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Chapter 20: Wallflower; La Giroflée

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

"Happy New Year!"

The crowd burst into cheers as confetti rained from the ceiling. Alex grabbed Avery by the waist, swung her around and leaned her downwards, holding her firmly in place as she kissed her. The freckled girl giggled in their kiss and snaked her arms around Alex's neck, playing in her long hair.

When the brunette brought her up for breath, Avery sighed contently before she smirked. "Have I ever told you that you look so sexy with your hair down?" Sure it wasn't completely down all the way, Alex left that for when they were alone together, but it was in a half-up-half-down style that looked absolutely gorgeous on her and Avery was more than happy with that.

"You may have mentioned it once or twice," the tall girl responded cheekily before tugging the freckled girl's hand towards the dance floor.

Avery felt a strong sense of déjà vu as she walked through Alex's house weaving around hundreds of sweaty bodies that were dancing against each other. This time, though, it was under different circumstances. For instance, instead of isolating herself on the deck she was inside the party, dancing with her girlfriend.

"Could I get you something to drink first?" Alex asked, voice now raised to be heard above the loud music.

"Sure. But remember, no alcohol!" Avery responded, voice equally as loud.

"Okay, I'll be back. Stay right here!"

The freckled girl nodded before she started to sway in timing with the music, eventually starting to bop and dance around as she enjoyed the beat. One would think Alex had to drag her by the ankles to this New Year's party, but surprisingly it didn't take much convincing. Avery felt as if she was in a good place, her confidence was growing and her anxiety was under control. What would be the harm in following her girlfriend to a party at her own house; a house that she'd been to plenty of times? If it ever became too much, she knew where to find Alex's room and how to get inside Alex's secret room. Most importantly, she knew that the brunette would be right there with her, allowing her to stare into her stunning green eyes.

A few taps on her shoulder caught her attention and she swivelled around to face the offender. Surprisingly, or not so surprisingly, it was Carson.

"Hey!" he spoke up so she could hear.

"Hey!" Avery stopped dancing and looked up at him.

"How are you?!"

"I'm good, actually!" she smiled sheepishly, eyes darting to the ground. She was surprised at the lack of guilt that she felt when she said those words. But, they were the truth; she'd been growing and she felt better than she had before.

"Can I talk to you...outside?!"

"I can't. I have to stay here," she could now stop shouting above the music because the song had changed and so had the tempo.

"It'll be for just a quick sec."

"I'm sorry, Carson. You had so many opportunities to talk to me before. You even know where I live," Avery said before turning her back to him in an attempt to end the conversation.

"Please!" He was persistent, she knew that. Carson wasn't one to just give up. If he had been, he wouldn't have made it so far to be the football star that he was. She bit her lip and balled her hands into fists.

"Just a quick chat," he pleaded.

Maybe it was the pull of the five years of friendship, the desperation in his voice or the compelling urge to tie a neat bow on the package of her story, but she turned back around to face him.

"A quick chat," she reiterated with her eyes narrowed. Carson's eyes lit up before he started walking, gesturing for Avery to follow him and she did. They twisted and turned so as to prevent a collision with the multiple bodies that were in their path.

Soon enough, they were on the porch. The same porch that the freckled girl found herself on about three months ago, at a party like this one. But instead of Alex joining her out here, she was joining Carson.

The blond boy took a deep breath in before he spoke, suddenly feeling nervous with the weight of Avery's expectant eyes on him. "I'm sorry."

"Oh," the curly-haired girl replied, albeit sarcastically.

"I was so harsh to you when I didn't need to be. You only made one mistake in five years of friendship and I made you feel like hell for it," he looked to the floor.

"My relationship is my business," Avery bit out, taking the chance to tell him what she wished she had before. She had had time to think about it and the longer that she did, the less guilty she felt. "I don't have to tell you who I have a crush on and who I'm hanging out with, that's not what our friendship is about. Most best friends don't even tell each other everything the way we do."

"Well, you didn't have to lie about it," Carson bit back, suddenly feeling very defensive.

"It was just one thing, Carson! I was only lying to you about how I started talking to Alex. Everything else was lying by omission. Either way, people lie all the fucking time, Carson. Grow up!" she snapped as frustration ran through her blood. Avery sighed and continued in a much calmer voice, "I'm not saying what I did was okay, but I'm saying it didn't deserve what you put me through."

The tall boy took a step back in surprise, shaking his head, "You don't curse."

"I do curse, just not in English."

"She's changing you, Aves, don't you see?"

It was Avery's turn to take a step back but in hurt. "Yeah, for the better."

