Chapter 20

This was the fourth...no, the fifth time that Avril attempted to read a single sentence of a case study. To say her concentration levels were strained was a bit of an understatement. She sighed, threw her pencil on the desk, and rocked back on her chair. Her fingers skimmed the booklet, there were fifty pages of reading and she hadn't completed five pages, not to mention she couldn't recall what or who the previous pages were about.
Avril dropped her head on the desk and groaned loudly. Her entire body weighed down by exhaustion. Her eyes burning from being kept open for too long. Her body was begging her for a rest.

"Maybe for two hours." She muffled as her eyes closed, dragging her instantly down into sleep.
Avril felt her body and state of sleep being interrupted. She didn't know by what and she didn't care, her eyes wanted to remain closed and her mind wanted to steer clear from reality.

All of the reasons she had for remaining in her subconscious melted away as soon as she heard his voice. Rich, smooth and familiar.
Her eyes instantly opened to see Thomas kneeling next to her desk, his eyes studying her. Avril straightened without uttering a word, her head swirling. Her eyes never wavering from the sight. She closed her eyes...Maybe she was still asleep. She didn't want to know how she would react if he was no longer in front of her.
When her eyes eased open, she saw him staring at her curiously. A huge smile spread across her face. Her eyes lit up. Her excitement couldn't be contained.

"You're back?" She questioned lamely, she wanted him to say something to her, she needed to hear him.

"I am." creases began forming in his forehead as his eyes roamed her face. " You look tired," he raised a hand to her face and gently brushed her hair behind her ears. Avril eased into his touch, the tips of his fingers causing her skin to heat. "Why don't you go lie down on your bed, you'll get a better sleep." He stood up, took hold of her arms, and helped her off her chair.

"Only if you come with me." she droned, her voice husky from sleep. Thomas paused, his eyes searching hers. Avril noted her mistake and quickly apologised. "I didn't mean--"

It wasn't her intention to sound as though she wanted him in her bed, her excitement to have him back clouded her ability to think. She'd forgotten that he wanted her to go to bed, but in her mind, he was offering her an activity that was wholesome enough for her to invite him along. Thomas smiled and shook his head, he continued guiding her along. Avril was caught up in his proximity and staring at his face and when she was halfway to the bed, she stilled, causing him to stop in his tracks. "No, I can't sleep." She was pulling backwards away from the bed. Thomas tightened his grip on her for fear that she may fall back from pulling away from him. "You just got back." She complained drowsily.

"I am not going anywhere." He felt the truth of those words deeply. Thomas wished he could just stay in the same room as her for as long as he could. " I'll be here when you get up." He replied calmly as he helped her climb into bed, pulled the blanket over her, and sat on the edge of her bed.

"You're not lying are you?" She questioned as her eyes closed and she pulled a pillow to her chest, cuddling into it.

"I would never lie to you, Avril" The words were a whisper and a silent declaration, even though no one else heard it. He hesitantly straightened as Avril fell asleep. His gaze lingering on her as he exited her room. Thomas made his way to the living room where Trish sat.

"What's wrong, dear?" Trish looked up from the scarf she was knitting and noticed Thomas' expression was glum.

"Is everything okay with Avril? She looks drawn and really exhausted." He spoke as he took a seat beside her. He didn't know if it was just the stress of school. If so, he felt guilty he wasn't there to ease her stress. Although, with their track record, he might very be the reason for added stress.

"She has been like that for a week, I don't think it's school-related because sometimes she just spaces out." Trish turned her attention back to her needles and yarn. She didn't want to say too much to either of them about the other.

"Hmmmm" instantly Thomas recalled the scene with Nate and the other girl. He wondered if that was the issue...Perhaps, they did end their relationship and Avril was going through a bad breakup. The thought of anyone causing her pain made his blood boil and he regretted not ripping Nate's throat out when he had the chance.
As much as he felt wounded for Avril's sake and what she must be feeling, he also felt a twinge of jealousy. He knew that was a bit out of bounds and selfish but he didn't want her to have such strong feelings for someone who wasn't him.

**************
Avril awoke with a headache. Her eyes felt as if they were about to pop out of her skull and a feeling of dizziness washed over her as she stood up. Her hands immediately went to her head. She pulled her hair tie out and released the ponytail. A small relief. She peered at her table and noted the open booklet. She turned and looked at her bed. She didn't remember climbing into her bed and figured she must have gotten up during her sleep, she sat on her bed and gazed at her table. A nagging feeling gnawing at her. She knew she was forgetting something.
After a few moments of sitting on her bed images flashed into her mind. It was of Thomas. She couldn't believe that she'd dreamed he had returned. She shoved her face into a pillow and screamed. She needed to get a grip on herself.

Avril checked the time, it was after one in the afternoon. She decided to get up, she hadn't spent anytime with Trish for the day. She planned to help Trish out and then by five she should continue her assignments.
She made her way downstairs and found Trish in the living room. She'd recently taken up knitting to pass the time. She was watching a tutorial on how to do a particular type of stitch. She paused the video as she heard Avril's footsteps.

