Chapter 25.
The morning after my day out with Dylan, Avery practically skipped down to the kitchen for breakfast.

"You're in an unusually cheery mood this morning," I grumbled.

Avery smiled cruelly at me. "I'm just happy that one of those boys you brainwashed finally chose me," she gloated. "Ben's picking me up this morning for another date.

"Yesterday went well then?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Ben was actually a really nice guy, and I was more than a little surprised that Avery hadn't eaten him alive. I grimaced at the thought of him developing actual feelings for her. I shouldn't have cared, since I was completely over him, but still, the thought of anyone having to deal with the toxic personality that was Avery Palmer made me cringe. Oh well. If Ben was dumb enough to actually pursue a relationship with Avery, that was his problem. He had been warned.

Avery mistook my grimace for jealousy, which was probably just as well. If she went out with Ben again, that meant I would have another day free from Avery. Two in a row. I wasn't sure if it was luck, or a sign that my depressing life was finally starting to turn around. With any luck, Ben would break Avery's heart, if she even had one, and karma would finally give Avery the justice that had been coming for her for a long time.

Faced with an unexpected reprieve from Avery, I called Kelsey and Madison as soon as Avery had left with Ben, and invited them over. We would have the house to ourselves, since Dad was running errands, and I couldn't think of two more qualified people to help me figure out how to take care of Avery once and for all.

Madison arrived first, wrapping me in a hug as soon as she stepped through the door. "I heard Avery tried to blame you for making that stupid video of her go viral," she said. "Sweetie, I'm so sorry. I had no idea our stupid little prank would get you in so much trouble."

I shrugged. "At least Dad believed I didn't actually post the video. He was originally going to ground me for the rest of my life because he thought I was cyber bullying. What I don't understand is how Avery even got the video in the first place."

Madison cringed. "I might have an idea," she said, frowning. "I sent it to Dylan, because he thought it was funny and he asked me to."

I frowned. "Do you think Dylan sent it to Avery?" I asked, feeling oddly betrayed at the thought.

Madison shook her head. "Of course not. But if she used Dylan's phone to text Ben, she could easily have sent the video to herself to use for future blackmail purposes."

"Yeah, I don't think it's blackmail since she didn't really try to extort anything from me. She just wanted to ruin my life."

"Eh, same difference," she said.

When Kelsey arrived, we headed upstairs to my bedroom, shutting the door behind us in case my dad or Avery came home earlier than I was expecting them to.

"Okay, what are we going to do about the Avery problem?" Kelsey demanded. "I honestly thought you were being dramatic about how bad she is, but if anything, she's worse."

I smirked. "Thanks for the vote of confidence," I said dryly. "I told you she was evil."

"Well, yeah, but you also have a tendency to over exaggerate sometimes," Kelsey said, shrugging. "I assumed there was some hyperbole involved. And, it turns out I was wrong. So now we need to figure out how to help you get rid of her."

I made a face. "Considering she's my stepsister? I don't think I'll ever be rid of her completely."

Madison rolled her eyes. "Details, details," she said. "Okay, so maybe she'll be in your life to some degree. What we really need is a way to prove to your parents that she's not as sweet as she acts. That way, they'll understand why you don't want to be besties with her."

I groaned. "Yeah, because that's going to be so easy to do. I mean, my dad believed right away that I was tormenting her and not the other way around. I still can't believe he thinks I would bully anyone. When have I ever done anything mean?"

Madison arched an eyebrow at me. "Really? You're going to ask that? You plotted to break me and Luke up so you could date him yourself, didn't you?" she asked. "You're hardly a paragon of kindness."

Kelsey scoffed. "That's all water under the bridge," she protested. "It was ages ago. Besides you weren't so nice back then either, Madison."

Madison grabbed a pillow off my bed and threw it at Kelsey. "Hey, I was only mean to you because you were mean to me first."

Kelsey caught the pillow, tucking it in front of her protectively in case Madison threw another one.

"Right, and Lilly was only mean to Avery in self defense too. So really, we're all nice, and Avery is the mean one."

I laughed. "You two are ridiculous," I said. "You realize that, don't you?"

Kelsey smirked. "You know you love us."

"Eh," I said, waving my hand back and forth in the air. "I guess it depends on whether or not you can help me deal with Avery.

Madison sat up, looking around. "Speaking of, what's with the sudden reprieve from Avery?" she asked. "I thought for sure she'd be lurking somewhere, waiting to torment you."

Kelsey smiled, looking a little too pleased with herself. "I may have suggested that Ben take her out on a date today so we had the house to ourselves."

Madison frowned. "Ben? As in Lilly's ex-boyfriend Ben?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it was Dylan's idea, actually. He brought Ben with him yesterday to distract Avery for us while we hung out. It worked like a charm. Avery's thrilled because she thinks my ex-boyfriend is falling for her."

