Restoration

CHAPTER 27 Avery

I drive away as fast as I can, without looking back. I can't believe what just happened, and how much I liked it. His kiss, and his touch scared me. Because it felt so right, but dangerous, new and exciting. I can't be feeling this way when I have Owen. I can't think straight. I can't keep my thoughts in order. I can't think logically. My first thought is how wrong this whole thing is, but how right it all felt. My second thought is, how I'm gonna tell Owen.

I get home and the first thing I do is go up into my room, shut my door, and fall face first onto my bed. Everything is spinning, it feels like my world is falling apart. Why did Logan have to do that?! He knows I'm taken! This is not okay. It never was.

I need to clear my head. I need girl time. I dial Zoey's number.

“Hey Ave, what's up?”

“I-” then I break down in tears.

“I'll be over in five minutes. You'll be okay.” Then she hangs up. Thank God I have a friend like her.

She's over in eight minutes, with Nutella, double fudge brownie ice cream, and four different romantic comedies. I see her mom's car drive back down my driveway from my bedroom window. Seconds later I hear my front door open and her feet pound up the stairs. Zoey knocks gently on my door.

“Ave? Hun, you okay?” she asks. I sit up on my bed, and smile halfheartedly. She plops down and the foot of my bed and pulls me into a hug. “Speak. Tell me what's wrong.”

I look at her, then sigh. “Logan kissed me.” Zoey's mouth drops, but she quickly recovers, and maintains calm.

“How did it happen?” she asks.

“Well... I went over to his house to help him with his car. He kept on looking at me, and I should have saw it coming. I should have left, but I didn't.” Then I break down in tears again. She hugs me again and lets me cry on her shoulder. “What am I gonna do?” I say through the sobs. I pull away and she stands up and starts pacing.

“First of all, you and Logan? No. Not going to happen. He's just bad news Ave. Secondly, you're going to tell Owen. Third, did you kiss him back? Cause that could change a lot of things.” I stare blankly at my wall, then avert my eyes from hers. “OH MY GOD YOU DID! AVERY LYNN SPENCER!”

“I KNOW! I'M SORRY OKAY?!” I'm hyperventilating. I'm shaking. I can't keep myself under control. Zoey continues pacing.

“Okay, the way I see it. You have three options. One, tell Owen everything, the whole truth. You liking Logan, him kissing you, and you kissing him back. Two, take the pansy way and tell him half the truth, that Logan kissed you, and you bolted. Three, dump Owen and be with Logan,” she says. I look at her questionably.

“Be with Logan? You hate Logan. You wouldn't want me to be with Logan even if he was the last male on Earth.”

“Well Ave, I'm gonna be honest. I've noticed a change in you since you two have started hanging out. You're happier. Not confused anymore. When he's around you're the old you. Smart, witty, confident, strong-willed, and snippy. When Owen is around, you're... sad, confused, shy, and not as spirited as you once were. Even if I do hate that low-life, cheating, manipulative, lying sack of shit male, he's what's best and worst for you. I just want you to be happy Avery.” I give her a hug and tears stream down my face. “So what are you gonna do?”

“I... I don't know Z. Things have changed between me and Owen so much between now and last year. I don't feel that spark anymore when he's around. When he kisses me I'm emotionless. We always have the same routine of going to his concerts and playing video games. It gets boring. With Logan there's excitement, suspense, something new that needs to be discovered. A part of me wants to take the pansy way out, and the other part of me wants to just stop playing this facade,” I confess to my best friend.

“Then do it, I don't agree with it, but I'll support you every step of the way. I'm not going to lie, I still do hate Logan, and if you want him to leave you alone, I'll keep him out of your hair until you figure things out. Okay?”

“Sounds great. Thank you Zoey, for everything.”

“Don't mention it. This is what I signed up for right? Now, how about you and me go watch some stupid sappy movies and eat some ice cream?”

“Deal.”

Then we open my door and approach the future.