Touch The Skye (ON HOLD)

Chapter 10

*Avery*

My heart was racing as I walked over and joined him on the top step. I tried to keep my breathing even so he wouldn't know how terrified I was. But he was Skylar and probably already knew, because Skylar knew everything. 

Neither of us said anything for a while. We just sat there in the quiet of the darkening day. My heart slowed down and I wasn't as tense when I broke the silence, "You aren't drunk for once." I didn't put any emotion in it. Just put it out there.

He huffed, "Not this time."  The silence returned. 

"Sky-"

"Avery, wait. Just let me say this okay?" He didn't look at me.

"O-okay." I swallowed.

"I.. " He stopped and tried again, "Today, I-" He snapped his mouth shut. He poked at his lip ring as he tried to find the words he wanted. "Avery... I'm sorry." He finally looked at me but his eyes were guarded and I couldn't see anything through the walls.

"I'm sorry too Skylar. I shouldn't have said those things to you." I tried not to show how much his apology impacted me. 

"You don't have anything to be sorry for. You were right," He shrugged and looked away to the night sky. 

"No, I wasn't.-"

"Sto-"

"No listen," I grabbed his shoulder and turned him to me, "I guess you could say I lied. You aren't pathetic, Skylar. Far from it actually and I don't want you believing what I said. It wasn't true. I was angry and hurt, but that certainly doesn't justify what I did. For that, I'm sorry too." I could hear the conviction ringing in my voice. It left me feeling bold and empowered.

Skylar looked what I could only describe as uncomfortable. Neither of said anything for a bit. I kept sneaking small glances towards Skylar, to try and figure out what he was thinking. He seemed to be thinking hard on something. The face that he was poking at his lip ring confirmed as much anyway. 

Finally, without looking at me, only at the almost darkened sky, he said, "Avery, I was wrong too. I know I shouldn't act the way I do sometimes and that I shouldn't say or do the things that I do, I just.. "

"Skylar, you don't have to explain yourself to me. It's not my business and I'm not trying to make it my business. But, with you it's like constant whiplash. I never know what to expect from you anymore. One minute it's the Skylar everyone sees, the closed off jerk who'll punch your face off. Then other times, I don't know, it's like you're just a normal guy, but I only get to see that normal guy when it's just you and me.. and that makes me kind of sad, because you're a really great guy when you stop being suh a jerk." I shrugged and tried playing it off. But honestly, I knew there was no playing off what I'd just said. I didn't know how he'd react either. Oh God, what had I done? Crossed a line that was for sure. I was in for it now, great. 

Looking at the porch between us he said, "Maybe you're the only one I want to see that side of me.." he trailed off. 

I felt my mouth drop open a little and I definitely felt my face heating up. Had I just heard him correctly?

*Skylar*

I looked up to see her response, why was she so quiet? She looked... I don't even know. Her eyes were huge and her mouth just kind of hung open. I felt myself frowning. Had I said something..wrong? I replayed the conversation in my head and mentally punched myself , "Oh my God. That came off so wrong. I-" I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut, "That was- no. I didn't mean it flirty like that at all. I just meant.. I meant that.. uh.."