It must be hard to get used to such uncultured ways,” She continued on,  “I know she just doesn't understand the refined way we've been brought up. You're in completely different leagues, but  I understand what a kind and charitable person you are, attending our school and such.” She offered me a sympathetic look.

“Sorry what did you just say?” I asked taken aback. While perceptive, I highly doubted Melissa Proud would ever be the type of person to understand my reasons for wanting to leave Winston prep.

“About school? Oh don't be shy with me Ryan, I admire how modest you are, trying to keep it secret that the only reason someone of your status is at our school is that you're trying to connect with the less fortunate, the common people as an act of charity."
She flashed a smile that others would call dazzling but instead set me on edge.
"Certainly that's why my parents sent me there,” she blabbed on,  “it is just our duty as those born with privilege, to show compassion to those who don’t have it." She continued, her chin tilted high.

"Contrary to your beliefs," I said, stepping away from the suffocating scent of vanilla perfume, "I've never seen myself as superior to anyone and I have my own private reasons for enrolling in our school, the same school of 'common people,' as you put it, that you also attend."  I explained, reminding her of the last fact as gently as I could. (It wasn’t easy.)

I saw her lips purse as she broke eye contact with me in an attempt to save face.

"Now, I think we'd better get back to the luncheon," I offered a small smile to lighten the mood, "they'll be wondering where we are."

Her face lit up again, having recovered quickly. "I'll wait for you at your car" she said, flouncing out of the room. Huh, maybe I’m learning a thing or two from Brad.

Once I was alone I let out a pent up sigh of frustration.

Walking over to my desk I couldn't see my phone where I had left it, looking around I instead found it on top of the dresser.

…I should have known Melissa really was up to no good.

Unlocking the screen cautiously, my photo gallery menu came up, as if someone hadn't had enough time to exit the app.

First Brad and now Melissa, what is it with people being so interested in my phone, or more specifically my photos.  I mean, the only interestingly pictures I have on there are the ones of....Ava.

Crap.

Why did I ever think it would be a good idea to deactivate the lock screen on my phone?

I felt a knot begin to form in the pit of my stomach as I came to the realisation that the two compulsive schemers currently in my life were coming up with big plans for Ava, but regardless of what exactly would be done to her, I had this ominous feeling that things were about to get messy.

I just hope I can protect her, whatever happens.

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Vote and comment if you liked this chapter!
I'm interested to know what kind of schemes Brad and Melissa have planned for Ava ;)

xx Cerise :)