My Best Side Was Your Worst Invention

"I don't know why you guys won't just hook up already and get it over with."


"We tried that once, kind of got us into this mess to begin with."


I thought back to the night I spent with the thin girl who came to us seeking nothing but hope. I thought about how, in one night of having her actually be herself, I managed to completely ruin any chance she had. Rian and Cassadee's relationship had been put on the rocks over the situation and that was my fault, too.



It didn't make matters any better that everyone was curious, within our small group, about my relationship with Ave. We'd slept together, they all knew that, but that was the extent of their knowledge. Well, other than her being uncomfortable around me lately. My friends could read me well, I knew that. But they couldn't read Avory well and our little hugs and lingering glances had them even more curious than they'd already been. Can't say I blame them, because in reality, even I was curious about it.



To say that I wasn't attracted to her, obviously, would be a lie. To say that didn't love her would also be a lie. But to say that I'm in love with her would be a lie. In some strange way, she was a like a sister and a crush. I couldn't explain it, I just knew my mission in life was to protect to her, to make her feel loved and to desire her when she felt like falling apart. Whatever was going on between us, it didn't matter. Avory wasn't interested in me anymore than she was Jack, but she did need me. I knew that much.



"I'm just saying, if you aren't going to make a move, I just might. Spending all this time with her is kind of fucking with my head."



Though a pang of jealousy hit my heart, I rolled my eyes and collected a two liter from the fridge. My parents would be home soon, so we wanted to kick back and relax before my mom tried to make us too many snacks. Not that we'd argue, but the less my parents knew about our arrangement, the better. If they could answer questions without seeming like they'd been too involved lately, if anything came about, it'd help Ave out a lot.



We made our way into the living room and a small smile formed on my lips. For the time being, Rian and Cass were curled up together on the floor smearing pizza sauce on each other's lips. Kind of gross, but still cute, I guess. Zack was taking up the loveseat while Avory tried to inform him about some of the crap going on with us lately.



I sat the bottle down on the table and Jack tossed the paper cups by Rian's feet. Everyone, except for Avory, moved toward the soda. I took this as my chance to sit down beside her before Jack beat me to it. He'd had her enough lately, it was my turn to comfort her.



"Did you guys pick out a movie?"



"Rian did," she shrugged, averting her gaze. "Some scary movie, we've been waiting for you and Jack."



"Maybe when everyone leaves we could hang out together for a while. I miss you, Ave."



"I think I miss you, too." It was a small, almost painful comment, but it made my smile grow.



Avory doesn't like to admit things and she doesn't like to feel close to people, so just knowing that she wanted to spend at least a little time alone with me.. It made me feel good. Like I was on top of the world for once in my life.



I let my body fall against the couch as Jack passed back a cup for Avory. Rian crawled across the floor and started the movie, while Zack extended his arm to kill the light. We all managed to get comfortable, even Jack who currently had his legs across my own, while Avory had her head resting on my shoulder.



"Everything's going to work out," I whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You know that, don't you?"



"I can't thank you guys enough for what you're doing," she whispered back, keeping her eyes locked on the television, "but I don't believe that everything's going to be fine. For me, it never is."



"You're going to be happy, Ave. When all of this is said and done, I swear it."




She still didn't look at me, but the small smile that appeared on her lips made my heart skip a beat. That's really all I wanted, was some hope for this broken girl. This was, after all, her last chance. If she went down because of me, I don't even know what I'd do.



An hour or so passed with the movie. Cassadee had jumped a few times, and usually when something scared her, it scared Jack, too. Honestly, I was a little happy when the doorbell rang. It gave me a chance to save my manhood before Jack took it out with a girlish jump.



Rian slid from his place on the floor and cut off the movie while Zack got the light. My feet were dragging when I made it to the door, figuring that maybe mom and dad had drank too much and wanted to joke around with us, but when I swung the door open to find a man and a woman in suits, I just about fainted.



"Sorry to bother you, sir, but we're looking for Avory Bowan."



"Who are you?"



The woman sighed, obviously frustrated with me already. "Are your mother and father home?"



"No, they stepped out for a minute. Who are you people?"



"We're with CPS. We got a call that requires us to check in on the child your family is currently fostering. Where is Ms. Bowan?"



"Shouldn't you wait until my parents get home so you can talk to them?"



"The foster child is required to be under the care of an adult at all times. Please, just get Ms. Bowan."



I turned my head slowly, all of the color draining from my face. I didn't have to think too hard to know that this was Lisa's fault, that she was calling CPS today when she saw my short hug with Avory. I would be out for her blood tomorrow, but tonight I had to worry about Ave.



She stood up slowly from the couch and drug her feet to the door. She blinked back tears as her breathing picked up.



"I'm Avory," she whispered, her hair falling in her face. "What did I do?"



"We can't discuss that without your case worker. You're going to have to come with us, though."



"You can't just take her!"



"We can and we are. Tell your parents they can expect a call soon. Good day, Mr. Gaskarth."



My heart shattered. I felt completely hopeless as they pulled Avory from my home. With all of her friends standing behind her, even Avory knew there was nothing we could do. Her chance was blown. She'd be an orphan until she was eighteen, where she'd be tossed out on the street without a second thought.



This was all my fault.

Notes

So I tried to post this yesterday and it just wouldn't work right. Hopefully I don't have any problems with it today. Bleh.
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