ry-

e, you just don'

to leave this God-forsaken town. And I didn'

e in the past had set into motion an avalanche of shit t

ild s

teenage r

ou to my father for trying to sell me off like a

mist

a path I could

ed to ever come back here. I had put

up. And I wasn't her any more. I hadn'

Geor

eemed to be taking forever to change. " I am fucking Ava George. I am not Avery

e anyone but scared Avery Waters. And with every

same run-down shops. The bikes outside C

stepping b

emories, it was kind of expected. And being back here and having to face him? The ma

ar around and go home. But then I couldn't do tha

me down to not

ween a rock and

Which was why I was here. Because after thirteen years

ick, and it wasn't like he could afford nurses to come in and look after him. Even if he could, they wou

, and he would kick me straight back out again. From all accounts, my daddy

the town that

um

e. And slammed my foot to the floor, sending the car off with a

elf under control. At least enough that I

n. "Flipping weird mum." He finished and I couldn't help but laugh.

palms kept sliding off the steering wheel. Which was a

a grow

Avery.

're Ava? Are you losing you

y face fully and glared at him. "Be quiet and stop

ottom lip stuck out as he crossed his arms about his chest. It mad

ology. I shouldn't have snapped at him. "I'm sorry ok? I'm just st

e was almost a teenager, he almost always communicated in hu

't want to be. We could be doing anything we

owed anyone in this town anything. They had all tur

t be able to live with myself if he died a

wn conscience and very little to

I tried to smile at him and failed. "How about we start with ice cream? There

raned my neck to look at the be

am would

was too old to be spending time with his mum but one mention of ice cream, even

Pressing a twenty into his sudden

ng?" Parker paused, his gloved hand o

ack before you. Chocolate for me, remember."

ss m

l. And by hadn't changed I mea

one in the afternoon and he was already drunk. And he wasn't the only one.

moon shaped piece of wood that once upon a time must have bee

sight for sore e

is direction. I knew his type. I had spe

ke

the wool of my coat. "Is Mal here?" I couldn't be bothered with pleasantries. The sooner I

re of it but she looked harder. More worn. Maybe it was the thick makeup or

new her

ers attracted. The girls who would never be anything other than be a warm hole to

ut my voice had turned steely. "Actually don't worry y

k, my voice even my clothes and hair set me as an outsider but the scariest thing wasn't th

I had become

lo,

han life, intimidating everyone who came into contact with him, his family included but now... now he just looked old. Old and tired. The eyes were the same though. Red rimmed and hard. And it was t

just aw

didn't say a word and just con

said. "Was kind of hoping you wouldn't, to

now? Now they seemed hollow, almost like h

t give

evaporated. My hands clenc

the bar. "Your grandson is in the car. Waiting to meet you and

inking ... nothing you d

man who didn't give two shits whether I was here or not. A man who c

is voice dripped venom. " but it looks like you landed on your feet? Didn't

I didn't even

to punish me for my mistakes. "I wasn't yours or the clubs to give aw

hen the lips under the beard quirked upwards in

ething. Sober up and give me a ring tomorrow." I made a move to tur