Tonight The World Dies

Chapter 33: Avery

A week later I found myself in the kitchen, alone. It was mid-morning, and I was waiting for Brian to finish showering before we headed on out into town. We had a few things to do before tonight, as we were heading out to dinner with Matt and Val, and a few other people to celebrate our engagement - even if my ring finger still lay bare.

I sighed.

The notion of not having a ring had not bothered me until yesterday when Matt had rung Brian to ask if we were free for the meal (as they'd orchestrated the whole thing), and since then, I began to think over how silly it seemed to have this celebration when nothing had been set in stone...yet. I know it seemed a stupid and pointless thing to worry about, especially after my unease after Brian had popped the question, but now...my mind was set on worrying about this damn ring. It lead itself into narrow tunnels of deceit and uncertainty, wondering whether or not Brian was stalling with the ring because he'd realised he'd made the wrong decision in asking me to marry him.

I fiddled with my fingers nervously as I sat at the kitchen counter, staring away into oblivion.

I was over-thinking everything. Neither one of us had even gone out into town since last week, meaning that Brian hadn't even had the chance to get a ring, and therefore I was worrying about absolutely nothing.

And I kept telling myself this until Brian walked into the kitchen ten minutes later, with his hair all damp and spiky.

He said nothing as he headed over to the fridge before yanking the milk out and retrieving a bowl from the cupboard above the coffee maker. I continued to listen to him rustle around until he came to sit opposite me with a bowl full of cereal.

He began eating, his eyes fixated on his cornflakes as he shovelled a spoonful into his mouth, before he looked up at me and immediately frowned.

"What's wrong?" Brian questioned after swallowing a sufficient amount of food that allowed him to talk.

I gave him an odd look and took a sip from my orange juice. "Nothing?" I shrugged, and that only caused Brian's frown to deepen.

"You look troubled." He said, setting down his spoon and giving me a stern look, checking me over for any physical signs that might hint to him what was wrong.

"I'm just...thinking, that's all."

"About?"

I quickly racked my brain for an appropriate answer. I couldn't tell him the real reason, because, first of all, it was stupid, and second of all, it would just be impolite to suggest to him that I thought he was taking a second-look at our new relationship status.

"Tonight." I finally answered. Brian lowered an eyebrow curiously as he picked his spoon up again in order to reload it with food. He waved a few of his fingers at me, indicating for me to elaborate. "Everyone's going to be there, and...they're all going to pander over us and it's just going to be awkward, especially after...you know, the whole thing with Matt." And at that point, I did actually begin to worry about tonight. Everyone would be sitting there judging us, judging me...and Matt, and maybe even Val about the decision we'd made. I know I was no longer in Zacky's good books, and I had no idea about Tegan. Lacey...well, Lacey naturally thought what I'd done had been unforgivable, but she was on a fence, and accepted the decisions that we had all made.

And then there was Dan, and Jason and Matt (also know as The Berry Brothers), and I had no idea about how much they knew about all this. Jason and Matt probably knew more than Dan, but Dan was a good friend to Brian and they always talked, so, maybe he knew more than I thought.

I let out a groan and allowed my head to drop to the counter, feeling the cool granite press against my forehead.

"I am not ready for this." I mumbled, fighting against the urge to have a mental breakdown.