Knock

Knock

Knock

I grew tired of being polite and began banging loudly on the trailer door. "Jesus Christ, what the hell do you want—?" His voice trailed off as soon as he saw me standing in the doorway. Part of me wanted to throw the box right in his damn face and shout a big "fuck you," but I restrained myself. I was better than that.

Clearing my throat, I watched him just stand there, staring at me, saying nothing. "Ev—Sin?" I said, my voice faltering slightly as he cocked his head to the side, eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, babe?" he replied with that familiar, annoying tone, making me mentally roll my eyes.

"I, uh... came to give you this." I extended the heavy box, my hands trembling slightly. Instead of taking it, he stepped aside, gesturing for me to come in.

I hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, the scent of him hitting me like a wave—musky, familiar, and unsettling all at once. I wasn't sure if I wanted to vomit or drag him into my arms, the turmoil stirring in my chest. He brushed past me, his bare skin brushing against mine. The contact sent a shock through my body, making me jump involuntarily.

"Here. Sit," he commanded, taking the box from my hands and tossing it onto the table.

"No, I'm good," I muttered, fumbling with my fingers. "I should really get going before it gets dark."

"What's in the box?" he asked, his voice cold as he grabbed a beer from the fridge.

"Just your things," I replied, swallowing hard. "I wasn't sure if you wanted them or not, so I—" My words trailed off when I looked up and saw him standing right in front of me.

"You were at your parents' place?" he asked, his eyes boring into mine. I nodded, not trusting myself to look him in the eye.

His hand shot out, grabbing my chin with a firm grip that sent an electric jolt through me. "Why?" he demanded.

I took a step back, my breath catching. His touch lingered on my skin, and I could feel my heart racing. "I'm living there now," I said quietly, keeping my eyes downcast.

"Living there?!" His voice was incredulous, and I finally looked up into his eyes. For a split second, I saw something break in them. A flicker of memory—of us. Of everything that had come before.

"Sin?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He ignored me, reaching into the box and tearing through the contents until he pulled out his jacket. His eyes locked onto mine as his gaze darkened. He didn't know I had it—the sheriff had given it to Austin, who passed it along to me.

His expression twisted into something dangerous as he took a step toward me. I instinctively stepped back until my back hit the edge of the counter. I closed my eyes, feeling the heat of his presence even though he wasn't touching me.

I inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself. Everest would never hurt me. He couldn't. "Who was he, Avery?" His voice was low, rough with emotion.

I opened my eyes, startled by the question. "Who was who?" I asked, though I knew exactly who he meant. I refused to answer, my lips sealed.

"Don't play fucking stupid, Avery!" he growled, his grip tightening on my shirt. "Who. Was. He?"

"I really don't know who the fuck you're talking about, Everest." I could feel his breath on my face as he closed the distance between us, not even an inch separating us now. I could hear his heartbeat, pounding in his chest.

"I'm not gonna ask again, Avery!" His voice was vicious as he spat my name, making me flinch involuntarily.

I clenched my jaw and used every ounce of strength I had to shove him away. To my surprise, I managed to push him back, but I didn't waste any time running for the door.

Before I could get far, he pushed me hard against it. "I know, Avery. I know there was another man... someone who touched you... who hurt you... another man you fucking loved!" His words struck deep, and I could feel the breath leave my chest.

I took a slow, deliberate breath, closing my eyes against the weight of the pain. The last thing I wanted to do in this moment was kiss Everest "Sin" Green.

But he was already moving, lifting me effortlessly and placing me on the bed. I straddled him, my body pressed against his, and I clung to him as his hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer. A moan escaped my lips before I could stop it, and the sound seemed to fuel him, making him hold me tighter. I held him just as desperately, not wanting to break away.

I never wanted to stop. The feel of his body against mine, the taste of his lips—it was intoxicating. I had always been addicted to him, always wanted him in a way I couldn't explain.

Then, a single tear escaped, slipping down my cheek. I pulled away from the kiss and buried my face in his neck, my chest heaving with quiet sobs.

"I loved you, Everest," I whispered through the tears. I knew it was just the start of my period, but the emotional weight was overwhelming, and I couldn't stop myself.

I clung to him, my body shaking with grief.

The pain I'd been feeling all week crashed over me—the pain of my parents, of being back in this town, of the nightmare I'd lived with that monster.

