Changing Avery

Chapter Eleven - The Scheme

‘So what was that last night?’ asked Parker, leaning over the table, curiosity in his eyes.

‘What was what last night?’

‘you know’ he said wiggling his eyebrows ‘you and Asher!’

‘it was truth or dare!’ I said ‘insinuated by you may I add’

‘Yeah but that wasn’t just a kiss’ he said.

‘Cant we just drop it!’

‘No!’

‘you’re such a gossip Parker, your worse than some girls I know!’

‘Come on tell Parker! What’s got you knickers in a twist?’ he said ‘apart from Colton’ he continued, adding a wink.

‘Ewww! You’re so gross’ I said, hitting him across the arm.

‘Ow’ he said glaring at me. We sat in silence and waited for our coffees to come out. When the waitress came out with our coffees she almost dropped the tray.

‘You’re Parker’ she said, as if she was out of breath ‘fr-from Chronic’

‘Sure am’ he said, sending her a wink ‘But do me a favour and don’t tell anyone we’re here’

‘Of course not! Heres your coffee, can I get you anything else!’ she said staring at him with wide eyes.

‘No thanks babe’ he said. This caused her to giggle giddily as she walked away.

‘Tell me again why Colton was labelled as the flirt in the band …’ I said winking ‘… babe?’

‘don’t try to change the subject!’ he said, blushing.

‘ahhh no leave it be parker!’

‘come on! What is up with you two?’ he asked a little more seriously this time.

‘Nothing! We’re just friends! Not even that! And plus did you forget that Colton is my boyfriend’ I said throwing my hands up.

‘Yeah I know but everyone knows that Asher has always had a little crush on you and it just surprised you let him play in to it’

I almost dropped my mug of coffee. Asher had a crush on me? No! He hated me! He was just trying to get a rise out of me! I was sure of it!

‘Asher doesn’t have a crush on me’ I said surprisingly calm.

‘Oh come on Ave! He does!’

‘umm one little word for you’ I said ‘Dianna’

He just laughed ‘Three little words for you’ he said imitating me ‘Friends with benefits’

For the second time in about two minutes I almost dropped my mug of coffee.

‘What!’ I screeched.

‘You don’t really think they actually like each other?’ he questioned with a chuckle.

‘Umm yeah I did’ I said

‘why else would Dianna dare Asher to kiss you? if they were together, that would be messed up’

I have to admit, I had been curious as to why she had dared him to do that. And until now, I was coming up blank.

‘Why?’ was all I could say.

‘You wanna hear what I think?’ he said, continuing without an answer ‘I think that Asher and Dianna got together and came up with some elaborate scheme to make you and Colton jealous, I mean we all know that Dianna still likes Colton, so I think the aim was to make you jealous of Dianna and to make Colton jealous of Asher’

Anger boiled up inside me. Why would they do this! I mean I certainly wasn’t jealous of Dianna, so all they were really doing was hurting Colton.

‘Do you think its working?’ I asked through my teeth.

‘What’s working?’ Parker asked.

‘Do you think Colton is jealous of Asher’ I said. Parker’s eyes became soft. Reaching his hand across the table he took mine and gave me a genuine smile.

‘No’ he said ‘No I don’t think Colton is jealous of Asher. He likes you a lot Ave. I’ve never seen him like this, not even with Dianna. Especially in these last couple of weeks. As cheesy as it sounds, he just lights up when he is around you, he’s always staring at you with this strange smile on his face and when you’re not with him he has this weird look in his eyes, a look of contemplation, like he is trying to figure you out’

At his words a parade of butterflies marched their way through my stomach. It just an act! My brain told me almost immediately. Your just friends! It said next.

‘Thanks Parker!’ I said hoping he wouldn’t detect the sadness in my voice.

‘No worries!’ he said glancing at his watch ‘Shit! I’ve got to be at rehearsals in an hour, time to get you home’

With that, he took my hand and we walked back to the hotel in silence.

***

‘Do you have your key?’ Parker asked me.

‘Nope!’ I said.

‘Damn! Neither do I’

‘Oh well’ I said, knocking on the door. It was immediately opened by the last person I wanted to see. As soon as Asher saw it was me, a grin worked its way onto his face, but soon turned into a scowl at my deadpan expression.

‘Good morning’ he said.

‘It was’ I said pushing my way past him.

‘Avery!’ three voices squealed at me. Snapping my eyes up from the floor a huge grin worked its way onto my face.

‘Oh My God!’ I screamed running into the arms of my best friends. I was soon engulfed in a huge hug by Lucy, Lilah and Peyton.

‘What are you guys doing here?’ I asked, tears in my eyes. I had missed them so much, especially these last couple of days with everything that has been happening.

‘Well someone called us and booked us on the next flight over’ Lucy said grinning like an idiot. Looking over towards Hudson, I saw him shake his head, pointing over my shoulder. Turning around I saw Colton and Parker standing there. I ran into Colton’s arms.

‘Thankyou’ I whispered.

‘ah Ave’ he said ‘It actually wasn’t me’

Glancing up at him, with a look of surprise in my eyes, I knew this meant it had to be Asher, as Parker was in the kitchen. Untangling myself from Colton, I looked up at Asher.

‘Thankyou’ I said with as much sincerity as I could muster.

‘That’s okay’ he mumbled. Turning away from him, I couldn’t help but wonder why he did it. Why did he bring them here? Was it all part of some sick twisted plan or had he actually done something nice for me? I had a strange feeling I would never know. 

‘I thought it would be nice for you to have your friends here for the next week as the boys and I are going to be really busy with rehearsals and concerts and stuff and I didn’t want you to get lonely’ He spoke up.

‘That was really nice of you man!’ said Hudson clapping him on the back.

‘Yeah …’ said Colton warily ‘really nice’    

I guess someone was just as sceptical as I was.