Troublemaker

by Heather Beck

“He must’ve called before he rescued me,” Ava said, more to herself than anyone else. She was so glad that he had, because if he hadn’t, she didn’t know how she would’ve been able to find Javier, to get him the help that he needed to save his life. She shivered at the thought, trying to push it out of her mind. “I also don’t understand how Christopher found me,” she continued, “to track me down like that.”

  “That’s a question for the California police department,” Officer Hervada said.

  Mitchell snorted. “They haven’t been much help in this case. It got to the point where I had to hire a private investigator, hoping he’d have more success finding Christopher.”

  “Well, we all know where Christopher is now,” Officer Hervada said, closing his notepad. “I think I have everything I need. If I have more questions, I’ll be in touch.” He stood up, about to leave, when Ava stopped him.

  “Thank you,” she said, “for what you and everyone else did tonight.”

  “We were just doing our jobs, miss.”

  “Well, I appreciate it.”

  Officer Hervada looked touched, giving her a little nod before walking down the hallway and toward the exit. Without him there, it felt like the whole Christopher thing was finally over. Now, she had to deal with the aftermath.

  “You guys should go home,” Ava said, turning to face her family. “I want to stay here with Javier, even if I can’t see him.”

  “We’re not leaving you alone, sweetheart,” Mitchell said.

  “I’ll be fine. Besides, I think it’s best if you go.” She glanced at Tessa as she said this, noting how worried her sister looked. In a way, she was touched, seeing how much Tessa cared about her, but then again, she already knew that.

  “I’ll stay with Ava,” Isabelle spoke up. “Mitch, why don’t you take Tessa back to the villa and stay with her there?”

  Mitchell nodded and then gave Ava a concerned smile. “We’ll check back in the morning, but if you need anything before that, just call.”

  Before Ava could say anything, Tessa gave her a hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I don’t know what I would’ve done if something had happened to you. I love you, Ava.”

  Ava hugged her back. “I love you, too, Tess,” she said.

  Then they were gone, leaving just Ava and her mom, the other people in the waiting room having left several minutes ago.

  “You really don’t have to...” Ava began to say.

  Isabelle interrupted. “I want to stay.”

  Ava smiled, grateful. Even though she and her mom hadn’t been on the best of terms lately, she knew she could always count on her, that she’d always be there. And right now, Ava needed her mom more than ever, to support and to comfort her, because she knew it was going to be a very long night.

  * * *

  Several hours later, Ava stirred uncomfortably in the plastic hospital chair, slowly awakening. As her eyes fluttered open and she saw that she wasn’t in her bedroom, the dramatic events of last night hit her fast and hard, her thoughts immediately turning to Javier. Trying not to worry, reminding herself that the doctor had said he’d be okay, she stood up, stretching her stiff back, neck, and legs. She then glanced at her mom, who’d stayed with her all night, now asleep in the chair beside her.

  Quietly, Ava made her way toward the washroom, not surprised to find it empty inside. She turned on the faucet and splashed water over her face, drying off with a white paper towel that felt rough against her skin. She looked in the mirror and snorted at her reflection. She still wore her black lace dress from last night, but now it was dirty, wrinkled, and ripped at one side. There were bags under her eyes, her makeup that she couldn’t get off with water was smeared, and three scrapes, caused by her struggle with Christopher, ran along her right cheek. She knew that if her fans saw her like this, they would be shocked, and if the media got a picture of this...well, it would spread like a wildfire. But the thing was, none of that mattered, not anymore.

  Determined to see Javier, even if it meant sneaking into his hospital room, Ava slipped out of the washroom, checking both ways before heading down the hallway. Following the signs marked, Patient Rooms, she tiptoed over the white tiled floor that smelled faintly of bleach, trying to be as quiet as possible. She’d just turned a corner when she bumped into someone, both of them letting out a gasp of surprise. When Ava saw who it was, she felt her heart beat faster.

  It was Esmeralda – Javier’s mom.

