Any issue so far? ” Jack asked, breaking into her thoughts.
Ava was brought out of her reverie and she shook her head ” Nothing, everything is cool ”
Jack nodded slowly ” Do you need anything? ”
Again, she shook her head ” Not at all, I’m okay ” She ended her answer with a little smile.
” Let me know when something comes up, okay? Here is my number ” He made to give her his phone number but Ava shook her head.
” My phone isn’t in a good working condition at the moment, I’m planning to get a new one in the nearest future, probably a month from now ”
Jack’s eyes widened a little ” Oh! ” Then he frowned ” Did you just say next month? Don’t you have any use for it at all? You should get it now ”
Ava smiled wistfully ” I wish I could ” and she went quiet.
Jack’s frown deepened ” What’s stopping you from getting a new one now? ”
” Money ” She blurted out, not ashamed of speaking about her financial problems.
Jack nodded slowly, absorbing the information ” Oh ”
Ava shrugged in a nonchalant way ” Yup ” She replied, popping the ‘p’
” You should have informed me about it then, you need to have a cell phone ” Jack said, eyeing her.
Ava smiled sheepishly ” I don’t wanna bother you with my problems, it’s my problem to sort out, not yours ”
Jack exhaled a deep breath ” Ava, it’s not your problem anymore, it stopped being your problem alone the day you stepped into this house and signed a contract ”
Ava shook her head ” It’s my problem to deal with, Jack and I’m gonna do just that ”
Jack copied her action and replied firmly ” No Ava, it’s not just your problem, it became our problem the day you became part of this family ” He brought out his phone and typed something on it.
Margaret came in that moment and turned to Ava ” Some people are outside looking for you ”
Ava became so tensed that Jack noticed. He frowned, wondering why she was like that when she was perfectly okay before Margaret came in.
” Did they tell you who they are ? ” He asked calmly.
Margaret nodded ” Yeah, they said they’re Ava’s family ” She said.
Ava turned white and she froze the minute she heard the word ‘family’. The monsters were back, they were back to take her, she thought and panicked. Her breathing came in rapid motions now, and she clenched her hands in fists by her sides. She gripped the hem of her cloth tightly.
Jack and Margaret exchanged a look, wondering what was up with her. Margaret took frantic steps to her and held Ava’s hands in hers, looking alarmed. Jack sat up too, looking at Ava intently.
” Ava! What’s wrong?! Are you okay?! ” Margaret shouted, shaking her slightly.
Ava shook her head, her eyes staring blankly into space.
Margaret shook her again, harder this time ” Ava! Come on, snap out of it! ” She shouted again, all to no avail.
” Come, come sit! ” She said and led her over to a seat. She looked over to Jack for help but he shook his head sadly, he had no idea how to handle girls being that way.
Margaret sighed, resigned to her fate of bringing Ava back to her senses. She got up and dashed into the kitchen. She emerged a few seconds later, holding a glass of water in her hand.
She handed it to Ava who collected it with shaking hands. She took a sip and closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath in a bid to calm her racing heart.
” Are you okay now? ” Margaret asked anxiously.
Ava nodded and swept her hands through her hair.
” Are you sure? ” Margaret repeated, searching her face for answers.
Ava nodded again, this time she managed to give her a little smile.
Margaret heaved a sigh of relief and relaxed visibly.
Jack came over to them ” Are you okay? Or do we need to take you to the hospital? ” He directed his gaze at Ava.
Ava smiled at him too, but he could see the smile didn’t quite reached her eyes ” No I’m fine, guys, thank you ” She said quietly.
Jack looked doubtful ” You don’t need to go to a hospital? ”
Ava shook her head ” No I’m fine really ”
” So what’s wrong? What happened? ” Margaret asked, looking curious.
” Something went wrong and you changed the minute you heard your family is here looking for you, what happened? ” Jack piped in, observing her closely.
” Nothing much, I was just taken aback by the news, I wasn’t expecting them to find me so fast ” Ava explained calmly, shrugging her small shoulders.
” Oh, Is that it? ” Margaret asked.
Ava nodded.
” You should have told us then, instead of you zoning out like that ” Margaret scolded softly.
” Don’t you want to see them? I can tell them to go away, that you’re busy or something. How about that? ” Jack offered, feeling pity for the once lively girl who had withdraw into her shell so fast that he couldn’t believe she was the boisterous young woman he had employed.
Ava shook her head ” I’ll go meet them ” she exhaled a deep breath, in preparation of what was to happen when she finally meet them.
There was no doubt that they came stir up some trouble, but Ava had to meet them now or never. She had to muster up some courage and shook herself free from their tight grip on her. They thought they still had control over her life and could step on her however they liked. She was going to prove them wrong today.
She got up ” I’ll go meet with them and see what they want ” She repeated, trying to convince herself she was doing the right thing.