Lucas and Mat

School ended and Noah waited for Ava at the school gates.

"Hey," Ava cheerfully remarked.

"Hey, wanna walk together?"

She nodded and they began walking out of school. She didn't want to tell him what happened with Aaliyah because she's put him through enough.

"Do you want to come over to my house?" Ava asked.

Noah looked at her with a nervous look.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? I think your mom doesn't like me because I didn't get you home early enough."

"Don't worry about that. She understood."

He nodded and processed what could be the worst thing that could happen. He didn't have anywhere else to go.

"So? Will you come over?"

He smiled and rapidly nodded, a bit of nervousness sinking into his heart. As they were walking past the shops, Ava saw her dad and brother across the street. She squinted to see what they were doing. It seemed like Lucas and her dad were laughing together. She didn't want to be seen by them, so she quickly looked around to see if there was any other shortcut to her house. She saw an alleyway nearby and dragged Noah through it to the other side.

"Ava? What's going on?"

"Nothing, this is just a shorter way to go home."

"Okay." he agreed.

They continued walking, Ava turning back once in a while to see if her dad had seen her earlier. Noah noticed this but decided not to ask about it just yet. They reached her house, Ava unlocked the door and called out for her mom knowing that her brother and dad were out together. There was no answer.

"I guess no-one's home then," Ava spoke.

Noah silently sighed, knowing that Ava heard it.

"Stop being so scared."

Noah shrugged her comment off. Ava had noticed that he was so tense with everyone. Worried about his every move. He tried to lease everyone and make no mistakes. She wondered what made him be like that. She led him up the stairs to her room as she sat at her makeup table and he sat at the corner of her bed. She grabbed her speakers from her drawer and set it beside her.

"Any music recommendations?" she asked.

"I have no idea."

Ava smiled and put on one of her favourite songs. It started playing and Noah playfully groaned falling on the bed. She smirked and started dancing to the music.

"Why this one?" he joked.

"I know you like it."

Ava jumped to the beat of the music as Noah watched her. He shook his head and grinned at her goofiness.

"Do you remember this song?" Ava beamed.

"How could I not," Noah chuckled

Ava danced towards Noah and dragged him by the arm to join her. Noah tried to pull away, but Ava was too strong and pulled him up. They both started dancing, messing around until they heard a knock on the door. Ava and Noah turned around to see her dad. Ava stopped the music and looked at him with her arms crossed as Noah stood next to her, his hands in his pockets.

"What do you want?" she inquired.

"Well hello to you too."

Ava rolled her eyes and waited for him to answer her question.

"You really should turn down the music. I knocked on the door a few times and you didn't answer. I also called your name, and no-one answered, so I was just telling you to turn down the volume for next time."

"And who are you to tell me all of this?"

He stayed silent. He looked at Noah who was awkwardly staring at the floor.

"And who's this?" he questioned.

Noah stepped forward and shook his hand, "I'm Noah, Mr...."

"Call me Mat."

"Mat..." he repeated stepping back.

Mat pointed his finger at the both of them.

"Friends," Ava quickly said.

He slowly nodded and look at Noah up and down.

"Ava, would you like to go out with me tomorrow. Just to hang out. Father-daughter... you know."

Ava frowned as the phrase 'father-daughter' replayed in her head.

"You are not my father and we will never hang out together. I know Lucas is under your spell, but I refuse to be near you."

He sighed.

"Ava, I'm trying to be better. I want to be part of your life."

"It's too late... Mat. What has been done is done. Can you please leave now?"

He sadly nodded and closed the door behind him as he walked out. They heard the door slam shut as Lucas childly voice called out for his dad.

Ava sat down on her bed and rubbed her face as she sighed loudly.

"Don't you think you were being too harsh?" Noah mumbled.

Ava looked at him in amazement.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Yes. He hasn't been in my life for so long, and I've managed perfectly fine without him. So, I'm pretty sure I can keep going for the rest of my life without him."

Noah looked at her, seeing the pain in her eyes, tears filling them up.

"He acts like nothing ever happened. Everyone does," she said letting out a choked sob.

As Noah was about to comfort her, she rapidly got up and wiped her tears away, playing the music, a bit lower than last time. She just laid on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. Noah joined her laying next to her.

"Sorry. I know your dad isn't the best as well."

"Ava, just think about it. I would give up anything to have my dad back again in his normal state. The fact that your dad came back and is trying to fix things should be a sign that he actually changed."

She remained quiet thinking if he was right. The night her dad left them filled her mind. She clenched unto the covers, trying not to cry. Suddenly, Lucas burst through the door.

"Why are you so cruel Ava?!"

Noah and Ava but quickly sat up to see Lucas on the verge of tears, his fists clenched. She stared at him in confusions, guessing that he was talking about their dad.

"He's trying to change you know!"

"Lucas, I know you heard me the other night. And you and I know the truth."

"You were lying. Dad could never hurt us."

Noah's eyes opened wide as he looked at Ava.

"Ava. He hurt you?" he questioned.

Ava ignored the question and stared at Lucas.

"Lucas you don't understand. You're too young."

"I'm old enough to understand that Dad has changed. He doesn't smoke or drink anymore."

"That's what he wants you to think," Ava insisted.

"Dad never hurt you. You always act like the victim. Not everything revolves around you!" he bellowed.

"Uhh. Lucas, I wouldn't say that if I were you."

Ava began breathing faster as her hands started to go pale. Noah grabbed her hands and told her to breathe. She couldn't reveal everything to her brother. She started calming down and her breathing going back to normal.

"Are you two together?" Lucas asked.

"No," Noah responded.

"Lucas you don't know anything of what Dad has done. So stop assuming. I'm not stopping you from hanging out with him, but he has no right to just come into our house and act like he's our dad." she calmly spoke.

"You have no proof of Dad hurting you or any of us, so as far as I know you're lying."

Ava slowly got up and lifted up her shirt. A long, jagged scar snaked across her rib. The skin around the scar was also slightly discoloured, suggesting that it did not heal properly.

"There's more where that came from."

She sat down pulling her shirt down. Lucas grumbled and shut the door as he went downstairs. Noah looked at Ava and as he was about to ask a questioned Ava interrupted him.

"No questions. What has been done has been done."

Noah remembered her saying that to her Dad which confirmed his thoughts. Mat had hurt Ava.