It's been three days. Things have been tense with Jason in hospital and the not knowing what's going on with him. The doctors are still waiting on test results and are reluctant to diagnose or start a treatment plan until they know what they're dealing with. Avery, Megan, T.K., Carlos, and Owen are standing in Megan's front room. Something has happened that has led to a massive, heated argument between Megan and Avery.

'I'm the only friend he has.' Avery states, pacing.

'You really think that?' Megan scoffs. 'You're the one that was trying to get us together.' She adds. 'I care about him too.' Avery stops and turns to face her.

'Not like I do.' Avery shakes her head.

'No, not like you do.' Megan agrees. 'I don't know him the way you do. I haven't known him as long as you. But that doesn't mean that I don't care about him. You have no idea how grateful I am that you introduced us because at the end of the day, regardless of how I feel about him, he's a good friend.'

'I only pushed you two together because neither of you had the balls to admit how you felt for each other.' Avery raises her voice. 'You haven't seen him when he's at his lowest. You don't know what he's like at his lowest. I have.' Megan takes a deep breath.

'You're not yourself right now, Avery, so I'm done having this conversation with you.' Megan tells her.

'You do that. That's what you do best. You run when you're faced with the truth.' Avery laughs. 'And at least I'm not a drug-addicted teen that my brother felt sorry for and felt the need to take in.' Avery says, her voice cold. It was clear that this deeply hurt Megan. She stares at Avery dead in the eyes and turns to Owen.

'I'm about to walk out of here and she better be fucking gone by the time I get back.' Megan warns him before turning and storming out, not giving anyone a chance to say anything.

'Car.' Owen tells Avery. 'Now.' Avery scoffs and walks out to the car. She gets in and slams the door.

On the drive home, Avery stares out the window.

'That was way out of line.' Owen tells his daughter.

'It's the truth.' Avery mutters.

'What you said really hurt Megan.' Owen adds.

'Yeah, well,' Avery sighs, 'the truth hurts sometimes.'

'Ave, what's going?' Owen asks. 'You haven't been yourself the past few days, hell you haven't been yourself for a while.' Avery stays silent. 'Avery, come on. You don't do this. You don't hurt people like that. I just want to understand what made you say that to Megan. That's way out of character for you.'

'Hmm, I wonder why I haven't been myself.' Avery says, looking at her father. 'I was shot, almost died, scratch that I technically did die, multiple times. T.K. was in an accident and he could have died and now my best friend is in hospital and no one knows what the fuck is wrong with him.' She adds, almost shouting. 'Does that answer your question?' She looks back out of the window.

'I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to tell me the truth.' Owen starts. 'Have you been taking your meds?' Avery stays silent and Owen sighs. 'Ave, you're not giving me much choice now.'

'What do you mean?' Avery asks quietly.

'I'm going to speak to your psychiatrist about getting you admitted to an in-patient psyche facility.' He informs her.

'You can't do that.' Avery spins to face him.

'I can and I will.' Owen replies sternly. 'Avery, you're slipping. You have slipped. You need help.'

'I don't need help.' Avery scoffs, shaking her head. 'I just - I need time to process everything that's happened the last few months. I didn't have time to process getting shot before T.K. had his accident and then I didn't have time to process that before Jase got sick. I just need time.'

'I know you need time to process everything.' Owen nods. 'Going into a psyche facility will help with that.'

'I don't need to, nor want to go into a psyche facility. I don't want help either' Avery states. 'Just give me time, please.'

'I'll give you the weekend to cool down.' Owen states. 'I'll call your psychiatrist and organise something.'

'Dad-' Avery goes to protest but he pulls over the car.

'This is not up for discussion.' He tells her seriously. 'You are sick, Avery. You need help. You can either go voluntarily or we get you sectioned. Either way, we are admitting you. That's what we agreed on last time. You start to slip and we admit you. We've just caught onto it too late. You've not been yourself since the shooting.'

'I wonder why that is.' Avery laughs. She takes her seatbelt off.

'What are you doing?' He asks as she opens the door.

'Getting away from you.' She states, getting out of the car.

'Avery Kate Strand, get back in the car.' Owen tries his best to remain calm.

'Fuck you.' Avery slams the door and walks off.

As she's walking, she gets a phone call from Jason. She answers the call and puts it to her ear.

'What?'

'Ave-' Jason starts.

'Let me guess, you're going to bite my head off about what I said to Megan too?' Avery asks. 'Well save it.'

'Ave, I'm not going to do that.' Jason assures her. 'I just want you to talk to me. What's going on?' Avery stays silent. 'Ave, talk to me.'

'Jase, I'm scared.' Avery's voice cracks. 'I- I don't know what's going on.'

'I know, I know. Where are you?'

'Getting away from my dad.' Avery tells him. 'I need the space. I'm going to walk for a couple of hours then go home.'

'Good idea. Look, they're discharging me tonight. There's not much they can do until they get some test result back.' Jason tells her. 'Why don't you come over and we can talk about what's happened. How you're feeling?' He suggests.

