Salty Licorice

Chapter 68

Marisa's POV

I'm not a fool, I know that Avery and Liz finally admit to each other where they stand with each other. I know Avery enough to know she's planning some elaborate date to take Liz on to try to win her over even more, even if she doesn't have to do much. There's nothing else left for me to do but to just watch from the sidelines as I try to piece myself back together again. My fathers words still echo in my head.

"Not exactly, I fell for who she was. She made my life brighter, she never needed me and I didn't need her but we wanted each other." His love for my mother wasn't like my love for Liz, but closer to how Avery feels for Liz, and that's what hurts. It's nothing either of us could have predicted or prevented, it just was. I was more in love with the idea of Liz, than who she really is. And I have to learn to let go of her, let her go to be who she needs to be and be with who she wants, that is how I need to love her now. I have to let go.

While sitting at lunch, Liz decided to join us today and I can't help but snicker at the conversation Avery just started with Liz. "What do you mean you have never been in one of the trash bins?" Avery asks, almost sounding appalled. I know exactly what Avery is doing and I'm not even gonna try to ruin her fun.

"No?" Liz answers with questions clear on her face.

"We'll have to fix that. Marisa help me," Avery stands up and walks over to one of the bins looking inside after pulling off the lid. "They just changed this bag, so it's nice and squeaky clean."

She walks over grabbing Liz's hand and dragging her over to the trash can. I get to my feet and follow them. Watching Avery with a nod we simultaneously grab Liz on either side lifting her up and dropping her inside the large plastic trash can. I hear a few people snickering around us before someone says there's a teacher coming. With that I grab the lid of the can and drop it over the top letting Avery lean on the top of it preventing Liz from trying to push the lid off the can.

Mr. Miller walks past us just as Liz calls out.

"Get me out of here!" Liz calls out but Avery and I just laugh annoyingly loud to cover her voice up.

He glances at us giving us a strange look before walking away heading for the food line. Perfect timing because Liz pushes against the side of the can till it falls over and she crawls out looking up at us with a nasty glare. Me and Avery just snickers at the look of her halfway out of the trash bin glaring at us. We're still laughing as she gets up, putting the can back up right and grabbing her bag as the bell rings signaling us to head art.

The whole first part of Art was mostly with Emily lecturing us about harassing Liz but we just ignored her words because it was too funny to care if it was mean. Avery eventually falls asleep in a very strange position from being in the middle of drawing till she just falls asleep cradling her head on her hand.

I watch as Liz glances at Avery who is asleep again in art. Liz has this look in her eyes that I could only dream of coming from her towards me, but she has that look only reserved for Avery. I feel a slight pang of jealousy but I can't be upset about this because I have no room to be. I hear Avery shuffle in her seat loudly before she relaxes again, pulling me from my thoughts.

"How can she literally sleep anywhere," Liz asks aloud.

I shrug and go back to my book trying to finish this chapter before the bell rings. As I'm focused I hear something I never thought I would in the middle of class. But then I hear it again. I look up and see Avery with her face scrunched up and lips parted. Then another low moan escaped her lips louder than the last. Her breathing is getting shallow too. I feel my jaw slacken a bit before I have to press my palm to my mouth to keep from laughing.