Smiles Can Deceive



Nick held Ava’s hand tightly as he escorted her up the stairs. He had enjoyed their evening together, and he was sincerely hoping for an extension of their good time.

As they reached the top of the stairwell, Nick began to lead Ava toward his room. She stopped and the second he felt resistance, he turned back toward her.

“What’s wrong, babe?” He asked, a concerned look on his face.

“Nothing’s really wrong. I just don’t want to spoil this.” Nick let go of her hand and a confused yet disdainful look came upon his face.

“Spoil this? How would us spending a romantic night together, all night, spoil something?” He came closer to her and slipped one arm around her waist. “It’s not like we haven’t done it before.” He added. Ava still felt as though sleeping together would ruin things. A sheepish smile formed on her lips, and she looked away.

“I know we’ve done it before. The first time was a mistake. And the last time was because we were scared we’d never see each other again, and it was a moment of passion. But we have time now. We don’t have to rush things. I enjoy my time here with you, Nick. But I don’t want to sleep with you tonight. Let’s just leave it like this. A perfect, innocent dinner date. And who knows, maybe tomorrow things could be different.” She kissed him gently, wiped her lip gloss away from his lips, then she turned and went to her room, all the way down the hall. As she shut the door, Nick stood in the hallway puzzled and disappointed.

“I heard everything, dude.” AJ said as he slowly climbed the stairs.

“Yeah, go on, make fun.” Nick replied. Yet AJ raised his hands in a surrendering motion.

“No, no jokes. Not this time. But hey, don’t take it personally. She’s pregnant. She’s going through changes. One day she’s gonna be as frisky as a cheetah in mating season. The next day, she’ll be cold and shrewd as ever. You just have to take it one day at a time. Respect her moods now. And she does get into her frisky stage, she’ll look back on how good you’ve been to her… and how sensitive you’ve been… and trust me, you’ll get some.” AJ slapped Nick on the back, then went on to another guestroom to go to sleep. Nick just smiled, scoffed, and retreated to his room as well.

~*~*~*~*~*~


It was around noon when the phone rang. Ava was sitting by the pool with Brian as it rang, and she reached over to answer it.

“Hello?”

“Ava, hey. It’s Jason.”

“Oh---- Jason, hi. How are you?” She replied, quite surprised he was stilling calling the house.

“I’m doing alright. But I called to ask if you were still up to going out. I mean, I am if you are. Are you?” Ava sat up straight and tried to think of some excuse. But she came up with nothing, so she simply complied.

“Ok, sure. I’m up for going out again.”

“Great, great. Are you free tonight?” Jason went on to ask. Ava figured that if she had to go out with him again, she might as well do it tonight. There was no better time that the present.

“Yes, I am very free tonight.” She answered.

“Ok then, I’ll pick you up around 6:30. We’ll have some fun, like we used to. Sound good to you?” Ava’s face turned beat red, and her expression, sour.

“Sounds fantastic. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Cool, later.” Jason hung up the phone, and as he did so, Heather rubbed his back and smiled.

Back at Nick’s house, Ava was trying to figure out how she was going to break it to Jason that she wasn’t interested, nor would she ever be again.

She looked over at Brian with worry-filled eyes.

“When is Nick coming back home, do you remember?” Brian scrunched his face up, trying to remember what Nick and AJ said before they left, then he looked down at his wristwatch.

“I think they mentioned something about being back around 8.” Ava nodded and got up from her seat. Brian looked up at her strangely and pulled her toward him by her arm before she could go into the house.

“Why? What’s going on? Who was that on the phone?” Ava sighed heavily and rolled her eyes.

“It was Jason, an old boyfriend of mine I’m trying desperately to forget about. He started saying stuff about wanting to get back together again. But this was after Nick and I, you know. And this was after I moved in. We’re going out tonight. And I don’t know how I’m going to tell him that I can’t see him anymore. More than that, we can’t even hang out, cause I don’t want him knowing about the baby.” She explained.

“Well… tonight, just tell him that you’re seeing someone else, you’re very sorry, and you wish him the best. Don’t draw things out. Don’t stay too long. Just say what you have to say and go.” Ava thought about Brian’s simple solution, then a thought hit her and a sour look came upon her face.

“I can’t just go. He’s picking me up. What am I supposed to do? Walk home?” Brian stood up and reached into his pocket.

“Nope, you don’t have to walk. I’ll follow you guys. And when you’re ready to leave, you come outside, and I’ll take bring you back here. No problem.” Ava thanked him with a smile. “Now go get dressed, girl. You have some breaking up to do.”

~*~*~*~*~*~


Seven o’clock rolled around and Ava was outside waiting for Jason. He got out of his car and took her hand, leading her toward the passenger side.

“Why were you standing outside waiting like that? I could have come up to ring the bell.” Jason said.

“Well, I already locked up, and it’s so nice outside. So, I figured, what the hell. Why not?” Jason just shrugged it off and opened the door. Once Ava was seated, he closed the door and went around to the driver’s side. Brian, waiting in Nick’s driveway, in Nick’s truck, watched as the two pulled off. Then he backed out and followed them. Not too close, but just enough so that they remained within his eyesight.

Jason took Ava to the Hard Rock Café, which was merely 30 minutes from Nick’s house. They parked not too far from the restaurant. Brian decided it would be better to just park off to the side, so that he wouldn’t be noticed.

He watched as Ava went into the restaurant with Jason. And he noticed that they sat on the outside balcony on the second floor. He had a good view of her, and he knew that as soon as she got up, he should go and sit in front of the door.

Both Jason and Ava ordered they’re drinks. Jason a Mountain Dew and Ava, water. She could smell the food from neighboring tables and her cravings went into overdrive. She became so very hungry and felt as though she hadn’t eaten the entire day. She knew then that she had to hurry up and get things over with.

