Chapter 4
I woke up the next day feeling a little woozy. I wasn’t quite sure why since I didn’t drink the night before. I rolled over and saw Asami sleeping next to me. I pulled her closer snuggling her under my chin.
Wait… Asami and I have broken up…
Before I could even start making any rational decisions, this Asami look-alike wrapped her arms around my waist..
“Mmmm Brooke… It’s still early” She murmured under her breath
Oh right, Ava.
I relaxed in her embrace and let her sleep a little longer. Little did I know, I’d end up catching some extra sleep as well.
I wasn’t quite sure how long I was out but when I woke up, Ava was facing the other direction which gave me enough time and space to get up and make breakfast for the two of us.
I swung my legs off the bed and I felt..
Carpet…? I’m pretty sure my apartment doesn’t have carpet
I looked around and it’s finally dawning on me. I’m not in my apartment.
Where in the world am I?
I leaned closer to Ava, shaking her awake.
“Ava. Ava! Wake up!”
“MmmmMmmm 5 more minutes” she shrugged my arm off her which made me roll my eyes
“Ava!” I pulled the blankets off her making Ava her curl up in a fetal position
“It’s cold! Why are you being so mean? Brooke… it’s still early…”
Watching her whine like this unintentionally put a smile on my face. She reminded me so much of Asami that it just hurts watching her get cold like this but… we have more pressing matters in our hands right now.
“1) I’m not Brooke and 2) we’re not in my apartment. Maybe you can shine some light in the issue we’re both in?” I held her hand and pulled her to sit up
“Huh? Not Brooke?” She blinked a few times trying to focus her eyes and gain SOME composure from waking up “Oh, Kor?” she asked yawning then pulling her hand back to stretch her arms up
“Yep, the one and only. Do you know where we are?” I repeated the question. Ava looked around trying to get some answer to my question. She turned then looked outside through the blinds
“Oh, I see” she took a deep breath then looked at me.
I slowly shook my head at her still waiting for that answer “Well…?”
“We’re in my apartment” She yawned “Now that you know, could I get some more sleep. Please?” she laid down on the bed again curling up in a fetal position trying to get some more sleep
“I mean, I guess… I don’t think we’re in any danger so… i guess that’s fine”
“Thanks” She yawned again as I threw the blanket on her letting her get some extra sleep “What day is it today?”
I checked my phone and weirdly enough, I have service here. “It’s Sunday, December 11th”
Ava jerked up to sit, her eyes wide open while looking at me “11th? Sunday? December?”
“Yea, something wrong?” she looked down as she clutched the blanket sitting on her lap
“You wrote us and you don’t remember what today is?” she had a bitter smile on her face
I tilted my head to the side trying to rack my brain what December 11 meant.
“You really don’t remember?” Ava swung her legs off the bed, her gaze on her lap
“I…”
Ava shook her head then looked up at me “It’s fine, let’s jut get ready. We have to go somewhere” she sighed
“What about breakfast?” I asked as I followed her with my eyes to her walk in closet
“We can get them there” she answered without looking back “Brooke has some clothes in here that you could use”
The 11th of December? What happened? What have I done?
Ava changed and I followed suit afterwards giving her some personal space while changing. When we left her apartment, I finally realized where we were.
“Seattle, huh?” I asked looking up at the skyscrapers around us
“Yup, we’re in my side of the country, I guess” She shrugged. The happy and warm Ava was replaced by this… uncertain and unwelcoming Ava.
Weirdly enough, I miss her being bubbly, warm, and all smiles.
I wonder what I did to turn her into this?
We walked in to a coffee shop downtown. She had me sit down on a table but instead of sitting with me, she gave me a smile and told me to wait there. She walked over to another table with a woman sitting there, she had her hands clasped together while staring at the coffee infront of her. She didn’t even realize that Ava was there…
Wait… Is that Brooke?
My forehead furrowed then images and voices flooded my brain.
~~~
“I’m sorry, Asami. I just really can’t do this anymore” I sat there on the couch in my apartment. My hands were clasped together as my gaze stayed on the floor
“Do what, Kor? Be with me? Fight for us?” Asami asked one after another exasperated to get some answers
“Yes. I can’t. I just can’t do it anymore. I’m over it!” I stood up finally looking her in the eyes “Been over it for the last month! It’s exhausting being with you! I just can’t handle this anymore!” My eyes stung as I tried not to let a tear drop from my face ruining this faced that I’m wearing
“What? Why? There’s gotta be more than just that!” Asami reached out for my hand but I quickly moved it away “Please Kor, Please tell me. Talk to me” Asami’s eyes were pleading, tears fell from her eyes and I just wanted to punch myself for causing her to cry like this
“That’s just it. There’s no other reason. I’m just tired of dealing with everything and I just…” I bit my inner cheek trying to stop me from saying the next words but this is the only way I could push her away “I don’t love you anymore” I looked away still trying to keep my tears at bay
“You’re lying to me” Asami took a few steps back “Please tell me you’re lying”
I faced Asami and composed myself as much as I was able to “I just fell out of love. I’m sorry”
Asami didn’t say anything else. She bolted out the door. The moment the door closed, I fell to my knees and cried my heart out.
~~~
“I’m sorry, Ava. I just…” I heard Brooke star her spiel
Now… Now I understand why Ava was feeling uneasy. It’s because it’s today.
