Chapter 9: Chapter 9

AVERY

The moment I step into our apartment, Olive is there, grinning like the Cheshire cat and holding out an outfit for me. I can’t help but shake my head at her enthusiasm.

She’s always doing this, picking out something bold for me to wear. I’ve never actually put on any of the outfits she’s chosen before that dress the other night.

~It did seem to get a reaction out of Reed. Maybe I should play along with her fashion experiment tonight. Maybe someone will finally notice me.~

“Hold on. Before you say no, just hear me out.” She rushes over, brandishing what appears to be a short black skirt with some sort of fringe. “I think you’ll like this.”

“All right, let’s hear it.” I sigh, catching a glimpse of gold peeking through the fringe of the skirt.

“I found this top online a few days ago, and I just knew it was perfect for you,” she gushes, holding up an off-the-shoulder sweater shimmering with gold sequins.

I have to admit, the top is pretty. Surprisingly my style, too. Olive’s outfits usually involve showing a bit more skin than I’m comfortable with. I was certain she’d have me showing off my cleavage or my stomach tonight, but this is almost wholesome for Olive’s taste.

I consider it for a moment. It’s bold, definitely a departure from my usual style. Olive always wants to make a grand entrance, but I’m not as comfortable with all the attention being on me. She’s been trying for years to get me to come out of my shell.

~Maybe, just for tonight, I should lock away that timid part of me. Be confident. That’s what Reed said guys like, right?~

Olive’s radiant smile wavers when I fall silent. She braces herself for my usual no.

~You know what? Not tonight. Tonight, I choose to be a different Avery. A confident Avery. A daring Avery. An Avery who acts without thinking about all the reasons why she shouldn’t.~

“What the hell.” I shrug. “I’ll wear the outfit, Oli. What’s that thing you always say? Fuck it, we ball?”

Olive’s face lights up, and she thrusts the clothes into my arms.

“Fuck it, we ball! You won’t regret this, Avery! You’re going to look so hot tonight.” She ushers me up the stairs and toward my bedroom. “And before you change your mind, yes, the skirt has built-in shorts. Now go get ready.”

***

The woman in the full-length mirror is the same one I’ve always known. But tonight, she looks braver, ready to take on the world.

The black skirt fits me like a glove, highlighting my hips and lengthening my already long legs. The top clings to my curves and cinches at my waist, leaving my left shoulder bare for a hint of skin.

I give myself a pep talk as I turn away from the mirror and head into the bathroom to complete my transformation into Avery 2.0. Once my makeup is done and my hair is styled, I find the perfect pair of velvet booties and rejoin Olive in the living room.

She’s changed too. She’s wearing a short, silver metallic dress with chains crisscrossing over her ample chest. Her eyelids are dusted with purple, and there’s glitter on her cheeks.

I laugh. I’ve also decided to use some glitter tonight. In the same spot. It’s a testament to how close we’ve become over the years.

“Whoa!” We exclaim simultaneously, probably mirroring each other’s wide-eyed surprise.

“Not me whoa! You whoa!” She shakes her head and spins me around. “Seriously, Avery…you look… WHOA!” she exclaims, running her hands over the swinging fringe on my thighs as if she couldn’t be prouder of her handiwork.

A smile spreads across my face. I’ve never been good at taking compliments, but it feels nice to hear how great I look tonight. And Olive doesn’t lie. She’s always brutally honest.

She confessed her crush on my brother the first time they met. It was practically the third sentence out of her mouth. Her exact words were a lot more tactless though.

“Let’s get going! Devon is already at the bar waiting for us,” she says as she hurries us out the door.

***

Devon spots us almost as soon as we walk in, waving from the far end. The bar is bathed in purple-and-blue neon lights, casting the place in a festive atmosphere.

~It feels good to be back after being away for so long. I’ve missed this place.~

“Welcome, welcome.” Devon greets us with a grin, lifting his drink to his lips. “As you can see, I’ve already started. This is good by the way. The bartender said it was new.”

His ginger hair looks more vibrant under the blue lights, which also highlight his handsome features. His brown eyes grow darker as he gives us a once-over, something animalistic glinting in them.

