Before It's Over

2.2

 Avery closed the door behind the last customers of the night and she flipped the sign on the door to 'closed'. She turned on the radio and grabbed the radio from the supply closet and began her closing duties. She loudly sang to the music blaring from the radio, dancing to the beats. Avery learned to love her time alone in the diner, just her and the music. It was all she ever wanted. Avery's dancing was cut short by the ringing of the bell above the Diner's door, bringing her back to reality.

"We're closed!" Avery quickly said as she ran to the radio to turn it down.

"Wow, absolutely nothing has changed around here," a voice came from behind Avery.

Avery quickly turned from the radio to see Luke standing in the doorway of the diner, with one hand suspiciously behind his back. He wore the same black sweater, with the same black sunglasses resting on his head.

"Luke?" Avery said barely managing a whisper.

"Yeah," Luke smiled.

"You have facial hair," Avery raised her brow.

"It's just a little scruff," Luke said rubbing his chin, proud of the facial hair he could now grow. "I um-I brought you a little something," Luke said handing Avery a bag.

"I can't accept this," Avery said sternly. "It's been a whole year Luke. You never wrote to me Luke, I never heard from you. I don't understand what you think is going on her Luke, but I think you should go," Avery said defending herself.

"Avie..."

"No, don't call me that Luke. I went a whole freaking year without hearing a word from you and you think you can just waltz into my diner and try to win me over with some presents? Who the hell do you think you are Luke? I stopped waiting for you a long time ago," Avery said with tears threatening to fall out.

"I wanted to write you, I just couldn't. Every day I was gone I just wanted to hop on a plane and come back to California and see you, believe me I did. I just couldn't- and that wasn't my choice. I had to do it for the band."

"You don't make sense Luke," Avery rolled her eyes.

"Things are different now Avery, I can be here for you now," Luke insisted.

"What about the band?"

"We will be here in California for over a month, I can finally spend time with you, just let me be here for you."

"How do I know you're not just going to leave me again?" Avery asked.

"Just open my gift," Luke smiled.

"Fine," Avery gave in. She took out all the tissue paper and pulled out a thick stack of postcards, "are these?"

"Yup, postcards from every city. There are well over 100," Luke smiled. "Look at the back of them."

Avery turned the first postcard over and read the messy handwriting out loud, "I have a fascination with penguins?" Avery laughed.

"Yeah," Luke nervously laughed. "I wrote things you may have not known about me on the back of each one. Or I wrote some lyrics, or just a letter to you, random stuff."

"And you did that for every city?" Avery asked.

"Yeah. I know I was gone for a long time but I honestly couldn't get you out of my mind," Luke nervously smiled.

"Luke, I have a question."

"Yeah?"

"Is this going to be an annual thing? Where you piss me off around my birthday and then try to make it up to me?" Avery joked.

"I mean, it could be, but that would mean I'd have to go another year without seeing you, and I wouldn't want that. There's one more thing in the bag!" Luke said.

Avery reached at the bottom of the bag and pulled out a small blue box. "Luke... what is this?"

"Just open it," Luke smiled.

Avery opened the box and there was a necklace with a small guitar charm on it. "Wow," Avery whispered.

"It just kind of reminded me of you, and it's my way of saying sorry for being such an asshole."

"It's beautiful," Avery smiled. "Thank you."

"There should be one last thing in the bag."

"Luke, you've gotten me enough," Avery said as she reached her hand in the bag and pulled out an envelope. She opened the envelope and pulled out a lanyard. "What is this?"

"It's a backstage pass to my show tonight, if you want to come. It's going to be our last show before we announce the break," Luke nervously smiled.

"You kept all your promises," Avery smiled.

"Yeah, I did. Can you come? There's something I really want you to hear tonight," Luke almost begged.

"Yeah, fine. I'll go," Avery smiled.

"Really?!"

"Well, the only concerts I've been to are the small open mics I do. It will be nice to go to an actual show," Avery laughed.

"Wait, you're doing open mics now?!" Luke almost yelled excited. "I'm so proud of you! I really want to hear about all of this but I have to get back to the arena. Promise you'll come?" Luke nervously smiled.

"I'll be there," Avery smiled.

"Thank you Avery, thank you so much," Luke smiled.

"Wait, you're not taking me to any parties or anything right?" Avery joked.

"No, just a concert and maybe we can harass that waiter again," Luke laughed.

"That sounds fun."

"Okay, my car is waiting so I should go. I'll see you there!" Luke excitingly said before running out of the diner. Avery looked down at the necklace Luke got her and smiled. Avery looked out the window and saw Luke running back to the diner.

"Hey Avie," Luke said nearly out of breath. "Happy Birthday," Luke smiled.