April 2008
“That’s a cute necklace,” Diana spoke as she stood beside Avery in the kitchen where they were with Kate and Zoe baking cupcakes for Diana’s birthday celebration that she’d be having tomorrow at the Church even if her birthday was actually today.
Something that was going to be celebrated in a small family gathering at dinner. A dinner that of course her brothers would miss because they were still on tour but their wives would be there.
Natalie even saying she had an announcement to make at said dinner which Avery couldn’t help but suspect that it was a pregnancy announcement. It seemed it always was a pregnancy announcement with her.
Unless of course there would be a shocker and she and Taylor would actually divorce but of course Avery didn’t see that happening so pregnancy it had to be.
“Thanks,” Avery smiled as her hand automatically went up to the necklace around her neck. The one Paisley had given her last week and the one she had been so afraid to wear for days but had finally decided to wear it for the first time today.
Mainly because she was missing her girlfriend. Someone who she hadn’t really seen since the movie night because again she had gotten lost in studying for a test that was this weekend and hopefully after the test was over and done she’d actually be able to see her girlfriend more.
Because she really did miss Paisley desperately missed her.
Her mom only returned her smile, “So where did you buy it from?” she asked with a curious little look. “It really is you especially with the paintbrush and easel pendents on it.”
“It was a gift from a friend,” Avery answered with a shrug of her shoulders as she let go of the necklace. Hoping her mom didn’t push and ask anymore questions.
Something Avery knew deep down she’d probably do because that’s who she was.
“Oh,” Diana muttered almost like she had already figured out who it was. “Which friend?” she asked though from her now icy tone it was apparent that yeah maybe she had figured it out already.
Her icy tone being enough to make Kate turn to look at Avery curiously and Avery knew now wasn’t the time to explain everything to Kate.
Hell she was almost surprised her mom hadn’t told Kate everything anyway but maybe she was too afraid to tell anyone her fears about Avery having a lesbian friend who she might have felt more than friendly towards. Afraid if she told she’d speak the relationship into existence.
One that already existed anyway.
“Paisley,” Zoe piped up before Avery could answer and Avery turned on her, giving her a slight glare. “She came by last week when you and dad had your date night and she gave Avie the necklace. Only know because I saw her holding it when Mackie and I came in here to tell them both to hurry and bring the popcorn so we could start the movie.”
Diana went silent at that for way too long. Long enough that Avery was afraid of what she’d say.
“And I was never told of this?” Diana asked as she directed her question at Avery.
Avery blushed as she kept her gaze off her mom. Becoming way too interested in her baking instead. “I mean I never have to tell you when my other friends make surprise appearances by the house,” she defended hating the fact that she wanted to cry right now.
Just wishing that maybe for once her mom would cool it on not liking Paisley.
“Your other friends aren’t bad influences,” Diana reminded her with a shake of her head.
Rolling her eyes at that Avery was about to respond but Kate beat her to it instead.
“Paisley seemed nice enough when I met her,” she smiled and her words made Diana turn to look at her quickly.
Quick enough that Avery was almost afraid that maybe she could have gotten whiplash or something.
“You’ve met Paisley?” Diana questioned and again Avery was surprised at the lack of information that had been shared between Kate and her mom and maybe Kate really didn’t tell Diana everything.
Even when it seemed she wanted to be favorite daughter-in-law and telling her everything would definitely give her extra points towards that.
Kate nodded her head as she gave Diana a genuine smile, “Two weeks back maybe. Nikki and I went out to get ice cream and Paisley and Avery showed up. Paisley seemed nice enough to me and not someone who was a bad influence,” she spoke almost like she was defending Avery’s friendship.
The first time anyone had done it for Avery it seemed which was nice.
“She’s a lesbian Katie,” Diana revealed her tone coming off a bit harsh and at that Avery turned to give Zoe a look before slowly leaving the kitchen.
Ushering Zoe along with her because even if the conversation was about her and Paisley it almost felt intrusive to listen in so blatantly.
