Chapter 7: Herself, Her mom and Her diary
"Aaaaarrrghhhhh!!"
Ava couldn't believe her eyes at what she saw. Her mom whose arm was meant to have been burnt was seated on the bed in her bedroom, watching a horror movie with a blanket wrapped around her while she hugged a pillow.
"For the love of God!", she screamed.
"Ava, stop shouting".
"Mom, that's not funny".
"I had a cut for real", she said as she showed Ava her index finger that was slit a little. Ava swallowed to calm herself down as she looked at her mom.
"Mom, tell me, is this funny?"
"I'm so sorry baby".
"I was shit scared. I thought something has happened".
"I felt lonely. Your dad already went on a trip and won't be coming back till after a month ".
"You always remember me when he's out", Ava said as she slumped into the couch that was next to her.
"So, tell mommy what's good?"
"There was a new student".
"A girl or boy? "
"Girl".
" Wow. Is she pretty? "
"Yeah. She is".
"You're the only one who doesn't look pretty. I wonder how you became the 'queen of the lawn".
"Lawn Tennis is not about beauty ".
"That's what you always say. That's why Kyle hasn't looked at you".
"Mom", she called behind clenched teeth. Mrs Bateman chuckled at her daughter's fuming.
"How's he by the way? He didn't come over today?"
"Yeah. He took the newbie home".
Mrs Bateman paused. She looked at Ava, from her was to her toe.
"See? There's no guy with that stuff between their legs who would like a tomboy. I have told you baby".
"Mom".
"I know. You don't like hearing this but you like Kyle. Does he know?"
"Mom, we're just besties".
"Besties", Mrs Bateman scoffed.
"This is a friendship I can't afford to lose over some naughty emotions.
"My love, they're not naughty. They're pure and genuine".
Ava teared up. She doesn't always tear up but this discussion makes her cry.
"Mom, if he finds out, he'll hate me".
"My baby", Mrs Bateman said as she lowered herself to hug her daughter.
"It's fine. It's ok. You have mom too".
"Thanks".
Later that evening, Kyle called to check on Ava concerning her mom's 'burn'.
"Hey , how's your mom's burn?"
"Today's not April 1st but I was April fooled today".
Kyle laughed through the phone. He laughed so hard that his stomach hurt.
Ava smile on the other side of the phone. She deemed herself lucky as she was the only person who could see this side of Kyle Compton. His laughters, cries, smiles, anger and even fears. She would be greedy if she wanted more but that wasn't what she could help. Her feelings for him always grew each passing day. However, that was a secret that only three people knew about.
Herself, her mom and her diary.
"Your mom is a genius".
"I wonder what made her prank me like that".
"That's so nice. I should call her teacher the next time we meet. I need to learn from her".
"Then I'll make sure you guys never get to meet ".
"That won't happen ".
"Whatever. How's Kaitlyn? "
"I dropped her at her place ".
"Ok. That's nice".
"Ava, don't try setting me up with her again. I don't like her".
"But she's nice. She's a good person", she said in defense of Kaitlyn.
"But you don't also like her, right? "
"Yeah but I can't be bad to someone who's good. I guess we can even be friends anyways".
"Ava, like I said, she's no good. I hate her vibe".
"Ok. Fine, but it won't be helped if she appears around us everyday. She's our school mate now".
"I know but don't blame me if I act in any way towards her".
"Whatever. Goodnight, I'm off", she said and hung up. She gazed at the ceiling of her room, her mind wandering. Part of her didn't really appreciate Kaitlyn and didn't like her. Another part of her was happy that Kyle didn't like her and another part of her also didn't want to treat her bad. However, those side of hers are what she vowed not to reveal but was scared that it might surface. She wasn't a bad person but didn't know if she would become one because of what she felt towards her best friend, Kyle Compton.