The Art of Letting You Go

it's magical, isn't it?

Olly's POV:

The weather here was too warm, I could barely breathe. If Avery was with me she'd be complaining every second. She loved the cold.

But I couldn't think about her right now, I had more important things to do. A future to plan. I walked slowly, following the cluster of people off the plane until I was finally walking into the airport. 

Of course my dad hadn't gone with me. I was stupid to even ask him, thinking he'd be happy to go. Thinking he'd be proud. That's the whole reason I'm here. 

I walk aimlessly until I see a sign with my name on it. Oliver Dixon. Damn I hated my last name. It was a woman holding it. Her hair reminded me of Avery, it was dark but pulled into a bun. Av would never wear her hair in a bun though. Her face was covered with makeup as she wore a fancy dress suit thingy. I'm not sure what it is.

"Oliver?" She asks as I walk closer, nodding at her question. She grabs my wrist and pulls me through the crowd of happy relatives. They were all there waiting for family. I never had anyone waiting for me.

She directs me to a small car before hopping into the front seat. 

"Are you excited?" She asks, keeping her eyes on the road. 

"I guess," I said, looking out the window as I take in the beautiful sight. I would love to live here. 

"I thought the whole athletes having nothing to say  thing was a myth." She chuckles and I turn to her. Who gave her the right to speak to me like that? I decided to ignore her, though. There was no way I'd be messing this up.

She drove for about twenty more minutes before we reached our destination. It was silent and awkward.

I step out of the car and hate myself for letting out a girly gasp. The lady comes up behind me and smirks. 

"It's magical, isn't it?"

Avery's POV:

The water relaxes my muscles as I face the tile wall. I knew Olly wouldn't approve of Logan and I kissing, but there were no feelings on my side of it. That's all that matters, right?

I turn to face the water and turn the tap off. I grab a dry towel and pull it through my hair. I throw on a pair of cotton shorts and a long tee shirt I found in the corner of my room. I didn't recognize it at first, but my heart dropped when I did. It was Olly's. I must have taken it from his house. 

His room was a mess, like always. The only reason he let me come over on such short notice was because his dad wasn't home. 

"Av, stop cleaning up after me." Olly chuckled, trying to focus on whatever paperwork he had in his hands. He was sitting slumped over on the edge of his bed.

"If you don't start putting dirty shirts in the laundry I might end up stealing them." I say, holding a cluster of clothes to my chest. 

"You should. Then I wouldn't have to do any laundry." He sets the paperwork down and stands from the bed, walking towards me in a hurry.

"Olly, I'm not going anywhere!" I say as he grasps my hips and raises me in the air. All of the clothes I was holding fell to the floor, except for a shirt I managed to hold on to. I laugh and playfully swat at his back until I notice the frown on his face.

I missed him.

I grab my phone from my desk to see that Logan has texted me a couple of times, along with Sara. I decide to ignore them and call Olly. The ring instantly goes to voicemail and I find myself very upset. Why was his phone off?

I scroll to find the texts I had ignored.

Logan: Thank you for that Av.

Logan: I didn't know how much I needed it. Hope things aren't awkward now 

Sara: Whatever you said to him worked Avery!! We're back together and I really notice a change in him :) Thank you so much girl

I replied to Logan first.

Me: It isn't, I promise. And I'd do anything for you. <3

Sara next.

Me: Just knocked some sense into him :))) Glad you two are back!

I set my phone down and let out a sigh of relief. I was happy for them. If they couldn't work then who would?

"Avery?" I jump as I hear my mom's name from the doorway. I turn in my chair to see her standing there, leaning against the frame. 

"Yes?" I reply. She smiles softly and walks toward the desk I was sitting at. She sits on top of it, looking down at me in the chair before speaking. I could see a hint of pity in her eyes.

"Sweetie, what happened to that plan you had in the summer?" My mom asks, she seems uncomfortable. I vaguely remember the plan she was talking about, before I realized I had written it all down and stashed it in a drawer. I get up and walk over to my dresser, rummaging through my underwear drawer before finally pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. I don't bother unraveling it until I'm sitting next to my mom again.

I had written a list of things I was to complete in my junior year of high school. It was decorated with polka dots and various stickers I had found lying around the house. I usually focused my time on writing things down, it was a break from reality. I made lists about anything, but this list was special. I was supposed to complete it.

My eyes scanned the words before my mother took the page from my hands. She reads it for herself, tears in her eyes. Why was she crying?

Get all A's.

Get an internship or a job.

Write a book of some kind.

Save all of your pay checks.

Find a writing opportunity in New York.

Get a scholarship.

Start writing your essay for NYU.

Get into NYU.

I hadn't done any of these things except for getting all A's. I had actually made friends this year, so all of my time was either spent with them or Olly. Though, I still don't get why my mom was crying. All of these "goals" were too far fetched, I wasn't even a senior yet.

"Avery. I feel like you've lost all of the things that made you...you." My mom's tears were landing on the back of my hand. I pulled it away and looked up at her, waiting for her to explain where she was coming from.

"When I was seventeen, I had goals just like this. I wanted to become a professional dancer, make it somewhere big. I met your dad and he tore me away from my real dreams. I wasn't ambitious anymore, I just went through whatever was thrown at me. I don't want you to make that same mistake. You need to keep going Av. You need to keep your dream a priority." I hadn't even realized it. My mom was wiping her tears as I fiddled with my own hair. I've been talking about New York since before I can remember.  

Had she lost hope in me? Had I lost it in myself?