Chapter 6
1745 Words
Avon's POV
We stopped in the middle of nowhere and decided to use our time in enjoying the peaceful scenery that surrounds us.
"Do you still remember our way back?" Jeremiah asked with worry in his voice which made me laugh.
"It's a straight line Jeremiah we won't get lost," I responded proudly while sitting on the hood of the car.
"You've been here before?" he asked but I shook my head and then roam my eyes around the whole place.
"No, it's my first time here," I responded then jump out of the car. I wipe the dust from my hands then stood up, open my arms widely, and closed my eyes to feel the cold breeze.
"It's peaceful here," I uttered when calmness filled me. After a few seconds, I open my eyes and saw Jeremiah staring at me intently which made me feel conscious about how I looked.
"Why?" I curiously asked but he simply diverted his attention to somewhere else refusing to answer my question.
"How are you so hopeful even though life is already pushing you on the edge?" he asked with his voice full of seriousness. I turned my head to Jeremiah and then gave him a wide smile maybe that simple smile could give him a ray of hope.
"Because I am still alive Jeremiah. Life is unpredictable, who knows maybe tomorrow things will get better," I uttered. Jeremiah simply stared at me as if he wasn't satisfied by my answer but despite that, I continue smiling and then pick up the white stone that caught my eye.
I placed the stone on the side of his wheelchair and then met his eyes.
"When you can hold that stone then. I would grant you one wish," I uttered as my way of helping him in his progress.
The way his eyebrows furrowed gave me the idea that he find this idea ridiculous.
"You want me gone right? Then grabbed that stone Jeremiah and wish that I would be gone from your life forever," I added but he keeps on staring at my face then after a while he took a deep breath.
"Okay," he simply responds then resumed staring at the scenery in front of us.
"Have you tried hiking before?" I asked to open up a topic. I am not asking for a response since he usually ignores my question, I just want to remove the dead air that surrounds us but I was shocked when Jeremiah answered my question.
"When I was still in college we used to hike a lot," he responded
"With Ashley?" I asked which made him quiet. I know that that woman still affects him.
"Yeah," he uttered.
"So you are together ever since you were in college?" I asked. I am not trying to be nosy or anything I just want to fish out some information that could help him in recovering faster.
"We don't have that kind of relationship," he responded as if he is some sort of celebrity whose been asked a controversial question.
"But you already share a special bond back then?" I asked trying my luck that I would receive a few more answers.
"Why are you asking me this question?" he asked irritated at how nosy I have become.
"Just curious," I responded then chose to stay quiet for a few minutes but I can't stop myself from uttering words so a few minutes later I ended up opening another topic.
" I heard that there will be a racing competition, do you want to watch it?" I asked.
"And what? Feel jealous that I can no longer do racing?" he sarcastically asked so I immediately shook my head to tell him that it wasn't my intention. I am not trying to offend him or anything all I want is to help him have fun.
"No that's not it Jeremiah-" I tried to explain my side but he cut me off.
"Stop trying too hard Avon," he uttered then pressed the button of his wheelchair and tried his best to enter the car but he always fails since it is hard to make his way in.
"I'll help you," I offered, and even though he didn't respond I decided to assist him.
"I'm sorry Jeremiah," I apologized but Jeremiah being Jeremiah didn't respond again and remained quiet.
I want to punch myself because every time I tried to be close to him I ended up messing things up.
"Let's go home," he uttered so I nod my head and closed the door on the backseat. I walked towards the driver seat then open the door and took a glance at the rearview mirror. I accidentally met Jeremiah's eyes and when I can't hold the intensity of his stare I immediately look away and then took a deep breath to calm myself.
When I am finally okay I started driving with a heavy heart because I messed up again and I am running out of ideas on how to be close to Jeremiah Foster.
Jeremiah's POV
After a few hours of driving, we arrived at our mansion. I saw Gregory outside as if he was waiting for me and when he saw our car I saw him let out a deep breath.
