The Speech

Chapter 4

Avery's POV

      "I'm going to go lock the front door so she can't get back in." I announce, being the first one to break the silence since May cracked. I knew the girl was a little crazy but I've never seen her lose her shit like that. And over a shirt? Even I wouldn't jump to that conclusion. As much as I wanna go check on my brother, I'm sure he doesn't want to be bothered after that shit show. I'll check on him in the morning.

     "Babe!" I hear Jayden call for me and quickly head back. I walk in and see Haley draping herself on the back of the couch.
"It's not a jungle gym Haley, sit on a cushion or don't sit." I harshly snap.
"There wasn't a spot open." She says sourly.
"Here I'll scooch." Theo pipes up. Her eyes light up and she jumps at the chance to cuddle up close to him. I roll my eyes and go sit down on Jayden's lap.
"Alright never have I ever-" I loudly say, waiting for everyone to catch onto the fact that I'm starting a drinking game.
"Slapped a guy in the face." I finish my sentence. Jackie, Jayden, and Bryan take a drink. Jackie goes next.
"Never have I ever thrown up pretzels onto my 3rd grade crush." Jackie says, tossing a handful of pretzels into her mouth. I begrudgingly take a sip of my drink while she represses a laugh.

"That is just your favorite story isn't it." I tell her and playfully roll my eyes.   

"All right my turn. Never have I ever fucked my best friends brother." Jayden blurts, staring at Jackie. I punch his shoulder. Jackie scoffs.
"I didn't fucking sleep with him!" She stands up.
"Alright I'm out, over this game." She starts walking out of the living room.
"Jackie, wait- come on, he didn't mean it!" I call after her but she starts off down the hall. I sigh.
"Why did you say that?" I whisper to Jayden. He laughs.
"It was just poking fun, she did the same to you." He explains.
"Yeah well that was from 3rd grade, I've healed from that humiliation. She probably doesn't want to joke about getting mauled by a psycho right after it happened." I say but he doesn't respond.

     "Okay, I'll go." Haley starts.
"Never have I ever... had sex in this house." Everyone except Haley and Theo drink. I can feel Theo's eyes on me as I drink, but it's not like this should be surprising since this is my house. I glance over at him, he doesn't look surprised, he just looks... Bothered.
"Why have y'all had sex in my house??" I question Bryan and Andrew. Andrew's the first to talk.
"Look you're focusing on the wrong thing, Haley and Theodore haven't boned in your house." They fucking better have not. My subconscious adds.
"Well, we have time..." Haley retorts, staring at Theo. He just does an awkward smile and takes a sip of his drink. That whore.

Jackie's POV

      Jayden can be a real dick sometimes. I don't hate the guy or anything, but his sense of humor is seriously fucked. It's not like that'll keep Avery from dating him though so whatever. I know she was yelling for me to come back but after that whole thing with May, and Jayden's ill timed joke about it, I think I'm over the whole after party thing. I'll just hide in Avery's room until Theodore's ready to give me a ride home. As I walk down the hall I pass Dylan's room. I slow down as I get to the doorway, peaking in to see if I see him. I imagine he's not doing too great either right now.
"Knock knock." I announce, walking into his room. He's sitting on the floor, back flush to the bed.
"Hey.." he says quietly. I take a seat on his bed.
"How ya doing?" I ask sincerely.
"To answer that, I think I'd have to understand what even happened." He scoffs. I lay down, resting my head in my hands.
"That's okay, you don't have to." I say, staying quiet after that.
"Sorry about her... You shouldn't have been put in that situation. It's my fault." He apologizes, like he was the one who manhandled me over a shirt.

