The Gravity of Us

Chapter 1 (Avery)

Be humble. Good posture.
Be the best.
A young woman must always dress for the occasion.
Have class, Avery. For every female will become a woman, but not every woman will be a lady.

I recited mom's words over and over as I took Physics test. I had to get the highest score, it was the only way. My right hand automatically tightened around the pencil causing my knuckles to turn white. I continued to strangle the piece of wood until it snapped from my frustration. I let loose a groan as I pulled another pencil from my bag. Light wavy threads of maple brown hair clouded my vision. I swatted away the strands of hair, and began to regain my focus.

I can't lose sight of what is important.

Medical school was expensive, my mother made sure I knew that whenever she threatened to not help me pay for it.

A young lady who does not try to prepare for her future does not deserve help

That's what she told me the day I said I was going to quit my etiquette classes.

I am a senior in college, 23 years old, and my mom still holds so much power over me.

I always pleaded to my dad to convince her to change her mind. He and I were closer. We spent our days going on little hikes, rock climbing, stargazing, anything outdoors. Looking back, I think he was secretly giving me an escape from the life my mother had me trapped in. And so, he tried day and night to persuade her. But mom is the breadwinner, she gets to call all the shots.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't even realize I finished my test. I released an exhausted sigh, and then pushed out my chair. I walked up to Professor Davidson and handed my test in.

"Nicely done Ms. Taylor," He said after glancing over it. "You're making your mother proud."

I gave a saccharine smile and headed back to my seat, and put my head down.

********************

It was a brisk, windy day for mid October. I pulled my cardigan close to me as an icy breeze rushed past me. I had at least 40 minutes until my last class, so I walked through campus and until I found an empty table outside the cafeteria. I hauled my textbooks out of my bag, and pulled out my papers to study.

To convert grams to molecules, you have to divide by the molar mass, and then multiply it by 6.02 × 10 to the 23rd.

I kept cramming like this for at least 30 more minutes. My chair screeched as I pushed it back and stood. I collected my things and began to walk to my next class when-

"Watch out!" Someone said.

I spun around and felt a slab of rigid muscle collide into me. We fell to the ground, along with all the contents of my bag. I peeled my eyes back to greet a pair of emeralds, with tiny specks of liquid gold scattered across the iris. I finally released the breath I didn't know I had been holding, and started noticing other things, such as the fact that that some random dude was lying on top of me.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

I blinked a couple time to come out of my daze, and then shoved him off me.

"What the h- ," I stuttered.

A woman must always watch her words.

"Wh- what do you think you're doing?" I shouted. I was running short on time, so I started jamming stuff back into my bag.

He brought a calloused hand to his curly, hickory colored hair, and brushed it back. "It was an accident really. I was running and you just popped up out of nowhere when- ," He stopped abruptly.

"Shit!" He said after glancing at his watch. After mumbling a few more curses to himself, no-name looked around noticed all of my loose papers.

"Here, let me help you." He gathered the rest of my work before it could dance off into the wind.

No-name handed me my papers nonchalantly as if he didn't cause this mess. I snatched the last bit of my stuff from him and stomped off before he could ruin anything else.

"Wait! I didn't catch your name," He shouted.

"I didn't catch an apology either," I shouted back with a sneer.

I kept walking, but something felt off. A somewhat familiar feeling, as if someone was watching me.

Wait a minute..

I looked over my shoulder, and saw that same boy sitting in the grass, gazing at me with eyes filled with wonder. A cocky grin spread across his face as he caught me looking back. I felt the embarrassment roll through me as heat flooded my cheeks. I marched off to my Finances class with my head down, and tail tucked between my legs.