One Crack at a Time

Orion

Ava's voice sliced through the calm like a knife, and I could feel the warmth I’d so carefully built around Holly begin to dissolve in an instant. Holly's smile faltered, and confusion clouded her eyes as she looked from Ava to me and back.

I slowly let go of Holly's hand, trying to mask the unease creeping up my spine. My face fell into a practiced expression of surprise, though I could feel the familiar tension building in my chest. This was just what I wanted.

“Ava,” I said, forcing a note of confusion into my voice, as if I hadn’t been expecting this. “I didn’t know you were coming. I’m sorry if—”

“Spare me,” she cut in, her voice cold and sharp.

Her heels clicked on the floor as she strode toward us, each step deliberate and purposeful. The sound echoed like gunshots in the room.

Holly flinched, instinctively shrinking back. Her wide eyes flicked between the two of us as she began to understand the shift in the atmosphere. Ava’s gaze locked on the bracelet on Holly’s wrist, and her jaw tightened ever so slightly.

She was already on edge, and I could see it—her emotions were quickly boiling over. “What are you doing here, Orion?”

I took a slow, controlled breath, standing up to meet her challenge. “Visiting Holly,” I said softly, making sure my voice carried the right mix of calm and genuine interest. “We never really got a chance to meet properly, and since I had a little free time, I thought it’d be nice to introduce myself. Thought you’d appreciate me being here for her.”

Her eyes narrowed, cold and unblinking. I’d learned to read her by now—every twitch of muscle, every shift in her gaze spoke volumes. “You thought wrong.”

Holly swallowed hard, her voice trembling with uncertainty. “Ava, he’s just trying to be nice.”

“Nice?” Ava snapped, her voice thick with disbelief, as if the very concept were foreign to her. She turned to her sister, her gaze softening for just a moment. But when she turned back to me, it was like flipping a switch. Her expression was once again steel. “You don’t know him like I do.”

I held my hands up in mock surrender, my voice as gentle as I could manage, laced with just the right amount of feigned hurt. “Ava, please. Can’t we just set this aside for Holly’s sake? This doesn’t need to be a fight. Can’t we just pretend everything’s fine for a moment?”

Her laugh came out harsh and bitter, like it hadn’t belonged to her at all. “Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you? Pretend like everything’s fine while you keep spinning your lies. I see through you, Orion.”

She took a step forward, her body language predatory, calculated. Her voice dropped, dangerously low. “What are you really doing here?”

“Stop it!” Holly’s voice cracked, the desperation breaking through the tension that had been steadily rising. “Please, just stop fighting.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she turned to face both of us, her face crumpling with the weight of it all. “You’re both scaring me.”

I turned to her, my heart sinking. The sight of her pain made something in my chest tighten, but I kept my tone measured. “I’m sorry, Holly. You shouldn’t have to see this.” My gaze flicked back to Ava, a little more forceful now. “I’m not here to hurt anyone. I’m here because I care about her. About you.”

Ava’s eyes flashed with something far colder when I mentioned the last part. “Care?” she repeated, her voice dripping with disdain. “You don’t know the meaning of the word.”

I lowered my voice, taking a small step closer to her, so only she could hear. “Then help me understand, Ava. If you think I’m so dangerous, if you can’t trust me—tell me why. What have I done to make you believe I’m some kind of threat?”

Ava’s lips curled into something bitter and twisted. She didn’t answer immediately. I could see the internal struggle on her face, and for a moment, I thought I had her. But then, with a sharp intake of breath, she finally spoke.

“You want me to list your crimes?” she asked, her voice dripping with venom. “There’s not enough time in the day.”

Holly’s voice, small but persistent, broke through again. “Ava, why are you acting like this? He’s... he’s trying to help. Can’t you just let him?” She sounded so fragile, like a thread ready to snap.

Ava exhaled sharply, the air between us growing heavy with the tension that had been building ever since she walked in. The fight seemed to drain from her, but only for a moment.

She crossed the room in quick strides and crouched beside Holly, her hands gripping her sister’s. “Listen to me,” she said, her tone softer, almost pleading. “I know this is confusing, but you have to trust me. Orion is not who he seems. This is all part of his twisted plan.”

Holly jerked her hands away from Ava, her face twisted with confusion and pain. “No, you’re wrong. He’s been nothing but kind to me. Why can’t you see that?”

For just a second, I saw something flicker in Ava’s eyes—something almost soft, something vulnerable. But it was gone before Holly could notice. Ava quickly composed herself, her face hardening. “I’m doing this to protect you, Hol. Please, you have to believe me.”

The room fell silent, the kind of silence that presses down on your chest until you can barely breathe. I took a step back, feeling the weight of the moment.

“I never wanted to come between you two,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “But if my presence is making things worse, maybe it’s better if I leave.”

Ava’s eyes locked onto mine, her voice cold, though her hands were now trembling. “Good idea,” she said, her voice like ice. “Leave.”

I turned to Holly, offering her a smile that felt heavy, almost apologetic. “I’m sorry for the trouble, Holly. I hope we can talk again... when things are better.”

Holly’s lip quivered, and I saw the tears forming in her eyes. “You don’t have to leave because of her,” she whispered. “You’re not the problem.”

I reached out to touch her arm gently, but I didn’t linger. “It’s okay,” I said softly. “I don’t want to make things harder for you.”

I turned toward the door, but before stepping out, I paused. I couldn’t help myself—this had all been too easy. My gaze flickered back to Ava. “I only want what’s best for her. You know that, right?”

Ava’s eyes were flames, her fury barely contained. “Get out,” she growled, her voice a dangerous whisper, trembling with suppressed rage.

I nodded, a slight smirk curling my lips. I turned my back on them, reaching for the door. As it swung shut behind me, I exhaled slowly, letting the calm wash over me.

The confrontation had been perfect, everything I’d hoped for. Ava was unraveling, and it was exactly what I wanted. Every word, every calculated movement had brought her closer to the edge.

One crack at a time.