Amiss

Chapter 7 - Trey

Another terrible night of sleep is behind me as I lay diagonally across my queen-sized bed, exhausted. I wish I could drift off again, but my mind whirls with the events of yesterday. I'm beginning to question if any of it was even real. I have the most vivid dreams sometimes, but the gut-wrenching feeling of dismay as Ava left felt so real.

Just as I'm lying there debating between dreams and reality, a knock sounds at the front door echoing through the silent house. It's just after ten in the morning, and of course, I'm not expecting anyone. It's probably just someone trying to sell me something. Slowly arising, my bare feet stride down the hall to the entryway. I open the door a crack, and my heart skips a beat as I'm rewarded with the most wonderful surprise. Ava's standing on my doorstep, looking like a wind-swept goddess.

"Hi Trey," she says in that sweet voice that makes my chest flutter a little faster. 

"Hey Ava, how are you?" I ask while admiring the lovely sight. My eyes roam her chestnut locks, noticing she's parted it on the side; to better hide the bruise and plaster. She's dressed casually in an electric blue V-neck sweater and tight jeans which cling to her body. While she looked amazing in my clothes yesterday, I appreciate her curves better in these ones that actually fit. 

"I'm good, and you?" she asks, as her bright blue gaze lingers on the bags under my eyes, before travelling down, taking in the fact I'm only wearing track pants. The freezing wind rips through me as I shudder and tuck my hands under my armpits.

"Yeah, I'm OK. It's just bloody cold out here," I hug myself tighter as goosebumps prickle my arms. Stop grumbling and invite her inside, you idiot. The offers on the tip of my tongue when a car in the distance makes her glance down the street; she must be conscious that a bus will be here soon. Ava tucks some of her wayward hair behind her ear and begins speaking.

"I'm on my way out, and I don't have your number to call you...but I wanted to ask you something."

"Sure, can you hold on a second?" I blurt out and disappear inside, leaving the door ajar. I hastily don a jumper and stuff my feet into the first pair of shoes I can find. "Didn't want you to miss your bus," I explain as I join her outside and close the front door behind us. Ava nods and wordlessly follows me down the front steps. I shove my cold hands into the pocket of my hoodie, swallowing back the ridiculous impulse to reach for hers across the short distance.

"So, I was wondering if you would like to come over for dinner tonight?" My heartbeat thrums in my ears as her offer knocks the air right out of my lungs. Blinking fast, I swallow roughly, searching for words. Maybe I'm still dreaming. "No pressure, just my way of saying thank you for yesterday," she adds to drown out the awkward silence that lurches between us.

"I would love to," I squeeze the words out in a rush, internally cringing at the high-pitch of my voice.

The wind sweeps the autumn leaves beneath our feet as I pull my gaze up from the pavement in time to see her answering smile. "Great. Is six OK? I live at number 80c." My wide eyes follow her finger as she points across the street at a cluster of red brick apartments. I've walked past that block a thousand times and never noticed them before. I nod my head adamantly while looking back at her.

"Six sounds good," I rasp out, my voice tight. Fuck, play it, cool Trey. I notice as we start walking again that she is still limping slightly. "How's your ankle today?" The question pours out of me as the thought pops into my head.

"It's already better than yesterday. It's just a bit tender," Ava explains as we take a seat at the bus stop. My mind goes blank as I watch tendrils of her hair blow around in the breeze. I remember they felt like silk against my fingertips. Damn, I got it bad. So, what if this was a dream? I never want it to end.