Achievement Unlocked

Chapter 24

It was around 4 in the morning and I was sitting at my computer, messing around with another template. I had woken up about an hour ago. I blamed it on falling asleep in the late afternoon. I took a sip from my coffee and began to control C, control V, and shift click the day away. Around 6 I decided to start getting ready, even though I know that I was going to be ready way too early. I guess I'm just anxious, I thought. I also have to count in drive time to go get Gavin. But he said to pick him up at 9:30, not be there at 9:30. So I guess I have enough time, probably a few more hours, to keep working. I walked into my room then immediately turned back and returned to my place in my office, sending in the finished design and working on a new one. 

Original designs are so hard to come up with. I groaned as I sat up, taking another sip from my semi cold coffee. 2 templates and 3 cups of coffee later, I decided on getting ready. I walked into the bathroom and contemplated taking a shower, but decided against it. After staring at myself in the mirror and washing my face, I made my way into my room to put on the dress. Afterwards I spent the next 10 to 20 minutes digging through my closet looking for a pair of shoes. I had forgotten that I really only wear my converse. I finally finished getting dressed and moved back into the bathroom to put on makeup. I glanced at the clock every few seconds anxiously. It's not like it's going to run away or anything. I shook my head and applied eyeliner, then slipped my shoes on, grabbed my phone, and headed out the door and to Gavin's. 

I sent him a text as I was pulling into his driveway and waited for him to come out. He eventually emerged from his small apartment and walked over to my car, opening the passenger's door and stepping in. After seating himself comfortably, he looked over at me and smiled. 

"Lookin' good." I returned his smiled and pulled out. 

"I could say the same to you." He replied, putting on his seat belt. 

"Psh, you're just saying that." I giggled and made my way to Michael's. 

The entire ride was filled with confused looks from me and Gavin struggling to tell me the directions. We only got lost around 6 times before I finally understood what he was saying. Roughly 2 million years later, we made it. I sighed as I pulled into the driveway, wiping my sweating hands on my dress before exiting the car and following Gavin into Michael's. We were greeted almost immediately, and moments later I wandered away from Gavin and was leaning against the glass door that led to the backyard, casually drinking a beer. Gavin eventually found me, and by that time I had to have downed around 3 or 4 beers. Gavin took my hand and led me into the backyard without a word. He walked over to one of the tables and pulled out a chair for me. I shook my head and smiled before taking a seat. He sat across from me and rested his head up with his hands. 

"So, what's new with you?" He asked, picking at some M&M's on the table. 

"Not much," I sighed, "work. But I've gotten a lot done within the past few days, so I think I deserve a little bit of a break." I chuckled towards the end of my sentence. 

"That's great. I'm glad things are working out." He smiled at me before looking past me and nodding upwards. I turned around to see Geoff walking up with Griffon. 

"Hey!" I smiled at Griffon, standing up to give her a hug, "I haven't seen you in so long."

Geoff nodded towards me then took my seat and began to talk to Gavin while Griffon returned my hug. 

"Yeah! How have things been?" She smiled, taking a sip of her beer and releasing me. 

"Things have been alright, I guess. What about you?" 

"Everything's a bit stressful, but that's life." She shrugged and handed me the beer in her other hand, "take this, it's Geoff's." She winked at me before beginning to walk away to go mingle with the crowd. I had a feeling she gave it to me because Geoff took my spot. I chuckled silently and sat at the empty chair at the table where Geoff and Gavin were, finishing Geoff's beer and observing their conversation. It was something about Achievement Hunter, and I didn't know a thing about what they were conversing about. I slowly started to get lost in my own thoughts until the band started playing, jolting me out of it and turning my attention towards them. Gavin nudged my arm and spoke softly. 

"You should go play a song." He suggested. 

"I don't really know." I frowned. 

"No, do it." Geoff smiled, "I'm sure they'll let you."

"Here, I'll go with you." Gavin said as he stood up. I began to protest when he grabbed my hand and pulled me up, leading me off of the grass and onto the pavement. He released my hand and waited for them to finish the song before whispering to the guitarist and asking them if I could play. I knew they had agreed when he began to lift his guitar over his head. He smiled and handed it to me. I shyly walked over to the mic, and noticed that Gavin was at the second one. He winked at me and mouthed the words "Do you want to know a secret."

At that point I knew he wanted me to play a Beatles song, and he had made it clear that he was singing. I bowed my head and began to play softly, matching up as best I could to Gavin's terrible voice. It was obvious that he was singing badly on purpose, which was a little bit adorable. I sang the back up very softly, but the mic had amplified it to where my voice was incredibly loud, which bothers me. I started to doubt my playing when the song was close to the end, but my doubts were washed away when we finished and the crowd of people began to clap, including Gavin, which made me wonder if he had been drinking. I smiled at the band and handed their guitar back, then waited for Gavin to follow me back over to the table. I seated myself then noticed that Gavin wasn't following me. 

I should probably go and find him, but I don't want to be all awkward. I guess I'll just stay here and wait for him. Here, I'll wait around 5 minutes and if he hasn't returned by then, I'll go look for him. I looked up and continued to think, bouncing my leg up and down nervously. I seriously do wonder where he is, though. Why is this bothering me so much? This is so stu- My thoughts were cut short when I looked up and saw Gavin walking over with four beers in his arms. Yeah, he's been drinking. I should probably stop, I'm starting to get pretty woozy and I don't want to make a fool of myself.  Gavin set the drinks down and took a seat next to me, resting the palm of his hand on the inside of my thigh. He looked at me for a moment before leaning in and kissing me. I could feel him smile into the kiss, which made me smile as well. When he pulled away I smirked and looked at the sky. 

"It seems like time is going by so fast." I sighed, still looking up at the sky. 

"Yeah, it only seems like we've been here for a few minutes but it's already 1PM." He replied, shrugging and joining me in watching the sky.