So once they made it out of the kitchen Avery came to a stop. Not moving and instead eavesdropping that way and she wasn’t surprised either when Zoe made no effort to move.
“What’s wrong with her being a lesbian?” Kate asked sounding genuinely confused. “Zac and I are friends with a few other gay people and none of them are bad influences on us.”
“Because none of them probably like you,” Diana argued back and Avery could almost picture the huff her mom gave after she had spoken. “Paisley looks at Avery like she’s in love with her and Avery….she looks at her the same way,” she revealed her voice going soft at that.
The fear showing some which surprised Avery because their mom rarely showed true fear. Instead she hid it inside pretty well.
“I just don’t want my daughter to be a failure to herself and God, Katie,” Diana continued in Kate’s silence. “What would you and Zac do when it comes to Shepherd one day?” she questioned referring to the unborn baby Kate was carrying. “What if he had a gay friend and they looked at each other like they were in love?”
After that question, the kitchen fell silent like Kate was thinking over her mom’s question and again Avery could almost picture that little face Kate did when she thought over something.
A face Zac was probably used too cause no doubt Kate always had to think over any idea he had since most were weird ones.
“I think I’d still love my son Diana,” Kate finally answered after a long while. “I’d love him and I’d do my best to accept that maybe he was gay. But then again I’d also know looks are looks and just because you look at someone some way it doesn’t mean you really are in love or that you are gay,” she continued sounding again like she was standing up for Avery.
A fact that made Avery happy because well she hadn’t really expected it from Kate.
“All I know is I don’t think that Paisley girl is a bad influence Diana and Avery seemed the happiest she has in weeks when I saw them together and you should just be grateful that your daughter has a friend that makes her so happy.”
Diana again huffed at that, “My daughter is fine Kathryn,” she muttered using Kate’s full name. “She’s been happy ever since she started dating Jeremy and nothing has changed. That’s probably why she seemed so happy.”
Rolling her eyes at that Avery just moved to leave finally. Not wanting to hear anymore of the conversation because of course her mom would be in denial that she wasn’t happy as long as it benefited her.
If it didn’t then yeah she’d call Avery on her weird moods and the way she’d been acting.
But now that didn’t benefit her in her conversation with Kate so she’d lie and mask the fact that Avery hadn’t been happy in some time and really was only happy with Paisley.
Because as scary as it was Paisley made her feel safe. Safer than anyone else and maybe somehow in some weird way Paisley was also beginning to feel a lot like home to Avery.
Something she shouldn’t because no one should make people homes. People had a tendency to leave in the end.
Making it to her room finally, Avery headed over to her canvas where the unfinished painting of her and Zac was and she sat down in a chair. Letting herself get back to work on it.
Just to get lost in something that wasn’t bad feelings. Wanting to just drown in her art instead of how she truly felt right now.
Later that night after the small birthday get together for her mom. A get together where Natalie did indeed announce that she was a few weeks pregnant with her fourth child, Avery sat outside on the porch.
A part of her feeling pretty accomplished because in the hours before the get together she had finished the painting of her and Zac. Something she hadn’t done in what seemed like forever.
Finish a painting and now that she had finished it she had another painting idea in mind. One that was entirely brought on for all her feelings for Paisley. A painting of the sun and moon together in a forbidden kiss. Much like all the kisses she shared with Paisley.
Forbidden but feeling oh so right.
Coming out of her thoughts though as her phone rang Avery didn’t even have to look at her cell phone’s id to know who was calling. Knew just from the Beatles song that played. The lyrics of Oh Darlin giving it away.
“Hey,” Avery spoke as she held the phone to her ear. “How’s the tour going?” she asked before her brother could even speak.
“Same as always,” Zac answered her question. “By this time all cities start to look the same but I still love it.”
“Of course you do,” Avery laughed softly. “What city are you in now?”
