July 2008
“I don’t think she cheated on you,” Juniper told Avery as they sat in her room. Avery having finally came out of her room after a night of crying to herself.
Doing nothing but running to one of her best friends after. The other being in San Francisco so of course she couldn’t run to her. Probably wouldn’t anyway because Avery was afraid Cordelia would rub this in her face. Tell her she always knew Paisley was bad news.
“Junie I literally caught them and she confessed,” Avery stated as she took a bite of the pineapple and ham pizza that Juniper had ordered just for her.
Juniper still being on her no meat kick this month but Avery suspected it wouldn’t last long. That she’d go back to meat soon because she always did.
“Yeah and I think she’s lying. I’m telling you she did call Cal the night she said she did. I know because we were in the middle of having sex and Cal made an argument on answering the phone because she hadn’t heard from Paisley since you guys left.”
Avery rolled her eyes at that as she swallowed her bite of pizza, “Well maybe Pai used her as an excuse. But either way she cheated on me and was cruel and we’re done,” she spoke feeling like she wanted to cry after saying that because of course even though she had accepted reality she still very much loved Paisley.
May always love Paisley because Paisley was her first love and did one ever really get over first loves?
Avery had heard horror stories about old people who still missed their first loves. Not wanting to be one of them but now afraid she could be because of how deeply she loved…still so very much loved the girl who had cheated on her.
“Which is a bummer because you two were amazing together,” Juniper spoke with a frown, Avery knowing she’d probably remain convinced that Paisley hadn’t cheated even though Paisley had fucking confessed to it so easily.
Like the fact that she cheated had meant nothing. Like Avery had meant nothing and maybe she hadn’t meant anything to Paisley.
Which hurt because Paisley was her world…the person she considered home. Her safe place and now it was gone.
“Oh Avie,” Juniper stated as she reached out and pulled Avery into her. “Don’t cry. I don’t want you crying on my watch,” she spoke and her words made Avery realize that she had started crying against her own will.
Not even realizing she had really and she sat her slice of pizza back down on it’s plate. Not wanting to cry on her pizza.
“Well I don’t want to cry but I can’t help it,” Avery hiccuped softly as she buried herself into Juniper as she closed her eyes. “Everything still hurts and every time I close my eyes I keep seeing Ellery in just her shirt and underwear the way I saw her yesterday. Then I picture her in bed with Paisley and I slept like shit last night because of it.”
Juniper frowned as she rubbed the side of Avery’s arm, holding her closer. “I’m sorry you’re going through this Avie,” she told her and for someone who didn’t believe that Paisley had cheated she did sound honest in that.
Probably meaning she was sorry that Avery had to believe Paisley cheated. Though Avery saw no logical reason why she’d lie.
Why if she truly loved Avery she’d let her suffer like this.
The only thing there could be was Paisley had cheated and Avery had meant nothing to her. Nothing whatsoever.
“So am I,” Avery hiccuped again as she cried harder. “Remind me never to fall in love again Junie.”
Juniper gave a tiny laugh at that, “I don’t think I’ll do that because I know you will,” she told her sounding sure of that.
Avery too was sure she would as well. But she was also afraid no matter who she fell in love with next would ever compare to Paisley. Not when she could still so vividly see a future with Paisley.
A future Paisley knew she had dreamed of and yet had no problem in smashing to pieces when she had made a plan to cheat and then followed through with it.
Opening her eyes Avery pulled away from Juniper as she wiped her eyes, calming down some. “Let’s just finish our pizza and then binge watch every sad movie you have,” she murmured not sure if the plan to watch sad movies would help.
But at least Avery would have a different emotional thing to cry over than her own pain and heartbreak.
Sitting in the airport Avery looked over at Zac who had offered to drive her this time. Something Avery was sure he had used as an excuse to get out of the house for a bit.
His body still showing the signs of what a new father looked like…maybe. Taylor and Isaac had never looked as run down as Zac did but then again Taylor and Isaac were wired differently than Zac.
“You okay Avie baby?” Zac asked her as they sat beside each other. A look of worry on his face. “You’ve been silent and that’s so unlike the sister I know and love.”
