Chapter 5: The party.

The voice startled her so badly she almost jumped out of her skin. "Brother Lucas! Hi. I- I was just over at Helen's."

" Who was that guy that dropped you off at home. I'm not comfortable with you being driven home by a man. You're still a child, and it's important that I know who you're with. Also, it is very late , what if something had happened to you? I was worried sick. Lucas thundered.

"Thank you for caring, but I'm growing up and learning to be independent". I'm fine, really." Ava said with tears in her eyes. Besides, you have someone else in your life that you should be giving all the care to now. Please don't bother about me anymore." She turned and walked quickly to her room, the door banging shut with a loud thud.

*****

On the morrow, her alarm jolted her awake. Remembering her new job, she leapt out of bed and rushed to the shower.

Having dressed quickly, she made her way out of the house in a hurry, but when she was just about to reach the sitting room, the rain started pouring down heavily. "No! No! not me! How will I reach the restaurant now?"

She quickly grabbed an umbrella and was just about to leave when Lucas walked up to her, holding an umbrella.

"Where are you going?"

She turned away, reluctant to answer.

"It's raining heavily, and there are no taxis running now." Lucas commented further.

Just then, Sophia entered, dressed as always to attract attention.

"Hi, sweetie, how are you doing? Wow! You look so great in that dress." She offered a sheepish smile, one that didn't seem genuine.

"Anyway, I didn't properly introduce myself the other day. I'm Sophia Lopez." She said, extending her hand.

Ava reluctantly shook her hand.

Sophia quickly stepped closer to Lucas, holding his arm possessively. "Actually, Lucas and I are going on a date, so we can give you a ride."

"No, it's okay, you guys can carry on,. I'll be fine."

Ava turned to get away from the suffocating scene, just then, she slipped and almost fell. But Lucas caught her just in time.

"Be careful," he said softly, looking at her intently. They stared at each other for a moment.

"Now I'm not going to listen to what you say," Lucas insisted, ignoring her refusal. "Come with us." He took her arm, opened the car door, and helped her into the front seat.

"Let's go, Sophia," he called out to her.

"Of course." Lucas and Sophia both sat at the back seat.

"Driver, let's go". Lucas ordered.

As they drove, Sophia struggled to put on her earrings, which had come loose. The car was shaking, making it difficult.

"Ugh, this car is so bumpy!" Sophia exclaimed. "Lucas, could you please help me with these?"

Ava was frustrated, visions of Lucas dressing her up for different parties, flickered through her mind, along with the memories they had made.

"Okay", he said, looking in Ava's direction

"I was once your priority, but now, I'm clearly not." She thought, with the truth stinging her face, her face reflecting the pain.

Sophia glanced at Ava's reflection in the rearview mirror, a sinister expression twisting her features.

"Stop here!" She exclaimed and the car screeched to a halt.She immediately got out.

"This isn't college." Lucas observed.

"Yeah, actually I have some work to do before going to class." She replied, her gaze drifting away.

"What work?" He asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Come on Lucas, she's not a kid anymore and I'm sure she can handle herself." Sophia stated, irritated with the scene before her.

"Okay, I'll pick you up for a party later. Take care of yourself." Lucas said.

"I will." She responded.

"After they left, she boarded a taxi and headed straight to the restaurant.

A few hours later, Lucas called her up.

"Hey, Ava, where are you?"

"I'm already home."

"Home? But why did you go home? I'm actually at your college waiting for you," Lucas inquired, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Yeah, well, I needed to freshen up and change into something comfortable," Ava explained.

"Okay, I get it. I'll be home soon."

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang at the Antonio residence, and it was Lucas.

"Yes, I'm coming!" she called out, flinging the door open.

Lucas was left speechless. Ava, dressed in a beautiful black dress, stood before him. His eyes were glued to her.

"You look stunning!" Lucas said, his gaze lingering on the gentle curve of her breasts beneath the fitted dress.

"Ava, come on, we'll be late!" Sophia yelled from the car outside.

"Yeah, let's go, Ava," Lucas agreed, finally tearing his eyes away."

On arrival, it was a pool party. The pool, a massive heart-shaped expanse of crystal-clear water, shimmered under the afternoon sun. Fancy cars lined the drive, gleaming like jewels. The crowd was select and not large, it was clear they were of a certain caliber.

Some guests were already in the water, laughing and splashing.

"Mr. Antonio, welcome!" A man in his late sixties, his smile warm, extended a hand.

"Hey, the party's fantastic, and you haven't aged a day!" Mr. Antonio clasped the offered hand, a genuine chuckle rumbling in his chest.

