Avery's father was the coldest person you could ever imagine. He never said I love you or anything kind to anyone. Us children could never tell if he loved us or hated us. Although he tried to buy our love, we still didn't know what that meant. Brittany is the only one who allowed her love to be bought. The rest of us didn't accept it. We wanted real love.

Anyways, Avery's father would always make cruel jokes and presumptions about people, especially us. We were always put down and upset over the things he would say to us. He probably made us more self-conscious and insecure.

My mom and I were insecure before, but now, we're a total mess. My mom tells us every day about how she'll never meet another guy who will love her because of her looks. Sometimes, she claims it's because we never do anything to help out around the house. I try my best to do whatever I can, though. Blythe and Avery are young, so I wouldn't expect them to. Brittany has no excuse, though. She chooses not to do anything until my mom is at her breaking point, which tends to be every day.

Shockingly, Avery's father wasn't always cold. He was actually pretty kind when he first married my mom. He was caring and would do romantic things for her. Us children thought he actually cared about us. I don't know what changed him.

Since he left, Avery's father hasn't stopped by not once to see him. I feel terrible for Avery. I know how it feels to be rejected by your own father. It's not a pretty feeling. It leaves you feeling bad about yourself. I felt guilty. I thought it was my fault my father left for a very long time.

It's only been a month since Avery started being happy again. He has been playing and getting back to his normal self. Whenever I leave him, excluding for school or to pick up Brittany and Blythe, Avery tends to get upset and think I am leaving him for good. It always upsets my heart that he feels this way.

When he was sad and upset during those long two months, he wouldn't dare come outside to say hello or greet me with hugs and kisses. He would stay in his room all day doing nothing. I would sometimes swim in to check on him, and he would be staring up at the ceiling or at a wall. I'm so glad he is no longer depressed. It's a huge relief to my family, and mostly, myself.

As we near the school, I can see Nick pacing back and forth. I quickly make sure all the strings to my bra are in their place. Once I am satisfied with them, I glance at Marissa who is doing the same. She looks up at me when she finally finishes. I start to bite my lip in a nervous habit, but Marissa shakes her head. I quickly stop, but instantly feel my hands beginning to shake as I try to look ahead. Marissa must have noticed because she grabs my hand. I glance back at her and mouth the words 'thank you'. She smiles and mouths back, 'No problem'.

Once we are next to Nick, we stop and wait for him to notice us. He's turned around, looking in the other direction. Marissa clears her throat, hoping to symbolize we're here. Nick jumps a little, forcing a small chuckle to escape my lips. Nick turns around to see us and begins to smile awkwardly instead of his usual smirk.

Nick starts to twiddle with his fingers like I tend to do whenever I get nervous or am just plain bored. I guess he must be nervous, too. Of course, he could be bored, though. I can't read his mind, so I don't know which.

As he does that, Marissa and I follow gladly behind, being silent as a doorknob. I'm guessing she's probably being quiet like me because she's thinking of what might happen tonight. Hopefully, nothing embarrassing or bad happens to either one of us to make this night memorable in an awful way.