***Bryson's POV***
After making sure that everyone had left, Ray drove us back home. A long edgy silence enveloped the insides of Ray convertible. Tense, I even had second thoughts about deciding against our plan but the curiosity I had somehow halted me from doing so.
We had different plans today and that didn't include attending any of our classes. We had requested our friends to sign on our behalf the attendance forms, which were all bullshit by the way. How could grown students sign such forms?
We had decided that we'd go in our parents room and see whether we'd find anything suspicious, anything to tip us off on their suspicious behaviour.
We wanted to try and uncover what they were hiding. We didn't know exactly what it was, but we knew that something was the matter. We had known them for years to tell when something was wrong.
<***Ava's POV**** I kept on telling the cab driver to speed up down the road well, more like screaming at him. I didn't really know what matter was, but the phone call gave a hint. Ray's tone during that call had an underlying distress, coupled with controlled anger. Bryson didn't sound any different, if anything he was more enraged than his brother. Undeniably, something had clearly upset them, and I knew somehow I was involved. Ray had never raised his voice as he did, hell he had never commanded or ordered me around in that manner. If anything, his grim and serious tone made me want to fly and get at the designated meeting place swiftly. My mind practically was running miles trying to come up with a guess on whatever the two men were on about. My brain overworked with jumbled thoughts, trying to come up at least with a guess about whatever the boys were upto. A lot of whys and whats
*****Ava's POV'Do you think we should have taken her to the hospital Bry? It has been 1 hour and she hasn't woken up. ' My ears could discern his words even though I wasn't fully awake. I could tell that Ray's voice was disturbed, with an underlying benevolent tone. 'Guys. ' My voice was a little bit hoarse and my head hurt a little bit. They were busy worrying and chatting amongst themselves that they hadn't seen me open my eyes. 'Oh my god Ava, you scared us. ' They both kneeled beside the bed, carefully taking my hand into their big ones. Both of them looked quite shaken up. Their dishevelled hair atop their heads suggested that they had combed through it a number of times. Their sombre facial expressions said it all. Ray's mind seemed far off, with a tight smile forcefully forming on his face. He refused to look into my eyes, his eyes wandering around the room. Bryson was genuinely happy but I could see his fingertips tapping on my
***Ava*** I had suddenly become mute, my mind refused to process the possibility of what the brothers were insinuating. My brain paused for a moment after the sudden revelation of Renata's voice surgery. Then it resumed there after, trying to make a connection with my emotions. 'Did she have any medical problems with her voice box? ' Maybe there was a reason behind the surgery. It could be my men were reading so much into it. I refused to comprehend all the allegations about Renata. But what if it was true? Could she really have been that heartless to fake her own death and leave me all alone? 'She was perfectly healthy, Ava. She said she wanted to change it for fun. We didn't read into it until you mentioned that if she were your mum her voice should have been the same. 'Ray insisted, throwing me an apologetic look. I was in denial, with my emotions changing gear every single second. But how could it be possible? mum had given bir
***Ava*** Oh goddess! Those words ignited a fire between my legs. One that was spreading very fast, demanding to be put off at all costs. 'You cannot say such things at a time like this Bry. ' I whispered, my voice heavy with arousal. 'But I just did, I'm only helping you take your mind off..' He snaked his sexy tongue over his lower lip, licking and coating it with saliva sensually. 'Stop repeating what I just said Bry. ' I cut him off, my heart rate spiking up in anticipation for his touch. 'Won't Ray get mad at us? ' I was worried he would think that we had left him out. 'Stop being dense Ava, this is exactly why he volunteered to go, to give us the alone time we need. ' Bry was becoming more and more fun to talk to. 'You talk too much Bry. ' I teased. 'Oh you'd rather I put my mouth into use huh? '
***Ava*** Reality finally sank in. The intensity of the matter left an indescribable heavy feeling in my heart.My shoulders began to weigh on me as the realisation drained through me, travelling through every organ and cell to reach on the ground. The denial my heart clutched on began to ebb away. The truth taking it's place and spreading pain to the entire organ. My mind came up with so many questions and apparently zero answers. I wrapped my arms around myself, whilst shaking my head. Thoughts about the woman I grew up loving turned sour and stale.She had been in my life for as long as I could remember. For 14 years I knew no real friend other than her. For 14 years I called her mum. I loved her for 14 years, I adored her for those years. For 14 years she had been my world, a role model that was nearly perfect and all real before me.
***Ray's POV*** 'What!' My parents both asked at the same time, looking at the three of us dumbly. That is until Ava held out the hyper realistic mask and the photo. I swear mum gasped, her face turning pale as if she had seen a ghost. Dad hang his head in shame running his hands on his hair repeatedly. They both looked at Ava with pleading faces. As if feeling their eyes on her...she looked up at my mum for the first time since she stepped feet in the hotel room. 'Is it true? ' Ava questioned, throwing the two items at my mother, hitting her square on the chest. My mum blundered uncertainly with her words, eyes shifting in all directions. I had never seen my mum shot of words, she always had words to say no matter what. 'It's time Ren, they deserve to know the truth. ' Dad squeezed her shoulders. She put her right hand on top of his, a defeated sigh
***Ray*** 'What the fuck! ' Ava swore, her mouth slowly dropping open. 'Oh fuck! ' Bry followed suit. 'Language kids! ' mum scolded. 'Dad just told us that he's literally Ava's uncle and we can't swear? ' I wondered. I swear I could feel my own heartbeat. My hand spread out like a fan on top of my chest, with my other hand quickly covering my mouth. 'Let them be Ren, they have a right to swear. ' Dad interrupted. 'Oh please. ' Mum scoffed, rolling her eyes. 'First of all, don't roll your eyes mum, you look hideous and secondly, like dad said, I'm shocked so I'm allowed to swear. ' Bry teased. 'So you're literally my uncle? ' Ava suddenly asked, her face void of any emotion. The only thing telling was her puffy eyes from having cried earlier. 'Yes Ava. ' Dad confirmed. 'No wonder you've been treating her like your daughter. ' I finally spoke. 'Makes sense now. ' Bry backed me up.
***Ray*** 'Ava...I uuuh...' Bryson stuttered, taking in a quick momentary breath. The sudden arrival of Ava in the middle of his careless speech threatened to bring him down to his knees. His were raised but not drawn together, raising his upper eye lids in the process. He attempted to speak and explain himself but his mouth kept on opening and closing like a fish deprived of oxygen. He regretted those words the moment he spotted Ava. He fidgeted on his feet, with a scattered gaze that bounced around the hospital room. Served him right, I couldn't understand why he would allow such words to pass through and out of his mouth. Ava stood looking at him in a blank yet intimidating face. My dad stepped besides her, with his shoulders bowed and slightly pulled back. Despite his hands being pocketed, I could almost see them clenched into massive fists inside the fabric.