Shout

Chapter Thirteen - Sorry, I'm Processing

The sound of keys jingling first captured my attention as I lay down on the floor of my bedroom, spread out like a starfish. I wasn't sure I still had the energy to go. I was feeling so  many things from exhaustion to anger due to Aaron showing up. I didn't know if I could leave my house like this. I didn't know if I could see Alexander like this.

"Oliviaaa," Came the sing-songy voice of Avery as she dangled her keys from her finger. "Why's your front door locked?" She asked entering my room. Avery had a key to the house in case of emergency or more likely, if I forgot my key, which had happened on multiple occasions.

She spotted me on the floor. "Whatcha doing?"

"I don't think I can go."

She crouched down on her feet and looked at me as if I was a child, "Why not?"

"Aaron came over." I began.

"Aaron came over," she repeated.

I nodded, "He wanted me to meet up with my mom and his parents-"

"He wanted you to meet with your mom and his parents," Avery cut in.

"-But not tell them about Heather." I finished.

"But not tell them about Heather?" Avery questioned.

"Stop repeating everything, Avery." I huffed as I sat up.

"Sorry, I'm processing." She shook her head. "Is he insane? Coming to you for favours after he cheated on you?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "It was out of left field."

"Please, please tell me you didn't say yes." She grabbed me by the shoulders and looked into my eyes with a cautioning frown.

"I told him to go," I said slightly proud.

"You told him to go." Avery repeated. She waved her hands frantically, "Sorry. Processing. That's incredible, Olivia!"

"It kind of is," I smiled.

"So why on Earth would you cancel with Alexander?"

"I don't know," I whined. "I'm feeling overwhelmed, clearly." I gestured to my body sitting on the floor. I was in my bunny slippers and my pajamas that I had changed into after Aaron left. The last thing I wanted to do was get dressed at this point.

"That's why you need to go. Alexander's good for you. Whatever 'friendship'," Avery used two fingers to indicate quotations around the word. I ignored her as she continued, "you two have going on, it's making you happy. I see it. Aaron even probably sees it. That's why that turd is circling around you like a crow. You're standing up for yourself, Olivia. I've never seen you do that."

"Alexander and I are just friends, you know." I reiterated.

"I know." Avery conceded for once.

"I guess you're right," I trailed.

"Of course I'm right. You'll find that's usually the case," Avery stated confidently. I wanted to argue with her but we both knew she was right. Avery was uncannily good at being right the majority of the time. It was a bonafide talent that I didn't bother arguing with her about anymore.

Avery pulled me up by my hands and then deposited me onto my bed before going into my closet and rummaging through it.

"What are you up to tonight?" I called after her as she disappeared into my closet.

"I'm going to Nathan's place. I've never been." She replied loudly so I could hear her. "What should I be prepared for?"

"A mess," I admitted. "You'll want to clean it up, for sure." Avery was a serial neat freak. Everything had to be in its place always, or she would get irritated. Alexander's apartment was not extremely untidy, but anything short of a magazine ad made Avery nervous.

"Super," she responded, walking out of the closet with a few hangers of clothing. "Try these." She tossed over some pieces.

"But it has a homey feel to it," I let her know as I walked into my closet so I could change.

"Is that code for dirty?" She asked sarcastically.

"No. It's code for lived in. Or at least that's what you should tell yourself so you don't freak out." I called out.

I pulled on a pair of black skinny jeans and a white flowy top before walking out. "It's cute," Avery said approvingly.

"Are you driving over?" I asked.

"Nathan's picking me up. He's been waiting outside for 10 minutes actually."

"Avery! You could have at least brought him in!" I hit her shoulder lightly.

She shrugged, "He's fine." She shuffled through the makeup on my desk before tossing me a pink lipstick. "You look cute in this colour."

I opened the tube and swiped some on my lips.

"My parents have been asking about you," Avery stated.

"I miss them!" I replied.

She raised an eyebrow almost as though she thought I was being sarcastic. "They want you over for breakfast one day."

I shrugged, "I'm down."

"I'll let them know. Tommy's been going apeshit without you." She laughed. Tommy was Avery's thirteen year old brother who may or may not have had the slightest crush on me. I loved Tommy like he was my own baby brother.

Tommy and Aaron used to loathe each other. I never understood why Aaron would be so rude to a young boy. Tommy hated when I used to bring him to the house. They almost got into physical altercations on more than one occasion.

"You look adorable," Avery cooed.

"I don't even know where we're going." I grunted.

"That's half the fun!" Avery exclaimed.

"I guess you're right,"

"I'm always right." Avery said proudly as o rolled my eyes.

"I should probably take off if you're okay?"  Avery questioned.

"I'm good. Thank you Avery,"

"See you tomorrow." She called on her way out.

I grabbed my wallet and phone and went downstairs to see if Alexander was here only to hear the rev of his motorcycle on its way into my driveway. A month ago, that sound wouldn't have meant a thing to me, but now it made my heart jump at the sound and it wasn't only out of fear like I thought it would have been.