Avery

~15~

~Adam~

I walk down the corridor of Avery's apartment building after there was no response when I knocked.

I've visited her almost every day since the whole bakery thing happened.

As I walk down the hallway, I hear a high-pitched laugh. Her laugh.

A weird feeling rises in the pits of my stomach.

My eyes narrow as she comes into my vision talking to someone who I am praying to god knows who is her neighbour.

I approach her as she throws her head back in another giggle.

A fucking giggle.

The second she's within reach, I throw my arm over her shoulders and she jumps beneath my touch.

"Hey, I was wondering where you snuck off to," I say in a far too chirpy tone.

Her eyebrows furrow as she looks up to face me.

"What are you-"

"Breakfast is waiting." I smile.

The man in front of us reaches out to shake my hand.

"Ethan, nice to meet you."

I stare down at his weirdly small hand and glance back up at him.

His hand retracts slowly and the awkward silence grows and grows.

"Catch you later, Nathan."

"It's Ethan-"

"Tomato, tomato. Bye bye buddy." I wave at him sarcastically and guide Avery back towards her apartment.

She stares back over her shoulder, eyes wide.

"What was that about?"

I shrug and open the door, guiding her in with one hand.

She scans the apartment, no breakfast in sight.

"You don't even have a key." she sighs in realisation.

I chuckle dryly as she turns around and looks up at me through her eyelashes.

My arms open for her to walk into and she folds her arms across her chest, stubborn.

"Nuh uh mister, I'm expecting a profuse apology."

I glare at her and a smile brews on her face, her face turning red.

"Sorry," I mumble.

"Oh, that's pathetic." she laughs at my poor attempt.

"I'm not apologising." I take a step towards her.

And then another.

Inches apart, my heart is beating far too fast.

Taking things slow with Avery might just be the most cruel torture of all time.

Which is definitely not what I expected to come from the girl in the bakery but here we are.