Salty Licorice

Chapter 27

Avery's POV

I'm practically running out of that church service praying mom doesn't make plans for a sundae dinner with the Thompsons or any other family for that matter. It hurts to have to wear a dress and fake it during service but it's another thing when it bleeds into the rest of the day. Plus Emily has been getting on my nerves lately after Homecoming and the Volleyball game against Wescott. So here I am practically running out of the doors rushing to my truck that has a duffle bag with a change of clothes in my passenger seat. I toss my bible on my bag with my flats putting on my socks and sneakers not even caring that they clash with my maroon dress. I look in the mirror and groan at the amount of makeup Emily applied to my face to keep my mother from pestering me during service. I shake my head, not like Marisa will care. I race out of the parking lot and take the back entrance out of the church heading towards Marisa's.

When I get there I see Marisa's blazer and her fathers work truck, letting me know everyone is home again. That means I can steal Marisa for the day, if I need to without her being tasked with babysitting duty. I walk up to the back door leading directly into the kitchen, the door typically used. I see Marisa's dad sitting there at the counter with a cup of coffee and a book quietly reading. I must have made more noise with the duffle bag than intended because his head snapped up to meet my wide cautious eyes.

"Morning, kiddo," he smiles wide at me.

"Good morning Mr. Garcia," I wave awkwardly.

"I know you're dying to change so go on, I won't keep you any longer," He chuckles to himself.

I smile and race up the stairs taking them two at a time. I swing Marisa's door open expecting her to already be up and drawing or something but she's still in bed like a lazy bum. I roll my eyes and drop my duffle on her desk not trying to be quiet anymore. I pull out my clothes and notice I brought my bible like an idiot so I leave it off the side and sit on the chair pulling my sneakers off letting them flip to the floor with a light thud. As I stand back up, and reach for the zipper on the back I hear a groan and see Marisa's messy black hair reveal itself from under her black acid washed comforter.

"You have to be so loud?" She growls at me.

"Well unlike you I've just spent all morning in a musky building getting brainwashed for the millionth time, today," I sass sarcastically.

"You said that last week," She pinches the bridge of her nose.

"See, that's the crazy thing about church. It does this weird congregation thing every Sunday, but here's the real kicker. Sundays happen every week. Are you gonna help me or watch me struggle?"

"Shut up, god my head is pounding," Liz sits up with her Doe makeup slightly smeared and her bed head that makes me imagine things I know I shouldn't be on a Sunday afternoon.

"What are you?" I tilt my head with a confused face looking back and forth between them, before my face drops and I clench my jaw tight. "Did you two-"

"No," Marisa cuts me off watching me take a deep breath to calm my nerves.

I look down at my feet and then realize I'm still in my dress. My head snaps up and I stare wide eyed at Liz who seems to be looking me up and down with a smirk.

"Fuck," That's all that falls from my mouth before I grab my stack of cloths and sprint into the bathroom.

I fight with my zipper for far too long then I'd care to admit. Finally putting on joggers and my t-shirt, I scrub my face clean before taking deep breaths and staring at my reflection.

"You got this, it's not like she'll remember," I tell my reflection. "Just go in there and don't act like a fool." I sigh and drop my head in dismay. "I don't got this."