It Started on the Doorstep

1

James

This is it. I landed the job with the highest-paying welding contractor in Los Angeles. I had been working my ass off over the past four months trying to get a job in LA. Today, I'm finally moving out, and starting my new life. My apartment isn't the biggest, but anything is better than my parent's attic, and I got it for a good price considering LA's insane housing market. But the apartment and the job are far from the best part. 

My girlfriend Avery and I have been going strong for about 5 months now. We met on Tinder, and we hit it off instantly! I matched with her for her hot body and delicious curves, but I stayed for the cat pics and adorable rants about literature. Her personality wasn't what I was expecting at all, but I found that I'm super attracted to book nerds. Apparently, I'm exactly her type too! She goes crazy whenever I send her pics of me welding something. I think she has some sort of fire kink. Anyways, my grand plan is to show up at her door on Valentine's Day. I'll get flowers, chocolate, a love letter, the works. She's gonna fall madly in love with me and ask for marriage, I just know it. Or, more accurately, I'll ask her to marry me, and she'll start crying and say yes, just like all of those Jane Austen novels that she loves to read. 

I barreled down the highway, jamming out to Pitbull. I had my GPS set to the finest German chocolate store in Los Angeles, because Avery is a foodie and I really want to impress her. It was going to be a long drive from Alabama. I just picked up flowers from some rando shop outside LA, though, because I don't have enough energy to put so much effort into EVERYTHING. Once my car got me to the chocolate shop, I walked in determined to impress my love. The shop was packed, since it was Valentine's Day, but I didn't turn around. I had to get chocolate from this shop, because Avery told me she likes it. Apparently, she went on a trip to Germany when she was a child, and eating their German chocolate cake takes her back to those happy memories. I think that's really sweet. I hope she likes the chocolate I got her. I ended up getting her a box with a selection of chocolates and a big slice of their chocolate cake for us to share. 

It took me a while to check out, but I knew it would be worth it when I got to see the adorable smile on Avery's face. I rang the doorbell to her townhouse with flowers in hand and hope in my heart. 

A boy who looked around about my age answered the door. He had gold-rimmed round glasses, a curly blonde nest of hair, and he was wearing a yellow sweater. He audibly gasped and took a step back when he saw me. I could see panic set into his honey-brown eyes.

"Hi, I'm here for Avery?" I asked. 

He simply replied, "Fuck!" and shut the door.

Okay. Avery failed to mention that she had a weird, jealous little brother. I can work with it though. I was a little bit confused by his behavior, but it didn't affect how excited I was to see my girlfriend. I politely rang the doorbell again. He cracked open the door and gave me a sad and exasperated look. 

"I'm not who you think I am," he said, straining his words.

"What?" I replied, more confused than before. "Dude, does Avery live here or not? I'm sorry if this is the wrong house, I just moved here-"

"I'm Avery," he mumbled. 

"What?" I repeated.

"I'm sorry," Avery sniffled. He started to close the door, but I stopped him.

"Wait! What do you mean you're Avery? Avery's my girlfriend. I thought she lived here, but I'm sorry if this is the wrong address." 

"No! I mean, this is the right address, um..." Avery paused, trying to reach for more words. "I- I suppose I owe you an explanation." I gave him another confused look, but he refused to meet my eyes. "Just come in!" he whispered, still looking the other way. Against my better judgement, I followed him inside. I know what you're thinking, stranger danger, but this guy wouldn't hurt a fly. Besides, I needed answers.