25
Ava’s POV
Even though Veronica had just been discharged from the hospital, she was determined to return to work today.
I was nervous on my way to work. Would Andrew and I just resume our normal lives, or would he let me in? I exited the subway and walked to Jayson’s house. I admired the black roses as long as the guards let me, and they never cease to amaze me with their simple beauty. I walked past the roses and inhaled their strong scent.
“Good day, Emily. ” Emily opened the door for me and let me in, I said.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” Emily said as she drew me into a hug.
“How is Veronica doing?” I inquired, releasing Emily.
“She recovered quickly and is ready to work; she left early, so Dalia is in the kitchen.” She responded.
“All right, how about Andrew?” I inquired, hoping he would be present.
“He also left early, darling.” She stated.
I couldn’t decide whether I was relieved he wasn’t home or wished he was. I wanted to talk to him, but I was afraid that our previous interactions were all phony.
“OK, Emily, thank you.” I responded. When I walked into the kitchen, I saw Dalia sitting on a stool, eating some eggs.
” Hello, Princess. Did you think about me?” I asked as I ran towards her.
“Avaaaa!!!” She burst out laughing.
“Dalia, did you just learn to call my name properly?” I expressed my surprise.
” I said it for the first time yesterday, when mommy was in the hospital.” She screamed.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so proud of you. I believe this deserves a celebration.” I screamed.
“Like what?” she enquired, laughing.
“How about we make some ice cream?” I said while tickling her.
“We can’t have ice cream first thing in the morning.” She stated.
“Well, making it will take some time, so we’ll eat it when it’s done.” I burst out laughing.
The rest of the morning was spent deciding what flavor of ice cream to make, gathering the necessary ingredients, and making the ice cream.
When we were finished, we placed the mixture in the freezer to freeze. I made Kraft Mac and Cheese for Dalia, and while I was cooking , a part of me was waiting for the front door to open and Andrew to enter the kitchen.
But by the time I finished the Mac and Cheese and Dalia and had devoured it, there was no sign of him.
A few hours after lunch, the ice cream had finally frozen completely, and Dalia and I ate almost all of it. We both agreed that Andrew and Veronica deserved some ice cream. After we finished our ice cream, I played with Dalia in the garden until it was time for me to leave.
“OK, Princess, it’s time for me to leave, so let’s go inside. ” I picked up Dalia and carried her inside.
“But I’m going to miss you.” She said as she rested her head on the crook of my neck.
“I’ll see you later, Princess.” I said as I sat her on the couch in the living room.
I heard the front door open while I was talking to Dalia. I expected Veronica to be home around 6 o’clock because Andrew had not been home all day, but when I turned around, I saw Andrew.
“Andweeww!” Dalia screamed and jumped up from the couch, sprinting towards him.
“Good day, little one.” He said while bending down to hug her.
“I really missed you.” She said hugging his leg.
“I know, little one, but Ava and I need to talk in the kitchen.” Andrew yelled.
“All right, but be nice.”
“Always, my dear.”
Dalia let go of Andrew’s leg and dashed into the kitchen, leaving Andrew and I alone. The room fell silent as Andrew stood there staring at me. I decided to be the first to break the silence and said, “Okay well, I should be getting home, I will see you tomorrow.”
“Don’t rush, kitten.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that I will not be called an animal name?”
“You’re hilarious.” he said smirking .
“All right, as much as I enjoy your company, I need to get home.” I grabbed my purse from the couch and walked to the door.
“No.” He said blocking my path to the door.
“No? Please excuse me?” I said.
“I said no.” He said, looking down at me with a solemn expression on his face.
“OK, Andrew, you’re very funny. Please allow me to return home before I break one of your knees.” I said.
“You’re not going to live in that apartment anymore, you’re coming to live at my house,” he said, staring down at me.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
My face dropped and my mouth shook. I was going to live with him like the devil.
“That’s a funny joke, Andrew, but I’m not laughing so move.” I said .
“This isn’t a joke; you’re mine now, and I don’t want anyone to hurt you, so you’re moving in so I can protect you.”
“Andrew I can defend myself perfectly well, and I am not property; you do not own me.”
“You got beaten up once, and I don’t want that to happen again; also, people have a target on your back because of me.”So, yes, you’re going to live with me.”
“I am not going to argue with you, so either move or I will move you.” I was getting tired of saying it.
To my surprise, he moved and let me go, but I had the uneasy feeling that this was not the end of the conversation.
I stormed out and ran home; there was no way I was going to live with Andrew. Even though we kissed twice, I was not all of. I didn’t want him to know where I lived all of a sudden.
When I got off the subway and walked home, Travis was standing right outside my apartment building. He was on his phone, but I assumed he was waiting for me because he looked up from his phone and watched me.
“Come on, shortness.” I rolled my eyes and approached him. “Hello, Blue,” I said. He smiled as he looked at me. “Are you going to ask why I’m here?” He inquired. “I ‘m assuming you’re going to tell me.” I fired back.
He laughed and returned my gaze.
“Well, I realized I didn’t have your phone number, and friends are supposed to have each other’s phone numbers, right? ”
“So you waited outside my apartment building for God knows how long to get my number?” I rolled my eyes and smiled. I inquired.
“Well, I figured you worked, so I came over here around 6 pm and waited, hoping to catch you.”
“Of course not, Blue.” I motioned for him to hand over his phone. He smiled and handed it to me; I entered my phone number and named my contact “Person I am stalking.” I laughed and returned the phone to him . He glared at me while looking at the contact name.
“I’m not stalking you, shortness.”
“I’m sure you aren’t.”
“OK, I have to go, so I’ll see you later, shortness.” Smirking, he said.
“I hate you, Blue.” I said as I walked into my apartment building.
He walked away with a smile. I walked up the stairs, eager to enter my room and shower.
I took my keys from my bag and unlocked the door to my apartment room. I couldn’t move when I opened the door and looked inside.
My apartment was empty; there was no furniture, no belongings; everything had vanished. I almost screamed in frustration as I walked into my apartment.
Andrew had made it nearly impossible for me to refuse his order. I dashed downstairs, hoping to find Travis and crash at his place or something; I considered asking Charis and Jenny, but I didn’t want to get them involved with Andrew.
I dashed down the stairs and out of the building, but I came to a halt when I saw Andrew standing a few feet away with his arms crossed.
“I don’t want to force you, but you’re going to live with me for your own protection.” He stated.
“Fuck off, Andrew, I’m not going to live with you.” I yelled, scanning the road to the left and right for Travis.
I spotted him a few hundred feet away and began sprinting towards him. “TRAVISSS.” I screamed in an attempt to get his attention.
He heard me and turned around to my direction. He saw me running towards him and began to run in my direction. “Are you all right, Jesus Shortness?” As I ran up to him, he grabbed my arm.
“Get your hands off her right now.” Someone yelled behind me.
I turned around to see Andrew behind me, and I swear I could see steam coming out of his ears from his rage.
“NO, ANDREW, LEAVE.” I screamed, and he looked down at me before returning his gaze to Travis, his hand still on my arm.
“I’m not going to fucking repeat myself.” Travis was hissed at by Andrew. Travis let go of my arm, but he wasn’t going to back down from Andrew. “What on earth did you do to Ava?” Travis spit in Andrew’s face.
From the way they were looking at each other, I was afraid they were going to kill each other.