July 2008
Waking the next morning to Paisley sleeping soundly beside her, Avery smiled at the sight. Loving how peaceful her girlfriend looked and Avery almost wished she had a camera to take a picture of this moment but she didn’t. Instead she only had her memory and she’d do her best to commit that to memory.
Slipping out of bed though as not to wake Paisley, Avery reached for her pajama shorts, putting them back on before going to Paisley’s bag and grabbing a plaid button down shirt that she knew belonged to Paisley. Hoping no one else would notice her wearing it or say anything.
Putting the shirt on Avery buttoned all the buttons except the top three and after it was on she went to her dresser where she grabbed a hair tie. Throwing her hair up into a messy ponytail before leaving the bedroom to get breakfast.
Was thinking of maybe surprising her girlfriend with breakfast in bed. Only because she was afraid of the awkwardness it would be if they ate in the kitchen with everyone else. Though hopefully everyone else would still be asleep.
After all yesterday had to have been as long and tiring for them as it was her.
Making it to the kitchen downstairs though Avery slowed when she entered the kitchen to see her mom and Zoe in what looked like an intense conversation. One they stopped abruptly when Avery had came into the room and she almost got the distinct feeling they were talking about her.
Though she had no clue what it could be about. She hadn’t done anything since being back that Zoe would need to tattle to their mom about. Not in front of her sister at least.
“Mom…Zoe,” Avery said cautiously as she looked between them. “I’m surprised you two are awake so early,” she spoke as she pasted on a smile.
Still trying not to overstep things with her mom. Make stuff worse than what they already were now.
Diana smiled up at Avery after she talked, though Avery could see it was forced, “I am too actually but Zo couldn’t sleep. Said something was troubling her and so she woke me up to talk about it. She should be fine now though.”
Avery raised an eyebrow at that, though she didn’t question it. Knew better than to do that.
“Well at least she’s better now,” Avery said with a smile on her face as she moved farther into the kitchen. Soon getting things together to fix breakfast for both her and Paisley and while she was doing that Avery listened as her mom left the kitchen.
Though Zoe stayed in the kitchen with her and the whole time Avery could feel her sister boring holes into her back. Staring at her and it made her slightly uncomfortable.
Avery stayed silent as she fixed the cereal bowls, speaking up after she had them fixed as she turned to look at Zoe, “Are you okay Zoe?” she asked her sister honestly. “I mean really is there something wrong because if you need to talk…”
“Nothing’s wrong!” Zoe snapped at her which made Avery jump slightly. Having never heard such anger from her sister before. “Now can you please just go and be with your friend and leave me alone,” she muttered as she narrowed her eyes. “Pretty sure the fun you had last night is probably still making you tired today.”
“What does that mean?” Avery asked feeling confused and again like she was missing something though she had no clue what she could be missing.
Zoe shook her head at that, “Nothing. It means nothing now please just go,” she muttered being insistent on wanting Avery to leave and Avery frowned.
Feeling a bit hurt but she did her best not to show it. Instead she took both cereal bowls and left the kitchen, heading back to her room. Where when getting there she was greeted by the sight of Paisley taking Avery’s clothes out of her bag and also trying to figure out which clothes were her own.
“Well darn you’re awake already,” Avery spoke which made Paisley turn to look at her. “I was going to surprise you with breakfast in bed. Though it’s nothing special just Cheerios because our family is lacking in good cereal right now.”
Paisley laughed softly as she sat down on Avery’s bed though her laugh didn’t sound genuine. Like there was something bothering her and Avery half wondered if everyone but her had just woken up moody.
“Well I actually would have came down stairs and probably ruined the surprise more but on the way out of your room I ran into your mom. Had a nice chat with her and decided to just hide out in your room,” Paisley spoke as she rolled her eyes.
Avery frowned at Paisley’s words, “What did she say?” she questioned as she sat down beside Paisley, handing her one cereal bowl.
“Nothing that concerns you,” Paisley answered though she avoided eye contact with Avery, leaving Avery to feel that maybe it did. But then again she didn’t see why Paisley would lie to her. “Just stuff about me.”
“Nothing good I’m sure,” Avery spoke as she began to eat her cereal.
“Nope,” Paisley confirmed with a shake of her head finally looking at Avery and after that things fell silent between them as they both ate their cereal.
A silence that Avery found almost uncomfortable but then again the whole day seemed off and like Avery had missed the memo to something.
After they had both finished Avery took Paisley’s bowl from her and took them downstairs. Half having expected Paisley to still be in her room when she came back but when she came back Paisley was nowhere in sight and she frowned at that.
Sitting down on her bed as she felt tears prickling her eyes. Tears she didn’t fight back even though she had left her door open and anyone leaving their room could see her. It was just a shitty day it seemed.
From the weird stuff with her mom and Zoe, to Zoe snapping at her and now Paisley being off. It almost made Avery wish she were still away and on her trip. Away from everything that could hurt her and with the one person who made stuff better.
“I think I wanna come out,” Avery muttered coming down from her sex high as she laid next to Paisley in the bed in their hotel room in Paris.
They had been in Paris for two days now and tonight they had went to see the Eiffel Tower as well as having a romantic dinner at some fancy restaurant not far from their hotel. Both flirting over their dinner and when they had came back neither could take their hands off each other and they had fallen into bed.
A crazy mess of limbs as they moved with each other until climax and now in her sex high and maybe a bit love drunk Avery realized she was ready to come out when she went back home.
“What?” Paisley asked sounding surprised as she eyed Avery, holding her close and tracing patterns on her skin with her fingertips.
“I want to come out,” Avery repeated again. “When we get back home I want to come out and I want to do it with you there by my side. I don’t want you to be my secret anymore Pai. I want the whole world to know how much I love you. I want my family to know.”
Paisley just kept eying Avery, “You’re only saying that in the heat of the moment.”
“But I’m not,” Avery argued as she pushed herself up so that she was resting on her arm. “I’ve been considering it ever since we got our tattoos. I want to come out. I’m ready and I’m comfortable and I’m in love. I need this for me Pai before I go crazy.”
“If it’s what you want,” Paisley told her with a smile as she leaned in to peck Avery’s lips. “Then I’ll be behind you every step of the way.”
Grinning at that Avery pecked her lips back, “Good because I probably won’t do this without you there for me. Need someone to lean on who makes me feel safe when I’m pretty sure my whole world is going to get turned upside down,” she muttered knowing things would probably change when she went back home in July.
A storm would be coming but at least maybe she’d be prepared for it.
“Avery?” a voice spoke from her door and Avery wiped her eyes quickly, looking up and seeing Mac. “Is everything okay?”
Avery paused at Mac’s question debating on lying or telling the truth. Knowing lying would be easier but instead she shook her head no as more tears came out.
Mac taking her head shaking as his permission to enter her room and sit down on her bed beside her. “Is it your period? I know those make you and Jessie both crazy.”
“No,” Avery laughed through her tears. “It’s not that. Things are just…they feel off,” she told him not sure how to say she felt like a storm was coming. One in which she wasn’t prepared for at all.
“I’m sorry,” Mac told her as he reached out and pulled her into a hug and as Mac hugged her Avery broke down more in his arms.
Hating the fact that she was losing it in her younger brother’s arms and not really even knowing why. Just having an off feeling.
A feeling that she was afraid to get answers for and one she knew she probably would get ones for sooner, rather than later.