December 2008
Waking early on Christmas Day, Avery turned over in bed to silence her alarm clock. An alarm she had set so that she’d have enough time to open the present that Paisley had sent her before having to go downstairs and do family duties.
Be a part of festivities yet again. The whole holiday season starting to make Avery tired. Tired in general as well as tired of hiding because hiding meant not being able to spend time with Cordelia who she had only seen once since she arrived in Tulsa on the twentieth and who she had agreed to try to meet up with today if she could find the time to sneak out of her parents house.
Avery knowing that could be tricky as Thanksgiving and Christmas were holiday’s that her mom treated differently. Expecting the family to stay together. Her married brothers and their wives too usually always finding their way back on Christmas day just for leftovers.
Something that pleased her mom as it helped family togetherness or some shit.
Stretching after she turned off her alarm, Avery slipped out of bed and went to her closet where she had hidden the gift she had stolen from her mom’s room.
A gift that had been intended for her anyway so Avery wasn’t sure it was entirely stealing in that aspect. Not at all. It was hers and she was just taking it back.
Opening her closet Avery bent down, pulling the gift out slowly before sitting on the floor and opening it. A sad sort of smile playing on her lips when she was greeted with two Fleetwood Mac vinyl records.
Because of course Paisley would remember what she had mentioned in California. Seemed like the girl just like Avery was having a hard time forgetting their past when it was probably best for both of them if they did just forget their past.
They had other people. She had Cordelia and Paisley had New York girl even if she claimed that was an open relationship.
Sitting on the mattress in the guest bedroom at Hannah’s, Avery raised her eyebrow doing her best not to turn and look at her reflection in the mirror.
Not wanting to show that maybe she was afraid in trusting Paisley with braiding her hair. A task Avery had only agreed to let her do because she may have been high at the time and now hours later as she came down from her high and Fleetwood Mac playing from the record player on the floor beside the bed Avery was nervous.
Not sure if Paisley even knew what she was doing. Not sure if Paisley had even braided hair before. Yet here Avery was praying she had because she didn’t want to have to deal with one big knot in her hair later. Especially since her hair was long.
Avery having decided after her last haircut a few years back that she’d let it grow out. Only getting trims every so many months to get rid of dead ends.
“You sure you know what you’re doing?” Avery spoke up finally showing her nervousness.
“I know what I’m doing sweet Avie baby,” Paisley muttered with an amused chuckle. “I used to braid my little sister’s hair all the time.”
Avery raised an eyebrow at that, “You have a sister?” she questioned knowing she didn’t know much about Paisley’s home life.
“Yeah, she’s eighteen now but I have a sister. Haven’t seen her since the day I came out to my parents at sixteen and they kicked me out,” Paisley revealed making Avery frown. “Had to couch surf for a year before Cal’s mom took pity on me and let me stay with her until I was eighteen.”
Going silent at that admission Avery finally understood why Paisley never talked about her family much. Having been told once before that she had been kicked out at sixteen but not realizing it had been so close to her coming out.
“So you haven’t talked to any of them since they kicked you out?” Avery asked feeling like that would be horrible.
To be kicked out and never speak to your family again.
“Nope and I feel like if they wanted to contact me they would. Communication works two ways,” Paisley told her sounding almost bittersweet. “Now stop talking about sappy past shit and listen to the nice music while I finish your hair.”
Hmmphing Avery fell silent as she listened to Fleetwood Mac. “You know,” she started as she talked again. “I got a record player the year I turned seventeen. It was a gift from Taylor and his wife Natalie. Now I’m trying to get all my favorite cd’s in vinyl. Sadly I still haven’t found Mirage or Rumours by Fleetwood Mac in vinyl. I keep dropping hints to my family I want them for Christmas this year but I don’t think any of them get the hints.”
Paisley laughed before leaning in to leave a light kiss on Avery’s shoulder, “Well you could just tell them all that like you told me.”
“Yeah but where’s the fun in the mystery of finding out what I really mean?” Avery asked as she shivered once Paisley had kissed her shoulder.
“Guess you have a point there Hanson,” Paisley agreed, Avery feeling her back away some. “Okay I’m done,” she told her sounding almost nervous.
Which if she were nervous maybe Avery was too.
Taking a deep breath Avery turned her head to look in the mirror hanging close to he bed, smiling at her reflection because for once in her life she almost felt truly beautiful. A sheet around her naked body and her hair up in a braid with the girl she loved sitting behind her stark naked.
