Salty Licorice

Chapter 60

Liz's POV

It's been a few weeks and now the first month of the second semester is over. And Valentine's season is almost in full swing, making my stomach hurt from the uncomfortability of the whole idea of one day dedicated to romance. I just don't understand why it's so romanticized, it's just one day around the beginning of spring.

But I'm now on talking terms with Marisa and Avery, but I refused to be around Emily. So I'm still sitting with Danny during Art and staying at my table during lunch period. After that day in Marisa's truck we haven't talked about it, I don't exactly know how to bring up hearing her say she loves me without making it awkward.

Sitting at lunch with Leo who is complaining about not continuing with his diabolical plan to make Avery and Marisa's lives a living hell. I haven't told him about Marisa and I having slept together. I also don't know how to explain that what Emily told us isn't exactly true and this wouldn't have been the first time she's lied to keep people away from Avery.

"I just think that this would work in ruining her life," Leo explains.

"But that would not just ruin her life, that would ruin her whole future," Danny deadpans.

"That was kinda the whole idea. I mean that's what she deserves for messing with poor Liz's heart the way she did," Leo exaggerates.

"No Leo, what you want to do isn't ethical," Danny argues.

"How is it not ethical, it's just one pic," Leo undermines.

"Of her eating Liz out," Danny deadpans.

"And," Leo rolls his eyes.

"Posting it on every social media platform and tagging her," Danny states.

"What are you guys talking about," Spencer asks sitting next to me.

"Nothing."

"Leo wants Liz to coerce Avery into eating her out then takes a pic of her to post on social media tagging her saying that this is what the D1 scholarship superstar does in her free time," Danny responds over Leo.

"What the fuck," Spencer sputters. "Do you want Avery to literally die?"

"She wouldn't kill herself over this," Leo dismisses.

"You're right she wouldn't, but her Dad would do it for her," Spencer's voice gets eerily serious.

"Everyone just shut up," I sigh, feeling exhausted with everyone arguing over my situation that I'm trying to come to terms with on my own without their bickering. "Just drop it, I'm dealing with them the way I feel is right."

"But Liz they used you-" Leo starts.

"I said drop it," I repeat.

I look out at the tables in front of me and see Marisa with her book and headphones in and her energy drink in hand. Then there's Avery who's sleeping with her hood up on the table, using her arms as a pillow. Lastly there's Emily with a face of disgust as she reads something on her phone. I wonder what she is read, must be something about herself.

The bell rings, bringing us all out of our stupor and we get to our feet to make our way to our next class. I glance over and see Marisa nudging Avery to wake her up, but Avery just groans and turns her head, persisting to sleep. Marisa gets up and walks around the table and drops her thick hardcover book over Avery's head making her jump awake and rub the back of her head. I giggle at the two and their amusing antics, but then I feel a pang of guilt at the idea of Marisa telling Avery about us. It's not that I wanna hide it from Avery, but I just don't want their relationship to get tainted because of me. Maybe this is all just a misunderstanding and Avery doesn't even care about Marisa and I getting more physical. Maybe Avery doesn't have feelings for me more than just friendship, though I don't know if I actually want that to be true.