𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢 - 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐚𝐮

𝐮𝐧

".....and it is easy to say that i have never seen such a bond quite as strong as this. whether in the forms of newly found, old, but cherish, unrequited, long lost, unconditional, platonic, familiar, enduring, beneficial, or some would even go as far as saying selfless love, all of these different versions of love combined could not yet come close to describe to love between these two characters. despite all these versions of love being so contrasting to one another, this story did show one point for sure: they all wish to be used for the same reason; a reason that is a lot simple than many would think

"that reason being simply to love. for in the end, that is all that truly matters. whether the one you love is here, or there. whether they are gone or still with you, the love that you share between you is an unbreakable force that can write itself beautiful stories such as these. that can make the world spin well and make the sun shine in the sky. it is the loves like these that truly, honestly, completely, authentically, make people who they are." 

"it's crap." 

avery zani's head shot up at the sound of her boss's deep, stern voice. "i'm sorry?" she pleaded, wishing she had misheard. 

"it's crap. all of it." the man in front of her repeated, just the same way as he did the first time. he put the paper down, leaning against his hands and looking the small girl dead in the eye. "did you get it that time?" 

"w-what?" avery stuttered out. she knew that mr. bowen could be harsh at times, but this was beyond anything that she had ever been criticized. "b-but i don't understand! i put everything i needed to into that paper. i checked off every requirement! what did i do wrong?" 

bowen shrugged, simply leaving the girl more flustered. "it's beyond biased. you are romanticizing the idea of love so much to the point that it is nearly repulsive." 

avery raised an eyebrow in annoyance. she was used to this type of criticizing from him, even though it was simply under a matter of opinion. "love isn't supposed to be romantic?" 

a tense silence fell over the room as the words avery had just said sunk into her. had she really just talked back to her boss? she couldn't help but swallow hard while looking into mr. bowen's cold eyes and awaiting his next move. 

all ricky could do was huff out a breath, pressing his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "ms. zani, you are one of the best writers we have on this team. but, in order for an article to be well written, front page stuff, you need the facts. not the fluff, not the feel good, but the facts. if you want the fluff, i'll send you to wedding announcements where you can be writing for the lonely, single, hopeless romantics, but ms. zani, you have more potential than that. that is why i have you writing these sort of stories. but they need to be done correctly!" 

avery stared into her boss's eyes angrily, not happy with his critiquing, nor the way he was treating her like just another worker. "ricky, we have known each other since elementary school. i'd prefer if you call me avery." 

"and i'd prefer if you don't talk back to me, avery." ricky shot back, sending the girl a taunting glare. "childhood best friend or not, ave, you work for me. our friendship must be professional."

avery couldn't help but frown. that was easily the last thing she wanted. that was the last thing she wanted since he sang her a song underneath a tree when they were in sixth grade. but much to her despair, it's always been this way. 

unrequited: of a feeling, especially love, not returned nor rewarded. 

avery doubted that ricky knew her true feelings for him; he was always known to be a little oblivious, if not way more than that. the man had fifteen girls ask him out in high school alone (avery counted and made sure to put a coin in a jar every day she felt immense jealousy), each whom he turned down and said he was 'surprised', despite those girls giving him love eyes for years in advance.