Restoration

CHAPTER 18 Logan

I saw Emma walk down the hallway, I watched her hips sway back and forth. She walked with disappointment in every step. I just let an opportunity slip through my fingers. This is another first for me. What is Avery doing to me? I've never felt so disgusted with myself. Avery's probably really pissed off at me. I'm just trying to figure this girl out. I can't bare making her sad. I can't stand it when she's mad at me. How am I gonna do this?

I stepped out onto the pavement of the parking lot, walking to my car. Suddenly, Avery ambushes me when I'm four feet away from my car. She has her arms crossed, and she has a scorned look on her face.

“So what the fuck was that earlier?” she demands. I decide to play dumb, maybe see what can break her.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Oh, you know damn well what I mean!”

“You mean Emily? Or... Emma?”

“Oh my god Logan! You are such an ass!”

“I don't even know why you're mad at me Avery. Nothing even happened between us.” Now I have her pinned. She stands there, silent for a few moments, then paces back and forth. “You were the one who got up and left before something happened. What are you afraid of Avery? Me? Or just all guys in general?”

“I-I... I don't know... I guess... I guess I'm afraid of getting close to anybody else, when I'm already so close to Owen,” she said, averting her eyes from mine.

She's letting me see a vulnerable side to her. This side of her... it makes me want to protect her. Be there for her. But, she doesn't want to get too close. Alright, I'll be the nice guy. She brings out the best, and worst in me.

“Alright, I'll make a deal with you. How about, we take this slow. Start a friendship, before anything else,” I mention. I see her think all the angles of this out. Silly Avery, there are no angles to work out. “It's just a simple little friendship.” I say.

“Okay... fine. Deal. Friends. JUST. FRIENDS.” she proclaims as she extends her hand out to me.

“Yep. Friends. Easy enough.” And we shake on it. “So what do two friends do on a Tuesday night?”

“Well... we could go get food... go drive around...”

“I vote food. I'm starving,” I say.

“My car or yours....” she trails off. I follow her gaze to my rusty Honda.

“Yours,” I say just to avoid conflict. She walks over and unlocks the doors. “Let me just call my mom and ask.”

Within a few minutes I'm back. Mom said she was going to pick Lily up from school, so I didn't have to be home when she came back from school, or get her to do her homework.

I climb into Avery's car. Admiring it all over again. She has “Airplanes” by B.O.B ft. Hayley Williams playing in the background. I look out the window at the town passing by. I admire her again, driving the car. Being in complete control. Knowing exactly what she's doing. Ugh, friends. Just friends Logan.