It has been a few days. Avery and Charlotte are going on a date. She's already gotten dressed into a sundress with some sandals and is upstairs doing her make-up when T.K. appears in her doorway.

'Hey.' He gets her attention. Avery stops what she's doing and turns to face him.

'Hey.' She grins. 'What are you doing here?'

'Carlos and I were heading out for lunch so we decided to pop by on the way.' T. tells her. 'Dad said you had another date with Charlotte.'

'Yeah.' Avery nods. 'We're going for some coffee and then to the movie theatre and Barnes and Noble.'

'Dad also said you were spending the night at hers.' T.K says as he wiggles his eyebrows.

'Chill, dude. We're not at that stage yet.' Avery laughs. 'Besides, her mom and younger sister will be there and before you say anything, yes, I have met them. A few times at Safe Haven and over FaceTime. Callie is cute, she reminds me of Ollie.' There are a few moments of silence.

'Ave-' T.K says gently as he walks into the room.

'I'm okay.' Avery smiles slightly. 'I'll never be over what happened, but I talk about it in therapy a lot and it's helping.'

'Good.' T.K nods. 'What time are you meeting Charlotte?'

'I'm leaving in about half an hour.' Avery replies. 'We're meeting at the coffee shop. It's easier than one of us picking the other up. So, you can leave me to finish getting ready now.' She tells him before turning back around.

'Bossy.' T.K. huffs as he walks out of the room.

'You know it.' Avery grins.

.

A couple of hours later, Avery and Charlotte are walking out of the movie theatre hand in hand and start making their way to the Barnes and Noble around the corner.

'That was better than I thought it would be.' Charlotte states.

'Yeah, it was.' Avery smiles, agreeing.

'My mom is picking us up at the Barnes and Noble in about an hour and a half.' Charlotte tells her. 'You think that's enough time for you to choose some books?'

'More than enough.' Avery laughs.

'Also, I hope you don't mind, my mom asked if you had any dietary requirements, I told her about your eating disorder but that you were in recovery.'

'No, that's fine.' Avery nods. 'Thanks. Saves me explaining it. It gets tiring sometimes.' They reach the bookstore and walk in. 'My dad, T.K. and Jason's mom, Sharon, all gave me some money so I have about $150 in total. How long do you think it will take me to spend it.'

'Well,' Charlotte chuckles, 'knowing you, not very long.' They start walking around the store and pick up the books they want. Avery picks up nine books, A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft, Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross, Gwen & Art are Not in Love by Lex Croucher, A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid, One for My Enemy by Olivie Blake, Cruel Seduction by Katee Robert, Powerless by Lauren Roberts, Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver, One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig. Charlotte laughs as Avery struggles to carry the books. 'Regretting not getting a basket?' She asks Avery.

'Maybe.' Avery averts eye contact. 'What are you getting?'

'I was thinking of picking two from the stack you have so that we can buddy read them.' Charlotte replies. 'Actually, you pick one, I'll pick one.' Avery looks down at her stack and thinks for a few moments.

'How about A Study in Drowning?' Avery suggests and Charlotte nods.

'I'll go with Butcher and Blackbird.' Charlotte says. 'It looks interesting. Let's go grab them.'

.

Later that evening, Avery and Charlotte are in Charlotte's bedroom. Avery is rummaging through her bag, muttering to herself.

'What have you lost?' Charlotte asks her.

'Not lost exactly.' Avery shakes her head, looking at her friend. 'My journal. I think I forgot to pack it. It's something I started in therapy, I write in it every night.'

'It's not too late, I can get my mom to take us to yours and you can go in and grab it.' Charlotte offers. 'She won't mind. Especially if it's something you started in therapy. I'll go ask her.' She walks out of the room and returns a few minutes later. 'Mom said she'll take us. She'll get the neighbour to watch Callie.'

'Great, thanks.' Avery smiles slightly.

.

Twenty minutes later, Charlotte's mom, Abigail, is pulling up in front of the Strand residence.

