Down Under

10 tantrums

"Soooo..." Dani whispered, throwing herself on the couch beside Ava while the guys stuffed their faces with food and beer.

"What?" Ava asked, a confused look on her face while Dani's eyes glinted with mischief.

"Do you have something to say to me?" She smirked, her eyes a little glazed, cheeks flushed and brown hair now a tangled mess thrown in a bun.

Ava shrugged, "I don't know what you're talking about?"

"Ugh, Ava I can't be the one doing all the work over here, come on!" Dani took her by her shoulders and shook her, aggressively.

"Ok stop, stop. My head is spinning" Ava moaned, "I seriously don't know what you want me to say?"

A sloppy smile spread over her face, Dani replied easily, "that we walked in on a moment"

"What moment?"

Dani groaned, bringing her palm in contact with her forehead, "like you and Wes, What were you two talking about?"

"Oh, not much" Ava shrugged, because it was true, it wasn't like her and Wes were suddenly best friends who shared little secrets into each other's ears. It was just a little moment, just for a second where Wes seemed to be okay, he seemed to not mind her invading his space and taking up room. And so what if she happened to be a little giddy about it, a little happy that someone like Wes might be warming up to her, it was no big deal.

"Yeah, not much my ass" Dani scoffed, narrowing her eyes, "we looked like we were interrupting. I hate myself sometimes for my great ability to always be on time"

Ava rolled her eyes, "oh please, you're never on time. When you texted, I thought you were already at the apartment"

"I was, well okay, Jason wanted to get some beer since they were all out and I...well I couldn't just let him go alone"

"No, of course not, that would be crime"

"I see what you're doing, stop being sarcastic and deflecting my question. What were you two talking about?" Dani asked again, Ava let her eyes drift to where the boys were. Wes and Jason were seated on the carpet, their eyes glued to the TV as a soccer match played on. Eli was sitting near them on the recliner, his fingers playing over his phone.

"I, We just talked for like two minutes, probably? And it was literally nothing here or there"

"Ooooh, does this mean you like him then?" Dani asked eagerly, her body leaning towards her and a cheesy grin on her face.

"I hardly know him" Dani snorted at that, her eyes drifting towards Wes.

"No one really does so I suppose you're like the rest of us"

"But aren't you guys super close?"

Dani shrugged, "He doesn't talk much, I mean, well he does, but not about himself. Like, he knows everything about us, and we love him, obviously, but he's just..." Dani drifted off, her face scrunched up in thought.

"closed off?"

"No, no. Well, kind of, I suppose, like there's lots to him, I'm sure but he's just not the type to talk about his feelings and stuff. I, I suppose the other guys might know more or whatever since they've known each other for so long I guess, but I wouldn't even know what to -" Dani stopped abruptly, her eyes on Wes as he got up from his spot and headed out to the balcony. "I, just get to know him, yeah? he's really not as bad as you think"

"I suppose" Ava shrugged. She didn't hate Wes, Dani was right, she didn't even know him but it was clear as day that Wes couldn't stand her. Couldn't stand what she stood for, where she came from even though he hardly knew her. And when Ava had picked up on his snarky comments, or the irritated looks on his face every time she was around, she decided right then and there that she wasn't going to like him either. But just for a few seconds today, when they were alone, he was different and maybe Ava was a little crazy but she'd felt that maybe, just maybe they could become friends. Even if he didn't want to be friends, she was going to try her best, she was used to acting how people wanted her to act. She'd been doing it her whole life, so she'll just act like someone Wes wouldn't mind being around, someone like Dani, or Jason, and Eli, minus the whole being a boy thing, but she could do this.
                              *****