Goodbye, I love you

Let's be friends

"This was a really, really. . ." I said looking around at the huge compound at Peter's house filled with people and very loud music.

"Bad idea." I looked at Bethel and her to me. "Just blend in." She said. "And don't talk to anyone."

"Where's Mick?" I asked, "I don't know, he said he'd meet us here." She said. She made her way through the crowd. She was wearing a black and white jump suit and I wore a black dress knee length.

I could've worn a jump suit like Beth because I wasn't hyped about this party. I checked the time and it was just 7 p.m. I looked up for Bethel, but I couldn't find her, so I decided to walk around. I got to the back of the house and heard splashes. I found an empty chair just a few steps from the pool and took a seat. Everyone looked like they were having fun and they were. When was the last time I let go and actually had fun. I mean not by partying but, just fun.

St. Benedict's camping trip.

"Hey, I was sitting there." A feminine voice shook me out of oblivion. I stared up at her, "Oh, sorry. I didn't know."

"Don't you go to my English class?" she asked.

The girl was a bit shorter than me, she had black hair, and she was wearing dark make-up, and a black dress with leather black boots. I figured she was a goth.

"Um, I don't know." I replied. "You seen Peter?" she asked me.

I shook my head. "He's probably surrounded by a crowd and won't have time for anyone else." Her eyes glistened.

"What do you mean?" I asked, but she walked away.

"What?!" I whispered in confusion. I stared at people in the pool. I tried to call Bethel, but she wasn't answering. I scoffed. Maybe, she's with Mick. I hope they've had better luck than me. I decided to walk around some more hoping I'll run into her. As I approached a small crowd that blocked the entrance to the house, I bumped into someone and spilled their punch.

"Oh, my goodness! I'm so sorry!" I apologized. "No, it's okay." He said nervously. "You sure?" I asked but he left.

I paved through and went inside then, I saw a spiral staircase and decided to see where it led. When I got to the top, I saw a hallway, and various doors, and I wasn't sure where to go. I decided to count to three and go to the third door. I opened the door and saw that it was a bedroom, and it was empty.

I scanned the room and saw that there was a balcony. Part of the balcony had no banister. I walked approaching the balcony and smiled at the view. As I moved closer, I gasped when I saw someone sitting at the part with no banister.

The person turned but I couldn't see them cause it was dark.

"Sorry." I turned to leave, "It's okay. You can stay." He said. "Avery."

"Peter?" I asked,

"Yup." He replied.

"Um, I'm sorry, I can't." I said. "Please." He said and I sighed and sat down next to him.

"Why are you up here?" I asked him. "Party's down there."

"The party wasn't my idea. My friends love hanging out here." He said.

"I can see why." I said and he chuckled.

"So, you don't like parties?" I asked.

He shook his head

"Nope."

"Not a people person."

I laughed.

"You? The jock who has a lot of friends, and very popular at school."

"I admire your sarcasm." Is all he said then he looked down. "I thought jocks love the attention." I said.

"Is that what you think of me?" he asked, "All jocks really." I replied.

"I don't like to think of myself as a jock." He said.

"You do play sports though, so?" I teased. He smiled, "You know what I mean."

"I just love basketball, you know? And I don't use it to make other people feel like they need to treat me differently." He said.

I just stared at him as he explained, it was relaxing.

"Stereotype, huh?" I muttered.

"What?" he asked.

"The Jock Stereotype."

He nodded. I was starting to feel comfortable around him. Bethel was right. This wasn't half as bad as I thought. I may be partially responsible for the exodus of people in my life, but I gotta live at some point.

"You look great, by the way." He said.

"Thanks." I said. We just stared at people downstairs.

"Friends?" Peter put out a hand forth for me to shake. I looked at him, "What?!" I laughed nervously. "Life is full of risks, Avery. There's no way of knowing what you're dealing with unless, you jump in." He said. He put his hand out again, "Friends?" I shook his hand, "Friends."

***

I woke up at the sound of my beeping alarm. I dragged my arm lazily and hit the button to stop the alarm. After literally one minute my phone started ringing. I moaned disapprovingly. I moved my hand across my sheets to look for my phone, barely getting up. I didn't find it under the covers so I moved my arm to the cabinet beside my bed and got a hold of it.

"Hello!" I answered, my voice muffled.

"Miss Baker, where are you? You were supposed to be here over an hour ago!" A voice bellowed.

"I'm sorry, who's this?" I asked. "It's Linda, from Elders' Point a.k.a your boss." She said. I raised my head like a cautious meerkat. I ran to the bathroom without hanging up.

"Hello? Avery, you there?" I heard Linda speak. "Just get here please." She hung up. In a matter of minutes, I was rushing downstairs.

When I raised my hand to reach the knob, I heard a voice behind me.

"Avery."

"Where are you going?" she asked me. "Mom, I have to go to Elders' Point." I said.

I smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "I'll be back soon." With that I flung the door open and left. When I arrived at the rest home, I found Linda waiting outside, arms folded.

"Linda, I'm so sorry. I lost track of time." I apologized.

"Avery, forgetting dinner over real housewives is losing track of time. You're late. What happened?" she said disappointed.

"I don't know. But I promise it won't happen again." I said. "Don't make promises you can't keep." She shook her head. "Now get in there. Lola's been asking for you all morning." I smiled and ran inside.

As I mentioned I volunteered here. I was assigned to look after this Spanish old lady Lola, but she loves it when you call her abuela. I entered her quarters after knocking a few times. I didn't find her in her room, so I walked to the small balcony just outside the room.

"Abuela," I called and she just rocked on her chair. I moved closer, "Abuela, it's me, Avery." I said and she turned.

"Avery, where have you been mija?" she smiled and I hugged her. "I just ran a little late abuela." I said. "Late night."

"And to make up for it, we're gonna go to the beach!" I announced.

"You know the sun burns my skin, mija." She said.

"Oh, come on, abuela. You need some time out of this crummy old room and besides, what are sun screens for?" I said.

"Vamos?" I smiled at her.