Chapter Seven

"Avery you okay?" Derek was headed back towards me now. I jumped when he touched my shoulder. "Avery?"

"I gotta go" I said backing out of the water. "I'll see you tonight?"

"Yeah, I'll pick you up at six." He stood there looking lost.

I smiled as I jogged off into the trees. Visions of the past flashed through my mind as I headed home. The hurt and betrayal cut deep. What hurt more was that even after everything he has done, I still care for him. And it didn't matter what he was, I wasn't going to let them kill him. Something inside me wanted to protect him, like he used to protect me at school.

Dad was sitting in the living room when I got home. He gave me a look over and laughed. "What happened to you?" He asked.

"I sort of fell." I said. "Gonna go shower." A quick shower made me feel better. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a tank top. Dad was right where I left him. I sat on the other end of the couch since Dakota had taken the middle.

"I have something for you." Dad said grabbing a envelope of the coffee table and handed it to me.

"What is it?" I asked flipping it over. It felt heavy.

"Just open it." He said. I pulled the flap open and retrieved the papers inside. It looked like ownership titles. I looked up at my dad, confused. "It is the deed to your mother's cabin. We had planned on giving it to you on your eighteenth birthday. She signed those papers after the first time we took you there. I knew that she would still want you to have it. Especially now that I made you move across the country."

There was a set of keys in the bottom of the envelope. I held them in my hand as tears filled my eyes. Dad came over and hugged me. Tears fell and I heard him crying too. "I miss her so much." I said. These past few years had been the hardest. I didn't have a female figure in my life as I went through my teens. Dad just didn't cut it when it came to hormones and lady stuff. He always cringed when I brought up the subjects. In his defence, he never thought he would be raising me alone.

"I know" He stroked my hair. "I do too." He pulled back to look at me. "You are so much like her. I see you mother in you every day. She would be proud of the young woman you have become. I know I am." He handed me a tissue. I dabbed at my tears, trying to keep my face from turning red and blotchy. "Do you have plans for today?

"Not till later, what's up?" I asked, wiping the last tears from my face.

"I have something else for you. I was gonna wait till your birthday but I figured you would want to head up to the cabin before school started." He reached in his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. Dad held they up, dangling between us.

"You got me a car?" I asked with excitement. Dad had normally given me anything I asked for, I think to make up for what he lacked. But he didn't exactly spoil me with expensive stuff like this. He nodded and dropped the keys in my hands. I hugged him and headed for the door. Out in the driveway was a black Ford escape. I was wiggling like a little school girl.

"Take it for a spin" Dad said holding my purse. I hugged him again and grabbed my bag. It was warm in the car since it had been sitting in the sun. I rolled down the windows and backed out of the drive. It was a short drive over the Miranda's house. I knocked on the from door of the cottage and waited.

Grams open the door a few moments later. "Oh Avery, how lovely to see you again! Would you like to come in for some tea? I just made it."

"I'm actually looking for Miranda. Is she home?" I asked.

"I don't think she is. Left sometime this morning I believe." Grams said.

"Well thank you." I waved goodbye and headed back to my car. My next stop was the coffee shop. It was much less busy today. I sent Miranda a text as I headed inside. At the counter I ordered a mocha.

"You're Avery right?" A girl said behind me. I turned around to find Monica standing there, barbie dolls in all.

"Yeah" I said taking my coffee, careful to keep it out of their reach.

"I'm Monica Blair" She said with a perky smile. "Nice to meet you."

"We meet already." I said. "Ya know two days ago when your friend dumped coffee on my dress."

"Oh right" She brushed it off like it was nothing. The bothered me. "Look, my brother said to be nice to you so.." Monica pushed past to the counter. I turned and left without saying a word. It didn't matter if she was told to be nice or not, she wasn't. I ducked past her followers and headed for the door. Brianna grabbed my arm.

"Just because Monica is supposed to be nice to doesn't mean I have to. If you do anything to cross her brother… Well let's just say you better watch your back." She said quietly. A red hugh appeared around her.

"Can't you just be nice?" I said. Instantly the red hugh faded until it was nearly gone. Brianna tilted her head to the side and nodded but didn't say anything. Did I just change what she was feeling? She released my arm and turned away. It seemed like she had a touch of the psycho to me.

I was blinded by the light as I stepped outside. There were no clouds to block out the sunlight. Voices swarmed around me and very loud. I almost covered me ears as they began to throb. The closest person was at least fifteen feet away from me though. I slammed the car door shut behind me but it didn't stop the voices, only lessened them.. Putting the car in drive, I pulled away from the curb, fast.

