Free Embracing Trouble (Trouble Series) by Dee Bridle

sarcastically.
    “No one. Sarah wanted to make a Sunday roast dinner a tradition for us,” said my father quietly.
    Sarah was still in the kitchen, preparing another plate.
    “Which restaurant did this come from?” I muttered.
    “Enough,” said my father firmly. “She’s going to a lot of trouble to impress you, Ava. Cut her some slack.”
    I rolled my eyes as Sarah walked out with a bowl of peas and a large smile. Her smile faltered as she saw my black hair. She tried to smile again as she set the bowl down and sat next to my father.
    “This looks wonderful,” said my father. “Doesn’t it, Ava?”
    “Amazing,” I mumbled.
    We all spent a couple of minutes passing plates of food to each other and then started to eat.
    “So, Ava, you’ve had your hair colored,” said Sarah, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
    “I did,” I returned, spearing a pea with my fork.
    “It’s very dark,” she commented. “Are you an Emo now?”
    I speared a roast potato next and tried not to roll my eyes.
    “No, I’m not.”
    “We’ve noticed you have been going out a lot lately,” said my father glancing across to me. “Do we need to set a curfew or something?”
    “I’m eighteen,” I said in disbelief. “Six months ago, remember?”
    “We just need to know if you’re home safe,” beamed Sarah.
    I felt like reminding them that they were never here to know if I was home safe or not, especially with their weekends away. But I didn’t. I couldn’t be bothered with an argument.
    “Are you going out tonight?” asked Sarah looking at my makeup.
    I couldn’t tell them about Zac, Noah, or Will, so I innocently said, “Study session with Sophie.”
    Sarah eyed me suspiciously while my father went back to his roast. I smiled to myself, feeling powerful. Stretching the truth was fun. I had been missing out over the years.
     
    * * *
     
    I paid the taxi driver and got out, closing the door behind me. It had started to rain and I quickly ran across the city street to find some shelter. I stopped in front of a closed shop and looked up and down the street to get my bearings.
    My phone rang and I looked at the screen. Sophie.
    “Hey.”
    “What are you up to?” she asked. “Studying?”
    I cringed, and said, “Ah…no…seeing a band in the city actually.”
    “With him?”
    “Yeah.”
    “So you’re going out on a date and you didn’t tell me?”
    “Not a date. Just going to be at the same place…together.”
    “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
    “Not really, but it’s something I have to do.”
    “Well, let me know how it goes.”
    A group of gothic-looking girls walked past me, and I decided to casually follow them. They would have to be seeing Academy, too.
    “I will. Catch up at school tomorrow.”
    I stepped into a puddle and swore under my breath as the shelter stopped and the rain pelted down on my head. I still had Zac’s hoodie from that first night together and had decided to wear it tonight with my jeans. I pulled the hood over my head and quickly ran on ahead.
    I saw the small club next to a restaurant and went over to the door, showing my ID and ticket. A burly security guard ripped it in half and ushered me in. I heard the music as soon as I stepped in, and it made the floors vibrate. I went down the stairs, the music getting louder with each step, and then I entered the main room.
    People were everywhere watching the band and the room was so hot, it was bordering on steamy. I kept the hood on for the moment, feeling a little insecure as I watched guys banging their heads in time to the double kick drum on stage. Bodies were flying across the room further down near the stage and I watched in awe.
    The singer growled and then screamed the words, the guitars delivering a powerful sound that never let up. Wow. It was so loud that it literally shook my ear drums as I stood there and watched. There was some pushing and shoving near me as the guys got into the music, and I stepped back,