     "No, don't apologize. You gave me a shirt to wear since you spilled beer on my own. She just jumped to conclusions. And you don't need to apologize for her. She needs to apologize. Not that I'll forgive her..." I add at the end. He laughs a little.
"God I just don't know what the hell is wrong with her these days." He says.
"I don't either. I don't know how she could ever think such horrible things about you." I softly respond. I lay my hand on his shoulder and as I'm going to pull away he grabs it. I stay still, holding his hand for as long as he needs right now. As much as I'd like to rant about what a crazy bitch May was for attacking me, I know he's just as shocked about it all. And the difference is he loves her, he doesn't know how to feel about what all happened. And he just needs to know that someone is there for him.

Theo's POV

      Avery is wasted. She's sloppily sat in Jayden's lap and hasn't stopped drinking since the jello shots. If I'm being honest, the only reason I'm still here is to make sure she's okay. Otherwise I would've left after May blew up.
"Come on I'm fucking starving bro." Bryan says to Jayden. He's been begging to go to McDonald's for the past half hour now. Andrew chimes in.
"I'll drive if Jayden wants to go." He proposes. With a glance at Avery and a sigh he stands up, gently letting her body shift onto the chair.
"Alright fuck it lets go." Haley jumps up, extending her hand to me.
"You coming Theo?" I shake my head.
"Gotta give Jackie a ride home, gonna call it a night." She sticks her bottom lip out and pouts.
"Alright, well I'll see you at school." She walks out with the rest of them and I wait until I hear the door shut before I get up.

     I walk over to Avery, scooping her up in my arms. Her eyes flutter open.
"Where's Jayden?" She asks. I start carrying her up the stairs.
"He just left. Come on, you need some sleep." She stays silent. Not saying a word while I lay her down in her bed, take off her earrings, and pull the covers up over her.
"I'll be right back." I tell her, realizing I should go find Jackie to see if she really does need a ride home or if she's just going to stay the night. As I walk past Dylan's room I catch a glimpse of what looks to be her. I quietly step inside and see her laid on her back on the bed. Her hand grasped in his as he sits on the floor, head leaned back on the bed. Passed out. What the fuck?  I quietly question to myself, before shaking my head and leaving the room.

     I bring a small trash can from Avery's bathroom to her bedside, setting it down.
"Teddy?" She questions. I stroke the hair out of her face and place it behind her ear.
"Will you lay with me?" She asks softly. I walk around to the other side, and lie down on top of the covers. She grabs my arm pulling herself closer, snuggling into me. She lets out a heavy sigh.
"Don't ever let that bitch Haley curl up to you again." My brow wrinkles with confusion and I want to ask her to repeat, just to see if I heard her right, but she's fast asleep before I can.

Dylan's POV

     I wake up with a cramped neck and the sun glaring in my eyes. I go to grab my neck when I feel something resting in my hand. I look over and see Jackie, still asleep and in the same position she was last night. I glance at her hand in mine, it's small, but in a delicate way. I gently drop her hand to the bed, in an attempt to not wake her. I leave the room and head to the bathroom where I find May's jacket on the counter and shoes on the floor. Fuck did she really run out of here barefoot last night? I hope she got home okay... As much as I don't want to call her, after what she did, I know I won't be able to think straight until I know she's home safe. I lean against the sink and dial her phone.
"Dylan... I didn't think you would call. Look I'm so sorry about last night, I don't know what I was thinking I just-" I cut her off.
"Are you home?" I ask. She stops talking, registering my question.
"Yes I'm home. You can come over if you want? We can talk..." She asks, hopeful.
"I don't think I'm ready to talk yet May... I just wanted to make sure you were safe." I say with a sigh. We sit there silently for a minute before she speaks.
"I love you." Is all she says, but I can't bring myself to say it back to her right now.
"I know May... I should go." I hang up the phone before I give in. I love her, really, but between her fight with Pez, what he said to me, and the way she acted last night? Trusting her is  something I can't do right now. I just need to figure out the right words to say before I talk to her.

     I pick up her shoes from the floor, and her jacket from the counter. Something falls from her jacket to the floor, and I bend down to get it. A Energizer bunny Pez Head lies there, and against my better judgment I open it. A small plastic baggy, filled with white powder sits inside it.
Fuck.