Song: La Da Dee by Cody Simpson

Chapter Sixty-six: Girl wearing red wig and glasses say what?

"Why did he buy us a house?" Shane asked as I led him to Rev's room.

"Because he can't be living in this almost castle and we'd be living in our old one that looks like it's falling apart. It just seems fair. It's his job to do that anyway."

"He seemed to forget."

"Yeah, but he's back and ready to make amends. Why not enjoy it?"

Shane was quiet for a while. "The only good thing about it is that is that we don't have to live next to the Browns anymore."

"You know, you can stop hating Axel now. He's no longer a jerk."

"I know a lie when I hear one."

I stopped at Rev's door and turned to him. "He's not a jerk as much anymore." I rephrased.

"He and his friends used to bully you after he told you he didn't want to be your friend anymore because he was trying to act cool. You guys have been friends for 13 years and he did all that. If that's not a big enough sign for you, God knows what is."

"You just need to understand that people don't stay the same forever. Some change."

"And some don't."

"Well I know Dad has changed."

"We're talking about Axel."

Rev's door swung open. She had that green stuff, Zane put on his hair on her face accompanied by an annoyed expression. "Is the best place to talk really at my door?"

"Yes." Shane answered.

"Mark Chang or Princess Mandie?"

You've been watching too much Fairly Odd Parents.

No, I haven't. Aaron has.

"I'm going with Fiona."

I nodded. "Smart choice."

We both laughed.

Shane stared at the both of us weirdly. "Was that an inside joke?"

"No." We both replied.

He still seemed confused so I saved him the trouble by dragging him out of the room with Rev's hand in my other one.

"Where are we going?" Rev asked.

"To comfort Shay."

Rev was quiet for a while. As if processing what I just said. "She just saw dad, didn't she?"

Shane and I both nodded.

We stopped at her door and I knocked. "Shay? Can we come in?"

There was no reply on the other side. Shane just opened the door and walked in. I just shrugged and walked in after him. There she was, on the floor with her back on her bed, tears dripping from her eyes as she stared at a picture. Shane just stood there staring at her, but I went ahead and sat beside her. It was a picture of the six of us from the first day of that holiday when they were dropping Rev and I at the camp.

"How could something that was this right be so wrong?" She asked as she turned to me.

Was that a rhetorical question?

I don't think so.

"Life is like a roller coaster. It doesn't wait for its passengers before it moves. You can either buckle your seat belt and get ready for the ride or plant your feet firmly on the ground and miss up on an awesome adventure."

Rev came to sit on her other side. "But the thing is, the adventure is not awesome for everyone. Some people throw up all over themselves."

"They can clean themselves up and go again."

"There isn't always a second chance."

"But you can't cling to your first opportunity and not expect it to be given away."

Shane interjected. "Not to ruin the mood of your conversation, Rev and Char, but can we not refer to roller coaster rides?"

Rev chuckled. 

"Is it too difficult for you to comprehend?" I teased him.

He just rolled his eyes at me.

I turned back to Shay with a small smile on my face. "You don't have to forgive him, it's honestly your choice. But I think it's better to. Just because you forgave him doesn't mean you need to have a relationship with him. It just means you don't have to go on with your life holding this grudge."

"Right." Shane said as he stood in front of us. "We're not going to have family dinners or outings with him. Nothing is going to change. Life can't go back to how it was before he did all that, but we could still live happily in his privileges." He laughed at the thought before he voiced it out, "I mean, I've always wanted a sports car."

We laughed at his bluntness.

"And I want a laptop better than the old one I have." Rev pointed out.

"Some new books could come in handy. I also want a tablet. Oooh and a car. I recently got my license."

We all turned to Shay. She just shrugged. "I already have a job."

We chuckled. "Do they pay interns?" I asked.

"Since Mrs. Rivers has a junk of cash, she pays me."

"Lucky you." Shane pointed out.

I turned to Shay. "Did we cheer you up?"

She nodded and wiped her tears. "I love you guys so much. You are all the family I would ever need."

"And Mum." We chorused.

She laughed. "And Mum." She opened her hands and engulfed Rev and I in a hug.

We looked up at Shane and he raised his hands up. "You guys just do your thing."

I grabbed him by his pajama pants and yanked him down to join us in a hug. He didn't back away, he just laughed.

And we stayed there hugging. The number of times we have hugged since yesterday, is more than the amount of times in the past 3 years. I mean, who hugs their siblings? Just kidding.

************************

"Hey guys."

I plumped down on the bean bag chair in Leyla's room. It was just me, Zahra, Leyla, Xander and Kai. Like the good ol' days. I had asked them to meet up with me at Leyla's house since she was grounded because her grades had gone down. I had the intention of telling them the truth, but I didn't think it was best that it was the first thing I said.

"Hi Char." 

"You're up early." Xander commented as he kicked his shoes off.

Kai was seated on the bed and Zahra was lying on his lap. She sat up, picked Xander's shoes up and threw it at him. "Have you forgotten you without your shoes is a danger to human kind?"

He rolled his eyes. "My feet don't stink that much."

"Yes they do." Kai replied.

"You're just supporting your girlfriend."

He kissed Zahra's head. "Yeah I am." She smiled at him.

Xander rolled his eyes again. "Oh please stop. Isn't there anyone that's single here?"

