Salty Licorice

Chapter 23

Avery's POV

I don't know how she does it but she can make me turn into a puddle on the floor, everytime without fail. Yesterday when she just simply wanted my sweatshirt just because, that made me melt. I don't know if this is what people say when they think they're falling in love because love seems so arbitrary to me, but with how she makes me feel I wouldn't be so shocked to find myself falling for Elizabeth Neuhaus. Yesterday wasn't even the first or last time she has made me feel like I'm on cloud nine, the part that sucks is I can't tell if she feels the same way or if this is just her idea of being well, her. I just wish there was an easy way to know for sure without having to ask her.

"Sullivan! Pay attention or I'll bench you if you can't focus," Coach yells at me.

It's only morning practice, I'm half asleep right now and have a beautiful redhead on my mind. I wonder what she's doing right now. Probably not sweating on a volleyball court. Her smile is just so infectious and addictive, I'm just torn knowing Marisa gets to see her all morning and I don't get to see her till gym.

I see the ball coming from over the net and I bump it up over my setter's head before she sends it to a waiting spiker. We continue like this just with me hitting a bunch of spikes, sadly even that didn't help clear my head of her hazel eyes and those freckles that dot her cute nose, and don't even get me started on her lips.

"Sully, what's got you in such a haze?" Bri asks me, patting my back.

"Oh um nothing I guess," I tried to make it sound convincing but I'm pretty sure I failed.

We start our stretches when Bri gives me a knowing look. "Is she coming to the game today?"

"Who?" There's so many she's in my life I don't exactly know who she's referring to.

"Your little redhead with the accent," Bri wiggles her eyebrows. "You know your lady friend."

"My lady friend? No, I mean yes she's coming but no she's not my lady friend," I correct. "Who even says that still?"

"Oh, you haven't asked her out or smashed yet?"

"What?" I blurt out when I hear her mention sex. "No."

"That's a damn shame." She chuckles. "Surprised Emily hasn't done anything to attempt to destroy your little fling."

"And why would she." I gave her a confused look.

"Cause it's pretty obvious, she's been like, in love with you since freshman year." Bri says nonchalant.

"No she hasn't, she's literally dated people all of high school. This is honestly the longest she's been single. Plus I'd know something like that," I laugh at her ridiculous idea.

Bri just nods slowly but doesn't laugh along with me. She just changes the subject. "So you think Wescott will be here today, like playing I mean?"

"God I hope not, she is the reason all the other teams target me now," I groan, and start stretching my thighs.

"What's her deal anyway?"

"No idea." I shake my head.

"Just try to not let her get to you today okay Sully," She says sincerely.

"I'll try my best. She just knows where to cut the deepest."

Before I know it it's time for Gym and I see Liz walking across the gym in her little shorts and loose T-shirt. I feel myself growing impatient with how slow she's walking and start to tap my foot to keep from just walking over there myself.

"Hey," She greets me with that bright smile.

"Hi," I feel myself getting nervous and rubbing the back of my neck. "So you'll be at the game today right?"