7

Chapter 7: Mignon et Confus

Alex sat on top of the lunch table she shared with Sam, Jason and Kaden while taking a swig from her water bottle. The lunch area at the school was located outside of its buildings due to its large population. There were tables and benches littered across the campus where the students could sit, talk with their friends and eat their lunch while appreciating nature at the same time.

Alex and her friends were a little bit tipsy from the vodka that she had brought using her water bottle to disguise it. Kaden rested his head and arms on Alex's lap and let out a burp which caused her to wrinkle her nose.

"Guys, guess what?" Kaden lifted his head slightly, showing off a big grin as he looked between his friends. He was met with silence and an eye-roll from Jason. "Come on guys..." he pleaded.

Sam sighed deeply, taking the bottle from Alex who then went to play a game on her phone. "What?" Sam huffed.

"Alex's full name is Alexia! How girly is that?" Kaden started laughing loudly, causing small chuckles to erupt from his friends. Alex, on the other hand, was not amused as she slapped the side of Kaden's head.

"Shut up. No one ever even calls me that," she hissed at the blond boy in her lap. She glanced at her phone screen, "And you made me lose my fucking game."

Kaden only ignored her, sat up and continued. "Okay so, I was going through drawers and cupboards at home, looking for places to hide my weed so the 'rents couldn't find them, right? And one drawer I opened had in some of our documents and so I took out Alex's passport and that's when I saw it," he turned his head to face his step-sister cheekily, "Alexia Celeste Rivers."

Sam smirked, "Who knew that under all that badass exterior there was a real Disney princess?"

Though the rest of his friends were laughing and having a good time under the influence, the corner of Jason's mouth only twitched upward slightly and stayed there for less than a second. The gang was so used to Jason's stoic expressions and deafening silence that they didn't take it to heart when he didn't laugh at their jokes or add to the conversation. They, along with everyone in the school, just knew not to mess with him.

"Did Long just... smile?" Alex changed the subject to their quiet friend. Jason shrugged while his friends inspected his face for any evidence that Alex was just seeing things.

He tilted his head slightly to the left and jutted his chin out, "Freckles."

At the mention of the pet name, Alex's head turned to the direction that Jason gestured to. Her eyes scanned the students and then laid on the curly-haired girl who was sitting on the grass, legs folded and eating a salad.

Avery usually spent her lunchtimes in a more remote area, but today she gave into Carson and sat where he normally did. The two of them sat on the newly cut grass and ate their lunches. Avery had packed a Caesar salad with a brownie while Carson had pizza delivered to their school gate.

"Are you sure you don't want any?" Carson teased her, waving a slice of Hawaiian pizza in front of her face. He watched her eyes follow it.

"Can you stop? You know I'm on a diet," Avery folded her arms and looked down at her salad. She loved Caesar salads but having a slice of cheesy pizza with ham and pineapple sounded way better than lettuce, croutons and cheese.

"But you have a brownie right there," Carson stated. Avery huffed in annoyance, glaring at her friend before plucking the pizza slice from his fingers.

"I hate you and love you so much," Avery groaned, her words muffled by the pizza in her mouth. Carson knew Hawaiian was her favourite. He smiled widely at his friend and ruffled her hair. Avery swallowed before she gasped at his actions. She dropped the pizza slice in her salad bowl to free her hands so she could pry Carson's fingers from her hair. "You can't do that! You don't even know how long it took to perfect these curls this morning. Today was wash day."

Carson only grinned and wrapped his muscular arms around his friend in a tight hug. Avery felt her phone buzz in her front pocket and took it out once Carson let go of her.

Unknown Number: Bonjuor

Avery brought her eyebrows together in confusion at the text before typing back a response.

A: Bonjour. Qu'est-ce? {Hello. Who is this?}

Unknown Number: Slow down Freckles

Unknown Number: I don't know that much french.

Avery turned to Carson. "I think Alex Rivers is texting me," she said to him, a frown of confusion on her face. He raised an eyebrow at her.

A: Oh. Hence the incorrect spelling of Bonjour

Unknown Number: Sorry

A: It's okay, rookie mistake.

A: Is this Alex?

Unknown Number: Who else calls you Freckles?

"Yes, this is definitely Alex Rivers, Carson," Avery looked at her friend. "She asked for my number a few days ago at Starbucks. I never thought she'd actually use it."

That was only partially the truth. Avery had expected Alex to message her on that same day asking for Carson's number. She figured that Alex must not have wanted to come on too strong by asking him for his number so instead she would ask her. But when Alex didn't message her that day, Avery presumed that the brunette must have had forgotten.

