Tonight The World Dies

Chapter 12: Matt

"Go after her." Val said, placing a hand on my arm.

I turned to my wife with an exasperated look. Not that she knew it, but I would be the last person that Avery would want to see.

"Don't you think it would be better if you went?" I asked.

Val shook her head before turning to stare in the direction where Brian had headed. "I think it'd be better if I talk to him." Val explained, jerking her head after Brian. He was continuing to walk back toward the venue, alone, with his shoulders slumped and hands shoved into his pockets.

I let out a sigh. "Alright," I reluctantly agreed, "I'll go after Avery."

"Thank you, honey." Val said, giving me a warm smile before she, and the rest of the group, headed back toward the venue...and toward Brian.

I watched them go for a second before I turned my attention back toward Avery. She was nearing the end of the street; I don't think she even knew where she was going, but wherever she was heading, she was heading there quickly. I immediately began walking, picking up my speed, and using the advantage of being tall to catch up with her by setting a quick, but steady, pace. By the time I caught up with her, we were already a few blocks away from the restaurant, and at least an extra ten minute walk away from the venue.

"Avery!" I called, knowing that I was now definitely close enough for her to hear.

I watched as she froze, shoulders tensing and her fists clenching into tight balls, before she inhaled and spun on her heel to turn around and make her way toward me, with a finger raised, pointing at me. I stopped walking and mentally prepared myself for the earful that I was about to receive: Avery wasn't one to loose her temper, so, when she did, she did it well. 

"How dare you even have the nerve to come after me, after what you did," Avery spat, "you're the whole fucking reason that I even argued with Brian in the first place, and all because you couldn't control yourself and fucking kissed me!" She added, lowering her voice to a hiss as she brought up the topic of our little secret.

"Val sent me after you, I didn't have a choice." I said, keeping my voice calm and rational. There was no point in arguing with her, it would only make things worse.

"Yeah, well neither did I when you kissed me." Avery countered. Touché.

I took in a sharp breath. "What happened?" I asked, taking a step toward her. She eyed me carefully, watching me as I got closer and closer to her; holding her ground.

Avery nervously chewed on her lip. Now that I was closer to her, I could see the tears welling up in her eyes. "He asked me if I was okay...and I snapped." Avery answered, lifting her hands into the air before allowing them to drop to her sides, slapping the side of her thighs in the process.

I furrowed my eyebrows, clearly not following. "Why?" I asked.

"I don't know!" Avery exclaimed. "I'm just so fucking tired." She said, running her hands through her hair, causing various strands to become dislodged from her once perfectly styled hair. Avery's hair had been styled the same ever since I'd known her: her hair flowed around her face, with the majority of it pushed over to the right side. Her hair slightly curled as well, giving her hair a carefree kind of attitude...come to think of it, a little bit like Brian's most of the time as well, when it wasn't styled in the typical spiky mop. "I...I had nightmares last night, about...us, and it's been on my mind all fucking day and I missed the damn rehearsals because of it." Avery added, pausing to chew her bottom lip. "I should've been there, Matt, and I wasn't." She added, a stray tear falling from her eye.

"Hey, it's just rehearsals." I pointed out, bringing a hand up to touch her arm. I did it automatically, since it was something I would've normally done as her friend, but she flinched away, making me become aware that even the subtle, comforting actions I used to do, were now potentially a gateway to causing more trouble - after all, I'd hugged Avery before I kissed her, and who would've guessed that that would've happened?