Avery

~20~

~Adam~

A few hours earlier...

Looking out onto the familiar view, I tap my fingers on my desk in a rhythmic pattern as I watch the small crowds of people below.

Avery could be anywhere among them.

I'd see her, I see her in every crowd.

I quickly snap my head back to the computer before me and try to recall what I was doing.

The guy on the desk across from me has seemingly disappeared, haven't seen him since I got back from New York.

A blessing, I would say in disguise but there is nothing disguised about the pleasure of him being gone.

Stretching my arms out to lock my fingers behind my head, I stare down at the screen.

Emails rack up when you put off answering them for too long.

I'm typing away and before I know it, my screen is the only thing lighting up the office, the room completely empty and quiet.

My eyes look up to the moon and the stars scattered across the sky and I'm drawn back to something Avery once said to me.

"I will love the light as it guides my way, and endure the dark because it shows me the stars."

She muttering under her breath as we both look out the window, but I hear her.

"Hm." I let out unknowingly and I feel her gaze come to settle on me.

"I've not heard that before." I say to her.

"Just something my Mom used to say. Whenever she thought I needed reminding."

Her head rolls back to face the sky, stars all the way from the horizon all the way up until the window frame shields them.

"I was never the soppy poetry type," I chuckle and she scoffs, pushing me away with her arm.

"Loser," she states, a soft smile rising.

She could call me anything and nothing would change.

When I look into the sky, I think of her.

When I drink coffee, when I eat a cookie, whenever I see anything green.

Her.

She was right, I am a loser, just not in the way she sees.

I shake myself out the daze and grab my phone before standing up to head for the elevator.

My phone rings and I scramble to answer it, the phone falling to the floor in my mess.

It's just someone who works on the next floor, realistically I could go speak to them myself but I'd rather not with the face to face interactions.

"Pierson."

"Yes, uh, sir, it's just a quick question about those numbers you sent me, now I know-"

He rambles on and on and before he's even done explaining the reason for the call, I'm on the bottom floor, feet away from the exit.

"Yes, get to the point." I snap, brushing a lazy hand through my hair as the cold air hits my face.

I pop the button of my suit jacket open and look up in front of me.

I freeze in my spot, unable to tear my eyes away.

"I'll call you back." I rush out and stash my phone in my pocket.

Avery's eyes are stuck on mine, before I notice the man standing beside her.

Way too close, might I add, and that's when I notice the suggestive hand trailing up and down her arms and his flirtatious eyes staring at her.

Avery mutters something and dashes off, and I swear, ignoring the cliche, I actually see red.

Calmly, I walk over to where she was previously stood, his disappointed face evident.

"Grant! Lovely to see you, let's talk shall we?"

I remember his name from a meeting a while ago when I get closer.

"Yes, of course!" He nods enthusiastically.

"Great." I force out through my teeth and we begin walking.

I usher him towards the alley a few yards down and his confused face is entertaining.

"So...Grant," I begin, turning to face him as he is a few paces behind, "how'd you know the girl?"

He chuckles before tilting his head.

"I don't, she was stood outside the building, how could I miss out on that, dude? I mean, did you see that body?" He lets out a long exhale.

He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively and my stomach churns in a way I've never felt before and before I know it, my right fists collides with his face.

The blow causes him to fall back, hands resting on his knees before one comes up to wipe the blood beginning to drip from his lip.

Grabbing his collar, I pull him up so he's a few inches from my face before speaking again.

"Touch her again, or even look at her, I'll remove your hands personally, understood?"

"Look, I had no idea-"

Dropping him to the floor, I watch as he catches his breath.

"And never call me 'dude' ever again." A grimace covers my face and he nods slowly.

I straighten my jacket and stretch my neck before making my way back onto the street.

"Great to see you." I call back at him.

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