YOU, ME, THEM

“Fire! Evacuate the department! There is a fire! Go OUT!”

My eyes could only see the flames. They advanced majestically toward us. As if they were dancing the waltz in the middle of the duke's palace.

When people were screaming and running to save their lives, I couldn't move. I just stood in the middle of the auditorium, looking at the fire burning everything in its path.

The flames were of a colour between red, orange and yellow. A colour, so beautiful that my eyes could no longer detach themselves from them. It was gorgeous, yet too dangerous.

This scene was familiar. Very familiar.

“Ave! Our house is burning!”

“W—what?”

“Ave! Let's go out!”

“Jace, we don't have the keys,”

“B—but we can use the windows, right?”

“No, you know that dad closes everything before he goes out.”

“Ave! What are we going to do?!”

“I— I don't know,”

“Ave, I'm scared!”

“Jace, I'm sure we'll find some— Jace! Jace! Are you okay? Jace, wake up please! Jace. Please stay with me!”

“Avery!”

Where were the flames? I couldn't see them anymore. 

I only saw black.

Avery slowly opened her eyes, and she spotted a dark-haired approaching her face. It took her only a few seconds to realise who it was, and she lazily smiled and touched his soft hair.

“Damian,” she mumbled weakly.

“Ugh, you asshole! You scared the hell out of me!” Damian scolded, “I thought you weren't waking up anymore! You idiot!”

Avery chuckled as she stared at her best friend freaking out in the middle of the hospital room.

“You look funny, Dam.”

“Funny?” Damian frowned, “They called me in the middle of my keyboard skills exam!” he rolled his eyes.

“Who called you?”

“Your friend Emmett. He said that I was the only contact you put as a favourite.” Damian stared sadly at Avery.

“You shouldn't have left your exam, Dam. It's important.” Avery mumbled, without looking at her best friend. She felt bad for always creating problems.

“But I'm your only guardian,” Damian sighed.

“Anyways, it's good that you're still alive.”

“Drive me home, Dam,” Avery said, trying to detach the medical devices from his body.

“Let me call the doctor first.”

The drive was silent, and it was everything but normal. Damian was usually annoyed at Avery because she wouldn't stop talking or singing.

Damian kept staring at her from time to time, expecting her to do something, but she was expressionless. 

He turned on the radio and smiled when he heard one of Avery's favourite songs playing. He squeezed her thigh, signalling her to start singing along, but nothing changed. 

Damian chuckled and sighed heavily, realising that he was the only one singing like an idiot inside of the car. He never did that before. Avery never let him the chance to sing along.

“Avery, are you okay?” Damian asked quietly after he turned off the radio.

Avery slowly shook his head. “Not at all,” he replied calmly.

“What's wrong? You still can't breathe properly? Do you want me to open the windows?”

Avery shook his head.

“Then what's wrong?” Damian asked, focusing on the road.

“I remembered, again,” Avery answered, in a voice almost like a whisper.

Damian felt his heart flinch after hearing the word 'remembered'. He knew what it meant.

“You remembered everything?” he tried his best to stay calm. Damian knew everything about Avery's past. He was aware that she suffered a lot because of her violent father. She had a terrifying childhood and had to deal with mental problems for years.

Damian and Avery have been best friends since high school, and t's been almost six years now.

Damian tried his best not to mention her past anymore. It wasn't easy to deal with Avery as she was sensitive, but he was doing his job perfectly.

“Avery, please, don't think about anything. It's all in the past, okay?”

“The fire,” a tear fell from Avery's eye. “It was too scary.”

“I know, but you're fine now.”

Avery hummed and immediately fell asleep as the medicines were still affecting her.

Damian sighed and stopped the car for a moment and took a light blanket from his car trunk to cover his friend. 

“Hope she'll be alright,” he mumbled as he drove back to the university dorms.

After five long minutes, Avery started panting and sweating on her car seat.

“Avery?” Damian turned his head to check on his friend. “Damn it, you're burning!” he exclaimed before taking the blanket away from her body.

“J—Jace,” he heard Avery mumble. “Jace, stay with me.”

Damian's heart threatened to explode inside his chest.

“Jace,” he sighed. “She remembered her brother again.”

“Hey, Emma.”

“Oh, hey, Damian. Sorry I couldn't go to the hospital today. I couldn't skip work.” Emma, a beautiful dark-haired, smiled sadly.

“It's okay. I was there anyways.”

“Avery, how do you feel?” Emma asked after she hugged her friend. “I was worried about you.”

