December 2009
So far away, but she says I remind her of home
Feeling oh so far from home
She never saw herself as a west coaster
Moved all the way cause her grandma told her
“Townes, better swim before you drown”
Avery danced around her room as she got ready for tonight’s events. She and Cordelia had been invited by Ethan to go and watch his friend Brandon perform at a small club in downtown Los Angeles and Avery had readily accepted for the both of them.
Which was probably not her best idea since when she told Cordelia well she hadn’t taken it well. Not at all but Avery really couldn’t help it. What better way was there to ring in the new year then going to a club and getting drunk even if she was still underage.
But she had became a pro in the past eleven months of living in Los Angeles at getting away with using her fake id. Because going to clubs was just a thing she and Ethan did on the weekends.
It was also her last few days until she started her first semester of college and she wanted to get drunk before becoming serious about school.
She already had her work at a local bakery weighing her down and soon school would be too and she deserved to get out and drink. Deserved to have fun but as she turned to look at Cordelia she half expected her fun may be hard to get since her girlfriend was still wearing a sour look on her face.
“Will you cheer up Cordy,” Avery sighed as she adjusted her dress she had picked out for tonight. A little black number that showed off her legs well. “We’re going to have fun tonight and maybe after we will have even more fun,” she said as she moved even closer to Cordelia. “What do you say about more fun?” she asked as she let her arms slip around Cordelia’s waist.
“I would say we could have fun here and then have even more sexual fun here too,” Cordelia told her as she made a face. “That and it’s hard to even think about fun when you keep playing that damn Carolina song that Ethan wrote over and over again. You know I hate it.”
Avery rolled her eyes but she moved away from Cordelia. Going to shut the radio in her room off. “It’s still a demo. I’m sure the studio version will be better,” she explained but she knew Cordelia’s dislike ran deeper and she couldn’t figure out why.
Avery loved it and had loved it ever since Ethan sang it to her on the phone months back.
“Now stop complaining and come on before Ethan leaves without us,” Avery told her as she turned to leave the room. Not missing when she heard Cordelia mutter that would actually be lovely for him to do.
Yet despite muttering that Cordelia followed her out of her bedroom. Followed her down the hallway to living room where Ethan was already waiting for them and when they got there Avery felt her cheeks getting hot at the way Ethan looked her over.
Looking at her like he had the night they slept together when they first met. She hated that she even remembered that look.
“You ladies look stunning tonight,” Ethan told them with a smile on his face. His dimples popping out and Avery was tempted to reach over and pinch his cheeks. Tell him he was putting things on too thick but she didn’t.
Suspected it would make Cordelia even worse.
“Yeah, yeah,” Cordelia said from behind Avery. “Let’s just leave so we can get back home before too late,” she spoke not even bothering to hide her bad mood.
Shaking his head Ethan turned on his heel as he walked back towards the front door. “Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and kept her attitude all day I see,” he said sarcastically.
Avery fearing that Cordelia would lash out and say something rude too.
She was relieved when she didn’t though when they made it out into the hallway Avery wasn’t blind to the way Cordelia grabbed onto her arm. Pulling her close as they walked to the elevators like she was laying claim on Avery.
Letting Ethan know she was off limits which was crazy because he already knew that.
She’s such a good girl
Yeah, she’s a good girl
She feels so good
“You aren’t going to drink tonight?” Ethan questioned from where he was now sitting beside Avery on a stool in the balcony. Having taken Cordelia’s seat after she had went to the bathroom.
Avery scrunched up her nose at his question because she had wanted to drink. Had wanted to have fun but Cordelia whose sour mood had continued even once they arrived here at the club was now affecting Avery.
Made her want to stay sober and suffer with her girlfriend.
“I shouldn’t,” Avery said with a shake of her head. “Cordelia isn’t and I should stay sober too.”
Ethan rolled his eyes before looking at her like she was crazy. Like she had two heads almost. “You don’t have to stay sober because you’re girlfriend is.”
“I know that,” Avery countered. “But I want too.”
“Bullshit,” Ethan deadpanned as he stood from where he was sitting. “I’m going to go buy you a fucking drink Avery Laurel Hanson because while your girlfriend may want to be a frigid bitch tonight you don’t have to be and you shouldn’t be,” he told her and with how firm he sounded she knew not to fight him.
So she stayed silent as he walked away. Watching as Cordelia came back not long after.
“Where did Ethan go?” Cordelia questioned as she looked around for the boy that Avery knew she’d dislike forever because of her insecurities.
It was the same with Paisley too still even now after a year of dating Avery. After months of Avery trying to prove she only wanted Cordelia. That she loved her which she did but she still wasn’t in love even after all this time.
“He went to get a drink for me.”
“Oh,” Cordelia muttered out looking disappointed. Like she had expected Avery to keep up her soberness tonight which was bullshit because she knew Cordelia was okay with drinking. She drank with her friends she made here all the damn time.
Maybe it was just that Cordelia didn’t like the new friends and the new habits Avery had developed. Maybe they were just slowly drifting apart and both being stubborn in admitting it.
Before she could say anything else though Ethan returned with a drink for her as well as one for himself. Avery was half sure it was his second drink of the night.
Gets into parties without invitations
How could you ever turn her down?
There’s not a drink that I think could sink her
How would I tell her that she’s all I think about?
