Strings

Chapter 13

"H-Hayden?" I repeat again.

That snaps his attention. His eyes cloud up immediately and he ever so slowly puts me back down carefully on my feet.
I was so embarrassed and flushed right now and I was sure that my face looked remarkably similar to that of a ripe tomato.

The girl laughs a little and my heart wrenches. I don't know why I felt so hurt, it was clear to me from the very beginning that this marriage was never going to have anything to do with me. So him going around, dating and being with other girls should not have surprised or hurt me, for that matter.
Yet it did.

Despite everything, I thought it was rude that I hadn't introduced myself to the girl.

She was extremely pretty, with raven hair and lovely blue eyes. She was extremely tall too, 5'9" if I were to guess. Much taller than I was. She could easily be a model if she wasn't one already.

Shaking away my thoughts I look up and smile at her. She looks a little taken aback with the gesture.

"Hi, I am Avery, it's lovely too meet you." I say softly, extending my hand out to her.

She gives me a once over, raking her eyes all over me. I shuffle at my feet uncomfortable because I know both her and Hayden were just staring at me.

"Hmm." She says. Taking the hint I slowly withdraw my hand back, my face going red with the rejection. 

"Oh, Look how red you've become! Avery, honey you're adorable and drop dead gorgeous, and we're going to have So. Much. Fun."
She says and immediately lunges in for a hug.

I would've hugged her back but she had completely caged my arms. But that just leaves me more confused than ever. Why would she like me? Especially when I am married to the the man she seems to be with.

Hayden clears his throat from behind us and that makes her break away from me.

"Whoops my bad, forgot for a second that this brother mine, doesn't like anyone being comfortable with what's his." She says feigning a tone of fear but even I could tell she was thoroughly amused.

"B-brother?" I ask looking ever so slightly at Hayden and when he makes eye contact I snap my eyes back to her.

"Unfortunately yes. An absolute pain in the ass, I tell you. Don't know how you keep up with him." She says dramatically and I couldn't help the laugh that escapes from me.

The laugh however dies as I catch Hayden shooting daggers at her.

She was Hayden's sister and god knows what I was thinking about them. Relief washes over me which leaves me more confused than ever and then I notice how their eyes were almost similar with the exact same raven hair and a very familiar face structure. Yup. The resemblance was clear as day. Definitely siblings.

"Shut the fuck up, Skye." Hayden says curtly.

"Ooo yes almost forgot, my names Skyler, Skyler Knight. You can call me Skye!" She says, excited.

"Skylar" I say softly, trying it out.

"It's beautiful." I say, smiling at her, sounding as sincere as I could.

"Oh Avery, you're beautiful" she retorts in return and I couldn't help but laugh at that too.

"Okay well I will be going now, or my younger brother here will bury me where I stand. Seriously, it's like no one respects the older sibling anymore. Jeez. What has it come to." She huffs dramatically and I realize that I instantly like her.

But I don't miss the no-nonsense aura that was very much evident in her persona too. I guess I am just lucky that she likes me. As sweet and easy going as she is, I didn't doubt for a second that she will destroy without hesitation if anyone hurts the people she loves.
It was admirable.

"Bye Avery, I will be in touch!" She says leaning in for a quick hug.

"Bye Skyler, reach home safe!" I say hugging her back.

Hayden walks her to the door and I turn around leaning on the kitchen counter, trying to calm down my beating heart.

I was not expecting this turn of events. Clearing up after myself, I begin walking away but just then I bump into Hayden.

He doesn't say anything and confidently continues to stride over the other set of staircase to what I am guessing leads to his room.

"Hayden!" I call out after him.

He turns back to face me ever so slowly, clearly not expecting me to call out after him.

"I- umm; I wanted to say thank you for last night."  I say quietly and then immediately go red in the face realizing how that must have sounded like.

He walks towards me and I refuse to look up at him, as I stare at the ground like it was the most interesting thing I had ever come across.

"I meant for umm dressing my swollen ankle. It feels a lot better, so umm thank you." I say in a breathless rush.

He puts his hand under my chin and gently pushes his finger, forcing my face up to look at him.

I stare into his eyes that were storming hues of blue and green. Like the colors were intertwining amongst themselves to make the most exquisite color. There was so much intensity in his eyes that I couldn't look away even if I wanted to.

I stare wide eyed at him and suddenly he snaps back. Just like that.

He drops his hand from my chin and I immediately miss the warmth. He acknowledges me with a gentle nod and then walks away leaving me there with a treacherous heart beating faster than I had expected it to.

———

Hey guys!!
How have you been?

What did you all think of this chapter and what do you think of will happen next??
Isn't Avery extremelyyyy adorable, Also what do you all think of Skyler??

(P.S. the picture above is the staircase leading up to Averys room, pretty ain't it?)

Keep voting and commenting, you have no idea how happy that makes me!

And hang on, the next chapter is going to be much fast paced and intensified!!

Much much love and gratitude!
Xxxx