“Listen, Jason… I really have to talk to you about something. And it concerns us.” She started/ Jason just put up his index finger, signaling for Ava to hold her thought.

“Wait, I have something I’d like to talk to you about first. Ava, sweetie, what’s going on with you and this guy you’re living with now? I mean, you’re all in the magazines. I’m hearing rumors that you’re pregnant. What’s going on?” Ava got a goofy grin on her face, and her cheeks began to flush pink, then red.

“No I’m not pregnant. Those are all vindictive lies.” She said, and Ava was not a good liar.

“Ava, come on, you don’t have to lie to me. We’ve known each other since forever. You can be truthful with me. If you’re pregnant, tell me. I won’t be disappointed or anything. And I definitely won’t judge you or look differently at you.” Ava started to look away.

“I am not pregnant. Nick and I are just friends. Maybe a little more than that. But I’m not carrying his kind, I swear.” She replied.

“ You know that I love you. I love with with all of my heart. Honey, if you’re carrying this guy’s baby, you can tell me. You need to tell someone, right? Who better than me.” Jason touched her hand and held it tightly. Then he brought it to his lips and kissed the very same hand. Ava was taken, he sounded so sincere, she couldn’t help but feel as though he needed to know the truth.

“Ok, I’ll tell you. But you must promise to keep this between us.” Ava demanded.

“Absolutely. Whatever is said between us, stays between us.” Jason assured her.

“Ok. That day in Disney World, when I left the park with Nick. Well, we went to his truck and got a little drunk. One thing led to another and we slept together. I didn’t even know what I was doing. And neither did he. It just felt right at the time. And later on, I found out I was pregnant. And it was his. So, I’m staying with him now until the baby comes. And then, we’re going to give it up for adoption. It’s the best thing to do to save his career and save my future going to college. So now you know, and you can’t tell a soul. Promise me.”

“I promise.” Jason said, with shocked eyes.

“Good. As long as we see eye to eye, there’s no problem. Except, Jason, this thing with Nick could possibly go somewhere. And even though you’re a great guy, I need to see where Nick and I go. So, I’m sorry that things can’t work out between us right now.” Ava went on to explain.

“It’s ok. I understand. But call me anytime you need to talk. I’ll always be around for you.” He said with a smile.

“Thank you. I could always use another friend. But hey, I really have to go. I didn’t think I’d stay this long. I mean, you do understand right?” Jason nodded and smiled again. Ava stood up and prepared to leave.

“You’re an angel, Jason. Thanks again.” She rubbed his back, then went inside the restaurant only to go downstairs and out again. Brian saw this and started to pull around to meet her.

Jason’s smile turned into an evil grin as he pulled a small tape-recorder from his pocket and stopped the tape. He turned back toward Heather who was well concealed under a scarf and sunglasses. She smiled at him and showed him her camera. She had been taking pictures of both Jason and Ava as they talked.

She looked down off of the side of the balcony and saw Ava approaching Nick’s truck. She naturally assumed Nick was driving, so she started snapping more pictures. Almost 8, just of Ava getting in the truck and it driving off.

Ava returned home and Nick was already there. He had obviously come back early. He was waiting for her in her room.

“I called Brian on his cell when I came home and you two weren’t here. He told me where you were. Is everything straight?” Nick asked as he got off of Ava’s bed and approached her, kissing her forehead.

“Everything’s fine. Now all we have to do is sit the rest of this pregnancy out on the D.L., then we’re home free.” Ava added. Nick smiled at her comment and kissed her lips.

“How about tonight?” He suggested. Ava shrugged and pretended to think it over.

“Well… it’s a Friday. What the hell.” She responded, allowing Nick to pick her up and carry her the few feet to her bed.

~*~*~*~*~*~


Monday morning, Nick woke up to find Ava deeply asleep next to him and someone knocking at his bedroom door. He slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Ava. And he opened the bedroom door to see Myah, AJ, and Brian standing there, concerned looks on their faces.

“Look at this.” AJ said as he shoved yet another trash magazine into Nick’s face. He looked at the cover and saw a picture of Ava with Jason on the top right corner of the page. He turned to the inside where the article was, and saw more pictures. Some of Ava talking, others of her walking toward Nick’s truck and getting in.

“Are you fucking serious???” Nick shouted. Ava woke up because of this and started rubbing her eyes.

“What’s going on?” She asked, still half asleep.

“This is what’s going on!” Nick shouted again, giving her the magazine and letting her see for herself.

“Oh, but that’s not all.” Brian added.

“Yeah, it’s fucked up! They’ve got it on all of the BSB sites. And some even have audio files of Ava talking to Jason. This is ten times worse than the pictures of you two at the GYN’s office. This is so fucking bad, you guys.” Myah stressed as she logged onto the internet on Nick’s bedroom computer to show them.

Ava got out of bed and started to pace.

“He betrayed me! That dingy, evil, awful, bastard. He promised! He fucking promised! Ugh! This isn’t supposed to be this way! Why can’t I just make an honest mistake? Why do I have to go through all of this? I slip and get knocked up, and all of the sudden my world crumbles apart!” She started crying and Brian just held her, calming her down. Nick was, however, inconsolable. He was off the deep end. Just when he thought an ounce of normalcy had returned to his and Ava’s lives, Heather had to strike again. And now she had help. He knew they’d be ruined.

The telephone rang and Nick picked up up, held it to his ear, and said, “Hello?”

“Oh… Oh my… do you smell that???? It smells an awful lot like a dirty yank who’s about to crash and burn!” Heather said, then she burst into a fit of laughter. Nick hung up immediately and looked at Ava.

“We’ll get through this, I promise.”


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