  “Esmeralda, um, hi.” Ava spoke quietly, almost stumbling over her words, not sure what to say. She had no idea how Esmeralda would react to seeing her, considering Ava was the one Javier had been saving when he fell off the cliff.

  “Ava,” Esmeralda said, her face drawn and tired, her expression impossible to read. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was going to see Javier.”

  “They let you in?”

  Ava turned her eyes to the floor, wanting to avoid answering the question directly. “Well, I actually never left. Me and my mom have been here since last night.”

  “So have I.”

  “Oh,” Ava said. “I...I never saw you come in.” She looked at Esmeralda, cold and standoffish, a completely different woman from the one she’d met at dinner a few weeks ago – not that she blamed her. “How is Javier? Is he awake?”

  Esmeralda said nothing, causing fear to grip Ava until finally, she nodded. “He woke up almost three hours ago. The doctors ran tests, and they said he should be alright. But the recovery process will be hard, long, and painful.” Esmeralda let out a sob and then her tears started to flow uncontrollably. She placed her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking.

  Gently, Ava reached out to comfort Esmeralda, surprised when she didn’t immediately push her away. “I’ll be there for Javier every step of the way – if he’ll let me, if you’ll let me.”

  “Of course I’ll let you be there for him,” Esmeralda said, surprising Ava again. She took a deep, shaky breath and then looked up at Ava. “I’m sorry if I seem cold, but that’s my son in there, the only family I have in this world. When I got the call that he was in the hospital and badly hurt, I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

  “I’m sorry, too. I know that if Javier had never met me, none of this would’ve happened.”

  “He doesn’t see it that way.” She paused. “And neither do I. In the little time he’s known you, you’ve brought so much happiness into his life. That doesn’t change, not even when something as awful as this happens.”

  “Thank you for saying that,” Ava said, her own eyes filling with tears. “Can I please see him?”

  Esmeralda nodded, gesturing to a room a few doors down. “He’s been asking for you. He wanted to make sure you were safe.”

  “That sounds like Javier,” Ava said to herself, but she got a reply, anyway.

  “Yes, it does,” Esmeralda agreed, giving Ava the tiniest smile and her hand a gentle squeeze before leaving her alone in the hallway.

  Ava walked to Javier’s room, peering in the small window on the door to see him lying in bed, motionless, his ribs and the side of his head wrapped in white bandages, his right arm in a cast. She took a deep breath and opened the door slowly, not wanting to wake him up in case he’d fallen asleep. But as soon as she entered the room, his hazel eyes opened and settled on her. Ava rushed to his side, resisting the urge to throw her arms around him, not wanting to cause him more pain.

  “Javier, I’m so sorry,” she choked out. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”

  Javier slowly reached for Ava’s hand, wrapping his fingers around hers, but even this caused him to wince. “It was my choice,” he said, his voice a little rough, “and if I had to do it over again, I would.”

  Ava’s heart broke, hating to see him in so much pain. His face was bruised such a deep shade of purple it was almost black, and his body was stiff, like he could hardly move. He was usually so tough and strong, but now, he looked completely exhausted, as if staying awake was a stru
ggle. “Don’t say that. Don’t even think that,” she said. “You should’ve never taken on Christopher like that. Javier, you almost died.”

  “So, I just let you die? I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.”

  “And I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if you had died.”

  “Or maybe it’s more like we wouldn’t be able to live without each other.” Javier’s eyes met Ava’s, filled with such hope that she didn’t know how to respond. Instead, she averted her eyes, causing him to sigh. “Like I said, I have no regrets,” he continued. “I called the police as soon as I saw you and Christopher and realized what he was doing, but there was no way the police would’ve gotten there in time.”

  “How did you know where he’d taken me?” Ava asked the question that had been on her mind since last night.

