Return What Was Lost

Chapter 27

With his mom always interjecting, Mickey wanting to play with him, and his own nerves, Julian spent most of the break trying to find the perfect way to tell Avery how he felt about her, which was no easy task.

Even when they were alone, he was so scared. Of what, he wasn't sure. Old insecurities maybe, but it was enough to stop him from telling her how he felt. If only he could read her mind, he stared at her enough, maybe he could invent a machine that could send brain wave signals to another person. It would probably be easier than telling Avery how he felt about her.

"You know I suck right?" Avery said as she dribbled the ball as they walked back from the park.

Julian had just beaten her multiple times at some one on one basketball and was quite happy about it.

"Don't act so cocky, winning against me isn't an accomplishment," she continued.

He shrugged. "I could lower the hoop for you and still win," he said with a wink.

Avery laughed. "Or you could try not being so tall."

"If I could shrink everyone down to your size, you know I would," he replied.

"You know if I recall correctly, I was taller than you at one point," she pointed out.

"Yeah, when we were like ten," he said, rolling his eyes.

She laughed. Those were the days."

"I suppose, although, I have to admit life did get better eventually," he said, thinking of the circumstances of his childhood.

"I didn't mean-"

"It's okay," he said, quickly cutting her off. "I know what you meant."

"It was just easier when my biggest problem was whether or not I would make it home from the park in time for the basketball game," she explained.

"I know," he murmured.

Avery chuckled lightly. "I suppose our lives took different turns."

"It'll get better, Avery," he said.

"It's not like people come back from the dead, Julian," she muttered.

"True, but other people come into your life, I know it's not the same but it's better than being alone."

Julian glanced over at her and he saw it in her eyes that she didn't quite believe him which stung a lot. Of course Julian knew that nothing could replace all she had lost with her father dying, but he was trying.

When they arrived back home they entered the family room where Mickey was very excitedly telling Will and his mom about some story Will had read to him last night.

"He's such a happy kid," Avery commented.

Julian looked over at her. "He really is," he said, smiling.

When his mom saw them, she excitedly waved them over.

"Come on, we're watching a movie," she called.

Throughout the entire movie they were watching, Julian's eyes hardly left her. If she noticed, she did not comment on it. He wondered if she was feeling what he did.

When the movie ended, he watched her go up the stairs and for a moment, he thought about going after her. But what would he say?

"Hi, Avery, I've liked you for as long as I can remember and when I finally got you back after I lost you, all the feelings I harbored came back and I really want to be your boyfriend."

Yeah, that would go over great. If she didn't already think he was crazy, that revelation would certainly send him to the psych ward.

"You okay?"