gap year

8

|Avery's pov|

"What?!" I screeched, jumping up and down after Hayden told me what happened with Ethan whilst I was out with Grayson. She was sat on the sofa, looking at me amusedly, "it's really not that big of a deal Ave." She shrugged, reclining in her seat.
"I'm so excited, I think I might vomit." I exclaimed, pacing back and forth. "But hold on, what if you get sick? That'd completely ruin our trip." I pouted, holding mid pace and sitting next to her on the couch.
"Stop being such a fun sponge and be happy for me." She laughed, giving me a pointed look and headed towards the kitchen in search of something to eat.

"Oh don't be so silly, you know how I obsess over teenage boys, especially the rather good looking, charming ones..." I waved a hand at her playfully, playing with the hem of my black denim shorts. "Was it awkward?" I looked up at her, eyebrows furrowed.
"What? The kiss?" She sauntered over, bag of salt and vinegar crisps in hand.
"No, like afterwards. When you both pulled away. Did you start talking to each other as if nothing happened? Did you just get up and leave? I must say you strike me as one of those people, if you get what I mean." I winked at her jokingly. She faked a gasp, holding a hand over her heart.
"How could you say such a thing?" She took a bite of a crisp and I cringed at the sound of her eating with her mouth open. Ugh, pet peeves. "And no, it wasn't awkward at all actually. We just 'cuddled' and watched a film." She held her fingers up for air quotes and shrugged as if it was nothing.

Although we both loved what the word means, you must admit the word sounds weird and babyish when spoken aloud. I cringe every time I have to say it. Unless it's a boy saying it to me then I don't know, it just sounds weird, alright? Stop judging me.

"Huh." I breathed out, imagining their wedding and my future God-children.
"Avery, stop!" She pointed a finger at me, already knowing where my thoughts were taking me.
"I can't help it!" I threw my hands up in the air then slapped them down on the sofa next to me. "Think about how cute little Avery junior will be!"
"You've already named my children?" She looked at me incredulously, "and don't think I'm letting you off the hook without telling me what happened with Grayson." She wagged an accusing finger at me and put a crisp in my open mouth.

"What are you talking about? Nothing happened." I turned from her so she couldn't see my pink tinted cheeks.
"Yeah right, this is you we're talking about Avery Wells. You're a woman whore!"
"A whore then?" I turned and looked at her amusedly.
"Just tell me. I told you!" She faked a defeated look. "Come on, I'm your best friend you jerk."
"Fine," I took a deep breathe, recollecting the events of yesterday, "heheldmyhandandwewenttoanarcadeandwenearlykissedbutakidranintomeandifellover." I rushed out, hoping she didn't hear or understand.
"Wow, wow, wow, don't be a little twerp. Tell me, slowly." Her arms were crossed against her chest, the now empty back of crisps long forgotten on the sofa cushion next to where she sat.

"He was holding my hand, from the second that we left the apartment and he took me to the arcade. We nearly kissed but a kid ran into me and I fell on the floor. I didn't get a kiss." I pouted, putting a strand of hair behind my ear.
Suddenly she burst out laughing, only making my pout larger, what was so funny?
"You fell over because a kid ran into you." She stopped laughing but as soon as she said it she burst out laughing again.
"Oh hush, don't act as if that never happened to you before." I gave her a knowing look and she shut up immediately. "That's what I thought." I huffed, making my way to my bedroom to change into my outfit for the day.

Putting on my white crochet bralette and high waisted distressed denim jeans, I grabbed a mint green floral kimono and slid on my white canvas converse trainers.
"Where are we going?" Hayden asked, looking up at me from sniffling into the sleeve of her baggy jumper.
"Jamba juice." I stated simply, grabbing my black leather Michael Kors backpack. "On me." I stuck my tongue out playfully, pulling her towards the door.
"At least let me get ready!" She exclaimed, freeing herself from my iron grip and running to her bedroom.
I slid my sunglasses onto my face and pulled out my phone, quickly checking through my messages, a lot of my friends back home were envious of Hayden and I. They'd chosen to not take the gap year, some of them found it inconvenient and some didn't have the sufficient funds to support themselves during the 12 months away from home.

I felt bad for those friends. I'm not snobby, I'm not spoilt and I don't brag for what I have. I grew up in a well-off family. I was not the type of person whose parents gave them the world and they just shrugged it off without batting an eyelash. I appreciate everything my parents have worked so hard to give to me and I don't ask for more than I need.

"Okay, I'm ready!" She ran back out, applying some lip balm before shoving on her shoes on.
"LETS GO!" I shouted, excited to get some Jamba Juice. I'd had some when I went to Florida on a family holiday and I remember it being 'borderline orgasmic' as my inappropriate uncle had put it.

I ordered my favourite, razzmatazz smoothie and Hayden ordered a chili mango smoothie. The workers were so sweet and they kept saying how much they adored our accents.

"Thank you so much, I'm sure we'll see you guys again, maybe tomorrow." I winked at the girls, I've found myself winking a lot recently.

We got back to the apartment in haste, eager to go down to the pool because today was pretty hot if I do say so myself.
"Oh, hey girls." I looked up at Grayson and my face immediately warned.

Oh Lordy!

A/N because I'm the best best friend ever pia_stoney your turn