Three

• Ava's POV •

We were all set for ditching the party.

Until I realized about a big, major problem.

Ian.

How was I supposed to ditch him too? Especially now that we were having those relationship doubts all of a sudden.

Were

we?

Whatever it was, I needed to let him know how I wouldn't be here at this party. And how he shouldn't come here either. Which was just plain stupid but I needed to tell him something

before leaving.

"Hey." Answered an unfamiliar voice from the other end when I called Ian. Just hearing that voice, answering his

call, made something churn inside my stomach.

Oh

Lord.

"Ian?" I asked in a small confused voice.

I very much knew how that wasn't Ian. I knew how that was a girl's voice answering his phone. Not just any girl. That very much sounded like Charlotte.

You

know

he's

into

that

Charlotte

chick.

"He is busy. Who are you?" She asked.

I furrowed my brows at that. I didn't know whether I felt hurt or not. Not because of Charlotte not recognizing my voice. But because of the mere fact that my boyfriend just let a girl answer his phone.

"Why are you answering his phone?" Surprisingly, my voice sounded calmer than I was expecting.

"He's taking a shower." She made it sound like I should've known. Like it was obvious.

She

was

in

his

room.

My eyes widened in realization before surprisingly, a small laugh of disbelief escaped my lips.

Was

this

really

happening?

"I'll call some other time then." And I ended the call.

I sat down on my bed and looked up at the rectangular mirror right in front of me, along one bare wall of my room. My vibrant red hair, which were almost till my waist, were getting frizzy. My green eyes looking back at me. I most definitely did not look like a girl who just got dumped by her boyfriend.

Did

I

get

dumped?

I did not even know that. But why would Ian cheat on me? Why would he not tell me about this?

It

must

be a misunderstanding.

The sudden ringing of my phone broke me out from my thoughts. I blinked before picking up my phone and looking at Ian's name flashing on my screen.

It flashed thrice before the call ended. Then it started ringing again. This time, however, I picked up.

"Ava!" It was Ian's voice this time. The voice I had grown to be quite comfortable around. He stopped abruptly as if waiting for me to say something.

"Yeah?"

"I..." He sounded worried. And surprised. "You just called, didn't you?"

I frowned again and looked outside the window. The sky had completely gone dark outside, spreading the moonlight over the backyard. "Yes."

"Ava–"

"What? You weren't expecting me to find out that Charlotte's in your room?" I sounded strange. I felt hurt. "You know what? I wasn't expecting that either."

He was silent for a short while.

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you even apologizing?" I found myself asking.

There wasn't anything to apologize for. Everything was fine, wasn't it?

But then again, Ian rarely apologized. Because he was one of those perfect guys. Perfect life. Perfect grades. Perfect reputation. He was perfect. And my boyfriend.

"I-I would've told you earlier." He replied, his voice lowering down a bit.

"About Charlotte?"

"Yes."

Earlier.

That means it had been a while between both of them. I controlled the sudden urge to laugh out loud. What was exactly happening?

"Why would you cheat on me?" I asked instead. "What's so good about Charlotte and not me?"

I needed to know that. What was exactly wrong with me? Mom had always made me believe that I was perfect. Wasn't I?

"You're perfect Ava." He said in a small, concerned voice. "Nothing's wrong with you."

I felt a stinging sensation at the corner of my eyes.

"You're perfect. And beautiful. And everything's always right with you." He added. "But sometimes, that's not what...others want."

Now, that

did hurt.

"So you're breaking up with me because I wasn't enough for you?" I was surprised by the normal level of my voice. I sure as hell did not feel normal right now.

Zoe

was

right.

He was silent for a while. Before blowing out a sigh. A small sigh that meant so much.

"No. This isn't because you weren't enough for me. You were more than enough." He said. "Too much."

That's how I got dumped by my high school boyfriend.

ו•——————••×

"Hey, you ready?" I looked up at my room's door when Will barged in again. I could clearly make out the noises from downstairs.

Of the guests. And the party.

Elliot

and

Zoe

would

be

here

soon.

"Mom would be calling you downstairs any moment." He added.

I placed my face back in my pillow, wanting to just disappear right now. Just for a little while. Somewhere where I could be alone. From the people, from my parents. From everyone.

"Why aren't you moving, Ava?" He asked. More urgently this time.

I realized how I hadn't even changed into one of the dresses mom had urged me to change into tonight. I was still in my tank top and pajamas.

"Ian just dumped me, Will." I mumbled against the pillow.

He was silent for a while. I turned my head and peeked at him to see him scrunching up his nose.

"What's up with that guy?"

I

was

too

much

for

him. Too

perfect.

Mom always said how being perfect made others appreciate you. Nothing could go wrong if you were perfect. No flaws. No frowns.

Yet

I

didn't

even

know

how

to have proper

relationships.

"He says I'm too perfect for him." I ignored his question and sat up. "Am I?"

"You can't possibly believe him." He interrupted before closing the door behind him. He had changed into jeans and a light blue T-shirt. A color that went along with his eyes.

"To everyone else, I look like the perfect girl. Rich parents. Perfect grades. Perfect looks." I said. "I'm not, Will. Nobody sees that."

