Chapter 111 Aria
Avery smiled at me like she hadn’t just ruined everything.
That was the moment I knew I wasn’t imagining it anymore. She leaned casually against the lockers, twirling a strand of her hair like she was bored and this was just another normal school day. A couple of her friends hovered nearby, pretending not to watch but definitely listening.
“Aria,” Nora hissed beside me, grabbing my wrist for half a second. “Don’t.”
I stopped right in front of Avery. She didn’t look guilty. If anything, her smile widened, like she’d been waiting for this exact moment.
“Wow,” she said lightly. “You look annoyed.”
I didn’t bother returning the fake politeness. “What’s your problem?”
Her brows lifted. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” I said. “You’ve been stirring many things up. I want to know why.”
A small laugh slipped out of her. “You really think everything is about you, don’t you?”
“Funny,” I shot back. “Because somehow everything keeps circling back to me.”
Her friends shifted slightly and I could feel eyes on my back now. People were slowing down and watching us.
Of course they were. High school loved a show.
“I haven’t said anything that wasn’t already out there,” Avery said with a shrug. “If people are talking, maybe it’s because there’s something worth talking about.”
Nora stepped up beside me then. “Or maybe it’s because someone keeps feeding them half-truths.”
Avery’s gaze flicked to her. “Nora, right?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know who I am,” Nora said flatly.
Avery smiled again. “Relax, bitch. I’m just trying to keep track of all the players.”
“This isn’t a game,” I said.
“Everything’s a game,” Avery replied easily. “You just don’t realize it yet.”
“You’ve been following me,” I said suddenly.
“That’s a pretty serious accusation,” she said.
“Answer it.”
She tilted her head slightly. “Why? So you can feel important?”
Nora let out a quiet breath beside me. I could tell she was trying to hold back and trying not to escalate this further but I was done holding back.
“You were outside my house,” I said. “Two nights ago.”
That got a reaction.
Avery straightened slightly, her eyes narrowing. “Careful,” she said softly. “You don’t want to start throwing around things you can’t prove.”
“I don’t need proof,” I said. “I saw you.”
“And what exactly do you think I was doing?” she asked, incredulous.
“Spying on me.”
A quiet ripple moved through the small crowd that had gathered. Avery laughed again, louder this time, like the idea was ridiculous. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Am I?” I stepped closer. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re a little too interested in things that don’t concern you.”
“Maybe they do concern me,” she said, her tone losing that playful edge.
My pulse kicked up. “Why?”
“You’ve been asking the wrong questions,” Avery said finally.
“Then give me the right ones.”
Her lips curved again, but there was something colder behind it now. “You really want to know what’s going on, Aria?”
“Yes.”
“Then stop pretending you’re just some innocent bystander in all of this.”
“I never said I was,” I snapped.
“No,” she agreed softly. “But you act like everything is happening to you. Like you’re not part of the reason things are getting worse.”
Nora stiffened beside me. “That’s not fair.”
“Isn’t it?” Avery shot back. “Or are we all just going to ignore the fact that every problem in this town somehow leads back to her?”
“That’s not—” Nora started.
“It’s true,” Avery cut in.
Avery held my gaze, unblinking. “I mean you’re at the center of something you don’t understand. And instead of stepping back, you keep pushing further in.”
“Because people like you keep pulling me in,” I fired back.
She smiled again. “Maybe.”
I took another step forward. “If you know something, just say it.”
“And if I don’t?” she challenged.
“Then stop acting like you do.”
“You don’t get it,” she said quietly.
“Then make me get it.”
A long pause stretched between us.bThen Avery leaned close enough that I could hear her without anyone else catching it.
“You should be careful who you trust,” she murmured.
My stomach dropped. “I don’t trust you.”
“Good,” she said. “You shouldn’t.”
She straightened again, louder now, like nothing had just happened. “But maybe you should start questioning the people you do trust.”
My mind flashed instantly to Sienna.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I demanded.
Avery just shrugged. “Figure it out.”
Rage flared in my chest. “You don’t get to drop hints and walk away.”
“Watch me.”
She turned like she was done and this entire confrontation had been nothing more than a distraction for her. I grabbed her arm and she froze.
The hallway went completely silent.
“Don’t,” Nora warned under her breath.
Avery looked down at my hand on her arm. “You really want to do this?” she asked quietly.
“Yes,” I said, not letting go.
“You think I’m the problem,” she whispered. “But I’m not the one bringing them here.”
My heart skipped. “Them?”
Her lips curved. “You’ll see.”
Before I could react, she twisted her arm free and stepped back creating distance between us. The noise of the hallway rushed back all at once. People started talking again louder now.
Avery adjusted her sleeve like nothing had happened. “This was fun,” she said lightly. “We should do it again sometime.”
I stared at her. “What did you mean?”
She didn’t answer and I stood there, frozen, trying to piece together what she’d just said.
Nora grabbed my arm, pulling my attention back. “Aria.”
“What?” I asked, still staring after Avery.
“We have a problem.”
“What?” I repeated.
Nora glanced toward the far end of the hallway.
“Don’t turn around too fast,” she said quietly.
I forced myself to move slowly, casually, like nothing was wrong then I looked. Three people stood near the exit doors. I didn’t recognize them. That wasn’t unusual but what was unusual was the way they were standing.
“Nora,” I said under my breath.
“I see them,” she replied.
“Do you know who they are?”
“No.”
Avery’s words echoed in my head. I’m not the one bringing them here.
A chill ran down my spine. One of the strangers shifted slightly, I caught a glimpse of something under his sleeve.
“They’re not students,” Nora whispered.
I already knew that and as one of them met my gaze directly, something cold settled deep in my chest because he didn’t look surprised that I’d noticed him. He looked like he’d been waiting for it.