Well, I guess she just found out
Avery who had just finished her third drink looked over at Cordelia right after Brandon had gotten done singing and she knew from the look on her girlfriends face that she wanted to go home. But she also knew from Ethan who was sitting on her other side that they weren’t going to go home just yet.
No he wanted to stay until after the New Year because as he had told Cordelia during Brandon’s set what was the point of going home and being boring old people when they were still young. Still had a life to live and Avery agreed with him.
Knowing Cordelia wasn’t too happy but oh well. Such was the luck of things sometimes.
“So what are your goals next year Ethan?” Cordelia finally spoke breaking her silence and of course she had singled Ethan out. They had been butting heads all night or well Cordelia was butting heads with everyone all night.
“What?” Ethan asked her clearly perplexed on why she had asked him that.
Avery turned to look at him as she gave him a smile, “It’s a tradition in Cordelia’s house,” she explained. “They tell one goal they have for the next year on New Years Eve.”
Ethan furrowed his brows even if recognition passed on his face.
“I think I want to kiss a pretty girl this year,” he finally spoke up and his answer made Avery laugh.
“Or a pretty boy,” she added on for him because she knew he also liked guys and he wouldn’t be opposed to kissing them either.
“A pretty boy would be an added bonus but there is this one pretty girl I want to kiss this year,” Ethan winked at her and for the second time that night she blushed because of him.
Though she was also taken aback because she hadn’t thought he had even liked anyone. Didn’t know he met a girl he was serious enough over already and she felt like she should have known.
They were roommates who were sometimes way too open with each other.
“What kind of pretty girl is she?” Cordelia asked Avery turning to her girlfriend who looked almost relieved at this information. “Avery didn’t even tell me you had a crush on someone.”
“It’s not a crush,” Ethan denied but the way he looked down sheepishly Avery suspected he was lying. “But she’s the type of pretty girl someone would write a song about.”
Avery swallowed hard at his answer. Knowing he had said that once about her. That she was the type of girl to have a song written about her.
But no, he didn’t mean her.
“What’s your goal Cordelia?” Ethan questioned turning the tables on her now.
Cordelia pursed her lips as if she was really thinking over her answer but Avery knew she wasn’t. Knew that she already had her goal set.
“I want to get a role in the play my college is putting on this spring. The main role.”
“You’ll get it,” Avery reassured her as she reached out for Cordelia’s hand. Giving it a tiny squeeze.
A part of her feeling happier now that Cordelia seemed happier. Like she was okay being out now.
“What’s your goal this year darling?” Ethan asked again turning his gaze on Avery. “You’re the last one left.”
Taking a deep breath Avery looked down at her legs. Messing with the hem of her dress. She knew what she wanted to say. She wanted to say her goal was to fall madly in love and fell alive again. She also knew she couldn’t say that so she went with a lie.
“I just want to finish my first semester of college.”
She’s such a good girl
Yeah, she’s a good girl
She feels so good
She feels so good
“So what was your real goal?” Ethan asked her after he had brought her out onto the dance floor. Somehow getting her away from Cordelia who had stayed behind to talk to Brandon about his songs because even if she had been moody it seemed she had liked the music she heard.
Avery just looked at Ethan curiously, “Who said that wasn’t my real goal?”
“Because I know a bullshit lie from you when I see one,” Ethan countered as he let his arms slip so effortlessly around her waist as he danced with her to the music that was playing. “So what is your real goal?”
Biting her lip Avery looked away from her friend’s gaze. Not sure if she wanted to tell him because she didn’t want to admit she still didn’t love her girlfriend. That her goal was to hopefully fall madly in love with her this year since she had done a crappy job of it last year.
“I think I want to keep it to myself for awhile,” Avery told him as she looked back up at him. “But hopefully if I achieve it I can make Cordelia happy and I can even get rid of this darn necklace I wear around my neck,” she sighed hoping she didn’t give too much away with that but maybe she did.
Knew still wearing the necklace Paisley gave her proved where Paisley still stood in her heart and god she just wanted the type of love that could make her let go of Paisley. Let her finally move on from that.
Ethan only nodded though he didn’t say anything else to her. Instead he somehow found a way to pull her even closer as they continued dancing.
Avery hating that somehow for a third time tonight she was blushing. This time because she was sure she felt his erection but she could just be crazy.
She could just be imagining things.
I wanna scream, yeah
I wanna shout it out
And I hope she hears me now
As the countdown began in the club they were in, Avery sighed as she felt Ethan holding her close to him. She should be with her girlfriend right now but Cordelia had left for a bathroom break again and so Avery was stuck with Ethan on a now almost crowded dance floor.
When the countdown got to one Avery turned her head as she looked at Ethan whose face was closer to hers than it had been all night and maybe it was the alcohol in her bloodstream but it almost looked like he had wanted to kiss her on the lips with the way his eyes went down to her lips before coming back to her own eyes.
A smile appearing on his face as he leaned in even more, his lips connecting to her cheek instead of her lips though. Her eyes falling shut at that as a shiver ran down her spine.
“Happy New Year darling,” Ethan whispered in her ear as he kept his lips against her cheek. “I hope you get all you want.”
“Me too E,” Avery sighed as she held Ethan a bit tighter to her. Because being in his embrace right now was comforting.
Made her have some hope that her goal would come true. She would finally fall madly in love this year and feel alive again.
Something she truly hadn’t felt since the day she chose Cordelia over Paisley.