That’s when I heard her door open and she came out.
“You chose to see the good in people even when they don’t have any, but I see what they really are capable of from their past actions. So, I won’t stay here and encourage you to continue in your madness- that’s why I’m leaving. Can we not talk about this any further? Because, I won’t be changing my mind” she said with gritted teeth before she shut the door.
Heather
After Jeffery told me that Ava wanted to go back to New York, I could tell how heart broken he was.
I can be a b’tch, but that evening I had dinner with his sister, I really tried to be nice to her and wished things had gone differently.
I may have made a mistake I shouldn’t have, but I understand that she might just be over protective of Jeffery and that’s why she wants me gone from his life.
But she’s breaking his heart by deciding to go back to New York for no apparent reason.
I made a promise to Jeffery that I would get his sister to stay, and that’s exactly what I would do.
Heaven knows I want him to be happy. I want to be the one who gives him that happiness, because ever since he came into my life he has made it better.
So, I put a few calls to Fentrix Robotics Academy. The Director of the academy is a close acquaintance of mine who has benefited from my generosity in the past, so he invited me over.
Yes, it’s the same Academy Ava was attending.
I arrived at the academy at around 1pm when I was certain Ava would be in the campus.
After a brief meeting with the Director, he agreed to hold off Ava’s transfer for a little while longer. So, I left his office and heading for her department.
Not too long, I heard some people laughing and making jest of someone in a video they were watching.
I moved closer to see what they were watching, and unfortunately it was a video of Ava with the caption ‘US Best Top hacker, sham or genuine?’.
I could see Ava in the video, disarrayed in an environment with high tech gadgets going haywire.
“I told you all that she only got that title because her brother paid off the judges. She is not as good as everybody thinks she is and here is prove.” a brunette haired girl cited as everyone laughed.
“Well, sooner or later she had to come out of her brother’s shadow and money, and look at the outcome of that” a second girl jarred as everyone laughed again.
Oh poor Ava, does she even know about these? Oh my, could this be the reason why she wants to leave Jeffery and go back to New York?
I walked away from the group and entered a corridor. I took the stairs that led me to a broad hallway. There were students clustered everywhere, making my search for Ava quite harder.
I went back down the way I came from and I was back at the corridor, when I heard female voices coming towards me.
It was those girls from before- the ones with the video and the impolite comments, so I hid behind a pillar.
They were talking about the video and I needed to know more about what was going on, so I listened in on their conversation.
“She’s on the roof top, I hope she tries to hurt herself” the first girl cooed unfeelingly.
That girl deserves a slap from an elder, how dare she say that about someone else.
“C’mon Freya, that’s too much. Maybe we should stop circulating the video already, it’s gone on for far too long. If the Director finds out about this, he won’t take it lightly” the seconds girl stated.
So, they’ve been the ones circulating the embarrassing video of Ava?
“Oh, grow a spine Julie. The Director would never find out, no one ever will. Only the both of us know what really happened that day of the presentation, so if you don’t tell, no one will ever find out what happened. And in just few more days, that Ava girl will finally leave Fen-Robo, which means everyone’s attention would then be on just us. It’s a perfect plan” Freya replied adamantly.
Freya, so it’s you all along? You sabotaged Ava’s project and made a video of her epic fail that somehow you’re circulating around the campus, just because you’re jealous of her?
It really was the perfect plan, if I hadn’t just found out about it.
“C’mon, lets go. Mr Trey’s class will be starting in 15mins.” Julie replied hastily and they ran along.
Ava is a genius. She doesn’t make mistakes when it comes to what she is passionate about- coding and programming. Those girls envy and jealousy was about to taint her reputation, but I won’t let that happen.
I walked back up the staircase and arrived at the hallway again. I began to ask if anyone had seen Ava, but no one knew where she was.
“Hey, excuse me. I’m looking for Ava Jeffery. Have you seen her?” I asked one handsome young guy who appeared cool but in a geeky way.
“Yes… yes I have. Why are you looking for her?” He asked sternly.
What are you, her bodyguard?
“Oh… my name is Heather Winfrey and I’m a friend of her brother. I just need to speak to her briefly, that’s all.” I replied honestly.
His attitude suddenly changed as he heard my name, and suddenly he became formal with me.
“Wow, do forgive me Ms. Winfrey. My name is Austin McGrath, I’ve heard so much about you… You’re actually the main reason I’m here at Fen-Robo, and I would just like to say thank you very much for your generosity.” He stated politely and courteously.
I smiled at his sudden change of attitude and nodded in acceptance. I did say I’m a close acquaintance of the Director here, and Fentrix Academy have benefitted quite a lot from my generosity a few times in the past- but that aside.
“You’re welcome. I still need to see Ava though, it’s quite urgent.” I pressed.
“Of course. I can take you to her, but I doubt she would want to speak to you.” he stated and I understood what he meant.
He led me all the way to the roof top and on our way, I suspected maybe he and Ava might both be good friends.
“Austin? Forgive my intrusion, but are you good friends with Ava?” I asked curiously.
He gave me a weak smile before he replied, “I wish. Ava doesn’t have friends, she prefers being alone. I’ve tried to be friends with her, but she completely shuts me and everyone out. Then came the tragedy that happened last week at the Presentation, it’s all over the school. If only there was a way for me to get my hands on her robotic gadget, I can uncouple its threads and know what really happened for it to go ballistic at the last moment.”
He seems to care a lot about Ava and also wants to help find out what happened that day with her gadget.
“It seems you like Ava, she’s quite lucky” I commented gently.
“It’s me who’s lucky, she’s a brilliant tech genius and I could never catch up to her” he confessed shamelessly.
I like Austin, he reminds me so much of Jeffery with his candidness.
We finally got to the roof top and he led me through the door before he went back down. I scanned the area for Ava and finally got sight of her.
She was relaxed on the rail, looking at the outlines of the campus which was a beautiful site.
“What are you doing here?” She rudely asked without even letting me get close to her.
“I had a meeting with the Director. You on the other hand are quite popular around here.” I said sarcastically.
I know she’s mad at me already so what’s the point in acting nice?
“I don’t feel like speaking to anyone, so please leave.”
“That’s ok. It’s better you don’t talk, but I have a lot to say to you that I didn’t say the last time we met.” I declared plainly.
“I don’t want to listen to anyone either, so get lost.” She countered.
“Does it look like I care about what you want to do or don’t want to do? I came here to say my piece and I’ll say it before I leave.” I stated.
Ava truly is a very stubborn young lady and only an equally stubborn person might be able to get through to her.