May 2008
After her tests were done Avery left the building at the college. Heading out to her car where she soon got in and laid her head against the steering wheel for a second.
Needing just a few minutes to catch her breath as well as relax because she had been nervous all morning and through most of the test. Afraid that even with all her studying she’d still fail, something she was still afraid of even now that it was over and done.
Almost wishing she’d have the results today but knowing they’d come sometime next week which meant until then her nerves would probably eat her alive.
Which meant for the next few days she’d be in a different hell than the study hell she had just left behind.
Lifting her head though when she heard her cell phone vibrate she reached down into the cup holder where she had left it laying before going in to take the tests.
Hitting to unlock her phone she was soon greeted with a notification that she had a message from Paisley.
So I don’t know if you are done with your tests yet or not but just wanted to say I really hope you ace them babe and well also how about dinner tonight with your amazing girlfriend to celebrate studying being over with? I need a night in before my finals kick in for this month and I’d like to spend it with you at my place with some take out.
Smiling as she read the text Avery quickly sent one back.
I’m done and fingers crossed I aced it. Dinner at your place sounds amazing but what did you have in mind to eat?
After hitting send on that, Avery put her phone away again as she started her car and pulled out of her parking space. Knowing that right now a part of her wanted to head home before she went to Paisley’s tonight.
Just wanting to take a nice long hot bubble bath as well as maybe nap. Hoping one or both could ease the nerves she’d have until she got the results of her test back and knew if she failed or passed.
A part of her really hoping she had passed because she didn’t want to have to do another year of school next year. She’d much rather be planning her college classes and college life.
Still a bit unsure though if she’d stay here in Tulsa but if she was with Paisley still she didn’t see why she wouldn’t stay in Tulsa. She’d sadly stay anywhere Paisley was because Paisley was almost again like a home to her. The person who anchored her down in the sea of life and made her feel a bit weightless at times when waves tried to drown them.
Waves like her mom and the way her mom hated just the simple thought of Avery’s friendship with Paisley.
Making it home though Avery came out of her thoughts as she pulled into the driveway. Cutting her car off before reaching for her phone to see if Paisley had texted her back during the drive back home.
Well I mean I wanted to eat you but that would probably come after dinner. For dinner I was thinking pizza from Hideaway.
The veggie combo pizza?
You know me so well Avie :). Though if you want to half it and get a meat kind for you, you can.
Nah veggie is good. Need to try to eat semi healthy since being in study hell ruined that for me. Going to need to exercise for weeks to get this stress eating weight gain off me.
Or we could have sex and get the weight off you that way. But you can also become my yoga buddy for the remaining weekends in May. There’s this nice new studio not far from where I work.
I’ve never done yoga before Pai…so maybe we should just do the sex idea.
But you’d look amazing in yoga pants…that nice ass of yours would really be complemented well in yoga pants. So how about a combination of yoga on Sundays and sex after because seeing you in yoga pants will be my undoing.
Laughing at the last text Avery just shook her head.
Sounds like a deal. See ya tonight though babe.
After sending that Avery turned off her cell phone and soon headed inside. Now really needing that long bath especially after Paisley’s sex talk. She was just kind of turned on and needed a place to get off without being interrupted.
Something that sometimes was hard in a house with five other people but her dad and Mac were gone on a fishing trip out of town this weekend so that only left three other people so maybe she would get some time alone in the bathroom without interruptions.
After coming out of the bathroom Avery who was already dressed in some much more relaxing clothes went to her dresser and looked into the mirror.
Reaching for a brush she brushed her hair before deciding to put it up into a tight bun. Knowing that for now she probably wouldn’t nap.
Not when during her bath after getting off all she wanted to do was create art. Get started on the painting of the sun and the moon that was inspired by Paisley and their nicknames for each other.
So after her hair was done and up Avery went to her closet where she kept her extra canvases and grabbed one as well as her paints and brushes and once she had everything she assembled them all down in the floor in front of her bed.
Deciding that today she’d paint while sitting on the floor. Wanting to be as relaxed as possible since her nerves were still kind of crazy.
Double checking to make sure she had everything Avery smiled when she saw that she had and before sitting down to get started she went to her radio and cut it on. Slipping in that Tegan and Sara CD that Paisley had given her back in March.
Once the CD had started to play Avery went back to her art stuff and sat down. Beginning to get started as she let herself slip off into her art as well as the music and maybe thoughts of Paisley as well.
