Chapter 2
“I…” I was speechless at what she said.
Crossroads, huh? Never thought of it as that. Wait one second…
“How did you know all of that? Aren’t you a character in a book? Or are you really Asami and you’re just fucking with me?” Ava/Asami laughed
“Please, If I was really Asami, I wouldn’t be sitting on a chair next to you. I’d be straddling you” She winked. My cheeks heated up from the joke making me look away
“Shut up” I whispered “You didn’t answer the question you know” I retorted after getting some of my composure back, narrowing my eyes at her.
“Remember, I’m Asami here while you, my dear author, You’re Brooklyn in my world” She shrugged “Don’t even dare deny it because Elijah is your sworn love interest enemy in there while Iroh is in here” she explained plainly “You switched out some of the real life facts that you went through here but the core of everything that you went through is still in there” another shrug “You tried to be slick but you’re not slick enough for me” She winked
I shook my head and sighed
“I hate it when y’all are too” I narrowed my eyes at her again “Smart for your own good” She bursted out laughing shaking her head in the process
“You make it sound like this isn’t the first time you’ve been visited by a very annoyed character” She wiped a stray tear that fell from her eyes from laughing
“Well, you’re right about one thing. This is definitely the first time that this has happened and I’m not quite sure how to understand this” I sighed, looking away
“Well, don’t worry about that too much” Ave/Asami beamed “Let’s just go out for a little bit. Get you out of this funk” she said lightly pulling my arm to stand up
“But where are we going?” my forehead creased trying to think where and what we can do at this time
“Come on, this is Venice beach! We can just walk around! Maybe go to the beach? Something! Just get you out of this apartment!” I sighed standing up “Oh, lighten up! You act like you don't like this or that I’m bothering you!” She raised an eyebrow then smirked at me “Or maybe, that’s what you really wanna do instead. Sit here and wallow at your loss. Be miserable your whole life while the manuscript you started will never see the light of day that it’s printed!”
That sent my blood boiling. It shouldn’t but she knew exactly what to say to get me riled up.
“Fuck you, Ava! I didn’t ask for an emotional support book character to come to life! You came here on your own volition so Fuck. You” my jaw clenched and I was seething but she didn’t say anything. She stood there, arms crossed on her chest, a perfect eyebrow lifted.
This whole thing infuriated me even more.
Why did I mold and model Ava into looking and acting the same way as Asami? I hate my life
I was getting infuriated but I had to reel it back in. Ava/Asami wasn’t lying. There’s SOME tru… Everything she said was true. What the fuck am I saying? There’s really no reason to lie to myself. If she’s not here right now, I’d prolly crawl back in my bed then sleep it off. Try to sit infront of my desktop, write a few words, delete it then turn the whole thing off. Grab some Liquor at the local store then drink til I can’t feel anymore.
I took a deep breath then finally relaxed.
“Fine, you win. Let’s go out” I cracked a small smile making her beam at me again
“See! That’s much better!” I shook my head then went back to my room. I changed into something comfy and since it’s still the middle of winter, we can’t really swim but we can still hangout by the shore. I decided to grab a pair of ripped jeans and black hoodie. I put it on then looked at myself in the mirror
“Not bad, I guess” Besides the puffy eyes from too much sleep or lack thereof, only God knows what’s wrong with me at this point and maybe Ava/Asami.
I went out of my room and saw her standing by the door. I’m not quite sure how she did it but she was wearing something different from what she was wearing earlier.
“How in the world did you change? Did you bring spare clothes with you?” she shrugged then smiled at me. “Good Lord, you’re not making anything easier to understand, you know” she chuckled, her smile widening “If anything, you’re confusing me more” I shook my head then walked past her to open the front door.
She hooked her arm in mine, beaming at me.
“So where are we going?” I smiled back
“Let’s just see where Venice Beach will take us”
“I like that!”
We were walking for what seems like forever but we ended up at a coffee shop. A coffee shop that I’m too familiar with.