Olive slides onto the stool next to him and playfully snatches his drink.

“Yoink!” she teases.

Devon feigns annoyance, but the grin on his face gives him away. He’s clearly enjoying himself. If there’s any awkward feelings between them, I can’t tell.

As Olive takes a generous sip, I settle next to her and grab a menu. Apparently, the bar has started serving cocktails.

“Wow, Avery,” Devon says, eyebrow raised appreciatively. “You look different.”

“Hey, Devon,” I shout over the music, leaning toward him. “Thanks! How was your week?”

Devon paints houses with his brother and often shares photos of their projects. He also does odd jobs like deck staining and roof touch-ups.

“It’s been a busy one. Did I show you the place we were at this morning?” he asks, fishing his phone out of his pocket.

“Oh, you have to see this!” Olive interjects.

The bartender finally makes his way to us and takes our drink orders. Olive orders the same peach vodka cocktail that Devon is drinking, and I opt for a green apple martini.

“That one is my favorite,” the bartender says with a wink.

He flashes a friendly smile, his green eyes sparkling under the overhead lights. I blush and duck my head as he walks away.

“Avery! He’s into you!” Olive says.

“No, he’s just being nice,” I mumble.

“It’s his job to flirt for tips, Oli,” Devon says as he hands me his phone.

She shoots him a look as I’m flipping through photos of the beach house property Devon is working on. The place is stunning, from the two-level deck to the lavish master bath. I hand it back to him, his fingers brushing mine as he takes it.

“That’s house goals,” I say, pulling my hand back quickly.

Devon nods, giving me a playful grin. “One day, Avery.”

There’s something in the way his voice sounds that makes the exchange suddenly awkward. The butterflies in my stomach start acting up, and I look down the bar to check for our drinks.

~Why was that weird? Devon likes Olive. He wouldn’t be acting interested in me just because she turned him down, right?~

Thankfully, my drink arrives, and I take a sip to wash away the embarrassment. The first sip is good. Really good. The tart flavor dances on my tongue. The second sip goes down even smoother, and before I know it, I’ve finished the whole drink and am ordering another.

“Pace yourself, Avery.” Olive advises, sipping her own cocktail.

~She knows I usually finish the first one pretty quickly, gathering my liquid courage to get on stage. I’ll take my time with the next one. I always do.~

A few drinks later, I’m ready to hit the stage. I turn to Olive.

“Tiffany is calling our name,” I say, pointing to the lonely karaoke machine. “Let’s go get lost in the night.”

“Oh, hell yes!” Devon cheers, laughing into his drink.

Olive needs no further convincing. She’s off her stool and downing the rest of her cocktail before I can say another word. She pulls me through the crowd to the small stage. The music in the bar cuts out, and a spotlight finds us as we step up to the microphones.

“All right boys and girls, it looks like we’ve got our first performance of the evening. Let’s give these beautiful gals a nice, friendly welcome,” the bartender announces, chuckling as he raises a drink in the air.

I take a moment to soak it all in, realizing that almost everyone in the bar has turned to watch Olive and I make fools of ourselves. But I’m not nervous. Not in the slightest. I’ve got a pleasant buzz going on, and I feel like I could climb the Empire State Building and sing from the top.

Olive nudges me playfully. “Ready, chick?”

“Let’s go!” I cheer, feeling a surge of adrenaline that makes me bounce on my feet like Reed in front of the punching bag.

She laughs as she walks over to the machine to select our song, “I think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany. Within seconds, the opening beat fills the bar, and I start swaying to the rhythm as Olive returns to the center of the stage.

We do a cute ’80s-inspired dance during the twenty-second intro, earning cheers from the crowd.

Olive takes the first verse, and I take the second. We alternate who takes the chorus each time. We sway and bounce to the infectious music, laughing and giggling as we shimmy and sing our hearts out.

Soon, I don’t even notice the people watching us anymore. All I see is my best friend having the time of her life, reaching out to hold my hand and filling the room with her laughter. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun.

Together, we twirl and belt the lyrics into our microphones without a care in the world. I look out into the crowd, wondering what Reed would think of this Avery, when a pair of hazel eyes catch mine.

~Reed?~