  “Well, after the truth came out about your family and how Christopher had been stalking you, I kind of just panicked, driving everywhere looking for you. Then I started to think about where a guy like Christopher would take you. My first guess? Acantilado de la Enteridad. The story of Sebastián and Itzel is what Mar de Lágrimas is known for, and it seemed like a place where an obsessed psychopath would take his so-called true love.”

  “You were right,” Ava said with a shiver, “and even though I still don’t think you should’ve risked your life for mine...thank you. It’s because of you that I’m alive right now and that this nightmare with Christopher is over.”

  “Did he survive?”

  Ava shook her head. “From what I heard, he snapped his neck on a rock. The doctors said you hit the water, though. That you were lucky.”

  “I’m not sure I’d call this lucky,” he joked lightly, glancing down at himself, which only caused him to wince again.

  “I know this is the world’s stupidest question,” Ava began, biting her lip, “but how are you feeling? Is the pain really bad?” Even before he could answer, her eyes misted over, feeling awful for him, not to mention guilty, even though she kept telling herself that the only one responsible for this was Christopher.

  “I think I’ll pull through, but just to be on the safe side, maybe you could be my own personal nurse. You know, make sure I take my meds and go to rehab when the time comes.” He cast her a little smile.

  Ava forced herself to smile back, knowing that he was being brave for her sake when it should’ve been the other way around. “I’ll be here for you every day,” she promised. “You won’t be able to get rid of me even if you want to.”

  “Good thing I don’t want to, then.” He gave her hand a loving squeeze, their fingers still intertwined, and for a moment they were silent, just appreciating each other’s company.

  “So,” Javier broke the silence, an amused smirk playing on his lips, “turns out I was dating a celebrity, and I didn’t even know it.”

  A blush rose on Ava’s cheeks. She’d kept that part of her life a secret from Javier for so long that it felt weird to hear him talk about it. “Um, yeah. I’m sorry about that, too, like, really sorry,” she said, trying not to stumble over her words. “I felt terrible keeping it a secret from you, and there were times I wanted to tell you, but there was so much at stake, not just my safety but my family’s, too. I thought I was doing the right thing, but now, after the way things turned out, I wish I hadn’t kept it a secret. I wish I hadn’t lied to you.”

  “I wish you’d told me the truth, too. Not about you being a celebrity – God knows that wouldn’t change the way I felt about you – but you should’ve told me about Christopher. I could’ve kept you safe.”

  “You already have.” She paused. “I know I don’t have the right to ask you this, but do you think you’ll ever be able to forgive me?”

  “For what?”

  “For lying to you. For being a complete hypocrite. For almost getting you killed. Take your pick. I’ve put you through a hell of a lot.”

  “Of course I forgive you, Ava, because I’ve put you through a hell of a lot, too.”

  Ava shook her head. “I have you beat on this one, but thank you for forgiving me.”

  “I want to move past this,” Javier admitted, “past all the secrets and lies.”

  “Me, too.” Ava suddenly felt calmer, happier than she had in a while, and as she looked at Javier, she knew he was the one responsible for that. She wanted to stay this way, by his side, but as his fingers loosened in between hers and his eyes slowly became heavy, she knew she had to let him rest. “You need to get some sleep,” she said, gently letting go of his hand, “but I’ll be back soon. I promise.”

  “You know where to find me,” Javier said, watching as she stood up. “And Ava?” he added suddenly.

  “Yeah?”

  “Thanks for staying at the hospital all night. That means a lot to me.”

  For a second, Ava was confused, wondering how he knew that, but then she followed his gaze onto her dress that she’d worn last night. “Well, you mean a lot to me,” she said, leaning down to kiss him softly on the cheek. “Feel better, Javier.”

  “I think I already do.”

  Ava gave him one last smile before he closed his eyes and then she left the room, closing the door behind her. As she walked down the hallway, she thought about their conversation and how it had given her hope – hope that he’d recover soon and maybe even hope for their relationship. It was more than that, though – she also felt an overwhelming sense of relief, knowing that she could now be honest with Javier. It was like the truth had finally set her free.