'I've slipped, haven't I?' Avery asks.

'Yeah, you have.' Jason simply states.

'I'm scared.' Avery repeats what she said a minute ago. 'Jase?'

'Yeah?'

'Please don't pick sides.' Avery says. 'What I did was bitchy, I know. I don't even know why I said it but I can't deal with losing you as a friend.'

'Ave, you're not getting rid of me that easily.' Jason laughs slightly. 'I'm not picking sides. Whatever happened is between you and Megan.' He adds. 'You two just need some time away from each other for you both to cool down.' Avery stays silent. 'Ave?'

'I'm still here.' Avery says quietly.

'I'm gonna be right here, Ave. Whatever you need, whenever you need it, okay? Day and night.'

'Yeah.' Avery nods. 'Bye.' She hangs up abruptly, not returning their usual phrase and carries on with her walk.

.

Later that evening, Avery is at Jason's house. They're both sitting in the front room. Avery is curled up on the sofa with Jason next to her. Her eyes are red from crying. Jason had texted Owen and T.K. to let them know Avery is safe and with him so that they don't worry.

'I don't know why I said that to Megan.' Avery shakes her head. 'I didn't mean to hurt her.'

'I know you didn't.' Jason says softly, putting a hand on her shoulder.

'I need to give her some space, don't I?' Avery asks, looking at Jason.

'Yeah,' Jason nods, sadly, 'you do.' He adds. 'But I'm sure she knows you didn't mean what you said.'

'Dad is giving me the weekend then he's getting me admitted to an in-patient unit.' Avery tells him.

'That's good.' Jason nods and Avery scoffs. 'Ave, you need help. Professional help. Not the kinda help you get from talking to us. You need to go back on your meds. You need some space from everyone to process what happened.'

'I-' Avery starts to say but then stops and takes a shaky breath. 'What good would a stay in a unit do? Medication? Therapy? What about when I'm discharged? No amount of therapy or medication is going to make me forget what happened.'

'Processing something doesn't mean you need to forget it.' Jason tells her, stroking her hair. 'It means coming to terms with it, learning strategies to help you cope. The shooting was traumatic. No one forgets something like that happening.'

'It's not just the shooting I want to forget.' Avery says quietly.

'What do you mean?' Jason asks. Avery sits up and sits cross-legged. Jason wipes the few tears that have fallen from her eyes.

'You gotta promise not to tell anyone though.' Avery tells him. 'I want to tell people in my own time.' Jason simply nods. 'Do you remember Matthew?' Avery asks him.

'The jerk that tried to rape you?' Jason replies. 'Yeah, I remember him.'

'I've been telling everyone that it was only attempted rape-' Avery starts.

'Ave.' Jason cuts her off.

'Let me finish.' She says and he nods for her to continue. 'I mean it was attempted rape. That time.'

'That time?' Jason asks, holding back his anger. Avery looks at him. 'Sorry.'

'It was earlier that day. He made me a drink but he must have roofied it because the next thing I knew, he was on top of me, pressing his hand over my mouth and-' she stops to take a deep breath. 'He raped me. Later that night was when his sister walked in on him trying to do it again but before she walked in, I remember him telling me how I was begging for it earlier that day and how he wanted to have another round. But I didn't beg. I didn't say yes. I didn't say no.'

'Ave, regardless of any of that-'

'I know, it's still rape.' Avery interrupts him. 'The first time I didn't fight back. Couldn't fight back. So the second time, I started screaming and kicking and punching him. You know the rest. I've never told anyone the full story.'

'Ave, why didn't you tell anyone? Tell me?' Jason asks.

'I didn't want you to think less of me.' Avery replies, looking down.

'Ave,' Jason starts, putting his fingers under her chin and lifting her head so she's looking at him. He lets go. 'I could never think less of you.'

'Surely you think less of me after earlier?' Avery scoffs.

'No.' Jason shakes his head. 'I don't and you know why?' Avery shakes her head. 'Because I know you didn't mean it. I know that you're not well right now. That you have little to no control over what you say and do. I am always going to be here for you. No matter what happens, because you are my best friend and best friends stick together through the hardest of times.'

'I'm a pain in your ass and you know it. Everything I've done, everything I've put you through.'

'You're right. You are a pain in my ass. But you're my favourite pain in my ass. Nothing you say and nothing you do will change that. Okay?'

'Okay.' Avery nods, quietly. She stands up from the sofa. 'I'm gonna go home, get some sleep.'

'Let me drive you.' Jason says.

'No, I'll be fine.' Avery shakes her head. 'I need time to myself.' She steps forward and hugs him. 'I'll message you when I'm home. I promise.'

'Okay.' Jason nods reluctantly. He kisses the top of her head before they part. 'Day and night.'

'Yeah.' Avery swallows before leaving.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! IM FEELING 22

Oooohhhhh.... Avery and Megan had a massive argument!! How do you think this will affect their friendship? What do you think will happen next?

Be sure to read Addicted by DharmaWinter for Megan's perspective!!!

Much love