"Trish, you won't believe the dream I just had," Avril said as she took a seat next to her. Trish smiled and parted her lips to speak.

"I hope it was about me." Thomas saw Avril running down the stairs and decided to silently observe her. How he'd missed seeing her run around his house.
Avril turned her attention to the source of the sound. Thomas was leaning against the doorway, two glasses in his hand.
Avril couldn't experience anything past the sound of her heart thumping in her ear. She could only watch as he made his way further into the room. He handed a glass of juice to Trish.

"I didn't know you were coming down. I got water for me, you can have it unless you want something else." he handed the glass to her. Avril's brain couldn't keep up with the moment.

"How was work?" She questioned for a lack of any other conversation starters. She hoped that the question of her dream would be easily forgotten. There was no need for him to know that she was about to talk about him.
He placed his hands into his pocket and seemed to really consider the question.

"It was very lucrative." He responded. Trish took a huge gulp of her drink and immediately averted her eyes from the pair and pretended to focus on her own things.
"How are you back?" Avril asked. She knew she only saw him before because he was on vacation but since he went back out she thought she wouldn't be seeing him at all.

"Dad's allowing me to work at home," Thomas responded.

"Isn't that wonderful!" Trish piped in, gazing back and forth between them.

"It is." Avril gave him a small smile.

"I have been thinking, how about I carry you guys out to dinner to celebrate Avril starting University?" Thomas offered, looking expectantly at the two of them.

"You don't have to do that," Avril responded instantly. The very thought brought dangerous images in her mind of matching outfits and cute photos.

"I wasn't here to see you off, this is my treat." He said sternly.

"I think it's a wonderful idea!" Trish responded. "Avril I'll take you shopping."

"Shopping?" Avril looked horrified.

"Yes, special occasion, special clothes." Trish smiled, unable to keep to herself.
Well, Avril had been meaning go shopping, Sarah's birthday was coming up, she still had to get her a gift.

"Alright." She conceded.

"Great! Then it's settled. I'll make reservations at a nice restaurant for eight." Thomas pulled out his cell and walked outside.
"Come on dear, let's go to the mall." Trish rose from her seat, Avril stared after Thomas until he was out of sight.

***********
At seven, Avril heard a knock at her door. "It's Trish." A voice called out.

"It's open!" Avril called out. The door opened and Trish in closing the door behind her.

"Oh my!" She stopped dead in her tracks at the sound coming from Avril.

"is something wrong?" Trish looked down at herself. Avril shook her head and smiled.

"You look amazing! I told you that dress was the one." Avril exclaimed at the sight of Trish.

"Thank you, dear, I really do have to thank your taste." She did a little twirl and Avril giggled.
Trish looked stunning in her floor-length, black velvet dress. The low neckline drawing attention to her shoulders and neck. This woman still had the ability to drop some jaws.

"Oh dear, you're not dressed yet?" Trish walked over to the bed and picked up the dress that Avril was to wear.

"I just finished my make up. How does it look? Is it too much?" Avril questioned as she looked back that the mirror.

" Not at all. It looks perfect. What about lipstick?" Trish questioned, she walked closer.

" I am not sure if to go red, nude, or something a bit darker or lighter." Avril was indecisive.
Trish considered the shades of lipstick. " How about this one?" Trish held up a purplish shade. It was really dark and sometimes could look black depending on the lighting.

"That's a very bold color choice," Avril commented, not expecting Trish to have picked that shade at all.

"It will look amazing." Trish placed her hands on Avril's shoulder and squeezed.

Avril applied her lipstick and Trish helped her zipped up her dress and strap on her heels. They both made their way downstairs to find Thomas in the kitchen with a glass of whisky.

Thomas just stared at both women. The woman he considered to be like a mother to him looked stunning but part of him wanted to drape his jacket over her chest. He didn't because he had no right to tell her how to dress. As for Avril, he had no words. Her dress was knee-high and white. The sleeves laced with patches of patterns lining it. The lace extended to the midsection of the dress, giving the solid white undertone a warmer appearance. The dress hugged the upper part of her body while from the torso it flared out until her knee.

"Doesn't she look beautiful!" Trish prompted.

"She does." He said almost in a trance. As if getting a hold of himself he cleared his throat and gazed at Trish. " You both do."

"Shall we?" Thomas led the way to the door.

"You two have fun. I'll lock up." Trish didn't move an inch. These words caught both Avril and Thomas.

"What?" Avril questioned.

"I am not going with you." She clarified.

"What do you mean?" Thomas was confused.

"I actually have a date tonight," Trish responded.

"Well, we can cancel," Avril suggested, gazing at Thomas.

Yeah, we can go tomorrow." He supported Avril's suggestion.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous, this is for Avril and the poor lass is already all dressed up. Don't disappoint her." Trish responded as she shuffled them both out the door.

"But..."

"No buts just go and have a good time." She shut the door in their faces.