Restoration

CHAPTER 28 Logan

It's Monday. I hate Monday's. The start of a new week. Monday constantly reminds you that you're starting another week of Hell. This is how it's been all weekend. I've been in misery, ever since Avery ran. I've sent her texts like “R u ok?” and “I'm srry” and “plz talk 2 me”. No replies to any of them. She didn't talk to me all weekend. It's killing me inside. I barely slept all weekend because I kept thinking about her touch, the kiss, her smile, her laugh. Not talking to her is killing me.

I got finished with breakfast, and helped Lily with getting ready for school. Mom's still sleeping, I'll just wake her up before I leave.

“Lily do you have any homework?”

“No,” she replies. I look at my little sister playing with her dolls in front of the TV. She used to be really outgoing, then dad died and now she just keeps to herself. It's hard for her to make friends at school, because she's so quiet.

“Lily I'm gonna wake mom up, then I'm gonna leave for school, okay squirt?”

“Okay!” She runs up and hugs my hip, then looks up to me and smiles. I pick her up, and spin her around, then kiss her cheek. I set her down and she runs back over to her dolls. I canter to mom's bedroom door and knock twice.

“Mom I'm leaving for school, you need to wake up and get Lily ready for school.” I hear some groans and footsteps after that. Good, she's up. I grab my backpack from the kitchen chair and walk over to the front door. “Bye Lil. Have a good day at school!”

“Logan!” she squeals.

“Yeah?”

“When is Avery coming back? I like her!” I look down at my feet, sigh, and then look at her.

“I don't know Lily. She might not ever come back.” Then I leave.

I get to school a little later than usual. Not that big of a deal. Avery's car isn't here yet, but I try not to dwell on it. Ben runs over and greets me.

“Hey man! How was your weekend?”

“It was alright. Yours?”

“Eh, just worked and played some soccer.”

“Sounds like a good weekend. Well I gotta get to my locker. See ya,” I wave goodbye and start to walk inside.

Avery's not in first period. That just makes it worse. Zoey shoots me deathly glares. The rest of my classes drag on, and on. Lunch time comes and I sit next to Ben and his friends, their talking about the soccer team next year and who would be the next goalie replacing the senior goalie from this year. Just meaningless conversation to me.

Then finally I see her. She's staying close to Zoey, and Owen isn't too far behind. He keeps scanning the lunchroom, probably looking for me, but I don't care anymore. They grab their food, and Owen is still in the lunch line. Avery looks up and notices me watching her. She looks over to Zoey and says something, then they get up to leave. I watch them head towards the front doors to go eat lunch outside. “I'll see you guys later,” I mumble to Ben and the others, keeping my eyes on Avery. I throw away the rest of my food and start to head outside.

Avery and Zoey are sitting down at the farthest table, keeping their gaze away from the doors. I need to talk to her, I need to know what she's thinking.

“Avery?” I ask. Zoey interrupts.

“Logan she doesn't want to talk to you, leave Avery alone.”

“Zoey just back the fuck off, and let me talk to her!”

“Logan, no. If you respect her at all you'll leave her alone and give her space.”

“I have to talk to her Zoey, step aside.”

“No.” Zoey stands her ground. I see Avery look up at me, then look away. Then I hear footsteps running up behind me. I turn and there's Owen, glaring daggers at me.

“Actually Logan, I think you're the one that needs to step aside. Or, better yet, how about you back off, leave MY GIRLFRIEND alone, and just go back to the school you came from,” Owen says as he pushes me a couple of times.

I act like I'm considering what he's saying, but we all know what I really want to do. “How about... no.”

Owen has a couple of friends behind him now, and Zoey is blocking Avery from seeing anything of what's going on.

“Logan, I think it's time you leave,” Zoey says calmly, but deadly. Then Owen and his friends grab me and start pulling me away. Then they block me from approaching her again. I start to walk back up to the school, but I stop, turn around, and say one last thing that I know will get through to her.

“Really Ave? We're gonna do this again? Is this really how you want it to be? Not Zoey, not Owen, not even what you think is best. YOU.” Then I turn, drop my head, and walk the walk of shame and betrayal.