Her mind bringing up all their happy times together. The way Paisley held her after they had sex or the tiny little smile that she only really ever gave to Avery and no one else. Her blue-green eyes lighting up when she found good angles for pictures she really wanted to take or even when Avery gave her permission to hold her hand and kiss her in public places.
All things that made Paisley, Avery’s safety net right now. Something that not even her best friends were at the moment which she was sure they didn’t mind maybe. Cordelia may have minded some but she didn’t complain anymore and she had Jane now.
Even if maybe she had been honest with Jane since Avery was convinced Jane hated her and was jealous of her.
Which was absurd because Avery only saw Cordelia as a friend right now. Nothing more and nothing less and she doubted it would change anytime soon.
Though maybe sometimes her mind did conjure up what ifs. What if she had just been honest with Cordelia then maybe she could have saved her heartbreak and they could be together right now. What if she had just turned Paisley’s proposition down…maybe she could have went to Cordelia and again saved Cordelia heartbreak.
But again it was just what ifs and nothing could be changed by them. Not that she’d want them to be because she was happy and content with Paisley.
Someone who while making her feel safe was also dangerous and forbidden for her. Liked the thrill of sneaking around a bit maybe even if she did kind of also hate keeping her a secret.
Liked the way Paisley always challenged her to be a better version of herself while sometimes Cordelia coddled her and let her get by with shit way too much.
“That’s a really good picture Avie,” a voice spoke which startled Avery some and she blushed as she looked up to see her younger sister seated on her bed.
Finally realizing that maybe Jessica was right and maybe she did zone out when she painted but well she just had to get in the zone.
“T…thanks,” Avery spoke hating the way her voice caught and her blush grew as she watched Zoe inspect her painting.
One that was basically now almost done except for adding a few minor details of the sky and the grass but overall she had already finished the sun and the moon kissing so she had done the most important parts of the painting.
“Didn’t know the sun had blue-green eyes or that the moon had brown ones,” Zoe piped up as she looked at Avery. “Or that they were in love and kissing.”
Avery shrugged her shoulders, “Sometimes people like to say they’re so in love with each other but can never really see each other,” she stated hating the way her voice got all dreamy sounding mainly because Paisley had told her something similar once.
Zoe crinkled her nose up at that, “Sounds kind of stupid and pathetic.”
Laughing softly Avery shook her head, “You’ll understand some day when you’re older and in love.”
Again Zoe kept her nose crinkled, “I never want to be in love,” she stated like her mind was made up and maybe a part of Avery hope she kept to her word.
“I’m sure mom and dad will be proud to hear that,” Avery added on as she laughed some more. “I mean one of their kids not falling in love and making them panic.”
“You make them panic and not with the boy you are in love with,” Zoe reminded her as they locked eyes. “Just by having a friend they don’t like.”
“Correction by having a friend mom doesn’t like,” Avery told her because deep down she was sure their dad maybe didn’t care as much. “Just mom.”
Zoe seemed to go silent at that for awhile and during her silence Avery stood up and began to put her art supplies away. Leaving the painting on the floor so it could dry some.
“You should just end your friendship with Paisley,” Zoe finally spoke as she broke the silence in Avery’s room.
Well silence besides the CD which had been on repeat and was probably on it’s third play through the whole album.
Turning to face Zoe, Avery chewed on her lip, “I should huh?” she asked her as she raised an eyebrow. “Just because mom wants me too?”
Zoe nodded her head yes, “Mom’s always right about people and if she says Paisley is bad news she probably is.”
“Mom isn’t always right Zobug,” Avery sighed knowing her sister would understand when she was older. “You’ll understand when you get older,” she stated before pasting on a smile. “Now come on out of my room I’m going to a friend’s tonight and I don’t trust you alone in my room you sneak.”
Zoe laughed at that as she stood from the bed, being careful not to disturb the painting on the floor. “Who me a sneak?” she asked innocently as she batted her eyelashes and Avery knew if she was anyone but Zoe’s older sister maybe she’d fall for her lines and her batting her eyelashes.
“Yeah, you,” Avery teased her as she left the room with Zoe. Hoping that she could get out of the house without a third degree from her mom.
Though she suspected her mom would give her the third degree but Avery was sure she’d still be able to leave. After all she hadn’t really broken any rules or stayed out past curfew since her parents had met Paisley and all her mom had was the flimsy Paisley was a lesbian trying to corrupt Avery line.
Flimsy only because Avery was already corrupted.