When the car stopped in front of him he immediately open the door on the backseat and helped me to get off from the car.
After a while, Avon is already on my side attentively helping me with everything.
"I called you so many times Avon, where have you gone?" Gregory asked with worry in his voice.
"s**t I'm sorry my phone is turned off," she responded and I can feel panic in her voice. As we headed towards the living room I can hear my mother's voice panicking as if something bad happen.
When we entered the living room and her eyes landed on eyes tears cascaded down her face and he hurriedly walked towards me then wrapped me into a tight hug.
"Oh my God son you made me worried," she uttered as she hugged me tightly. After a while she broke off the hug then looked at Avon and in just a second a hard slap roared inside the room which made everyone shocked.
"Mom!" I reacted when I recovered from what I heard.
"You are putting my son's life in danger Avon," my mother uttered and by just the tone of her voice, I can tell how mad she is.
"I'm sorry Ma'am," Avon responded trying to hide the pain in her voice.
"What if something happened to Jeremiah? What if something happened to my son because of your foolishness Avon?!" my mother asked with her voice in rage.
"Mom stops it," I butted in because she is overreacting.
"No Jeremiah, this woman should learn her lesson," my mother responded.
"Mom please I am begging you just stop," I uttered.
My mother took a few deep breaths before she gave in to my request. When she felt like no one would side with her she walked out living me with Avon and Gregory.
"Can you hand her a cold compress Gregory?" I asked when I saw how Avon's cheeks turn red.
"I'm okay," she uttered even though she isn't. She bit her lower lip may be to suppress the tears that were about to fall on the side of her eyes.
"Are you okay?" I asked the dumbest question someone could ever ask.
"Yeah," she answered lying.
"Cry. Release your feelings, Avon," I encourage her which triggered the tears that she had been holding back for a few minutes.
She immediately wipe her tears and then laughed at herself.
" I am the one at fault why am I crying?" she asked herself as she dries her tears.
"Stop blaming yourself, I know you are just trying to help me," I uttered to make her feel better.
Yes, I do treat Avon with hate but I hate seeing her cry. I don't want to see her crying because it makes me look bad and it makes me feel bad about myself.
After a few seconds, her sobs filled the living room and I don't know for what reason but whenever I hear her cries I felt my chest tighten as if I couldn't breathe at all. Hearing her cries felt too heavy but I can't do anything to make her stop.
When Gregory came back he is holding a cold compress. Gregory assisted Avon from sitting on the couch then he started pressing the cold compress on Avon's cheeks which became red because of my mother's hard slap.
Instead of watching them, I decided to look for my mother and luckily I found her in our kitchen drinking a glass of water. She is panting as if she run miles.
"Mom," I called her so she immediately look in my direction.
"What is it son?" she asked with her soft voice different from the tone that she used when she talked to Avon.
"You want Avon to help me in recovering right?" I asked and she nodded her head without any hesitation.
"Then don't meddle with the things that she wants to do. Allow her to take me to places," I uttered which made her forehead crease.
"Yes son I'm sorry, I am just worried. Negative thoughts filled up my mind and I can't control my emotion, I'm sorry," she uttered then held my hand.
"I don't need your sorry's Mom, tell you're sorry to Avon since you have done her wrong," I responded while looking at her eyes directly.
Her eyes are full of hesitation but after a few moments, she took a deep breath and then nod her head.
"Fine," she uttered then we started walking towards the living room. I saw Avon sitting beside Gregory, they are talking about something but they stop when they saw us coming.
"M-Ma'am," Avon nervously uttered when she saw my mother.
"I'm sorry Avon," my mother uttered which made her confused then after a while she looked at me maybe trying to find an answer to what is happening.
"I-It's fine Ma'am, I understand," Avon responded while looking at my mother.
"Please next time update me so this won't happen again," my mother uttered in her calm tone so Avon nod her head.
When Avon flashed a genuine smile I felt at ease and the heaviness that I have inside was lifted.
- Writer
