One Time

Part 2

Paris Asbury:

I screamed and crumpled to my knees. I try to find my breath and be as quiet as possible so 

Avery wouldn't hear. Tears run down Corey's face. "Shh, hey listen calm down, we'll be alright," 

Corey helps me stand up. I fall into his arms and we cry on each other's shoulders. "What are we 

going to do?" I whisper. "Are we going to tell Avery right now? ON her BIRTHDAY?! That our

parents aren't going to be here today or that our parents are DEAD?!" I panic. "Paris, I know this 

is a lot, believe me. Give me a second." Corey runs his hands through his hair and paces around 

the hallway. "I don't know honestly. Avery is going to be devastated anyway." he sighed. "I-i'll 

tell her," I say under my breath. He turns to me. "Uh Uh, that's not a good idea missy. You're a mess 

yourself. I'm the oldest, just let me do it." he says. "Why don't we eat the pizza first?" I suggest. 

"Sure, " Corey says. "Avery, come get pizza!" I shout, trying to manage a smile on my face, but 

nothing changes. My face was plastered as if i was going to throw up.  Now that I think 

about it, I might. "Which slice do you want?" he smiles at Avery. Wow, he was better at this 

acting stuff than I was. "Pepperoni," Avery gives a questioning glance at both of us, the kind 

that's like 'What are you hiding?'. After we eat pizza, we open her gifts. "Shouldn't we wait for 

Mommy and Daddy?" she asks, halfway unwrapping through the first one. "Speaking of that..." I 

start. "We'll talk about it later, open away," Corey stops my mouth with his hand. "Ooo a pony!" 

Avery unwraps a pony with pink glittery hair and a blue sattle. "Thanks, Corey!" she said. Gift 

after gift, Avery unwraps. "Thanks, guys!" she said and gave us a group hug. "Let's sing!" I say. I 

take the rainbow cake out of the box and light three candles. "Happy Birthday to you, Happy 

Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Avery, Happy Birthday to  you!" Avery closes her eyes tight 

and blows out the candles. "YAY!" Corey and I fake cheer. We finish our cake and me and Corey 

keep looking at each other like 'Should we tell her now?' After Avery finishes her cake she says, 

"Can I go play now?" I turn to Corey, butterflies in my stomach. "So um,  Avery we got to tell you 

something," Corey says, in a serious tone. Avery sits back down worried. " Do I have to get my iPad 

taken away?" she groans. "No, not that," I sigh. "I was on a call with one of Mom and Dad's 

friends," Corey continues, "And he said that Mom and Dad died in a plane crash." The room goes 

silent. Avery's mouth is wide open. "Is this a stupid joke? I don't like jokes!" she says starting to 

get mad. Tears start to form in my eyes and she realizes its not a joke. She starts to bawl her eyes 

and I run to the bathroom, I was going to get sick. "Hey Hey, it will be alright Av I promise,"  

 Corey craddles her in his arms and I hack into the toilet. "You good?" he shouts. I walk out and 

join the group hug. "They loved you a lot, Avery, all of us." Corey says, "I'll try the best I can, to 

get an extra job to support us. Tomorrow they are going to decide which immediate family to go 

to, and honestly, I hope they choose our Aunt Sarah and Uncle Roger because Grandma and 

Grandpa live in Michigan and I really don't want to leave Tulsa." I nod, thinking about the gang, 

Marie, my friends, my crush, everything. "I'll sleep with you tonight, Avery, so you don't have 

nightmares," I offer. She nods her head and wipes away the tears. It was going to be a long 

night.