Chicken

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?”Steve asked Ava as they drove home from Derek’s place.

“No, it actually wasn’t. Derek seems to have changed a lot. He even gave us his blessing, so to speak, although he did threaten to tan your hide if you were to hurt me.” Ava said, laughing a little, but Steve did not seem to find it as funny as she did.

“Yeah, he’s one to talk … as though he isn't the chief culprit when it comes to doing that.”

“Hey, calm down. It was only a joke.”

“I know, I know. It’s just that seeing him and Damien acting all loved up, while they treat me like an outcast or some sort of leper kind of hurts. Damien didn’t even act like he knew that my brother died. That sort of behavior sucks coming from someone who was once a very close friend.”

“Oh, so you knew Damien too? You’re literally a mystery to me, or rather, your history with Derek is a mystery to me.”

“Yeah, I used to know Damien as well. Derek, Damien and I used to be pretty close back then in college. Derek and I were r