The sun was too bright. Voices were extremely loud as I drove past people. I was going to fast and not paying attention. Looking up, I panicked. There was a little boy that was stepping off the curb. His ball rolling in the street. I didn't have time to react. The car stopped before I could touch the brake. My head slammed against the steering wheel.

Everything was blurred when I lifted my head. There was a guy standing in front of my car. After a moment I recognized him. It was the guy that was outside my house the other night. There was a bright concentrated light in the center of his chest. A gray hugh appeared around him. Nathan had told me his name, but I couldn't remember it now.

Jasper, nice to meet you Avery. I heard the voice in my head. He smiled for a split second then disappeared. I made my way home slowly and carefully. I had just closed the front door when my arm started burning. A burning sensation tore through my entire arm. I fell to the floor, clutching my arm.

"Be still my dear one" I had heard that angelic voice before, but where? I pushed back against the wall, sitting up, while still clutching my arm. A figure appeared before me, a pure white light almost blinding me. I could make out the long golden hair.

"What's happening?" I asked through choked breaths. The pain in my forearm grew hotter and hotter, slowly creeping its way towards my shoulder.

"You are becoming who you are meant to be." She was nelt beside me, caressing the side of my face. "Do not fight it, my child. The pain will end soon and you will be reborn."

"Reborn? Am I going to die?" I wanted to panic, to react, to do something, but I couldn't move. A numb feeling began to creep over me.

"It will only be for a moment. I will be here to protect you. Rest now child." The room swam around me. Everything became dim as I couldn't hold my eyes open any longer. I felt myself being pulled into a dark abyss of nothing.

I woke as the garage door opened. I felt groggy, like coming through a fog. The TV was on, playing a show I didn't recognize. Dakota was sound asleep by my feet, at the end of the couch. I was puzzled how I ended up on the couch. It was a bit of a daze of what had happened.

Dad came in through the door attached to the garage. "I thought you were going out." He set his briefcase down on the coffee table.

"I, uh" I what? "Miranda wasn't home so I came back. Guess I fell asleep."

"Looks like you need it too" Dad sat on one of the recliners. "You haven't been sleeping much, have you?" I shook my head. "I know this place doesn't feel like home, but I'm trying Ava. I really am."

"Dad it's fine" I said sitting up. "It just going to take time." He sighed, stood, and left the room. I switched off the TV and patted Dakota on the head. She looked at me for a moment, then went back to her nap. I grabbed my phone off the coffee table and texted Miranda. She had to know something about what was going on around here.

I brushed off this unknown feeling and went to change. Derek would be here in less than an hour. Opening my laptop, I pulled up the video chat program. I waited as the chat loaded.

"Hi!" Amber was waving frantically at the camera. I waved back and smiled. "How are things going? Do you love it there?"

"It's growing on me." I said. "How are things back home?"

"They are okay." She said. "Wish you were here though."

"Me too, it just doesn't feel like home here. I know dad is trying, but he can't do it like mom did." There was a long pause that happened every time we talked about my mom. "It's almost been twelve years now… The first year without you here with me."

"You know I would be there if I could."

"I know, and I appreciate it. I'm gonna spend this year in the closet place to her though." I held up the cabin keys. "Dad gave me her cabin. I haven't been there since before she died."

"It'll be good for you." Amber smiled, but I could see the dark tint in her eyes.

"Anyways, why I called is because I need your help." I said changing the subject. " I have a date tonight and have no idea what to wear."

"Wait, back up! You have a date?" Amber was practically jumping up and down. "Tell me all about him! How did you guys meet? What's he like? How did he get you to agree to a date?"

"Hey, I've been on dates before."

"How long do we have?" She asked.

"He'll be here in half an hour." I smiled as she made faces at me.

"Alright, let's get to it then. Take me to your closet." I carried the laptop to my closet and set it on a shelf so she could see what I had. I pushed a few items down the rail until she said something. "Stop, that one. The green one, it goes with your eyes." I grabbed the dress and held it in front of me. "Definitely, with those sandals we bought before you left."

"Thank you so much" I set my laptop back on my desk and stepped aside to change quick. "How does it look?" I asked moving back into the camera view.

"Fabulous!" Amber was clapping her hands. "Now, go do something with your hair. It looks like just woke up."

"Should I put it up or down?" I asked.

"Put it up."She looked away and I heard her mom in the background. "Ava I gotta go. Let me know how your date goes." The call disconnected.

I closed my laptop and headed to my bathroom. It took a few minutes to make my long, blonde hair look decent in an up-do. I heard a knock from my bedroom door.

"Avery?" Dad called "There's someone here to see you." I glanced at the clock. It was too early for Derek to be here. I headed out to the living room.