He sat down beside me, blowing out a sigh.

"I mean, if we actually count this, it's like the sixty-ninth time I'm reassuring you on this matter." He said.

Which was true. I never talked about me being imperfect. My family never took imperfections in a good way. You

are

supposed

to

be

perfect. That's what mom said all the time.

Will was the only person who I could talk to. He understood me. Maybe because he knew about this pressure. The burden on my shoulders.

"It only works for a while." I whispered. "The doubts come back again, Will."

It felt surprising how Will was the younger one here. In reality, he was way more mature than me.

"Look, Ava. You're cool. Ian's not. He might've just dumped you because of mom. I mean, I'd dump my girlfriend too if her mom was like ours." He said.

I gave him a small smile at that.

"Maybe." I added with a sigh. "It just hurts that I didn't see this coming."

He wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "You deserve better, A." He added. "Now come on, before mom finds out about our secret plan."

ו•——————••×

Our plan went successful. Not surprisingly, when I had went downstairs, –dressed up in a dark green hoodie and some black jeans– the house was already packed up with guests. Faces I've never even seen before.

Thankfully, everyone was busy talking and enjoying the refreshments to even notice me. Or stop me. When I saw Will waving at me from the back door, I had gladly exited from there.

I had decided to text Elliot later how I wouldn't be at the party. Later because I really didn't want to face their questions. I didn't want to face Zoe.

They'd

just

be

sympathetic

about

this

whole

break

up.

And I didn't want that.

When we both were safely in the car, Will had driven out of the driveway just as quick. To grandma's.

Grandma's house wasn't that faraway from ours. Although, our house was situated along the well built part of our town. Surrounded by thick luscious trees at all corners, something that I was grateful for.

It was a typical night in Portland as Will drove along the downtown, passing by the busy streets.

"You think this was the right decision?" Will asked as he stopped the car in grandma's familiar compact driveway.

I looked at him with an unbelievable frown. "Are you serious?"

I

was

frowning

a

lot

today.

He just grinned in response.

Grandma's house was very much different from ours. Our house was big. And wide. With the glass interior and Victorian styled furniture, it looked more like a mansion. Grandma's house was small, cozy and warm. Everything I loved in a house. Even from the outside, I could smell the familiar scent of lavenders. Grandma loved two things the most. Her antique collection. And flowers.

Just like me.

When I rang the bell, it took seconds before she opened the door. I looked up at her, her expression impassive at first. Once she realized how it was us standing in front of her, a warm smile overtook her lips.

"Grandma!" Will shouted excitedly before running inside the house.

Her brown eyes followed him inside before looking back at me. "Was he excited to meet me or the house?"

I laughed and went in for a hug, her lavender scent filling my nostrils.

"Oh grandma. I'm so glad to ditch that party." I told her as she closed the door behind us.

It wasn't odd seeing her not getting invited in the family parties. Ever since my childhood, I had seen mom trying to talk her out of this craziness. But grandma herself did not like getting involved in such things. And so, mom stopped inviting her.

"I used to be like that when I was in high school." She said as we entered the lounge. A small fire was lit around the black fireplace, spreading a warm glow across the lounge.

Once again, I could not overcome the surprise when I saw the numerous antique things on the shelves surrounding the house. It never failed to amuse me. Every time.

"I hope your mother won't be too crossed." She added with a hint of tease in her voice. My eyes wandered across the shelves towards her, noticing how she had a dark red shawl draped around her shoulders.

She and I both knew how mom would be way beyond crossed once she finds out about Will and I, ditching the party.

But for once, I was fine with it.

"Anything new you came across?" I asked before sitting down on the light brown couch.

Like I mentioned, grandma loved collecting antique things. Crystals and gems. Ancient runes. Myths and legends. Her house looked more like a witchcraft store than a normal house.

"Sadly, I didn't." She said with a long sigh. I couldnt help but notice how her light brown hair were getting white around the edges.

"Really? What's that then?" I asked before walking over towards one of her glass shelves. Something inside it had caught my eye the moment I had entered the lounge. But I hadn't felt the need to go over towards it until now.

I looked over at the dark black velvet cloth. On it was an unevenly shaped gemstone. Smaller than my fist. It was charcoal black around the corners with grey swirls in the middle. Almost like an eye.

Before my hovering fingertips could've touched it, I heard her voice, "Don't touch it."

Surprisingly, I pulled back and looked at her in confusion. "Why not?"

She furrowed her brows and shook her head. "It's a rare gem. You just don't go around touching objects you know nothing about."

I rolled my eyes at that.

"You're telling me that this–" I pointed my finger at the black stone. "–is a witchy stone. And if I touch it, I'll get cursed?"

"I can assure you that I did not use such words." She said with a hint of a smile.

I just rolled my eyes again. Something about grandma believing in such stuff didn't settle well with me.

"How can this little thing harm anyone, grandma?"

She gave one of her knowing smiles. "It can. It very much can."

I looked back at the gemstone. Surprisingly, those grey patterns had disappeared. It was all black now. Jet black.

"It's from the Underworld."