Avery forced a smile at Zac’s question, “Just sad about leaving I guess,” she shrugged though her words were a lie.
A part of Avery wanted to leave and get as far away from Tulsa as possible. Get away from Paisley and Ellery and the memories of being cheated on.
“You sure that’s all?” Zac questioned again as if he didn’t believe her which of course he wouldn’t.
He knew how happy she had seemed during the Fourth of July. Knew she wanted this trip still so of course he’d see through her bullshit about being sad to leave.
Looking away from him Avery ran a hand through her hair which she had wore down today. Just not feeling up to fix it up much this morning. “Paisley and I are no longer friends,” she told him knowing she may as well tell him. He and Kate had gotten unusually close to her.
“Oh,” Zac stated with a frown. “Kate’s going to be devastated. She’s the first one of your friends that she actually liked.”
Avery laughed sadly at that, “Just Kate?” she questioned him with a knowing look.
“Okay maybe me too even if she was a liberal and she broke your tattoo virginity with matching tattoos,” Zac muttered out his words making Avery laugh more which lifted her spirits some.
“Are you upset that I didn’t get a matching tattoo with you?” Avery asked not even commenting on the virginity part even if she had been so close to revealing that wasn’t the only virginity of Avery’s that Paisley stole.
But of course she didn’t because Avery was kind of content in her closet again. Not wanting to come out just yet anymore.
Not since she had lost Paisley. The person who she hoped would help her through things if she came out and it didn’t go well.
Zac rolled his eyes at that, “No, because I don’t want a tattoo,” he spoke which Avery knew was a lie and so she gave him another look watching as he blushed. “Okay maybe I do but Kate would kill me if I got one and I never really considered getting a matching tattoo with you though now the idea is there,” he smirked softly. “I was just upset that you were the first Hanson to ever get a tattoo. I wanted that honor.”
“Yet you married a woman who will kill you if you get one,” Avery reminded him which made Zac lift his finger and flip her off.
Laughter once again falling from her mouth, though after that they both fell silent. Knowing they had at least an hour left to wait. Avery hating that Zac for once had been early for something.
Especially since he usually ran on Hanson time which was late.
“I’m going to go to Starbucks and get another coffee,” Avery told him as she stood from the chair she was sitting in, stretching slightly because her ass had gone numb. “Do you want a drink or anything?”
Zac shook his head as he looked up at her, “I’m good,” he stated and Avery wanted to argue. Telling him a drink may make him look more alive instead of the zombie he resembled but instead she bit her tongue.
Nodding her head before walking off and heading to Starbucks to get another coffee that would hopefully help keep her awake until she got on her flight where she’d sleep some.
Even if sleep was still hard for her because she still was haunted by the images of Paisley and Ellery.
Which Avery knew she shouldn’t have even thought about that right now. Only getting lost in her thoughts as she did so. An action that eventually caused her to bump into a solid body.
Landing her on the floor on her ass as she looked up at the person she had bumped into. A way too cheerful man with huge green eyes and endearing dimples.
His arm which he was extending out to her covered in tattoos and she reached out to take it, giving him a glare as she stood up.
“Watch where you’re going,” Avery muttered out harshly as she eyed him. “You could have killed me you know.”
“But I didn’t kill you,” the green eyed stranger told her as he kept his smile. “You’re fine even if a bit grumpy which you shouldn’t be a grump to someone. Never know if you may see them again somehow.”
Avery rolled her eyes at that, keeping her glare, “I wasn’t a grump,” she lied knowing maybe she was a bit grumpy but it was only because this green eyed stranger basically reminded her of Paisley if she were a man and a lot taller but of course the world hated her.
Wanting her thinking of Paisley whenever she could.
“And I highly doubt I’ll see you again so if you’ll excuse me,” Avery told him as she walked past him.
Hearing him call out from behind her that she was excused and she had to fight every urge she had to flip him off. Knowing he’d probably see it because he was probably watching her.
The damn irritating stranger who had nearly killed her even if she had been the one not watching where she was going.