Execution (Off Balance 2)

She didn't say anything. She just cried silently. Her soft little whimpers severed something inside me, and before I could stop myself, the tears came pouring out.

Avery cried harder at the sound of my despair. We fell into each other and let out our own heartbreak together, both of us going through traumatic events and desperately needing one another.

But I couldn't do it. I couldn't give her what she needed and be there for her. I felt so broken, damaged, both for myself and for my best friend.

"I'm so sorry," she said. "I never meant to hurt you, or lie to you… I didn't expect for any of this to happen," she sobbed. "But I had no choice. I did what I had to do because of your brother and what he did… If you’d let me explain everything, I know you'd understand."

I cleared my throat and shrugged her hold off me. With a haste, I stood and wiped the sand off my butt and the tears from my eyes.

Looking down, I said, "We always have a choice, Avery. After everything we've been through together, the things I've told you…you purposely left me in the dark." I shook my head. "You know what, I have to go."

Between the news about my fake mom and lying best friend, I decided in that moment I was returning to World Cup early. Bad news traveled in threes and there was no way I'd be able to withstand another blow. My world had crumbled in a matter of minutes and I needed to be alone and escape it all.

"Wait," she yelled, reaching for me with massive worry in her eyes. Avery stood. She looked so frail that it concerned me. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask but then something dawned on me.

"Did Xavier tell you what I found out about my mom?" She tilted her head to the side. Her eyes crinkled, and the center of her brows creased. He hadn't told her. "I didn't think so."

"What happened with your mom?"

I looked at the ground and stepped away. "Nothing."

"Aid, tell me, please."

Tell me. An ironic chuckle escaped me. She flinched.

"Bye, Avery."

"Wait. Does…are you ever going to talk to me about this?"

"I don't know."

She paused, her eyes searched the sand as she stammered over her next set of words. "Does…does this mean we’re not friends anymore?" Her chest rose and fell so quickly I knew she was on the brink of hysteria and yet I couldn't find it in me to be gentle with her. I just couldn't.

"We'll always have our friendship, but I don't know if we'll ever be friends again."

She hiccupped and her face fell. "You can't mean that."

I rolled my lip between my teeth and bit down to stop myself from saying something I'd only regret.

"I'll talk to you later, Avery."

Chapter Fifty-Six

"I think you should talk to her, Xavier. She looks really bad," I said stiffly, stuffing my clothes into my bag. Thankfully I hadn't brought too many things home. I wanted to leave as fast as possible.

When he was silent for too long, I looked up and our eyes locked. I let him see the full fury of hurt I felt from the knife they stabbed into my back. He shook his head, the hard stare in his eyes said he was standing his ground. "No. She did it to herself. She brought this upon us."

I scoffed in disbelief. I could hardly look at him, I wasn't sure I even wanted to talk to him.

"Us… I can't believe you two. Honestly, Xavier, I have nothing to say to you right now, that's how angry I am."

"And yet you are because I'm your brother."

Brother. I turned away. The word blurred my vision and my jaw trembled. I inhaled and swallowed back my stupid emotions. "And Avery is like my sister. What's your point?" I hastily grabbed a shirt and slammed it into my bag. "All the lies. So many lies. I'm so sick of being lied to."

"Aid," Xavier said gently as he walked over to me. He placed his hand on my forearm and I quickly yanked it back. We stood next to each other in silence for a long moment. I could tell he was waiting for me to look at him before he spoke, but I didn't. I was so furious with him, I was worried I'd say something I would later regret.

Angling his head down near mine, he asked, "If you're so concerned about her, you talk to her."