“I know this place” Ava/Asami said as I pulled the door open for us
“Oh yea? What is this place?” I challenged, raising an eyebrow up at her
“Your first date with Asami” She grinned. My face fell and my jaw dropped as I followed her with my eyes
“How did you know that?” I asked, I was honestly surprised that she knew that.
“How many times do I have to tell you? I may be a character in your book but I have been watching you since forever and a day” Her grin widening as we walked closer to the cashier
“Hey Kor!” The barista called making me look at her
“Hey Lydia, how’s it going?” I smiled at her
“Nothing new” She smiled back “The usual for you and Asami?” She asked, smiling at Ava/Asami that’s standing next to me. I looked at her and she nodded.
“Yes, please. Thanks, Lydia!” Ava/Asami beamed at her
“Yea, we’ll be at the usual table” Lydia rang us up then we proceeded to pick and choose our table
“So spill, Ava, what’s really going on here? You’re not really Asami and I… don’t really know what to think and how to explain what’s going on right now” I sighed
“Well, like I said earlier, I have no idea how I ended up in your apartment but I’m pretty sure it’s something about the book that you can’t finish” She shrugged “So… I guess” She placed a forefinger on her chin “Why can’t you?”
The question shouldn’t really and honestly take me by surprise but it still did. I couldn’t answer her question but instead, I dropped my gaze to the table infront of us.
“I don’t know. I just have this horrible writer’s block”
“Bullshit” she said plainly which took me back, I looked up and saw her looking straight at me with an eyebrow up. “You’re lying and you know it”
I shook my head lightly, my forehead creased “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just really and honestly can’t write the next part”
“Another bullshit” she shrugged “Can’t or won’t?” she pulled a thin smile on her face
“I don’t know what you want me to say, Ava. Like, I really don’t”
“Here’s your coffee, girls! I hope you enjoy it!” Lydia said as she placed both of our cups on the table “Lemme know if you guys need anything” She winked at us then walked away
Ava/Asami carefully and slowly blew on her piping hot coffee as I stirred my iced coffee with the straw.
“You know, Kor” She started making me look up at her “I’m not asking for much” she sighed but kept a small smile on her face “I just want the truth. The real story behind the situation we’re both in”
“And I’m bein-” She held a hand up to stop me from talking
“If you’re gonna keep spouting that nonsense about a writer’s block then I don’t need to hear it. I can only take so much lies from you and I respect you with all my heart and soul so please, no more lies” I haven’t seen Ava/Asami frown in the last few hours together that even now that she’s disappointed in me, she’s not frowning but instead a small reassuring smile was plastered on her face.
“Then tell me, what is it that you want?” I laid my hand out to let her talk
“I told you, the truth!” she shrugged again making me sigh “You know” She started then dropped her gaze on the coffee “I really like Brooke and I really want to understand why you’re doing this to us” She looked up to meet my gaze “Since she’s you, you remind me a lot of her. You’re both strong-willed, bad liars, cute smile, your eyes” She pulled another thin smile as she listed our similarities
“You say that but I’m not really as strong as she is” I sighed pushing the coffee away as I leaned back on the chair, crossing my arms on my chest
“Can you enlighten me on that? From my point of view, you’re just as strong as she is” she tilted her head to the side making her long hair cascade to the side
“Brooklyn… well…” I sighed, dropping my head “Brooke can just do whatever the fuck she wants and won’t be scared of the consequences she’ll have to face afterwards. Me, on the other hand… I’ll be shaking in my boots just thinking about what might happen”
“But didn’t you tell Asami at one point that Rejection is better than regret?” I looked up and saw her smiling at me “Don’t even deny it, you told her that plus! Think about it! You’re a writer, you took a risk and you’re not regretting it, right? You’re doing what you want to do not what your parents wanted you to do” She shrugged with a winning smile on her face
“I did. You’re right, I’ve been writing for quite a while now instead of being a nurse like they wanted me to be” I looked away
“See? So tell me the truth. Is it because you can’t write or won’t?”