"I'm single." Leyla pointed out.

"Sure you are." I replied sarcastically.

"I am."

"What about Jordan?" Kai asked her.

She blushed. "We're not dating. We're just friends."

Zahra tapped her chin. "Friends? Hmm. Where have I heard that before?" She turned to look at me.

"What?"

"She just sounds like you, you know."

"No I don't. Zane and Charvi weren't just friends." Leyla replied.

"We were friends before."

She hummed sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes. "Arguing would be pointless."

"Yes it would."

"Yeah. Let's just agree that Jordan and Leyla are dating."

"We are not. I can't date someone like him."

Xander raised his brows. "Someone like him? You better not be referring to jocks."

"You know what I mean. I can't make the same mistake I made with Axel."

"Trust me, Ax and Jordan are different." Xander pointed out. "And I would know."

"I can't believe you didn't tell us when you asked Mia to be your girlfriend." Leyla subtly changed the topic. We all ignored that fact. For her sake. It was obvious she didn't want to talk about it.

He shrugged. "If I told you guys before you'd want to come along."

"Well duh." I replied.

He rolled his eyes. "That wouldn't be weird at all." He replied sarcastically.

We laughed.

Okay. There's no tension in the air. It's time to tell them.

"Guys." I called out so they all turned to me. 

I reached into my bag and pulled out the wig and glasses. Then I put it on. I felt it was better to show them than say it. Well, it was easier that way anyways.

When I was done, I looked at their confused faces.

"I'm Avery Adams."

You still said it.

At least I showed it first.

"Girl wearing red wig and glasses say what?" Zahra questioned.

Leyla turned to her with raised brows. "Miley's catch phrase? Really?"

She shrugged. "It just came to me."

All their attention was back on me.

"You kept this from me from a year?" Xander questioned. I bit my lips in embarrassment.

"From us." Zahra corrected.

"My mum wouldn't let me work and I knew she needed the help so I put on a disguise."

"Then why didn't you tell us?" Kai asked.

"Because the more people I told, the more chances I had of being exposed."

"We would never tell anyone." Leyla replied.

"I know that. I just knew that once I said it out loud, it..." I trailed off.

"We get it." Xander replied with a nod.

"So you guys aren't mad?"

"I'm not." He replied.

"Neither am I." Kai and Leyla replied, but Zahra was just staring at me.

"What?"

"It's just so unreal we didn't notice. I mean it's now that I see the resemblance."

I shrugged.

"And that accent you put on."

"It wasn't much. You guys just couldn't see it because you won't believe it."

"Speaking of which," Leyla asked. "How did you go to my birthday ball like that?"

"Rev was Avery."

"Smart." She nodded.

"I know Zane knows, but I want to know how because I know you didn't tell him."

I turned to Xander with raised brows. "How do you know he knows?"

He shrugged. "Just a hunch."

"He ran into me one day and the wig fell off."

"So that special connection it seemed Avery and Wren were sharing was a fake one between him and your sister." Zahra confirmed.

I nodded feeling slightly ashamed.

"Does he know?"

I nodded again.

"How did he take it?"

"Not very well."

"Well I mean, you did make a fool out of him." Leyla said.

"Not intentionally." I defended.

"I'm sure he'll come around." Kai eased.

I wanted to say, 'That's what everyone keeps saying.' but I just nodded instead.

We spent the rest of the day just chilling, talking, playing games and watching movies. Just leisure stuff like we used to.

*****************************

I laughed at the joke I just read.

Me: You know, you're really funny.

Darien: I try my best.

I rolled my eyes as I lay back on my bed.

Me: How come you don't want me to know where you are?

Darien: What do you mean?

Me: I've been meaning to ask you about it. You told me you weren't in the country.

I waited for his reply, but it wasn't coming so I just continued.

Me: I noticed that your background in the elephant picture you sent was the carnival.

Darien: I didn't want anyone to know I was here.

Me: Why?

Darien: Because my dad threw me out.

Me: Uncle Joey?

He wasn't that kind. He loved Darien and never really punished him. I know it's been about three years since I last saw them, but I couldn't really have forgotten their behaviors, could I?

Darien: Yes, my dad.

Me: What did you do?

Darien: It's a long story. I rather not get into it.

Me: Okay. Does that mean you're here all alone?

Darien: I'm of age, aren't I?

I thought for a while. I think he's around Shane and Shayna's age. The last time I saw him, he was, I think, 17, so now he's probably 20.

Me: You're 20 right?

Darien: Yeah I guess.

I guess?

Me: That means you're spending Thanksgiving all alone. That's so sad. You should be with your family.

Darien: I doubt they'd even want me there.

Me: How can you say that?

They loved him so much, because he was their only child. Aunt Zelie had a womb problem so she couldn't give birth. It was a miracle she could give birth to Darien.

Me: You must have done something really bad then.

Darien: Yup.

Me: Well whatever you did, you're always welcome to come have dinner with us.

Darien: Would your parents agree?

Me: It'd be a surprise. Would you come?

Darien: It'd be my pleasure. Do you still live in the same place?

Me: No.

Darien: I don't know my way around the city well, so on Wednesday I can text you an address and we'd meet up there.

Me: Sure. Seems fine. Looking forward to seeing you.

Darien: Can't wait.

****************

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