Tonight The World Dies

Chapter 29: Matt

I walked down the hallway, carrying the bag of food. As I walked past Brian's door, I stopped, pausing to think briefly about what he was doing at this current moment in time. From the faints sounds I could hear, he was more than likely playing his guitar. It was something he did when he thought, or, he often used it as a way to calm himself down. But this time, he was using it for thinking...thinking about whether or not Avery's friendship was worth taking the risk, and delving head first into a relationship. I knew they were perfect for each other, they got along like, dare I say, two peas in a pod. And I've never seen Brian act so comfortably around a girl before. Avery was good for him, she was quiet, but she had a fire to her, and she was strong. He needed someone like that. I heaved a sigh before continuing past the door to my best friend's apartment, as I wasn't here to see him, but to see Avery.

I turned to face the white door, raising a hand before rapping my knuckles across it with two, solid knocks.

A few silent moments went by before the door finally opened. But, this time, the Avery that stood behind it had dark, chocolate brown hair, to match her deep, brown eyes, rather than the dazzling mixture of blue and purple she'd had eight years ago. But, despite the time difference, she had the same look upon her face: a look of despair. Back then, she hadn't have realised it, not wanted to admit it, but now...now she knew that she couldn't live without Brian, except now, it wasn't her calling the shots; it was him.

"Hey." Avery said, forcing a weak smile onto her face. It had been two days since Brian had left, and neither of us had heard from him...that was until this morning when he'd text me, asking to keep an eye on Avery. I had no idea what that had meant, but as his friend, I was going to do it regardless.

Not only that, but ever since we'd come clean about what we'd done, it appeared that mine and Avery's relationship had fallen back to it's factory settings, leaving us as the friend's we once were.

"I brought food." I said, a smile creeping onto my face as I held the paper bag up. Avery smiled, gently nodding her head before stepping back and allowing me inside. "How are you?" I asked as I followed Avery into the kitchen.

"Okay, I guess." Avery answered. "Can I get you a drink?" She asked as she made her way over to the fridge. I walked over to the island counter and placed the bag of food down before I began unpacking it all.

"I got a drink with the meal, we just need glasses." I said, flashing Avery a smile. She gave a weak one back before she turned to the cupboards before opening them up and taking a couple of glasses out.

We sat and began eating the meal in silence, tucking into the various foods. I watched Avery inconspicuously, checking to make sure she was eating: she was, and despite all that had gone in, it seemed she hadn't failed to loose her appetite - which, was a good thing.

"Why are you here?" Avery asked, pausing in her eating to take a sip from her glass. She reached over and pulled a tissue out from the bag the food had been in before she wiped her mouth clean.

"To bring you lunch." I answered. Avery rose her eyebrows at me, clearly not believing that I had innocent intentions of coming over here. I sighed. "Brian text me this morning, asking me to check on you."

That caught her attention.

For a brief moment, her eyes lit up as I spoke his name, but they quickly dulled as she began to realise that he'd message me, and not her.

"What did he say? Specifically?" Avery asked, leaning her elbows onto the countertop.

"He literally said, can you go check on Avery today?" I said, repeating the sentence that Brian had sent me earlier today. "That was it. I told him yes and I didn't question anything else." Avery huffed. "I'm sorry." I apologised, noticing an angered look appear in her eyes.