“I'm okay, Emma. Don't worry.” Avery smiled. “I'm hungry.”

Emma grinned, “You could have said it sooner! I'll make the most delicious dish for my baby right now! Damian, you'll eat with us?”

Damian shook his head, “I'd like to, but I have to send some files before the afternoon.”

“I see,” Emma smiled. “Oh, one moment, please,” she said before running to her room.

“Give this to Elias. Tell him that I liked all the songs.” she blushed, handing him the mp4 player.

“Okay,” Damian smirked as he was sure that his roommate would be too excited to hear this.

“Well, I should go. Bye, Avery.” he smiled to his friend.

“Bye, Dam.”

“I'll come to see you tonight after I finish work.”

“Okay.”

“Emma, please take care of her,” Damian whispered to the tall girl, who chuckled.

“Don't worry about this. I'll treat her like my daughter.”

“You have great potential, Mr Foster.” Damian's boss smiled at him after listening to some of his new mixes. 

Damian was working part-time as a DJ for the university midnight radio show. Studying and working was tiring, but he tried not to complain too much as he was doing what he liked; making music.

He also liked the fact that he was sharing a room with another passionate of music, Elias Baker, who was also a high school friend.

“I'd like you to play these for Saturday's party.”

“Party?” Damian raised an eyebrow.

“The faculty of economics is organising a party next Saturday, and they want you to be the DJ.,” the boss said.

“Oh, I see,” Damian nervously rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't like to be in the presence of a big crowd. He was more like the guy who preferred to stay alone, or only with a few friends. High-quality friends, of course, not hypocrites.

“I'm counting on you, Mr Foster,”

“Alright, sir. I'll be there.”

“Emma liked my songs? All of them?!” Elias was smiling from ear to ear, and Damian nodded with a chuckle.

“Holy shit!” Elias jumped from his bed to the floor, and on his desk.

“Are you that happy?”

“You're kidding?” Elias laughed. “Emma Grant, the most beautiful girl in the university, said that she liked my songs! Of course, I'm fucking happy!” he shouted, hugging his plush.

“Well, if you say so,” Damian rolled his eyes. “Do you want me to tell her something? I'm going to check on Avery.”

“Oh, um, wait. Wait a moment!” Elias jumped from his bed and went looking for a paper and pen. “Um, Dam? Do you have a pink pen?” he asked.

“Seriously?” Damian rolled his eyes. “A pink pen? You must be kidding me.” he scoffed.

“Emma likes pink,” Elias pouted. “I should buy one.”

Damian shook his head. “Wait, I have one,” he remembered Avery left one of her colour pencils in his room. “Here. It's Avery's.”

“Thanks, man,” Elias smiled and started writing something on a post-it. “Give her this.”

“Alright.”

“H—hey, Damian,” Emma looked pale, and a little anxious.

“Whoa, Emma. Are you alright? You don't look well.” Damian asked, looking at Emma's face.

“Well, um, I called you earlier. Didn't you hear your phone?”

“What? Oh, shit, no. I put it in silence when I was at work.” Damian said, checking her last calls. “Something's wrong?”

“Well, Avery was kind of acting weird,” Emma rubbed the back of her neck.

“What do you mean?” Damian frowned, imagining all the possible scenarios.

“After we ate dinner, she took a long nap, and when she woke up, she was acting strange. I swear I didn't understand anything.”

“I see,” Damian bit his lower lip. “Where is she now?”

“Her room.”

“Okay, I'll check on her.” he nodded. Then he remembered Elias' paper and took it out of his pocket, “Here,” he gave her the note, “From Elias.”

Damian walked to Avery's room and took a breath before he called, “Hey Ave—” he stopped right next to the door when he spotted Avery watching Tom & Jerry. “What the hell?” he cleared his throat and approached her. 

 “Avery, do you feel better now?” he asked, watching his friend, who was concentrated as she watched the grey cat chasing after the mouse.

Damian chuckled as she looked adorable with her messy black hair and her red cheeks. “Come on, girl, how can you be watching a cartoon at your age? And Tom & Jerry above all!” he laughed. “You're twenty-two!”

“Uh?” Avery slowly raised her head to look at him. “Twenty-two?” she laughed. “Sir! I'm not twenty-two!”

“S—sir?!” Damian looked at Avery in disbelief. 

“I'm eight years old!”

“What? A—Avery?” Damian's heart started beating fast as he approached her more and kneeled in front of her.

“Avery? I'm not Avery. Who is it, sir?” Avery asked, pouting.

“Uh, who are you?”

“My name is Illy!”