A: Do you want Carson's number?

Alex: LOL, no.

A: Oh

Alex: You look cute when you're confused

Avery felt her cheeks flush, and it wasn't due to the strong gush of chilly breeze that had just passed her.

"How do you know?" Carson asked Avery when she looked up from her phone. He leaned towards her, trying to get a peek but Avery had turned off the phone before he could read it. He raised both his eyebrows at his best friend's suspicious behaviour.

Avery chuckled uncomfortably, "Nevermind, it wasn't her. Just a wrong number."

****

There were many things Avery had always wanted when she was younger, but couldn't get. Whether it was for financial reasons, inconvenience or her mother simply saying 'no'. Out of all the things that she wanted, the thing she wished for most was a puppy. She had always begged and pleaded for one but her parents, specifically her mother, would never allow her to get one. But, a few days ago she had set up a presentation for her parents during Family Night about why she should get a dog and the reasons she brought up were compelling enough for them to give in.  It was actually one reason in particular and that was that they could have the dog specially trained to detect the symptoms of her anxiety and help calm her down.

Her parents told her they would pick her up from school so that they could go pick up a puppy from the pet store. She was bursting with excitement.

Once the bell rang, signalling the end of the school day, she walked briskly towards her locker to take out her books. What she didn't expect to see was Alex leaning against her locker seeming to be waiting for someone. Avery wondered if she was waiting at the wrong locker. Or maybe Avery got mixed up and the locker she was waiting at wasn't hers at all. But when she got close enough to see the number, she knew instantly that it was hers.

Reaching where Alex stood, Avery cleared her throat to guide Alex's attention from her phone to her.

"Um, hi Alex. Are you looking for someone?" Avery said awkwardly as she wrung her hands together. She was in a bit of a rush to get her puppy. She didn't even know if her parents were there yet but she had to be ready.

Alex could feel herself smiling inwardly at Avery's naivety. "Yes, actually. She's about this tall," Alex lifted her arm, palms facing down to indicate how tall the person was, "She has curly hair, brown eyes, caramel skin..." She paused, looking up at the ceiling. "Oh and freckles."

"Is it me?"

Alex scoffed, "Come on, Freckles. Don't be so self-absorbed."

"Oh." Avery felt her foot tapping as her impatience and eager increased. She really didn't have time for this. "Well, I'm sorry but I can't help you find her right now. Will you excuse me?"

Alex stepped to the side, giving Avery access to her locker.

"Are you in a rush? I wanted to talk to you," Alex frowned. "You never responded to my text today at lunch. I wanted to know if I overstepped my bounds." Ironically, Alex took a small step closer to Avery, giving her a chance to inhale her sweet coconutty smell with a hint of something else that she couldn't quite place her finger on.

"What do you mean?" Avery said, not looking at the girl for fear that she might get distracted. She switched out the books she didn't need tonight for the books that she did and then closed her locker.

"When I called you cute," Alex observed how the shorter girl stiffened before relaxing her shoulders. She smirked, "Which was the truth. I think you're adorable."

Avery felt her cheeks engulf in flames and she subconsciously brought her hands up to her face to cover them. "Thank you. I kind of have somewhere I need to be so... I'll talk to you later." Avery went to turn away.

She was starting to get the impression that Alex wasn't interested in Carson.

She began walking towards the exit of the building when she heard footsteps behind her. The tall girl didn't have to walk fast to catch up with Avery, within a second or two she was right beside her.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm picking up a puppy from the store with my parents."

"Exciting. Mind if I come with?"

Avery halted in her steps and looked at Alex confusedly. "Don't you have other, more 'bad girl' stuff to do?"

She was surprised to hear Alex let out a genuine laugh. "Is that what you think I am?" Alex asked with an amused smirk.

"Yeah, I mean... I don't know. That's just what I hear," Avery looked to the floor, "That you ride a motorcycle, you smoke drugs, drink alcohol and you're edgy and get into fights."

"I smoke drugs?" Alex asked teasingly. She shook her head, a small smile playing at her lips. Her smooth, very pink lips that made Avery question why she noticed them. "Aren't you in a hurry? Let's go."

The two went down the short flight of stairs at the entrance of the main building and towards the silver car that Avery spotted in the top right corner of the parking lot. Alex opened the door, allowing Avery to get in before she got in herself. Mr and Mrs Toussaint turned around, ready to greet their daughter and ask her about her day at school when they noticed that there was a stranger in their car. They exchanged glances.