“STOP!” I yelled on top of my lungs. I glared at Brooke making both of them and everyone else in the coffee sho look at me
“Wh-who are you?” Brooke asked, her eyes unsure and uncertain from the situation she’s in
“Stop. Just. Stop.” I took a deep breath standing up, I took a few steps closer to them. Ava’s eyes were wide, not really sure what's going on “Don’t make the same mistake as I did. Don’t be stupid”
“What are you talking about? What do you know?” Brooke seethed as she stood up, her eyes not leaving mine
“More than you think” I sighed “Just listen to me for a second” I looked at Ava and a shadow of a small smile was lingering on her lips. I looked at Brooke once more “Do you really think and believe that pushing Ava away is the answer to your issues? Do you honestly believe that you’re doing this for her or are you running away? Do you really think and believe that hurting the one person you love the most is the best course of action? And lastly, can you confidently tell me that you really don’t love her anymore?”
Brooke’s gaze fell on the table as she slowly fell back down on her seat.
“If you can’t even fully commit to any of those, then stop. Just stop. You’re gonna end up hurting not just Ava but yourself as well” I took a deep breath “Stop running away. You’re better than this” Brooke’s eyes started watering and tears fell from them one after another “Trust me, Brooke. This would’ve been the biggest regret of your life. Trust me. I know.” I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
I took another deep breath then walked out of the coffee shop.
How come I could do it for others but couldn’t do it for myself? Why is real life so much harder than a written world. It’s just so, unfair
Tears start brimming up my own eyes that I had to look up to stop them from falling.
“Korra!” A very familiar voice called out. I took a few deep breaths to compose myself before turning to look at her… at Ava who was my Asami in this world.
My Asami… If she was really my Asami, why did I want to hurt her all over again?
“Korra” She called out again but this time, there was a smile on her face
“Good?” I asked grinning at her
“Best!” Her smile widened
“But shouldn’t you be in there with Brooke?” Ava shrugged but kept her smile
“I should but this isn’t how that part of the story will go, right? I can leave her there for now since you can always rewrite this part” she beamed that my arm automatically reached out for her, my hand on her face.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry” she placed her hand on my hand as she slowly shook her head
“There’s nothing to be sorry about” She looked at me and for a split second, I was pretty sure I saw Asami and not Ava. I retreated my hand then looked up at the sky “So you’ve finally accepted and figured it out?” She asked making me nod
“I ran away instead of facing the issues–” she placed a finger on my lips
“I’m not the person you should be telling this to. Tell all of it to your Asami” She smiled
“Yea, you’re right. My Asami” Ava nodded “I’ll work on a better ending for you and Brooke, I promise”
“Well, that’s good” She chuckled “Or ya know, I could just visit you again”
I started chuckling myself “Sure, seems like you know my address anyway” I looked at the scenery around me but it slowly started getting glitchy. I turned around and everything looked like it was slowly disappearing.
“Ava! What’s going on?” I started blinking a few more times trying to adjust my eyes that maybe I was just seeing things but, nothing changed except Ava’s warm smile.
“This is not your world. You don’t belong here, Kor” She placed a hand on my cheek “After all, you still have your own story to write”
“Pl– ke – up.. Kor” an unknown voice said
The voice sounded familiar but it sounded sad. I know whose voice that is but I just can’t put a name or a face on it.
“Ava! I don’t know what’s going on but I’ll–”She placed a finger on my lips to stop me from talking
“I trust you, Kor. Do what you have to do” She placed a kiss on my cheek “You also have your own princess to save, right?” She winked and smiled at me. Her hand fell to her side.
I tried to hold her hand but my hand went through hers
“Ava! What the hell is going on?”
“I guess it’s time” She beamed
“What do you mean?” I tried to hold her in my arms but instead of holding her, I phased through her. “What the fuck is going on??”
“You got through it, Kor. I’m proud of you”
“That’s not answering my question! What’s going on?” I kept trying to hold her but my arms were phasing through her
“You don’t belong in this world, Kor. You have to go back”
“You said that earlier but you’re not making any sense! Go back where? Could you stop being cryptic for once and tell me–” she wrapped her arms around my neck and even though I couldn’t feel her before. This time, this time I felt her warmth around me
“You know what to do. She’s waiting for you” She pushed herself off me then looked me in the eyes “As we’ll be waiting for you to finish off our story, okay?” Ava smiled “Go back, Kor. She’s been waiting for you as much as you’ve been waiting on her”
It dawned on me..
This whole thing. She’s right, I don’t belong here. I live in Venice Beach, I may have screwed up my relationship with my Asami but I could still fix Ava and Brooke’s then work on mine and Asami’s.
“Ava! Thank you”
Ava nodded then smiled her wide smile at me
“I’m just glad I was able to help”
Ava’s figure started slowly disappearing infront of me
“I’ll miss you” Tears started streaming down my face
“And I’ll miss you too” Her warm smile was the last thing I saw before she completely disappeared
“And now… I just need to get out of here somehow”
The voice I heard earlier, came back
“Kor, –me ba–”
I closed my eyes and let the unknown voice pull me back. I don’t know where but for some reason, part of me trusted this voice. Trusted her.
Asami. I’m coming back. Please, wait for me.