A/N: Big chapter, big important chapter :o

Day 33 of Tour: Arizona: Motel Room – Morning

"No we can't leave until I find it! Avi was loud, Avi was upset, he was ready to cry.
     "Avi we've turned the room upside down twice, it's not in here," Esther told him.
     "It wasn't in our room either buddy," Kevin added, he hated seeing Avi upset, but there was nothing left they could do.
     Kirstie walked back into the room and over to Avi, "I spoke to the front desk, I gave them our contact details, they'll let us know if they find your ring," she assured him.
     "We have to get going," Esther spoke up, "I don't want to miss our next check in."
     "This sucks," Avi sighed in frustration, he ran his hand across his scalp as a means to calm himself a little.
     Kirstie hugged him from behind, with her cheek pressed against his back she spoke, "It'll be okay, chances are it's somewhere in your bag, hidden in a piece of clothing, it could be in anyone's bag."
     Avi nodded slowly, "You're right, it's probably that," he ran his hand along her arm appreciatively.
     Kirstie kissed his shoulder before pulling away with a smile, "Of course I'm right."
     Esther had to smile herself; in fact she was in awe somewhat over the small little affectionate gestures, Avi was understanding, he was doing little things himself and not pulling away when Kirstie did things to him. And Esther had never liked that ring, not just because she thought it was ugly and too big and unnecessary, but he got that ring the same year that everything happened, right before it happened. Sure it was one of Avi's few happy memories at High School, but seeing it was a constant reminder to Esther that her little brother went through something really shit.. The ring obviously doesn't mean the same thing to Avi, he loved it, it was probably his most prized possession, but Esther couldn't bring herself to like it, not at all. And just to add, she didn't hide his ring or anything, she may hate it but she'd never do that to Avi.

...

Day 33 of Tour: Utah Border – Night

"And this is officially the eighth state in our ten state tour," Esther told them from the middle row as they crossed the Utah border, Avi was sitting next to her, Kirstie and Scott were in the very back and Kevin was driving. It was starting to get too dark for Kevin to drive so he had to pull over and Avi took the wheel to take them to the hotel. This one had been a long drive, Esther had started out, then they switched to Kevin and now Avi, it meant Scott would be first next time, as that was only fair.

Esther came back to the group from check in, the sets of keys dangling off her pointer finger, "So three rooms, how we splitting this?"
     "I want Kirstie!" Mitch spoke immediately.
     "No fair!" Scott complained, "I was gonna say Kirstie!"
     Avi looked down at the ground, he was going to say Kirstie too, because that was one of the things Esther suggested he do.
     "Wow, I've never felt so popular," Kirstie joked; she mockingly flicked her hair back with a giggle.
     "I thought we were supposed to keep them split up at all times," Kevin looked at Esther but gestured to the trio.
     "That's what I wanted but it's not possible to keep all combinations separate with three rooms and only two of us," Esther sighed.
      "And remembering we're not actually children, so," Mitch snarked with narrow eyes.
     "You're not children, but you're still not old enough to drink, so," Esther replied with the same sass.
     "Well they can't get it if I don't buy it, and I won't buy it for them again," Avi spoke up.
     "Tis true," Scott commented.
     "We won't talk Avi into it again, it was mean of us to do it in the first place," Kirstie added, she did honestly still feel a little guilty about it.
     "Okay then, I will try my best to trust you all again," Esther nodded. "You should probably choose who you share with then Kirstie."
     She looked between Scott and Mitch who look back at her eagerly. "I can't choose either of you because I don't want to upset either of you. So I guess I'll share with Esther," she shrugged.
     "Or," Esther spoke quickly, "Because I don't mind sharing with you, but I think Avi would like to share with you."
     All eyes shifted to Avi and his went to his sister.
     "Wouldn't you?" Esther prompted.
     Avi hesitated before slowly nodding, "Yeah, I... yeah."
Kirstie's smile grew, but she didn't say anything, she didn't want to scare him after all, if she'd known he wanted to share with her he would have been her first choice.

...

Day 33: Utah: Motel Room – Almost Midnight

Avi was about to get into the bed when Kirstie spoke.
     "We should talk."
     That stopped him in his tracks, "What?" His heart raced, wasn't that the line people said always meant bad things?
     Kirstie was sat up in the bed, "I'm not tired, so we should just talk, unless you're tired," she frowned.
     Avi let out the breath he was holding as he did finally get into the bed. "No, I'm not really tired," what did you want to talk about?" He hoped she wasn't going to bring up High School again and try to make him talk about it.
     "How do you know how to ride horses?" Kirstie asked, thinking back to what Esther said at the museum.
     Avi smiled, relief flooding him, "My parents have always had horses, we practically grew up on a ranch, we all know how to ride horses and I love riding horses."
     "I've only ridden a horse once, on a school trip, it was terrifying," she shuddered.
     Avi laughed, "It's not scary, it's so much fun."
     "Not if you fall off."
     "Did you fall off?"
     Kirstie spoke quieter, "No, but I could have."
     "But isn't that the same with anything? It could happen, but it doesn't mean it will."
     Kirstie's eyes widened with the opportunity and she jumped on it, "Kind of like how you're scared I'm going to do what the girl in High School did, even though I don't know what that was. But just because it could happen doesn't mean it will," Kirstie left the comment in the air for a moment before she got back to horses. "Have you ever fallen off of a horse?"
     Avi was surprised, he hadn't told her that, had Esther? Had Kevin? Or had she just figured it out? Was it that obvious? He doesn't know how to reply so he answers the last question instead, "Yeah, once when I was eleven and I broke my arm."
     Kirstie was disappointed that that was all he said, but she knew he'd taken it on board, that had to be what that pause was right? And it wasn't like she planned this, how could have known he would say what he did, it was just perfect circumstance. So how can that be fun then? You fell off and broke a limb!"
     "That was one time, one time out of hundreds. And they say when it happens, when you fall you need to get back on as soon as you can so that you don't end up too afraid... oh..." It hit him, this is exactly like his scenario and he knew Kirstie wouldn't miss this opportunity, he watched her eyebrow shoot up at his words and all.
     "You seeing those similarities right now too?" She didn't wait for him to answer because she already knew it. "I'd just like you to know that I didn't plan this, it's just worked out really well for me."
     "You reckon I'm scared because I didn't try dating soon enough after everything?"
Kirstie nodded, "I think that's exactly what it is. I'm the first girl you've dated since, that's why you're so uncomfortable, not because you don't like me."
     "That, and you should already know that I like you because I've told you that I do," Avi sighed.
     "I know," Kirstie smiled, "And you did take your shirt off for me." She looked down at the duvet that covered their legs, plain white. "Avi, I don't know what she did to you, but I can already promise that I won't do it. I don't even have to know what it is to know that I won't do it, I would never want to hurt like that or in anyway."
     Avi's stomach did flips as he kept his gaze on the finger where his ring should be. He spoke quietly, "She did a lot of things leading up to the main thing, most of it I didn't even realise until she told the whole school that I raped her," his words caught a little in his mouth.
     Kirstie didn't know what to say.

A/N: What are your thoughts, and what do you think are the thoughts going through Kirstie's head right now?

Please vote and comment, it makes my day :)

Hannah.