“Falls Church. We have a show here tomorrow,” Zac answered quickly and well that surprised Avery because usually he had to ask others. “Just got off the phone with Katie actually and that’s why I’m calling you,” he continued and him telling her that he had gotten off the phone with Kate was answer enough to how he knew what city he was in.
Probably had to ask someone when talking to her.
“Oh really?” Avery asked with a raised eyebrow. “What about your phone call with your wife made you want to call your sister who you haven’t really spoken to since the ice ages,” she teased him knowing she was just at fault for their lack of real communication lately.
Life was just too busy on her end just like it was on his.
Zac laughed at Avery’s words, “Funny there Avie baby,” he muttered sarcastically. “Hasn’t been the ice ages. Just since prohibition maybe,” he corrected keeping the teasing up. “But Katie just told me that she is still under the impression that your plans for this summer haven’t changed. That you plan on traveling for months by yourself.”
“That would be correct,” Avery confirmed for him. “Are you calling to try and talk me out of it? Because that would be hypocritical of you, you know. You traveled without our parents when you were sixteen,” she reminded him knowing he had been allowed to be all the way out in California making an album at an age much younger than Avery was.
“I did,” Zac sighed and Avery could hear movement on his end. Like he was sitting down. “But I also had my two older brothers with me so I wasn’t really all alone and I don’t think you should go all alone either. I think you should bring someone with you like a friend or maybe even Jessie.”
Laughing at that Avery reached up with her free hand towards her necklace, “Jessie won’t leave Joe for that long,” she stated with a sigh, knowing her sister would be miserable for weeks without her boyfriend. “And all my friends are busy with their own lives,” she said knowing Juniper had plans to start moving this summer as did Cordelia.
Cordelia opting to go to California with her dad immediately after graduation to find a place to live and maybe even a job and Avery was slowly beginning to realize just how quickly her life was beginning to change.
Something she wanted to forget because she still wasn’t sure how she could do life without her friends around. They had always just been minutes away for as long as Avery could remember and now soon they’d be on opposite ends of the world.
“I’m sure there has to be one friend you could talk into going with you Avie,” Zac spoke breaking the silence that had filled the lines after Avery had gotten lost in her mind.
His words only bringing up an image of Paisley because maybe she could. Her college semester ended in May but she still had work so it was iffy there. Not to mention Avery was sure her mom wouldn’t like the idea of Paisley tagging along but maybe Avery wouldn’t have to tell her if she brought it up to Paisley and she agreed.
“There maybe is one,” Avery nodded her head though Zac couldn’t see her. “But you’re really starting to sound like dad there Zachary and even dad isn’t too worried on me traveling all alone by myself this summer.”
“Dad’s probably freaking out he just isn’t showing it,” Zac told her sounding sure of himself. “And I can’t help worrying. You’re my seventeen year old sister and I worry about you especially you traveling on your own. Probably would worry even if you were forty and traveling alone.”
Avery laughed at that before sighing, “You’re not going to stop until I tell you I’ll ask one of my friends will you?”
“Nope,” Zac spoke confirming what Avery suspected which again made her sigh.
“I’ll bring it up to one of them okay but no promises,” Avery finally told him and she wasn’t sure if she was saying it to ease his worries or if she’d actually bring it up with Paisley. “Just so you know though I worry about you too Zac.”
“And what does that mean Avie?” Zac asked sounding way too defensive. Like he had a secret that no one else but him knew about.
Something that of course Avery would be able to detect given her own life right now.
“Nothing, was just saying the worry goes both ways and I just want you to be okay and taken care of Zachary,” she spoke with a tiny smile. “I should go though. Need some sleep and so do you if you have a show tomorrow.”
Zac sighed at that, like maybe he didn’t want to end the conversation but instead of saying so he just bid her a goodbye and after that they both hung up.
Avery pocketing her cell phone as she debated on mentioning to Paisley if she’d come with her at least for part of her trip anyway. Not sure if she could take off work and if she could how much she could take off.
Not to mention there was her mom and how much she’d freak out if she knew so if Paisley did go it’d just be another secret Avery would have to keep.