Salty Licorice

Chapter 61

Avery's POV

I hope I didn't make a mistake buying all those flowers, for the valentine grams. I also hope she isn't still upset and doesn't want them at all from me. That's one of the reasons I didn't put my name on the letters. I just hope my dad doesn't ask why I spent so much money this past week.

I just lay on my bed with my latest comic I got this last weekend that I haven't had the time to read. I feel my phone buzz next to me and I glance at it, finding it to be Emily texting and choosing to ignore her. I haven't decided how to deal with her yet, I don't want to just throw away our years of friendship but I also don't agree with everything she has done or at least what others claim she has done. Marisa talked to me about it some more but all she had to say was just more information to solidify the narrative that has been painted for me from Spencer, Liz, and Marisa herself. I feel another buzz, expecting it to be Emily. Ignoring it once again and just keep reading my comic.

I hear a tap on my window, and my head snaps up and I look towards my window before hearing another tap on the window. I toss my comic to the side and get up heading for my window slowly but the tapping doesn't let up, so I toss my curtain to the side in frustration at the rapid tapping, hoping my father doesn't come in asking questions.

I catch a smug looking Liz standing on the other side of my window. I look at her completely dumbfounded. It takes me a second to get out of my stupor and slide my window open, helping her through it and into my room. I hold my hand over her mouth and put a finger to my lips.

"Shhh, my whole family is home," I whisper harshly to her.

"I'm sorry," She blurts quietly. "I didn't let you explain your side and just assumed the worst."

"No I'm sorry for letting my pride drive me to make a dumb decision, I deserve your hate," I counter.

"But you don't, at least not all of it." Liz stands there running a hand through her hair. "I don't hate you Avery, I never have and I never can."

I stare dumbly at her. She's in my room, talking to me, not drunk or anything. At least not that I know of. She isn't giving me the cold shoulder or ignoring me, she's actually talking to me, looking me in the eyes and having a conversation. I don't even remember how words work anymore from just the pure happiness of having her give me some time.

"Avery?" She pulls me from my thoughts.

"Huh?" I fumble.

"Did you hear me?"

"Huh," I nod slowly. "You don't hate?"

"No," She giggles. "Why are you so cute, ugh."

"You think I'm cute?" I grin wide at her words.

"If you only knew," Liz sighs, looking at me with her soft eyes again.

"I never wanted to hurt you Liz, I hope you know that." I sit on the edge of my bed. "You're too important to me. You came out of nowhere and just took everything I knew about the world and turned it upside down."

"Is that a good thing?" She whispers as she walks to me standing between my knees resting her hands on the tops of my thighs.

"If you only knew," I smiled, using her words against her.

She blushes as I study her face. Her lashes lay gently against the tops of her cheeks, and the pink of her cheeks brings out the dozens of freckles sprinkled over her cheeks and nose. When she opens her eyes and those bright hazel doe eyes look at me, I lose all train of thought and I realize this must be what all those poems meant when they spoke on the eyes being the windows to the soul. Her soul is so gentle and homely. Since living in this house, this is the first time I feel truly at home. I have solved this mystery that is Elizabeth Neuhaus, she is home to me.