Carson used his hand to gesture between them, his eyes narrowed, "How is this better?"

"I'm not 'Avery: The Wallflower' anymore. I'm 'Avery: The Reader, the girl who likes chocolate chip cookies and autumn'. I'm 'Avery: the girl who can stand up for herself, who can go to a party and have a good time'. I'm 'Avery: the girl who has anxiety but doesn't let it hold her back'. I'm learning so many things about myself and doing things I didn't know I could all because of her. I'm not living in my own bubble anymore, I'm not holding myself back. I don't let the negative things about me define me anymore. For once I don't feel like something is weighing me down. And that's a change for the better if I do say so myself."

"Well, you're not like the Avery I know," the boy said with a huff, guilt and sadness written in his eyes. If he had looked a little harder, he would've have seen that the Avery he knew was still there, only evolved.

"And that's okay," the freckled girl replied softly, "Sometimes to grow, we have to leave other people behind."

With that, she walked away. She didn't know if she had done the right thing, said the right thing or if she should have just accepted his apology instead of causing drama. But there was one thing she did know- she felt proud of herself. And it was a damn good feeling.

Maybe- hopefully- she and Carson would be friends again, but she had a feeling that at this stage in her life it wasn't right for them to be. They both had very different ideas about what she should be when the decision should be hers, right?

Alex: Hey, where are you?  Avery read when she checked her phone on her way through the crowd. She quickly typed and sent a response.

A: Heading towards the room

A: Meet me there

****

"And so I did it. I just walked away," Avery finished telling the brunette about her encounter with Carson.

Alex played the remaining chords of the piece gracefully, her eyes trained on her girlfriend who sat gorgeously on top of the black piano.

"That was beautiful, by the way," the freckled girl added, referring to Alex's music.

"Are you sure you even heard it during your wild storytelling?" the tall girl smirked.

"Are you sure you even heard my story during your wild playing?" she retorted.

"Yes I did, but you don't need me to tell you how proud I am of you. I always am. I knew you had it in you, it was just for you to find it."

"Now," Alex patted the seat next to her on the piano bench, "Come here Freckles. What do you want me to play next for you?"

Avery hopped off the piano and walked over to stand behind her girlfriend, her fingers took hold of the scrunchie that held the top half of her hair and removed it, setting it all free. She ran her hands through the long dark hair and massaged her scalp, pleased to hear the tall girl let out a blissful sigh in response.

"Seeing Stars by Børns, the piano version. And I want you to sing it too," the freckled girl requested after some contemplation.

"Quite bossy today, are we? You stick up for yourself once and now you run the world," Alex teased.

"Just play," Avery said with a slight smile, swatting Alex's arm playfully as she went to sit down next to her.

The brunette complied with her lover's wishes, beginning to play the beautiful introduction to the song.

Saw her walking on the side of the road on the sidewalk chalk from my balcony window

First sight she made me look twice 'cause I'd never seen someone walk as light as the wind blows

I called out to try and get your name, quickly wrote a love letter turned it into an airplane

You looked up and that was enough 'cause you let out all the butterflies that couldn't be contained.

Avery snuggled into the brunette's side and closed her eyes as the familiar, melodious voice kissed her eardrums.

You've got me seeing stars brighter than ever, shining just like diamonds do.

I know that in time it could be all ours, brighter than ever

Your love is such a dream come true;

I know, I know, I know I need you.

There's a love I've been keeping inside and you're the missing puzzle piece that I've been trying to find

Hey girl, you've got me learning to fly

You've got me higher than a kite and I've been painting the sky

Some dreams never do come true

Some love doesn't hit the target

But my dreams are reality now and you're the one I've been dreaming about.

Avery couldn't help but think about how those lyrics ran true for the way she felt about Alex and her face warmed to hear the brunette sing them. She wrapped her arms around the tall girl's neck and peppered kisses to her cheek and jaw as she began to hum to the tune of the song.

"You're amazing," the freckled girl muttered between her kisses.

In the ending notes of the song, Alex hit a key she apparently hadn't used in a while as it caused unearthed dust to spring upon the two.

"Oh my god," Avery gasped, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

"I haven't dusted this thing in a while," the brunette admitted sheepishly but donning a small smile of her own. When Avery didn't respond for a while, Alex looked over to her in concern. The curly-haired girl's face was contorted in a weird expression before she sneezed.

On Alex.

The two stared at each other long and hard, Avery's face red in embarrassment but trying to stifle a laugh. Her attempts were to no avail as she let out a strangled chuckle.

And the girls erupted into a fit of giggles.

Fin.