But the worst of it—the most excruciating pain—was here, in Everest's arms. Holding him, yet knowing that I might never be able to let go.

————————

Everest's POV:

"Everest!?" Avery's tired voice calls out as she pulls at my shirt, her touch warm but weak, trying to stop me from leaving.

I sigh and lay back down next to her, gently cupping her face in my hands, brushing my thumb across her cheek. "I'll be right back, okay? Go to bed. I won't be gone long," I reassure her, my voice softer than I meant it to be.

She nods, her eyes fluttering shut as she lets go of my shirt, sinking back into the comfort of the bed. Her breathing slows, the sound of it filling the silence. I quietly close the door behind me as I get up, carefully slipping out of bed to avoid disturbing her any further.

The moment I step out of the room, I grab a pair of jeans and quickly change out of my sweats. I don't have much time to waste, but the need to get out, to breathe, is gnawing at me. Before I leave the trailer, I reach for my leather jacket, and a small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. The memories flood in before I even put it on, vivid and sharp, almost as if she's right here with me.

I hadn't smiled like this in ages.

I slide the jacket back onto the table when a small, folded photo falls out of the pocket, landing softly on the floor. My heart drops, and I don't hesitate—my fingers rush to pick it up, unfolding it as quickly as I can.

The moment the photo unfolds, my chest tightens. There she is. Avery, laughing, carefree, the way she used to be before all the pain, before everything that happened. Her smile, wide and infectious, pulls me in, and for a second, I'm lost in that memory.

I stare at the photo in my hands, the past and present colliding inside me, and for a moment, everything else fades away. The weight of it all presses down, but for the first time in a long while, I can almost breathe again.



It was supposed to be simple, our first real date. After I finally worked up the nerve to ask Avery out, she agreed. That was enough to make me feel like I was walking on air. We went to a party at The Wagon Wheel, a place I wasn't exactly thrilled about. It wasn't my scene—just a bar for kids. Well, teenagers like Avery and Austin, but I wasn't exactly one for crowds like that. I dropped out at 15, spent my time in prison getting college credits, so that whole high school party vibe felt foreign to me.

Still, there I was, grinning like a fool, the happiest man in the world. I'd just asked Avery to be my girlfriend, and she said yes. It felt like everything was falling into place for the first time in a long while. The night was ours.

I remember walking into The Wagon Wheel, the dim lights, the mix of loud music and chatter—it felt like a scene from some movie. I wasn't even supposed to be there, but when I looked at Avery, standing next to me, laughing, I knew it didn't matter. We were together. She was mine.

Then everything changed, didn't it?

Ring.

Ring.

I flinch, the sound of the phone jolting me out of the memory.

"What!?" I snap, irritated that a simple thought about that night was ruined in an instant.

"Bro, where the hell are you? It's fucking crazy up here!" Austin yells into the phone, making my eyes roll.

"I'm comin' now, Jesus fuck," I mutter under my breath as I hang up, my fingers tight around the phone. I don't even look back as I quietly shut the door, my mind racing.

Before I've even crossed the threshold, I can already hear it—the sound of the Sons gearing up for a fight. It's like a fucking war zone up there. But for now, I've got to focus on what's in front of me. The past can wait.

•••••••••••••••••

Avery's POV:

I wake up with a jolt, my heart racing and sweat soaking the sheets. The roar of the bikes outside shakes the trailer, the vibrations crawling under my skin. It's like the world refuses to let me forget where I am. I sit up, eyes blurry from sleep, and immediately realize Sin's not here. The bed is cold, the place next to me empty.

I sigh, rubbing my face as I try to pull myself together. Stop it, Avery. I tell myself. You're not 16 anymore. You're grown. But the hurt lingers. Sin doesn't want us. He's a man with his own life, and here I am, acting like some girl who needs saving. I glance in the mirror after splashing cold water on my face, staring at the reflection of someone I barely recognize.

My hair falls around my face as I tie it up in a messy bun, trying to look more put together than I feel. My phone catches my eye—midnight. I stand there, frozen, debating whether to stay or leave.

The decision is made when the wind hits my face, the cool breeze making the air feel fresh. The tiny raindrops hit my skin like soft whispers, but I can't stay in this house. Not tonight.

