r the events of last night and not after the mayhem at the birthday party of the Bella. Each step towa

s rubbing her eyes and looking tired. "Ava? What'

h me," Ava said with her hands trembling a

ll come. I have only just woken up,

ving room and nodded

that occurred, Mark cheating on her, the way she reacted at the birthday party, and the one-night stand with Marcus. She

m, dressed and looking fresher. Ava rose and wa

ing. "Mark cheated on me with Bella. I ended things with him. I attended the birthday pa

The next time I run into that fu

concerning Marcus. It was her secret, that part of last

ighter Ava felt her chest getting. As they arrived, she looked through the front door and saw the

She had to act normal. S

arcus and Elena are not divorcing anymore!" she excl

osed her lips and tried to smile. Great,

walked behind her mother and Marcus into the living room with her mind whirling. She exp

y moved when she had to. She assisted where she could and she avoided eye contact with Marcus because, she was well aware that any kind of interaction would attract attention. She felt a

next to Riley who gave her a comforting nod. Marcus was sitting across, detached but alert. There was a heavy atmosp

huge relief that Marcus and Elena have chosen to get things str

she had emotions that no one could know. But she made no reply, and had to lower her eyes to her plate. As she watched

. She was holding her fork tre

away and concentrated on her plate. She did not want him to observe how ambivalent she was.

mall domestic schemes. Ava quietly listened and nodded ever so often. She was aware that Riley was looking at her, though no

as she ate. She did not understand how they could behave so normally

ing to calm down. She was not sure if she would be able to remain in her room permanently, yet s

her back to it and drew a breath. Her heart was sore, and her stomach was clenched with anxiety. She

ed to act like nothing had occurred. But the fear lingered. And how much time would sh