Ava's POV:
Getting caught in the middle of a fight is something I'm used to.
Getting caught, but not being the one starting the fight is something I'm not used to.
Get caught and spending a few hours in jail is definitely something I'm not used to.
It never occurs to me that one day I have to punch a guy in the jawline...to rescue another guy.
I never wanted to play the hero.
I never wanted to play any role.
If anything, I want to play the bystander. But, I've always wondered how a bystander can just...stand by. Then again, their names are bystanders for a reason.
It all started normal.
Similar to every other day.
The brutal hand entanglement with Luke and Mina ends today, after the Fall Festival. I was (sort of) nicer to Mina, and she isn't that bad. I can't say the same about Luke. Despite my rescue from his horrific habits, nothing else changed between us. However, these days, he is quieter.
"Are you two ready for the Fall Festival?" Mom chirped, applying on her red lipsticks. Mom, similar to me, loves wearing dark color lipsticks when the leaves start changing.
With dull sarcastic voices, Trevon and I said: "Yaaaay."
"I can tell you two are ecstatic." Mom slams the hand mirror shut.
"The Fall Festival is fun to attend, but horrible to plan. I've been running errands for the stupid booth till my hands bleed!" Trevon whined, putting his perfectly functioning hands in the air. "Why did you two forced me to do it?" He stomps his leg like a five years old.
"Hey! Your sister did it. She isn't complaining." Dad threw an arm up.
"She got picked, not me!" He pouted and glared at me, "I remember what you did," he hissed slowly.
I shrugged but didn't respond. Trevon pulled out his phone and grinned before responding. With that smile, I knew exactly who it was.
When we arrived, dad dropped us off before circling to find a parking spot. "I can't wait to visit your booths!" Mom snaps a photo of us.
We were both in dorky orange Halloween shirts. "Yaaaay," we said it at the same time again before robotically waving them goodbye.
We began walking towards our booths. The leaves spiral from the branches beneath our shoes. I push my hair back, feeling the cold breeze on my cheeks. I glanced over at Trevon, who was on his phone. "Are you still texting that girl?"
He tucks his phone away, "I don't believe that is any of your business."
"I heard she has a boyfriend." The one who will go to prison a few years in the future.
He stops walking and folds his arms. "Have you been investigating my friends?"
"I can't help being Ava Makee. The girl that everyone goes to when they want to gossip." But, yes, I did investigate her.
Trevon exhales through his nostril and resumes his walk towards the crowd. "Maeve and I are just friends. Nothing less. Nothing more."
I threw on the jacket wrap around my waist when I realized it's colder than I anticipated. "You've been talking to her a lot for being just friends."
He shrugs, shoving his hands into his pockets. "She needs some help on her studies, and her boyfriend is an absolute douche."
"So, just friends?"
His lip wrinkled, and he nodded, "Yeah. I don't see her that way. Her boyfriend is a bit too crazy for me." He laughs, "You know I don't like trouble and him...God, let me tell you, Av. He is nothing but trouble. Maeve told me-" he paused, "Huh. You're right. For some reason, I want to gossip around you."
"Told you."
"Ava! Ava!" Mina waves me enthusiastically towards our booth.
"Well, that's my stop," I said.
Mina rushed towards me. Somehow, it's a wire inside her head that we're friends now all because I said hi to her a few times. She was in the same outfit as me except with her hair tied into two ponytails. "Ava. Mr.Nocella is looking for you about the donation documents."
"Oh. Okay," I said.
We all stood there, staring at each other. I believe this is my cue to introduce them. "Mina. This is my brother Trevon. Trevon, this is Mina; my classmate."
Mina lifts her hand, "Hi. It's nice to meet you."
Trevon lowers his gaze before grasping her hand, "H-Hi."
Mina smiles softly. Though the leaves blow circulating them, some falling on their heads, they weren't bothered by it. People passed them, and I wonder if they realize just how long they are holding hands and locking eyes.
I coughed...loudly.
Immediately, they break hands. Mina tucks a hair behind her red ear, and Trevon turns the other way. "Umm, I'll see you around," he said, before walking the other way.
"Isn't your booth that way?" I screamed, pointing the other direction.
He laughs, short awkward chuckles, "Oh, right. That way," he said, and quickly rushed away.
I glanced over at Mina, who was still staring at Trevon's back. She had her hands clasped together, and a small smile still playing on her lip. Mina noticed I was looking at her. "Should we get g-going?"
This.is.not.happening.
Our booth decided to sell foods such as cupcakes, caramel apple, peanut butter pie, and many others since we receive many ingredients as donations.
"Where is Mr.Nocella?" I ask Luke, who was the cashier. People tend to purchase more if there's someone good looking in front.
He glances around, "I think he said he is going to meet someone out front."
I exhale, "Shit. I was just there." I look over at him, "Everything okay?"
Luke gave the customer his change, "Yeah. Why?"
"You're just really quiet these days."
The corner of Luke lip twerk, "Would it make you feel more comfortable to bicker with me?"
"Don't put words into my mouth."
"Then, what exactly are you saying, Makee?" He tilts his head towards me, emerald eyes still somehow shining on a cloudy day. "You want me to leave you alone, right?"
My left leg began to bounce, and I felt like I couldn't stand in one location. "Yeah."
"Then, I'll give you just that."
"What change?"
He swallows before forcing a smile towards the next customer. "That would be $14.95 ma'am," he said. She hands him a $20. "$5.05 is your change."
"Keep it." She smiles, handing her kids the bundle of candies.
"Thank you!" we both said.
Luke's smile drops the moment they turn their heads. I realize how there were bags underneath his eyes. "I'm just tired, Ava."
He's using my first name. "So, now what?"
"I'm going to do just what you say. You do your own thing, and I'll do my own."
"I see."
Luke crunches his hands on the cloth table. "And about what happened in the hallway. Seth is right. I was a dick. I shouldn't have forced you to listen to me when you don't want to."
"Yeah."
Luke opens the cash register and exchanges large bills with smaller ones. "I won't say I'm sorry because I know you hate hearing it from me."
"No, it's not like I dislike hearing it from you. I don't want to listen to an apology with no meaning."
Luke stops counting momentarily before resuming his actions. He didn't say anything; instead, continue counting the money as if it was his mission.
"Tell Mina I have to go find Mr.Nocella out front."
"You might want to tell someone else," he said, shoving the money into the lockbox before tucking it away. "If it isn't obvious, Mina and I aren't exactly on good terms."
I was going to say something, but I decided to go against it and inform the girl working behind me to talk to Mina. Walking away from the booth and towards the front, I couldn't help but look back.
There was something different from this roundabout with Luke. Something miserable.