Distance

Chapter 5

   Ava woke up and checked her phone, like every morning. One new text from Ryan. It was Monday in the morning.
Ryan: Hey, wanna hang out afterschool?
Ava: Huh?
  Then Ava remembered that she had found out he lived in the same place as her.
Ava: Oh omg. I forgot you lived near me :P
Ryan: Silly.
Ryan: So we on for hanging out afterschool today?
Ava: Yeah sure. Where at?
Ryan: Maybe at the mall.
Ava: You know I work there right?
Ryan: Yeah. You know my sister also works there right?
Ava: Yeah.
Ryan: The mall isn't a bad place. PLUS after your job I can just pick you up from there and go on with our date.
Ava: You know what, fine. Since it's you asking.
Ryan: Yes! I gotta go to school but I'll see you later.
Ava: Sounds cool.
   Ava put her phone in her backpack and got ready for school. Avery picked up her dog and hugged it. Her dog was a Havanese puppy, it had short hair and a beautiful white coat and was extremely soft. Avery had it since she was 10 , even though the dog was 7 it was still extremely active.
   "You're so cute Zeus!" Avery said as she cuddled with the cute little puppy, Zeus. It barked softly in reply as it jumped off the bed and onto the floor. Zeus ran in circles at Avas' feet, it picked up a nearby sock and he threw it to the ground, pinning it down with his paw. Ava snatched the sock away from the dog. " Bad Zeus!" She exclaimed but couldn't stop herself from giggling.
    Averys' phone buzzed. Avery looked at the notification, a new message.
Sam: Can't drop you off. Busy with my girlfriend. Many Apologies lil' sis!
   Avery puffed out a hot breath from her cheeks, he couldn't just bail on her! She quickly got dressed and then replied.
Ava: I don't want to be an aunt yet Sam.
   She laughed at her own response and tucked her phone into her sweater pocket. She grabbed her backpack and headed out the door after locking it. She felt her phone buzz again. Avery pulled it out and saw a new message from Samuel.
Sam: What?
   Avery giggled and texted a reply. Pushing send afterwards she started to walk again.
Ava: Nothing. Oh, nothing.

   It was math class when Daisy decided to talk to Avery. She had been waiting for a day since Avery had seemed busy most of the time.
   "Hey, so what's up with you and lover boy?" Daisy said to Avery.
   "Oh, him. I'm seeing him afterschool today." Avery replied with a brief smile.
   "What?! He doesn't live here, remember?" Daisy said, a very confused look on her face.
   "He does. He moved here like a week ago." Avery stated, she tapped her pencil on the desk impatiently.
   "You okay?" Daisy asked, she noticed Ava had a pained look on her face.
   " Yeah. Fine. My jerk brother didn't drive me to school because he's busy with his damn girlfriend." Avery said, she sighed loudly.
   "Darn. My sister's picking me up today. Want a ride?" Daisy said trying to offer support.
   "Can't. Working afterschool." Ava said.
   "She can drop you off at work. I know how much you hate the bus." Daisy protested.
   "It's fine. I can take a bus. It's not that bad." Daisy said, before Avery could protest she pulled out her phone and called her older sister, Rina, hiding the phone from the teacher and being as quiet as possible."Hello? Oh, can you drive Avery to work at the mall after school?" Her sister replied with a quick yes. "Okay, thank you, see you after school."
   "DAISY!" Avery practically yelled, she bubbled up with embarrassment.
   "Ms.Johnson! This is not an amusement park. Please be quiet!" The teacher shushed her.
   "Daisy. Seriously." Avery said quietly to Daisy, hitting her in the arm.
   "Ouch. What was that for?!" Daisy said, a mock frown on her face. "That hurts!"
   "That's the point when you punch someone. I told you I could just take the bus." Avery replied her cheeks a bright red in embarrassment.
   "Stop being a baby!" Daisy said, she was about to punch her back but the bell signaling the next class sounded.

   Afterschool Rina gave Avery a ride to work, Avery was nervous the whole time. Rina thought Ava was a good friend and a good kid, but Avery was always nervous around her because she felt like she was going to get judged.
   "So, kid. How was school?" Rina asked, she always called Avery kid because Rina was 21 and Ava was 17.
   "Good I guess." Ava replied, tapping her feet on the flooring of the car.
   "What's your boyfriends name, Rylie or something?" Rina asked.
   "No, it's Ryan." Avery said.
   "Close enough." Rina replied.
   "I guess." Avery shrugged it off.
   "Doesn't he live far away or something?" Rina asked as she drove, still focusing on the road.
   "He used to, now he lives here. I'm actually meeting him afterschool." Avery said, her face brightening with the reminder.
   "Oh, we're here." Rina announced as they pulled up at the mall.
   "Thank you for the ride!" Avery said as she jumped out and headed towards the mall entrance, making her way to her job.