'Thanks, Abi. We won't be long.' Avery smiles as she and Charlotte get out of the car. Charlotte waits on the front lawn as Avery walks up to the door. She unlocks the door, opens it and walks into the house, closing the door behind her.

'Hey, Dad,' she shouts, 'I'm still staying with Charlotte, I just forgot something.' She flips the hallway light on and sees Owen pinning Sharon against the wall, kissing her. They both turn and look at her in shock. 'Never mind, bye.' She turns back around, opens the front door and leaves. Once the door shuts, Owen laughs whilst Sharon covers her face with her hands.

'Oh my god.' Sharon says, mortified.

'It's okay.' Owen chuckles, gently holding her wrists and moving her hands away from her face. 'She's fine with it. She would've said something else if she wasn't happy. Plus, you're like a mom to her. You were there for her when I couldn't be. I owe you everything for that.'

Meanwhile, Avery is outside standing with Charlotte with her phone to her ear waiting for Jason to answer.

'Come on you devious prick, answer the phone.' Avery chews her fingernail as she paces a little.

'What's going on?' Charlotte asks, confused.

'I'll tell you in a second.' Avery replies just as Jason answers the phone. 'Out with it Anderson, did you hook our parents up?'

'You really know how to start a conversation.' Jason chuckles. 'And to answer your question, we both know my mom and your dad have done some things together. Especially since my health scare and everything that has happened with you, so I suggested to my mom that she maybe take him on a few dates. Lo and behold, your dad beat her to it. So, I can only take half the credit.'

'I could kill you for not telling me.'

'No, you can't. You love me too much.'

'One day that excuse ain't gonna cut it.' Avery laughs. 'They're like teenagers, I walk into the house because I forgot something and he had Sharon pinned up against-'

'La-la-la-la.' Jason sings over her. 'Do not need the details, thank you very much.'

'I have an idea.'

'You're gonna try and make them more mortified than they already are, aren't you?'

'You know me too well.' Avery grins. 'Gotta run.'

'Don't say anything too-'

'Buh-bye.' She hangs up the phone and slides it back into her pocket.

'So going by that,' Charlotte states and Avery spins to face her, 'your dad, and Sharon, Jason's mom, are now a thing?'

'It seems so.' Avery nods. 'I just gotta make sure I wasn't imagining it.' She adds, walking back up to the door.

Inside, Owen and Sharon are about to kiss again when Avery opens the door and pops her head in.

'Okay, I wasn't imagining it.' She mutters. 'You two are a thing now?' She raises an eyebrow. Owen and Sharon share a nervous look. 'I take that as a yes.' Avery grins. 'Good.' She nods. 'Dad?'

'Yes?'

'You got protection?' She asks.

'Geez, Ave.' Owen rubs his face.

'Because if you don't, I can run to the drugstore for you.' Avery adds.

'Ave.' Owen groans, throwing his head back.

'Byeee.' Avery sings before leaving for the final time. She returns to Charlotte who just shakes her head and laughs.

'I take it you're not going to bother with getting your journal?' She asks.

'Nope.' Avery shakes her head. 'I'll just have to catch up tomorrow.' She adds. 'Plus, I don't want to interrupt them again. My dad deserves to be happy. Even if that means hooking up with one of my best friend's mom. Plus, she deserves some happiness too.' The two girls walk back to the car and get in.

'Did you get your journal?' Abigail asks Avery.

'My dad has company so I decided to leave it.' Avery replies. 'Sorry for wasting your time and making you drive over here.'

'Don't apologise, hon.' Abigail smiles. 'You didn't make me do anything. I'll give you some paper when we get back so you can still do your journaling if you want?'

'That'd be nice.' Avery nods. 'Thanks.' Abigail nods and starts driving.

~~~~~~~~~~

So... Sharon and Owen are a thing now... interesting. Charlotte and Avery are getting closer, where do you think it will lead?

There's only one more chapter left of this book and then it's time for the sequel!

Let me know what you think!

Much love