"Daddy, is it all about Lucas? You didn't even notice your daughter." Sophia commented.

"Oh my! How could I miss my precious gem?" The older man rushed forward, enveloping Sophia in a hug. "Impossible!"

"Oh, I love you, Daddy." Sophia squeezed him tight.

Turning to Ava, who was standing, confused about what was happening, he asked, "And who is this princess?""

"Oh, Daddy, that's Ava, Lucas's sister," Sophia chirped.

Ava offered a hesitant smile.

"I can't believe I was brought to the house of the person who stole my color from me. And they did it without my permission, she thought, a flicker of resentment in her eyes.

"Hey, Ava, you look amazing," Mr. Lopez said warmly.

"Thank you," Ava replied, her voice measured.

"Come on, Lucas, I want to show you around," Sophia announced, grabbing Lucas's hand and pulling him away, leaving Ava standing there.

"If I had known I was coming here, I couldn't have agreed to come!" Ava muttered.

Sounds of chatter, glasses clinking, a jazz band playing softly. Mateo, who spotted Ava from the cocktail table approached her beaming.

"Ava! What a surprise! Here, I snagged you a little something." He holds out a shot glass filled with amber liquid. Ava recoils slightly.

"Whoa, easy there. I'm off the sauce." She gestures with her hands, indicating "no more."

Mateo shrugs, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face.

Across the room, Lucas watches Ava with a dark intensity. He signals to a passing waiter.

"Another scotch, neat." His voice low and rough.

The waiter nods and hurries off.

Sophia lays a hand gently on Lucas's arm as he reaches for his fresh drink.

"Lucas, maybe you should slow down a little."

Lucas shrugs her hand off his arm as if it were a fly. His eyes remain fixed on Ava.

"Mind your own business, Sophia." He downs the scotch in one gulp.

Sophia glanced at Ava, a flicker of annoyance in her eyes.

"I'm going to teach you a lesson, mark my words," she thought, her jaw tightening.

Meanwhile, Ava and Mateo chatted away, oblivious to the tension simmering across the room.

"What are you doing here?" Ava asked.

"Oh, this is my uncle's party. I figured he invited Lucas, right?"

"Yes, so Sophia is your cousin?" Ava inquired.

"Yes, she is. How do you know her so well?" Mateo asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Yes, she is brother Lucas's girlfriend," Ava admitted grudgingly.

"Oh wow! Awesome, so that means we are family," Mateo exclaimed, beaming.

It was starting to get pretty dark and it was also getting very cold.

"Sheesh! This cold is something else," Ava said, rubbing her palms together to keep warm.

Just then, "Yeah, this cold is on a whole new level," Mateo said while pulling his jacket tighter around himself. He then took it off and put it around Ava's shoulders.

"Thanks," Ava smiled.

Lucas, who was sick of seeing Mateo and Ava together, stood up and went over to them in his drunken state.

"Let's go, Ava," he said, grabbing her hand.

"Hey Lucas, nice to finally meet you again," Mateo said, extending his hand.

Lucas ignored him and pulled Ava away, but Mateo held onto Ava's hand, preventing her from leaving. "Go ahead, I'll drop her at home," Mateo said.

"Let go of her hand," Lucas said angrily.

"I won't," Mateo rebelled. "What is your problem anyway? She's not your girl nor your wife, so why are you acting so possessive over her?" Mateo fired back.

"Mateo, let go of me!" Ava requested, her voice strained.

"No, I won't," Mateo insisted, his voice rising. "I want to finally know what his problem is. He's the reason why you didn't accept my proposal to be friends back in high school." He shouted the last part, drawing a crowd.

Lucas's jaw tightened. "I said let go!" He punctuated his words with a hard punch to Mateo's face.

Mateo staggered back, then retaliated with a punch of his own. The fight was on. Lucas, fueled by anger, threw another punch, connecting with Mateo's jaw.

"Stop it, you two!" Ava yelled, her hands outstretched, trying to wedge herself between them. Lucas shoved Ava aside, not looking at her.

"Step aside, Ava!" he snarled, his eyes still locked on his opponent.

Ava stumbled back, unbalanced. She hadn't expected the force. Her foot caught the edge of the pool and she fell backward, her arms flailing.

Splash! Ava hit the water. She surfaced, sputtering, eyes wide with panic. She can't swim.)

"Help me!" she choked out, going under again.

Lucas's anger vanishes. He stares at the churning water, realization dawning on his face.

"Ava!" he shouted, his voice cracking with fear.