  * * *

  Chapter Twenty

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” Isabelle asked for what seemed like the hundredth time since they’d gotten into the car and left the hospital, about ten minutes ago.

  “I’m fine,” Ava reassured her mom, a little exasperated. Still, she couldn’t deny that it felt good to have someone who cared so much about her.

  “Well, I still think the doctor should have taken another look at you, just in case she missed something the first time.”

  “Mom, you really have to stop worrying.”

  Isabelle took her eyes off the road for a second to give Ava an incredulous look. “After last night, I don’t think I’ll ever stop worrying about you.” She paused, suddenly a little nervous. “You know, I’m not the only one who’s worried. Rowan called when I was getting us breakfast at the hospital cafeteria. He wanted to make sure you and Javier were alright.”

  “Oh.” Ava tensed up a little at the mention of Rowan’s name, not sure what to say. “That’s, um, nice of him.”

  “I thought so. He was out looking for you last night, too. He even rounded up some of the Artista clients to help.”

  “Really?” Ava softened, surprised to hear that.

  “Yeah, he insisted.” She paused again. “I know you probably don’t want to talk about Rowan, but I thought you should know that he cares.”

  “And what about Dad?”

  Isabelle raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, he punched Rowan. I assume you’re pretty mad at him.”

  “I was very angry, but then we almost lost you and everything was put into perspective, what really matters in life.”

  “It’s really over between you and Dad, isn’t it?”

  Isabelle was silent for a moment and then she nodded. “I’m afraid so, honey.”

  Ava’s heart sank. Even though she already knew her parents were getting divorced, it somehow felt more final now. “And you and Rowan?” she asked, almost not wanting to hear the answer.

  “We have time to figure that out. What’s important right now is you.”

  A silence fell over them, and immediately, Ava’s mind filled with thoughts about what life would be like after her parents’ divorce. She imagined constantly moving back and forth between two houses and having to alternate where she spent the holidays each year. As sad as it was, she also reminded herself that things could be a lot worse. At least they were all alive and healthy, and maybe, just maybe,
they’d find a way to make this whole divorce situation work.

  Before Ava could dwell on her parents’ divorce any longer, their villa came into view. As they pulled up the driveway and got out of the car, Ava couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so happy and grateful to be there. She guessed almost getting killed made a girl appreciate the small things in life, and right now all she wanted to do was finally get out of her dress and take a long, hot shower.

  “Tessa and your dad are probably waiting for you inside,” Isabelle said as she took out her keys and unlocked the door. “I texted them before we left the hospital to let them know we would be back soon.”

  Isabelle let Ava go in first, and as soon as she entered the villa, she realized that her mom was right – her sister and dad were in the living room, perched on the edge of the couch. When they saw Ava and Isabelle, they both jumped up to greet them, anxious expressions on their faces.

  “Ava, I’m so glad you’re back,” Mitchell said, wrapping her in a tight hug and kissing the top of her head.

  “Easy, Dad. You’re going to break me,” she joked lightly, a little confused by his reaction. He’d seen her last night. He knew she was alright.

  Mitchell let go of her, opening his mouth to speak when Tessa beat him to it.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, like it was a loaded question.

  Ava’s brow furrowed. “Seriously, you guys don’t have to worry anymore. Everything’s okay with me and Javier. I saw him this morning, and even though it will take some time, he’s going to be fine.”

  Ava expected her dad and sister to be relieved by the news, but their expressions remained the same. Deep worry lines etched Mitchell’s forehead, and Tessa looked even worse than him. Her face was pale, her body partially hidden behind their dad’s tall frame, as if she was afraid of something.

  “Mitch, Tessa, what’s going on?” Isabelle stole the words right out of Ava’s mouth.

  Mitchell gave Isabelle a quick glance, looking a little torn before turning his attention to Ava. “I’m glad your friend is going to be okay, sweetheart,” he said slowly, as if choosing his words carefully. “Unfortunately, I have some news that isn’t so good.”