"And he's not?" Madison asked.

Kelsey shook her head. "No, he's not," she said, sounding confident. "I heard him talking to Dylan last night, and he called her 'that vile girl.' He only asked her out today because I asked him nicely. He feels bad for breaking up with Lilly over a text message that Avery sent."

"He claimed it was because we weren't right for each other," I protested. "The picture was just the catalyst."

Kelsey shrugged. "Well, I'm just telling you what he told Dylan. He doesn't like Avery, and he's going along with it as a favor to you. He's taking her out again tomorrow, too, at my request."

I frowned. "Not that I don't appreciate the gesture, but why?"

Kelsey winked. "I figured you could use some one on one time with Luke to figure out exactly what's going on there."

"Wait, you still haven't had the 'define our relationship' talk with him?" Madison asked. "I thought for sure you'd talk about that on the drive home. Talk about a perfect opportunity."

I shrugged. "I didn't know what to say," I said. "Anyways, what do I do about Avery?"

Madison tapped her chin thoughtfully. "If a video got you into this mess, maybe a video can get you out."

"I don't follow," I said.

"Well, if we can get video evidence of the way Avery talks to you and threatens you, it will be pretty much impossible for you parents to deny that she's a manipulative piece of work."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure Avery will be super cooperative and threaten me while you record her," I said sarcastically. "She's not a complete idiot."

"No, that's not a bad idea," Kelsey said, strumming her fingers on the top of my dresser. "We just need a way to draw her out and make her show her true colors. And we need to have the room already rigged with video cameras, so she doesn't notice she's being recorded."

I looked between my two friends, completely incredulous. "Oh, is that all?" I asked sarcastically. "And here I thought it would be difficult."

Madison glared at me. "I don't hear you coming up with any better ideas."

"Lock her in the guest room and throw away the key?" I muttered darkly. "Send her to an insane asylum?"

"Both perfectly reasonable alternatives," Kelsey assured me. "But I don't think that either of your plans are going to change the way your parents think Avery is innocent."

"Okay, so assuming I went along with this," I began. "What would we do to make Avery lash out at me? It would have to be something that wouldn't make me look bad in front of my parents. We can't overtly bait her."

"Can we use Dylan?" Madison suggested. "I know she's still upset that he broke up with her, and that he's hanging out with you again."

Kelsey shook her head. "No, that's too obvious," she said. "Lilly's dad knows Avery and Dylan were dating. He could say that Avery only reacted because Lilly was rubbing salt on old wounds."

"Any suggestions Lilly?" Madison asked. "You've been rooming with her for the past few months. What are her weaknesses?"

I shrugged. "She's a hopeless flirt. As far as I can tell, she hooks up with quite a few different guys."

"What about that guy you were friends with?" Kelsey asked. "Avery's friend with benefits."

"Will?" I asked. "What about him?"

"Would it bother Avery if she thought you were interested in Will?"

I frowned considering it, then shook my head. "No, I don't think it would," I said. "She's not interested in Will as a boyfriend. She's more into football players. He's not really her type. I think he's just a hookup when she doesn't have anyone better. She wouldn't care if I was interested. She'd see that as me hooking up with one of her leftovers."

Madison snorted. "She keeps it classy, I see."

I shrugged. "Of all the problems I have with Avery, her overactive sex life is at the bottom of my list."

"Okay, I think we're on the right track with the guy thing," Kelsey said. "If we can't use Dylan or Will, what about Luke? Do you think he would flirt with Avery a bit if it meant getting Avery to lash out at Lilly?"

Madison frowned. "Do you think she would buy that? Luke made it pretty clear to her at the dance that he was not at all interested in her. As far as Avery knows, Luke and Lilly are dating."

Kelsey's eyebrows shot up. "Really?" she asked. "Lilly, you failed to tell me that."

I shrugged. "Well, since as far as I know, we aren't really dating, I didn't think it was worth mentioning."

Kelsey frowned. "You really need to figure out your situation with Luke, and then report back to me," she said. "I expect a full report tomorrow night."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes ma'am," I said, giving her a mock solute.

Suddenly, an idea popped into my head. I knew the perfect person to use to bait Avery into confronting me. As long as he was willing to go along with it.

"What about Ben?" I asked. "Avery thinks he likes her, and as long as he really is just going out with her as a favor to us, he'll probably be on board with exposing her true colors, right?"

Kelsey's eyes lit up. "I like the way you think," she grinned. "That's absolutely perfect. If you push Avery for details about Ben, she's almost certain to snap at you. And when she does, we'll get it on video and show it to your parents. And then little Miss Avery won't be able to play the sweet, innocent victim ever again."

I smiled broadly. Avery was going down, once and for all, and justice would be sweet.
–
VOTE
COMMENT
SHARE