Something was obviously eating at Avery. She hadn't interacted with any of the guys since the day she vented to Brooklyn. Brooklyn had kept her promise, not even dropping hints as to what she had heard come out of Avery's mouth. Stella had pulled her aside a few times, aware that Brooke knew something the rest of them didn't. But she wouldn't budge.
It wasn't like Avery was acting depressed. She cleaned the house, went hiking with some other friends, indulged in movie nights with the girls on the few nights Brooklyn didn't stay with Calum. She baked and sang and danced. They would have said she was acting normal, but they couldn't say that. Avery wasn't considered normal if she wasn't with Luke.
A week after Avery went AWOL from the "Testosterone Tower", as Stella called it, the remaining six decided to play Monopoly. They played for around half an hour before Luke began to complain of hunger. "I'll make you a sandwich," Brooklyn offered, taking her Monopoly money with her, not daring to leave it with the thieves she was playing with. "Mustard but no mayo," Luke called after her.
A few minutes after Brooklyn disappeared into the kitchen, Luke went to claim his sandwich. He happily grabbed it from Brooklyn, who made him thank her, "Thanks, mum," Luke said, smiling at Brooklyn, who slapped his ass. He turned his head to her while jumping forward. He ran into Michael, "When did you get there?" Luke asked as Michael snatched his sandwich. "Fuck you!" Luke said, turning back to the kitchen to beg Brooklyn for another. "God, Luke. You're eighteen! Why can't you hold a fucking sandwich?" she bickered as she regathered the supplies.
Once the second sandwich was prepared, she made Luke eat it in the kitchen, "I'll kick Michael in the balls if he tries to take this one from you," she offered as Calum entered the room, "Would you kick me in the balls?" He asked with a smirk as he pecked her lips. "Don't test me," Brooklyn smiled.
The three of them trailed back to the den where the Monopoly board was flipped over, "What the fuck?" Calum quizzed Ashton, Michael, and Stella, who were still sitting around it. "Michael called me a pussy because I didn't want to buy another hotel. He said he was probably winning because of all his hotels so I flipped the board," she let out a laugh as Michael shrugged at Brooklyn, Calum, and Luke who stood above them. Stella continued, "Now no one's winning." Calum shook his head and sat on the couch. Brooklyn sat beside him and grabbed his hand. They all sat in silence.
"I miss Avery," Ashton said. Luke looked at him but said nothing.
"What time is it? I'm going to go home, Brooke, are you crashing here or coming with me?" Stella asked. "I'm staying," Brooklyn responded. "Night, guys," Stella said before walking out the door.
Shortly after Stella left, the others dispersed into their rooms. Brooklyn decided she needed a bath. She grabbed a towel and one of Calum's tees from his dresser, "Coming?" she asked him at the last second. He smirked and got off the bed, following her to the bathroom across the hall.
He turned on the water as she undid her bra. She was wearing a black dress covered in pink and purple flowers. He watched her take her long, cherry Coke colored hair out of the neat bun she had it in. He removed his shirt as the basin filled with steaming water. He plugged his phone into the speakers built into the bathroom walls. Part of the List by Ne-Yo started playing. She started dancing lazily as he made his way over to her.
"Style of your hair," Calum sang along, running his fingers through Brooklyn's hair. She giggled as he continued, "Shape of your eyes and nose." He ran his hand down the side of her face, lightly booping her nose. He lined their foreheads up before kissing her sweetly, yet deep. She threw her head back as she bit her lip, "Could you help me unzip my dress?" She turned around, attempting not to smile too much as he unzipped her. His finger tickled down her spine, causing chills to show all over her body. He kissed the back of her neck and lowered the dress off of her newly nude body.
