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She nods. “Maybe tomorrow we can do something together. Just you and me?”
My smile widens, genuine this time. “I would love that, Ava.”
She exhales with a laugh so pure and so her, and she leans up, presses her lips to mine. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” I shake my head in disbelief. I’ve wanted this moment with her for so long, and I finally have it. “I have your present in my locker.”
“You didn’t need to get me anything.”
“You have to promise not to use it until it’s dark, okay?”
She squeezes my arm. “I promise.”
“Are you two lovebirds done?” Miss Salas calls. “Because I have a class to teach and it’s not about unplanned teen pregnancy.”
“Sorry,” I say, and Ava whispers, “Bitch.”
AVA
I hold Connor’s gift in my hand and glance out the living room window, watching day turn to dusk. “When are you going to open it?” Trevor asks.
“Connor said to wait until it’s dark.”
“If you go to your room and close the blinds, it might be dark enough.”
“It won’t be the same,” I murmur.
Trevor grunts. “It’s giving me damn anxiety; I want to know what it is.”
“Connor six-six, twenty-to-twelve,” Mom mumbles. Her movements are slow when she faces me. “Happy birthday, Ava.”
“Thank you, Mama.”
She’s said happy birthday numerous times since I got home, and I think it’s mainly because I’m still wearing the crown Trevor got me. I haven’t taken it off. Connor’s is the only real gift I’ve gotten, and as silly as it is, I’m excited to open it.
When I left the house this morning, Connor was waiting for me with a bunch of flowers. It was only then that Trevor remembered it was my birthday. He’s been under a lot of pressure lately, so I wasn’t mad about it. “Wait.” I sit taller. “Connor said not to use it until it’s dark; he didn’t say not to open it.”
Trevor’s eyebrows lift, and he shifts forward. “Open it!”
“Yeah, Ava,” Mom says. “Open it!”
I rip off the wrapping paper and then tear into the box. It’s a plastic jar, like the ones processed fruit comes in. It’s painted black, and there’s a small switch on top. There’s tape wrapped around the lid, indicating that it’s not meant to be opened.
“What the hell?” I whisper.
Trevor laughs. “That was so anticlimactic.”
“Damn,” Mom whispers. “No engagement ring.”
“Hey now,” says Trevor. “She just turned eighteen… I need some time before I picture you walking down the aisle.”
“You walking me down the aisle, you mean.”
Trevor’s teeth show when he smiles. “Really?”
I throw the wrapping paper at his head. “Of course, stupid.”
CONNOR
