The Speech

Chapter 13

Avery's POV
 
     The whole way home Dylan is screaming to music and dancing all over the backseat. His infectious mood has warped all of us into it, even Jayden sings along coolly as he drives. When we pull into the driveway Dylan hops out of the car before it's even stopped.
"Dylan!" I call after him but can't help but laugh as he dances around the car. He walks to my side, opening the doors for both Jackie and I, before making his way inside. I head straight over to the bar to make myself a little drink with Jayden following.
"Here, let me." He says, taking the glass from my hands. Dylan grabs Jackie's hands, obnoxiously forcing her to dance with him.

     "Alright, alright, alright. Think that's enough jitterbug." I say to Dylan, and he comes to a halt.
"Are you staying the night Jackie?" I ask.
"I guess so. But only if my favorite room is available." She jokes.
"It's been all made up just for you, Miss Devy." I retort.
"What are we doing? The night is young and the parents have left, there's no reason we shouldn't go do something." Dylan states.
"Are you forgetting the fact that we have school tomorrow? I'm not exactly looking to stay up tonight." Jackie says.
"Plus you have a nasty hangover coming for you, which is enough reason to call it a night." She reminds him. Jayden hands me my drink, redbull vodka. Not what I'd usually prefer, but at least he made me a drink.
"Thanks baby." I tell him and give him a kiss on the cheek.
"Gross if there's gonna be PDA I'm going to bed." Jackie says.
"I second that." Dylan responds. I roll my eyes.
"Well then you kids probably wanna get to sleep." Jayden tells them, then starts to pull me into him. Dylan and Jackie break out into groans and screams then quickly take off up the stairs, I can't help but laugh.
"How'd you go tonight with your parents?" He asks. I shrug.
"It was okay, you definitely helped." I say, poking him in the chest.
"I try to. I know I don't quite get your feelings towards your parents, but I hope you don't think I disregard them." He says. I frown.
"Of course not. I would never think that of you." I say as sympathetic as possible. He kisses me again, but more delicately than the last. It's nice.

Jackie's POV

     Dylan and I take off up the stairs, not wanting to stick around for the show Jayden is sure to put on with Avery. Dylan's ahead of me and I watch as he turns the corner into his room.
"Goodnight!" I yell to him. This day has mentally worn me out and I'm ecstatic to get to sleep it off in that pillow soft bed in the guest room. As I pass his room his arm shoots out, grabbing me and pulling me inside. The door closes quickly behind me and before I can even blink he's got me pinned up against it. He just hovers there, doesn't inch towards my mouth or anything. He just stares at me like he's trying to memorize every part of my face.

"What do you want Dylan?" I quietly muster out. He stares a little longer before answering.
"Nothing." The way it rolls off his tongue, so carefree. Like I was the one who put myself here and not him.
"Then why did you pull me in here?" I ask, a little more confidently.
"Why are you still standing here?" The left corner of his mouth flicks up, in the most attractive smirk. This is Dylan, stop staring at his mouth, you've studied it enough today. I remind myself. I duck under his arm and back away at least five feet. He turns around towards me, grin on his face, and leans against the door.

"I'm not anymore." I tell him. He chuckles.
"I see that. But you are still in my room." He says.
"Well that's because you're blocking the door." I huff. He uprights himself.
"There you go." He motions to the door. He starts walking towards me.
"Unless you wanna hang out." He's close again.
"What kind of hanging out?" I question him. He brushes the hair out of my face and I pull away. 
"Dylan, this is... Too much." I spout and quickly leave the room.

Dylan's POV

    Jackie bolts out of here and I'm left in my quiet room realizing just how high I really am. And drunk. It's a weird feeling, but almost euphoric. I have so much energy and I feel great, but my body won't move the right way. I stumble and I trip and have a delayed reaction to everything. Which is the only reason I didn't stop Jackie from running out. I wanted to, believe me, but my response time was too late. And I don't want to sulk down the hall to her room to try and convince her that I'll play nice. I don't even know if I could behave around her right now if I'm being honest. With the way she looks, and the permanent pout of her lip. Only sober could I play nice, and even then it sounds like rocket science. Then again I've been oblivious to her for 14 years up until now, so maybe playing nice could be easy. Muscle memory and all that.

      I wonder if I'm only interested in her today? What if I wake up tomorrow, stone cold sober and realize I was using her? You are using her dipshit. You basically told her that when you asked her for friends with benefits. Oh right... Shit I hope she doesn't hate me for that. Avery would hate me if she knew what happened today. I almost feel bad for going off on her and Theo earlier today. Granted none of the stuff they brought up was tainted like they thought. But they had walked in right after I kissed her, something had happened by the time they walked in. And Avery would hate me for it, for bringing her best friend into my messy/shitty breakup.

        Or maybe I'm just overthinking all this cause I can't come fucking down from this high. I'll text May.

D- "How long does it take to come down if alcohol was also in my system?"

M- "Fuck Dylan, you were drunk?"

D- "Am* drunk."

M- "Damnit... Are you with anyone?"

D- "Just me, myself, and I. We're having a group meeting."

M- "This is serious Dylan. Somebody needs to watch you tonight, you shouldn't have mixed on your first go."

D- "Wasn't given a sitter tonight."

M- "I'm coming over."

D- "I'll watch myself."

M- "Fuck you."

Theo's POV

     It's late, too late to be out. I have to be up for school in 5 hours, yet I only just left Haley's house.
"Call from Avery" my car alerts me. I quickly answer it wondering why she's still up.
"You okay?" Is the first thing I say, as I turn down the end of her street. Haley lives just a block over.
"What are you doing out here Teddy?" As I creep further down, I spot her out in her front yard and pull over.
"Are you trying to get killed?" I ask, getting out of my car.
"The scariest thing that could happen in this front yard is my parents coming home." She says with a laugh.
"How'd it go?" I question her about the dinner. With a sigh she sits down on the grass.
"I don't know. Don't remember it really, blurs together. One minute I walk into the restaurant and the next? My dad's hugging me bye." She says. I take a seat down next to her.
"Couldn't have been that bad then." I say hopeful.
"It was Dylan I think. My dad sorta went for him tonight. I remember hearing him nag at him about food and I tried to defend him. They left right after that." I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull her in.
"Worst part is that I went off on Dylan before we even went into the restaurant. So he had to deal with me and then dad. He seemed okay once we left though? Maybe sticking up for him helped?" She thinks out loud.
"Anywho... How was your night Teddy? Go home and study?" She asks me. Don't tell her, you'll regret it.
"Should've probably, but no. Went out with Andrew and them." I tell her.
"Oh.. how was that?" She questions.
"It was alright, we ended up leaving after about an hour." Don't tell her.
"We?"
"Haley and me." I say. Avery sits up, slipping out from under my arm.
"And what did you and Haley do?" She asks.
"Just ate some food." I state.
"Grabbed McDonald's or something before dropping her home?" She says, matter-of-factly.
"Uh.. no we actually ate at her house, she cooked." I say, staring at the ground like it is more interesting than the entire evening I just spent with Haley.
"So y'all went on a date?"
"I wouldn't say a date. Well, maybe an accidental, impromptu, datish thing..."I sputter out and sheepishly look up at her. She stares out at the road.
"That's great. Look at you, getting out there." And then she looks at me, and it's the look I've been terrified of for so long. The one that's kept me from ever entertaining the idea of someone other than Avery. The look that confirms that I have truly hurt her.
"I'm happy for you." With that she stands up and walks back inside her house, not looking back once.