"Maman, Papa, this is my friend Alex Rivers," Avery introduced, "Alex these are my parents, Elodie and Jean-Phillipe Toussaint."

The first thing Alex noticed was the stark difference in complexion between Avery's parents. She found Avery looked more like her father despite his blue eyes, but she could see where Avery got her mannerisms as the woman in front of her brought her eyebrows together with a frown.

"You can just call me Phillipe," Avery's father smiled warmly at the brunette, holding out his hand for her to shake. Alex was taken aback by his heavy accent, almost forgetting that the family was of French origin.

"You can call me Mrs Toussaint," Avery's mother smiled tightly, reaching out her hand as well after Alex had finished shaking her husband's.

Alex and Avery felt the car start once Mr Toussaint turned to face the steering wheel. Alex leaned closer to Avery making the shorter girl's breath hitch in her throat. "Your mom is a bit..." Alex whispered in Avery's ear before trailing off.

"She can be a bit protective. It takes a while for her to warm up to new people," Avery whispered back. Alex nodded in understanding.

Avery expected Alex to lean back to her former position in her seat, but the brunette just shifted slightly closer before sitting upright. Alex didn't expect it either, but she suspected it was because she felt something for the freckled girl. Interest? Fascination? Lust? She didn't know, all she knew was that she just wanted to be closer to her.

Ever since the sneezing incident and the party, Alex found herself out of her comfort zone when it came to Avery. She found herself craving Avery's attention, which was undoubtedly challenging to obtain. The girl was always in her own bubble and avoiding people unless they were named Carson Armani.

Silence settled between the four people in the car before Mrs Toussaint spoke up, "So Avery, where is Carson?"

Alex had a hunch that the mother was asking because she would have much rathered Carson tag along than someone else. She didn't blame the woman, Alex barely knew Avery much less her parents.

"He has football practice, maman."

"Football? You mean soccer," Alex raised an eyebrow as she looked over at Avery. "Last time I checked, Carson wasn't on the football team."

Avery groaned and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Mrs Toussaint tilted her body and turned her head so that she could face Alex, "Avery hates when people call football 'soccer'. I take it that you two haven't been friends for that long."

Alex whispered into Avery's ear again, "You are nothing like your mother, personality-wise." Alex's whispering action sent a subconscious shivering sensation down Avery's spine as her breath tickled her ear.

"Yeah, I know I'm more like my father," Avery whispered back. 'Minus the anxiety,' she thought, but she didn't say that part.

Soon enough, the car slowed down as Mr Toussaint drove into a parking spot. The four of them exited the car and walked towards the large store in front of them. Avery was enticed by the many bright colours she could see on the inside and she perked up with excitement.

"I read that Golden Retrievers make really good therapy dogs," she stated to her mother as they stepped inside. Alex tilted her head to the side while the statement registered in her head. She ran her hand through her long hair uncomfortably, starting to get the feeling that this was probably a private family event. Avery didn't tell her not to come when she asked earlier, but then again Avery didn't say she could come either.

Alex walked towards the girl in question as she stared at some hamsters in a glass container. "Hey, are you comfortable with me being here? I never knew this was a family thing," Alex said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck. The sleeve of her shirt rolled up slightly with the motion, exposing a tattoo on her arm that attracted Avery's attention. Just as Avery started to decipher what it was, Alex put her arm down.

"Oh, it's okay we're just picking up a dog to help with my-" Avery paused before remembering that she and Alex have never really spoken about this before. Or about anything in particular really. She stood up properly, changing her position from bending over to look at the hamsters, and bit her lip. Despite that, she also remembered that Alex was there for her when she started to have an anxiety attack at the party a couple of weeks ago, so it should be okay to tell her.

"I mean you don't have to tell me, it's-"

Avery interrupted Alex to continue, "With my anxiety. I have General Anxiety Disorder, also known as G.A.D. It's more or less under control because I take Zoloft and I see a therapist twice a month, but sometimes it flares up and so it would be great to have a dog. I'm technically not looking for a therapy dog, just a dog that we can easily have trained to pick up on certain symptoms from time to time."

"Oh. Is that what was happening at the party when I took you to my room?"

"Yeah."

"Okay," Alex said, shoving her hands into her front pockets and rocking back on her heels. Avery felt extremely awkward and she felt her cheeks heat up.

"You blush a lot," Alex commented. "Let's go get your dog."

Alex walked off towards the canine section of the store, leaving Avery and her pink cheeks behind.