Trouble In Paradise

Avery's POV ;

“Say something... Anything!”

I'm freaking out, my face is slowly turning paper white and Piper isn't helping at all. She just keeps mumbling incoherent words.

My life is doomed, ruined!

From a failed wedding to getting pregnant for a stranger, about to break up with my fiance, and now having his corpse in our house?

"I'm calling the police right away,” I shoot for my phone but Piper is quick to snatch it from me, her hands are still scrambling badly.

"What do you think you're doing?” She scolds, her eyes blazing like she will throw the phone out of the window or smash it on the ground and have it destroyed beyond repair if I as little as take a step towards her.

This is a side of Piper that I've never seen before; fierce and brutal and mean. She looks serious like she will do anything to save herself.

"Piper?" I stutter, my blood pressure skyrocketing.

"Avery..." her breathing is labored. "stay out of this.”

“You killed him,” the realization that Orion is dead hits me hard and I begin to sob, crumbling on my knees.

"Well, he tried to kill you." she stutters in her defense.

“He wouldn't have- he wouldn't have! He loves me so much to do that to me...”

"But you were begging for help a while ago." She says as if trying to force the crime on me. "All I'm saying is, we can't involve the police.” She says in a matter-of-fact way.

I look at Orion's pale face that’s growing cold. Oh, my baby! I have failed him so much and he would wish never to have anything to do with me in his next life.

Indeed, he has suffered a lot recently. From me abandoning him in the hospital, to discovering my secret pregnancy for another man in the most devastating way, to meeting his untimely death.

I crumble in a heap next to his still body, crying my eyes out and holding his hand, ready to shake him out of the nightmare he so much dreaded.

“Please, stay with me, Orion.” I cry.

At this point, I point, I don't care if the stranger gets riled up, he will just have to take the baby from me and find another surrogate. I'm done! Exhausted! The very reason I'm enduring his bluff is how lying lifeless beside me.

"Can you at least stop crying?" Piper groans, still rambling like a leaf.

"What are we going to do?" I look up at Piper, demanding an urgent response.

“I don't know!” she vibrates. "At least, let me think.” I can tell that she regrets coming with me to get my items, just maybe we wouldn't be in this mess.

“We can't hide him forever, how will we smuggle his body past that monster out there?” I refer to Mr. Arrogant. "He's going to come in any moment, we've spent too long in here...”

"Fine." She says like she has an idea. "You’re a mess right now, I will take the bags to him one by one while I come up with something.”

Sounds convincing enough. I wipe my eyes and cheeks and arrange my hair. If I must get out of this mess, I must look pretty enough to not be doubted.

Without saying another word, Piper shakes herself into position and takes in slow breaths, ready to play the role as she described.

"Let's do this.” She rubs her palms together and carries a bag, one at a time, so we can buy enough time to get out of the mess.

In haste, I pick up the pieces of myself and go over to the window. Already, Mr. Arrogant is outside the car, waiting impatiently. He has his shades on now, and a stress mark creases on his forehead.

I lean closer, trying to get his conversation with Piper, but I don't hear a word. He looked suspicious of our delay like I sneaked out of the house from the back door because the bags were too little to be packed the whole day.

I'm done... It's over!

In confusion, I begin to pace, crying my eyes out one more time. The door opens and I yelp. Thankfully, it's Piper.

“Avery, please stop, okay?” She is more humane now, I guess she is getting used to the fact that she murdered someone, my fiance, and may get into jail when the police come snooping.

I nod, trying my best to believe her words, but the lifeless body of Orion makes it hard.

She picks up another bag and goes outside. Oddly, I begin to hear the argument. It's Mr. Arrogant. He is fed up with waiting tirelessly. When he begins to follow Piper who keeps arguing, my head begins to spin.

Today, I lost my fiance, and maybe I will lose my baby and myself too.

The door opens and Piper is looking very confused. She goes to where Orion is lying and begins to drag him while I stand like a statue.

“Jeez, Avery, don't just stand there, do something.” She groans.

Gaining myself, I lift his arm and we both drag him to the foot of the bed and manage to lift his heavy body on it.

“Open the door,” Mr. Arrogant’s voice calls from outside of the door.

"Oh, my god,” I whimper, shaking like a leaf.

"Avery, comport yourself,” Piper cries, frustrated at my meltdown.

For make-believe, Piper rocks him into bed, covering him up with the duvet and opening the windows fully. She runs to pick up the board and carelessly toss it to an end.

If he opens the door, we are finished. It's just a room apartment, so we can't hide him elsewhere. Perhaps the bathroom, or beneath the bed frame?! I don't have the time to think when the door flies open and he walks into the room.

The sight of Orion in bed stops him for a minute. "Who is he?” His voice is laced with anger.

I lied about everything, but I can't sell myself short now. I will not just refund his money but will pay dearly with my life.

“My brother.”