"It's not about hating," Avery tries to explain. "It's about knowing this ends poor with me. Always does." She's never gotten close to someone without one or both of them getting hurt and falling out. Or, you know, the other person dying. That's happened once or twice as well.

"But I don't play games. Barely fucking know how. If you want me to know something, you tell me. If you want to know something back, you ask."