𝑊𝐴𝑁𝑇 𝑇𝐻𝐼𝑆 (locke and key gabe)

27 rewritten

Avery was making a bad habit of forgetting her newfound strength. Twice already she had almost ripped a door from its hinges, and mid way through biology she'd accidentally toppled a desk. She was finding writing increasingly difficult, given her grip on pens was enough to snap them in half. If this was how strong Gabe was, it must've been some miracle he had never accidentally broken a bone whilst holing her. She could sense Kinsey's growing suspicion, and she didn't fail to miss the sideways glances after each incident.

It made her nervous, but more than anything it made her miss Gabe. And by lunchtime, she decided to head home. In her humanity, Avery had made a brief habit of skiving school, so she felt that it might not be too uncharacteristic, or at least not enough to warrant her sibling's suspicion.

The walk home was the quietest the world had been in a while given her heightened hearing, and she found the woods notably peaceful, especially after school. Hearing the goings on of practically every student in a mile radius was hell, and she hoped that Gabe would teach her to tune it out. Avery didn't bother to sneak in around the back, she already knew that her Uncle was in the shop and her mom wasn't home. No one would be these to chastise her about coming home. It made her miss her dad. Rendell was always there, even when she didn't want him to be. She would've given anything for her dad to ground her for skiving when she walked through the door. Instead, she found an empty, silent house.

With a sigh, Avery headed upstairs, slinging her bag onto her bed. She missed the bed she had slept in at Javi's house, or the couch where she had laid tangled up in Gabe's arms. She just missed Gabe. The demon key had made her crave him even more than she usually did. She felt out of place everywhere but in his arms.

Meet me in the sea caves tonight. Incredibly vague. Incredibly cryptic.

Avery was unsure of what she would do until then. She flopped back on her bed, staring up at her ceiling. It only took a moment of counting the cracks above her for the depths of her boredom to sink in. Matheson truly was boring. The only remotely interesting thing about it was the keys. She wished she had left school with Gabe when he had offered, and Avery struggled to understand why she hadn't just left then and there.

Her door creaked open, and as if he sensed her boredom, Gabe strode into her room.

"I thought you said tonight," Avery grinned, sitting up.

He chuckled, "I did, but I heard you weren't at school, and I have something to show you."

"Ooo," She hummed, "That's ominous."

Gabe wrapped an arm around her waist. "Do you have some Keys for me, Ave?"

She rolled her eyes, "Always business with you, isn't it?"

"Would you rather it be pleasure?" He asked with a smirk. Avery elbowed him in the ribs, forgetting the extent of her strength. If it'd have been anyone else she had elbowed, Avery knew that she would have broken a few ribs. Gabe only laughed, completely unbothered by her strength. It was exhilarating after a day of caution, constantly fearing that anyone or anything she touched would shatter like a glass doll. 

"Oh shut up, Gabe." She scoffed, the hint of her smile at her lips. She rolled over to reach her bedside table, opening the draw and retrieving the Ghost Key. "And that's all you're getting,"

Gabe laughed, tucking it away as he retrieved the Anywhere Key from his pocket. Avery watched him closely, contemplating whatever he was plotting. 

He turned the Anywhere Key in her bedroom door, and as the Key turned with a final satisfying click, Avery stood to approach him. He twisted the door knob, pulling it open with his free had as he reached with the other to shield her eyes. Avery giggled, shuffling through the door as she leaned into him for guidance.