“I feel beautiful for once,” Avery mused causing Paisley to lean in close, leaving another light kiss on her shoulder.
A kiss that she ended up trailing towards Avery’s neck. “You’re always beautiful,” she whispered into Avery’s skin as her hand slowly reached around, making it’s way underneath the sheet and between Avery’s legs. “Want to show you just how beautiful you are to me.”
“Oh?” Avery muttered out through a moan. “And how do you plan on doing that?” she questioned as she turned her head some right as Paisley lifted hers so they were face to face.
“Plan on making love to you,” Paisley whispered again as she moved to kiss Avery on the lips. Avery’s eyes falling shut as she kissed her back.
Heaving a heavy sigh Avery moved from where she sat on the floor. Going to get her cell phone which she turned on, quickly typing a text to Cordelia.
Hey. Not sure I’m going to be able to leave the house today so you’ll have to give me your gift tomorrow. Just blame my mom.
After sending the text Avery threw her phone down on the bed. Hating the fact that she didn’t really feel guilty for fudging the truth with Cordelia.
Knowing she was only fudging the truth because she wanted to spend Christmas day in her room listening to Fleetwood Mac and remembering how she and Paisley had made love to most of the Rumours album.
Sitting in her room later that night, finding a way to play Silver Springs over and over again, Avery looked up when she heard a tiny knock on her door before Zac opened it and stepped inside. Carrying a plate of cookies as well as a glass of milk.
Avery raising her eyebrow as she watched him come to where she sat in the floor, sitting down beside her but leaving enough room that he could fit the plate and the cookies between both of them. Though Avery had the feeling they were all for her.
There was no way Zac would touch any of them with how he was being.
“Mom said you hadn’t been down at all since you guys opened presents this morning,” Zac told her as he looked her over. “Which isn’t like the Avie I know even if you do have a tendency to hide at family events like I do.”
Laughing Avery felt a few tears go down her cheeks, “Yeah well I had a crappy day getting lost in memories,” she revealed as she slowly reached for one the cookies, taking a tiny bit.
“If it helps I had a crappy Christmas too,” Zac told her which Avery wanted to ask him what happened but at the same time she also wanted to not dig too deep.
Not wanting Zac to feel like she was policing his life and feelings all the time.
“But I can always listen to what made yours so crappy,” Zac added on in her silence.
Closing her eyes briefly after taking another bite of the cookie, Avery waited until she had swallowed to tell him. “Paisley sent me two Fleetwood Mac vinyl records for Christmas and I’ve been drowning in memories of her and our trip,” she revealed as she reached for the milk.
Taking an almost long drink like it was alcohol though she knew it wasn’t.
Zac fell silent at her confession, his brows furrowing some but even with the confused look he also looked like a sudden realization hit him. One he should have known all along.
“Paisley wasn’t just your gal pal was she?” Zac asked as he reached for her hand with the tattoo on the wrist. “She was much more than that.”
“Yeah, she was my girlfriend,” Avery admitted feeling free to finally tell someone in her family what Paisley had been to her. “I’m…I’m dating Cordelia now but Paisley was my girlfriend.”
“And the end of your friendship was really your break up?” Zac questioned though it was more of a statement because they both knew the truth.
Avery nodded her head in confirmation, “She supposedly cheated on me. Admitted to it and everything. Then in October she tried to take it back. Implies she never cheated and that mom had something to do with why she made me think she cheated and why we broke up.”
Zac pursed his lips at that, “You don’t believe her?” he asked sounding like he could believe her.
“I don’t know what to believe,” Avery told him honestly. “I just know Paisley makes it hard for me to move on from her. I mean for fucks sake I’m dating Cordelia but I can’t be truly happy with her because I think…I think I still love my ex.”
“Well I’m not the best at relationship advice but I can say it’s best not to force something relationship wise when you feel it isn’t right,” Zac shrugged as he let go of Avery’s hand finally. “It will just make you miserable.”
“So says the guy who has been dating his wife since he was a teenager,” Avery reminded him. “You and Tay really lucked out in not having to date much even if Tay got the shit end of the deal with his coerced into marriage thing.”
Zac made a face at that, like he wanted to say something but he didn’t. Instead he just sat with Avery in silence. Avery finishing the rest of the cookies. Though when she got to the last one she split it in half offering it to Zac.
Watching as he looked at it hesitantly, almost as if it was his enemy. But eventually almost reluctantly he took it and swallowed it.
Avery seeing that it was taking all he had to do even that. But she was glad he had at least tried. Made her somewhat crappy Christmas one percent better.