Salty Licorice

Chapter 24

Marisa's POV
It's the Monday before Halloween and the Monday after Avery's last game. I walk into the art room to return to the wheel again trying to think of something to make when I hear shuffling coming from behind me. I don't even turn around but when I hear Liz humming 'This Is Halloween' and I stop moving and listen to her gleeful sounds she makes while singing slightly to herself. I feel a slight tug at the sides of my mouth when I peak over my shoulder. I am not trying to make it obvious to her that I'm looking, as she's dancing with headphones in her ears, just living in her own little world.
She doesn't see me at first but I carefully stand up and tip toe up behind her and grab her sides saying boo making her jump nearly out of her skin, I can't stop cackling at how high she jumped. Reminds me of when I jump scare Avery.
"You ass," Liz turns and smacks me in the shoulder repeatedly. "And here I thought I was gonna have a good morning and then there's you just making me nearly pee myself."
"I'm so not sorry, that was hilarious," I say after my laughter subsides.
She groans and ignores me. We stay preoccupied by our own art projects till she has to go to class and I keep myself busy. Once first period is over and we head towards the gym I realize where I recognized her hoodie from. I was with Avery when she bought it, she thought it was cool but if i'm being honest it looks the same as the rest of her other sport brand hoodies. Liz makes the sweatshirt look huge with its long baggy sleeves and how it could practically be a dress on her. But she still looks so cute, it almost makes me want to see her in one of my shirts.
I take my seat on the bleachers as everyone files out of the locker room and gets class started. Liz surprisingly is still in Averys hoodie even during class, but you can tell she's getting hot and I'm starting to worry that she won't take the sweatshirt off. About halfway through the class she walks over to me and pulls the hoodie off finally and I can see why she wasn't taking it off in the start. There's a pretty good bruise in the shape of hand around her throat. She leaves the sweatshirt on the bleachers next to me and just sits for a second putting her head on my shoulder trying to cool down.
I clench my jaw as a series of situations run through my head as to where that bruise could have come from. I hold my tongue all the way into lunch when Liz has Avery's sweatshirt back on as she sits with Leo and Danny. I notice when she laughs one hard time she has to clear her throat and gently rubs her neck, clearly feeling irritation from her neck bruise.
I look away before she sees me staring and go back to my book trying to tune out Emily and Avery's bickering, or more like Emily arguing and Avery simply countering with logic.
I hear fast clicking heels come up from behind me and I look up as they pass my table and the next table only stopping next to Liz and her friends. I don't catch everything they talk about from the elevated noise from the students in the lunch room but I catch a few things. The counselor is requesting to talk to Liz but I didn't catch what about. Liz reluctantly stands, forcing Leo to go with her and they follow the counselor out the side door of the lunchroom leading to the main hallway going towards the main office.
Avery stares at the door along with me and a few other kids from the table between us and where Danny is left.
"Bet it's about her neck," some dude from the table over says.
"You actually saw it? You think it's from a fight or something?" One of his friends asks.
"I heard she was in an accident," someone else says.
"Nah that was no accident, she probably is into some kinky shit," the first guy states firmly.
"Maybe she's got into some illegal shit and it was a warning," the third guy says.
"Bet the school thinks it's from abuse," the second guy laughs.
I can't handle listening to them anymore and feel my jaw flexed and finally notice my hands clenched. I look at Avery seeing her in a similar state except she's sinking into her seat as if trying to hide. I just get to my feet and walk out of the lunch room not listening to Emily's voice calling my name. I go straight to the clay room hoping to cool down.
When I get there I put in my head phones and just sit. I can't even get myself to read, I wish I could take a nap but I don't want to miss talking to Liz.
As the bell rings Liz walks into the clay room catching my attention so I pull my headphones out. She goes to sit on one of the swivel chairs by the low counter but whines and says a quiet ow which I didn't miss. I walk up to her and look at her with concerned eyes.
"What's wrong?" I ask but I get an eye roll from Liz.
She stands up and turns pulling her waist band down to reveal her ass cheek that also has a bruise in the shape of a hand. I snap my eyes back to hers and pull her pants back up.
"Who did all this to you?" I ask the one question that hasn't left my mind since gym.
"Avery," she whispers timidly.
I clench my jaw and look over her head at the wall before I hear Avery's voice from the main room. I turn on my heels and find her mocking Emily as they make their way to their seats. I catch her before she sits, grabbing tightly to her ear and pulling her with me back to the clay room, receiving a series of ow's from her.
When we pass the door and swing it shut letting a bang sound from the door meeting the frame with extra force. Still with a hold of her ear I lean so I'm face to face with her.
"What in the hell is wrong with you! How fucking dare you," I snap at Avery before finally releasing her.
She stands up straight and rubs her ear tentatively with a slight pout on her face.
"Dare I what?" Avery gets smart with me.
I sharpen my eyes on her, making her take a half step back but still with a defensive tone to her stance.
"What made you think this was okay?" I bite back, pulling Liz's collar down revealing her neck.
"I was pissed and she needed to learn a lesson," Avery defends. "That was her lesson."
"Avery Lena Sullivan," I make sure to enunciate every syllable. "She is not property. She isn't your girlfriend either so you have no right to be marking her like that!"
"Where not friends?" Liz chimes in with a soft voice.
I look at her and she has big worried eyes looking between us. I sigh and clear my throat before crouching down in front of her.
"Of course we are, Avery just can't be leaving marks on you like that or hurting you that bad."
"It didn't hurt that bad. I mean," she pauses glancing up at Avery for a second making me look too only to see Avery with a curious smirk. "I did kinda like it."
I raise my eyebrows in a slight curiosity letting the information cycle before I smile gently at her. I can see Avery with a satisfied look on her face.
"So you like pain?" I ask tentatively.
"No, well maybe," she looks at her hands in her lap.
I put my hands on her knees and slide them up as I push her legs apart. When my thumb is hovering over the soft part of her inner thigh is press in and she jumps slightly letting a sensual gasp escape her lips. I look back at Avery and shake my head slightly before re addressing Liz.
"It's okay bunny if you like pain," I say as I press harder, gaining an almost moan from the girl. "She just needs to understand that she can't be leaving marks like that on you," I coo letting her legs go and tucking her hair behind her ear and stroking her face with the back of my fingers. I straight up as I go back to my full height looking down on Liz and with a soft pat to the top of her head and kiss to her forehead I leave her going back to Avery.
"You need to know when too far is too far, you are stronger than you think," I growl at her pushing her chest hard, forcing Avery to stumble backwards before I open the door and go back to my seat next to Emily. I put my headphones back in and pull out my sketch pad from my bag and start on a new sketch. Avery and Liz come back and slump into their seats across from me and we all sit in silence except for Emily who keeps talking about some boutique she wants to check out.