Changing Avery

Chapter Four - Taking Off and Putting On

After the nerve racking experience that was ‘Taking Off’ Hudson and I stayed sitting while the others got up and started to move around. Hudson was like no boy I had ever met. He was such an old soul, considerate and caring. I was really starting to like being around him, he was like the older brother I never had, the one I had always wanted. He was also hilarious and made me laugh, but unlike other boys, he let you talk about the deep stuff too, even sharing bits of himself that were private.

‘Can I ask you something?’ he said all of a sudden serious.

‘Course’

‘How’s Lucy?’ he said, slightly cringing.

‘How’s Lucy?’ I repeated ‘My best friend Lucy?’

‘The one and only’

‘Ah she’s good’ I said ‘she’s Lucy, forever practical’

‘That’s good’ he said slowly.

‘What’s up?’ I asked, hoping I wasn’t supposed to already know.

‘Alright, I’m going to tell you something, I have never told you before’ he said sighing. Thank God, I didn’t know.

‘I think … I think I’m in love with her’ he said. Choking on the water I had just swallowed, it took Hudson patting me on my back to settle down.

‘You’re in love with Lucy?’ I asked. Lucy. My Lucy. He was in love with my best friend Lucy.  

‘Is that weird?’ he said sighing ‘It’s weird isn’t it. Shit’

‘No … I just didn’t know you liked her that way’ I said. I didn’t even know you knew her.

‘Well we’ve been friends for a while, ever since you introduced us’ he started ‘and I don’t know, I guess last Christmas, when we spent it all together, things got … heated’ he said choosing his words carefully.

‘Heated?’ I repeated.

‘Yeah … heated’ he said laughing awkwardly.

‘Well that’s a surprise’ I said ‘Does she feel the same way?’

‘I don’t know? I was hoping you’d be able to tell me’ he said. What was I suppose to say. Nope, she has never mentioned you in her life! I had to remind myself that was because I was a few zillion steps behind and before yesterday I had never spoken to Hudson in my life.

‘Um well she hasn’t exactly said anything’ I started, treading carefully ‘But she’s Lucy and you’re you and I think given the chance you guy’s could be perfect’ this was all I could say and it was the truth. Now that I thought more about it, they would be perfect for one another. Both caring and considerate and open to love. And that’s exactly what they would have, given the chance.         

Smiling, Hudson put his arm around me and drew me to him.

‘Thanks’ he said kissing the top of my head. Colton then appeared out of nowhere.

‘Hey’ he said ‘can I borrow you?’ he asked me. Looking up at Hudson questioningly, I waited till he nodded.

‘Sure’ I said going to take the hand he held out to me, before I could take it though; he snatched it away and instead used it to point down the hall. Obviously he didn’t want a repeat of before. Getting up from my seat I followed him as he led me down a surprisingly long hallway. Just before the end he paused and opened the door to his right. Walking in, I was absolutely taken by the sight. The room was all creams and soft greys, with a huge white king size bed and matching side tables. Upon those side tables were pink peonies, my favourite flower, in elegant glass vases.