I slip on my jacket and head out to the truck, starting it up and driving down the familiar dirt road that leads me up to the clubhouse. The place looks different in the dark, quieter than usual. The bikes that normally line the parking lot are gone, except for the ones with the sapphire logo. The Sapphires are here, I guess. They're always welcome with the guys, even if they have their own place by the creek.

I hesitate for a moment, leaning back in my truck seat, but something inside me tells me to go. Bonnie and Tequila, I remind myself. You missed them.

I smile, the familiar thought bringing comfort, and step out of the truck. The air is still cool, and I slam the door behind me with a little more force than I intend. As I walk toward the clubhouse, the sounds inside are different—soft music playing instead of the usual chaotic party vibe. It's peaceful, calming, and when I step in, I see Bonnie and Tequila, along with a few others in their dark blue leather jackets, sitting around drinking wine.

I clear my throat, expecting maybe one of them to notice me, but they all look up at once.

"Well, are you just gonna stand there and watch us drink wine all night, or are you gonna come over and socialize?" Tequila calls, a playful smile on her lips.

I walk over and sit on the empty stool between Red and Ducky. They look at me curiously, sizing me up. If you're wondering how I know their names, it's simple: it's on their jackets.

Red, an older woman with a look that could cut through steel, leans forward. "I didn't know Snow White lived in Florida."

I roll my eyes, even as Bonnie chuckles beside me. "Avery grew up here until she moved to New York for a bit, but she's back now."

Bonnie hands me a glass of wine, but I hesitate, shaking my head. She doesn't care, though, and shoves the glass into my hand anyway.

"What's your last name, Legs?" Ducky asks, her eyes a little mischievous as she takes in my appearance.

I blink, confused for a moment. "Uh, King," I answer, taking a sip of the hot cocoa I had grabbed on my way out.

"Everyone knows about you," Ducky says, leaning back casually in her chair. "Your parents are the ones who got murdered."

The words hit like a punch to the gut. I cough a little, the wine burning my throat, and Tequila's there with a napkin in hand. But the worst is yet to come.

"Didn't Sin go to prison that day too? 'Cause he killed that kid from the Devils," Red adds, her tone blunt.

The room goes quiet, and I feel my chest tighten. Bonnie, sensing the shift, slams the wine bottle down, the sharp sound breaking the tension.

"Why don't we do something else? All the boys are gone, and the whole house is ours," Bonnie says brightly. I manage a smile, grateful for the distraction, and take another sip of my drink.

———————————-

A few hours later, I'm in front of the mirror, a new person. Maybe, I think, I can be someone different. Tequila worked her magic, and the makeup she did is perfect. The shoulder-length black wig fits the look too, and for the first time in a long while, I see someone I don't quite recognize.

It's like I'm a stranger to my own body. I thought when I left this place and grew my hair out, I'd see someone new when I looked in the mirror each morning. For a while, I thought it worked. But as the years went by, I started seeing the truth in the bruises, the scars, the signs of all the pain I carried.

I blink, staring at my reflection as I try to get a grip on myself. The sudden explosion of sound—Bonnie yelling at everyone to leave—startles me, and I look up to see the girls scrambling out, Bonnie closing the door behind them.

Tequila walks over, her eyes full of concern. "Hunny, are you okay?"

I nod, a shaky smile on my face, but I can't fool her. Not for long.

I turn back to the mirror, and then I see it. I'm crying. The makeup is ruined, streaked down my face.

"O-oh, I'm sorry, Tequila. I didn't even realize I was..." My voice cracks, and she cuts me off.

"Avery, I can redo your makeup. But talk to us. What's wrong?" Her voice is soft, reassuring.

I shake my head, trying to push the emotions down. "Nothing. I'm fine," I lie, wiping my eyes.

Tequila and Bonnie exchange a knowing look. They can see right through me.

"Avery, whatever it is, we're here for you," Tequila says, stepping closer.

"Yeah, and we won't tell Sin. You can trust us," Bonnie adds.

Hearing Sin's name is enough to break me. The tears come in full force, and I can't stop them.

They pull me into a hug, and I let myself fall into it, feeling the weight of everything I've been carrying. "I just missed my home," I whisper between sobs. "My life here before I left. It's like every memory I had punches me in the face when it needs to."

Halfway There

Through darkness

Still fills the room

Within my heart

I am less sad

When laying next to you