Return What Was Lost

Chapter 23

Julian was scrolling through Avery's old Instagram again. He knew it was wrong, he knew he had a girlfriend, but he couldn't stop himself. It had been a few days since he and Avery had last talked and even if things were strange between them, when he looked at the two of them grinning like goofy kids for the camera, he couldn't help but wish she was by his side.

He knew what that meant. He had to break up with Nikki. Even if Avery didn't want to date him, he knew he was just hurting Nikki. Sooner or later he would have to face the truth. He didn't do happy, altruistic, cheerful girls. He liked girls who saw both sides, who didn't mind if he spent some time being a little gloomy, knowing he would bounce back. He liked Avery. Although he knew it was wrong.

Everyday his thoughts were filled with all the memories of his past with her. He wondered if she too remembered running through the aquarium and laughing like there was no tomorrow. It was all Julian had, in his darkest moments, he clung to the memories of the girl who made living worth it. Julian was still daydreaming about going back to the aquarium with her when Emmet called Cole.

"Hey, Emmet, kind of late don't you think?" Cole said as he answered his phone.

"Woah, hold on, what?" Cole said, his face filling with worry.

Julian looked over with a questioning look.

"Okay, okay, I got it."

Cole hung up and immediately shoved his shoes on and motioned for Julian to do the same.

"Come on," he said urgently.

"What's going on?" he asked as he too put his sneakers on.

"Emmet and Avery are back and he said he needs us to meet them in the parking lot right now," he explained urgently, although it wasn't much of an explanation.

Julian didn't even know Avery had left today, much less that she was with Emmet. He and Avery weren't exactly on good terms at the moment.

Julian was glad Coach was at a tournament with the Junior Varsity basketball team tonight, they left the dorm no problem. As they ran to the parking lot, Julian tried to ask Cole for more details.

"Did he say why?" Julian asked, but his question was answered as soon as they arrived in the parking lot.

Avery was wasted, and her hair was pink. How had that happened? Emmet was holding her up as she giggled about something. She took a sip of the bottle of whiskey in her hand and laughed once more.

"Oh man," Cole said quietly.

"What happened?" Julian demanded.

"A lot," Emmet said as he readjusted his hold on Avery. "One thing led to another and now she is slightly intoxicated."

"Slightly?" Julian repeated exasperatedly. "She can't even stand up on her own."

"And she is still drinking the whiskey," Cole pointed out.

Emmet sighed. "You try taking the bottle from her."

Julian moved closer and gently tried to pull the bottle from her hand but she stepped back and took a sip instead before he could stop her.

"No way," she said as the alcohol dribbled down her chin. "It's my whiskey."

Julian watched as she tripped and stumbled again before she took yet another sip. He glanced back over at Emmet who also seemed to be out of ideas.

"Avery, give me the whiskey," Julian requested.

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, did your mother, your only real family left, tell you that she never wanted to know you, that you were the biggest mistake of her life, and to never contact her again?"