Chapter Text
Avery sighed contentedly as he left the bar, hands loosely intertwined with his partner’s. Their face a dopey smile that melted every bone in his body.
He turned to them, “Tonight was fun. I really enjoyed my time with you, Stella.”
They nodded, “It was, we should do this more. If the warden lets you anyway.”
Avery chuckled, “C’mon, Mel’s not that bad.”
Stella snorted, “I know, I just like teasing you. I love your family. Thanks for walking me home, you didn’t have to.”
Avery shrugged, “Well, I wanted to. Figured I might as well.”
A voice called out behind them, “Stell?”
Stella froze, squeezing Avery’s hand, “Faster.”
Avery glanced at them, “What?”
Stella shouted, “We need to run!” Avery was hardly able to keep up. Stella panted as they finally stopped just outside the apartment building.
Avery wasn’t much better, “The hell was that?!”
Stella shook it off, “An ex.”
Avery didn’t really believe them.
Stella turned away, “Thanks again, Avery. I’ll…call in the morning.”
Avery watched them disappear up the elevator to the third floor. Avery sighed and started walking home.
At home, Jaiden and Mel were arguing over who’s turn it was to do dishes. Again.
Avery groaned, “Can you two just shut up and do it together like adults?”
Jaiden huffed, “I cooked so it’s Mel’s turn!”
Mel retorted, “I did dishes yesterday!”
Jaiden rolled her eyes, “Oh please, that doesn’t mean you're exempt from doing them again.”
Mel crossed his arms, “Yes it does! Do the damn dishes, Jay!”
All of them froze as they heard their grumpy upstairs neighbor bang on the floor, “Shut it!”
Avery called up, “Sorry Mr. Larkson! Look, both of you just…get it together please.”
Jaiden turned to Avery, “If you’re so sick of us fighting about it, why don’t you do it yourself?”
Mel nodded, “I’m with Jaiden. You never do dishes, it should be your turn.”
Avery grunted but at least they stopped fighting, “Fine, I’ll do them. We need to make a system for this shit.”
After their next date, Avery noticed Stella being a lot more cagey. Avery gently squeezed Stella’s hand, “Stell, you ok? You know you can tell me anything.”
Stella turned away, “Look, if this is about what happened last time, it’s none of your business.”
Avery huffed, “I’m your boyfriend and I’m worried about you. Like hell it’s none of my business. What’s going on, Stell?”
Stella shook their head, “No, just..drop it please.”
Avery begrudgingly nodded, “Alright…for you. C’mon, I’ll walk you home again.”
The walk was quiet for the most part. Eerily so. Avery noticed the lack of cars and people around. Huh, weird. Avery felt a shudder crawl its way up his spine. Was he cold? No, his bomber jacket should be enough to keep him warm. He felt…off. Not bad, just off. He thought for a moment, they could be murdered and no one would know until the next morning. Stella was shaking.
Avery slipped off his jacket, “Here, it’s cold.”
Stella smiled at him, “Thanks, Ave.”
It took a while, but they were almost there. Avery’s bad feeling only deepend. Especially as they passed this last alle-
“Stella!”
They froze again.
Avery blinked, “You ok, Stell? Stell?”
They were still shaking. Even with the heavy jacket.
The voice from the alley rang out, “Get out of here, kid. My business with Stella is mine alone.”
Stella hurriedly removed the jacket, “Go! Leave!”
Avery shook his head, “I’m not just gonna leave you here with some creepy guy! That’s insane!”
Stella looked at the man, then Avery, “Please, just trust me.”
The guy chuckled, “No, I think he should stay.”
Stella shook their head, “Absolutely not.”
”Oh please, doesn’t this kid deserve to know what kind a person his sweet Stella is?” The voice asked, still largely masked by the inky black around him.
Avery tugged the jacket on, “What?”
Stella looked at him pleadingly, “Please, Avery, just leave.”
”They’re right, Avery, you should go,” That voice, it unnerved Avery to no end.
Avery was reluctant but nodded, “I…ok.”
The next morning Avery woke up rather late. He yawned as he got up, “Morning you two…what are you doing?”
Mel glanced at the TV then Avery, “Nothing, don’t worry about it.”
Avery frowned, “Hey, what’s that on the TV? Oh, I was there last night. Why’s it on that?”
Jaiden fiddled with the hem of their skirt, “Um…they found something last night.”
Avery blinked, “What?”
Mel glared at Jaiden, “We agreed we wouldn’t tell him.”
Jaiden huffed, “But he needs to know. They were his partner after all.”
Avery perked up at that, “Stella, is she alright?”
Mel flicked Jaiden, “Good going genius.”
Avery looked at both of them, “What’s going on?”
Jaiden gestured at the TV screen, “She was found last night and she was really hurt.” They gently grabbed Avery’s hand, “Her parents called and said you couldn’t see her again.”
Avery blinked, staring blankly at the screen, “What?”
Mel felt his normally cold exterior break a bit, “You ok?”
Avery shook his head, “No! No I’m not! This is so sudden, and I’ve never even met her family. How am I not allowed to see her? What happened after I left last night?”
Jaiden shifted uncomfortably, “The police said it was loan sharks. She took a few shady loans for something and didn’t pay them back on time. I uh…watched more than Mel did. They arrested the people they thought responsible but they got out of custody.”
Avery felt his lungs constrict but no air flowed in. He just started, stunned at the screen. Were they ok? Were they alive still? Stella…who had they borrowed money from? They wanted to reach out, but knew Stella's parents likely wouldn't want him to, given they'd already barred them from speaking.
A few weeks later is when Avery finally got a call from them. Avery picked it up like an excited puppy, hurriedly moving the hall away from all the cubicles.
He answered, trying to hide the excitement in his voice, "Hello?"
It…wasn't Stella, "Is this Avery Carter?"
Avery nodded, "Yeah?"
The voice sucked in a breath, "I'm a doctor at the hospital where your girlfriend is."
Avery gently corrected the doctor, "Partner. how are they?"
The doctor's voice was tense, "We regret to inform you that…Stella…passed a few hours ago."
Avery froze as he hung up. He went home early, feeling an overwhelming need to check on Mel and Jaiden. He got home to find Jaiden napping on the couch. Mel was at work. Jaiden didn't work as they were working on their master's degree in English. Seemed like they'd just gotten back from school. Avery sat down on the couch and curled up with Jaiden.