Chapter 6 Avery
Chapter 6: Avery
Tuesday August 26, 11:15 AM
What was she doing? Inviting him to the choir room, just the two of them, to share her lunch? A date?
No. She was being nice. Plus, the band room smelled like teenage boys and hot air, and Avery really wanted to get her hands on the piano in the choir room.
Also, Avery wasn’t about to spend money on fast food when she had brought a ton of leftover fettuccine alfredo from last night’s dinner. She didn’t want to have to tell Gabe no if he offered to pay for her lunch, because then he really might think it was a date.
To be honest, she felt sorry for turning down his offer, because he seemed so excited about it, and she doubted he had brought lunch. Remembering him scarfing down one of Doreen’s muffins yesterday, he didn’t seem the plan ahead type.
What type was he?
She unlocked the choir door and he held it open for her—again—as she went in first. Gabe was quite the gentleman. Avery was not used to that, though she had to admit she really appreciated his consideration. She felt safe around him. Like she could be herself.
Avery headed toward the teacher’s desk. Behind it was a mini fridge and a microwave—seriously genius for a busy teacher. She pulled her pasta out of the fridge and nuked it, then grabbed water bottles and veggies from the fridge. Avery put everything onto two paper plates she had found on a shelf under the microwave, as well as two forks.
“Hungry?” she asked as she held up a plate and fork for him.
He nodded and grabbed it. “Thanks.” Like yesterday’s lunch, he wolfed it down in a few bites.
“Do you… not eat enough?” Avery raised her eyebrows, taking smaller, more appropriate human-sized bites.
He stifled a burp. “Sorry. I super duper love food.”
“Then why don’t you take a moment and enjoy it?” She shook her head. Gabe was so immature sometimes. Or maybe it wasn’t immaturity, it was passion for life.
Gabe wandered around the classroom, and she found herself watching him, noting how fidgety he was. He was like a lost puppy, looking for something. “Do you ever sit still?” she asked.
“Who, me? No. I mean, unless there’s a good reason to.” He winked and returned to sit with her.
She finished her food and made her way to the piano. A wave of confidence washed over her. Spreading her fingers on the keys again was like being home. Since her parents had split, she and her mom didn’t have room to take the piano with them. Plus, Avery had been so set on following Marshall to college, she hadn’t been concerned with continuing piano lessons.
Gabe sat next to her on the piano bench, his shoulder touching hers. Close. Maybe too close. She took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the music.
“So, what song is that?” he asked.
Apparently her playing the piano made him sit still. “It’s from The Greatest Showman .”
“I thought I recognized it. Loved that show.” He started humming along. Then he started singing. Wow. His voice. Goosebumps formed on her arms. On pitch, great voice quality. But there was something more about it. His singing voice sounded so honest. He wasn’t trying to sound like anything. He didn’t seem worried about what anyone thought of him, ever. He was who he was. Avery found it refreshing.
She stopped playing and turned toward him, his face so close to hers. “You’re really good.”
He shrugged. “Thanks. I love music.”
“No, I mean it. You’re really good.”
He seemed like a once shy teen and clammed up. Huh. For once he wasn’t completely comfortable. So he wasn’t always superman. He shifted on the bench next to her and it creaked a bit. This was a new side of him. Less superman, and more vulnerable.
Avery cleared her throat, then kept playing, hoping to help him feel comfortable again. Gabe jumped right in and sang along. They went through about every song she could remember how to play. Playing songs meant they didn’t have to talk and she wouldn’t have to worry about what to say or if they liked each other, or any potential relationship stuff.
A nursery rhyme came to her memory and through her fingers. He bumped her playfully. “I haven’t heard this in forever!”
The bell for lunch rang, and yet they kept making music. Language and literature yesterday had been okay, but music classes so far were easy. Fun. Avery could get used to this. Today had been so much easier than yesterday. It had been her first day obviously, but maybe it was because music was an elective meant the students wanted to be there. Then again, music had always been a big part of her life and she simply found her sub-groove. Maybe she could really do this.
“Did you take choir in high school?” she asked.
“I tried to, but we moved a lot,” Gabe said. There was a fleeting sadness in the way he said that. “Air Force kid.”
“That would be hard,” she said. “My dad’s a truck driver. He was never home.” She played another few stanzas. “From all that moving around, I bet you’re good at making friends at least. The idea of that is scary for an introvert like me.”
“Making friends is easy,” he said. “Keeping them is harder.” He stood and looked at the clock. “Guess I should get back. Thanks for lunch, Avery. Er, Miss Williams.”
There was a formality to him she had never seen before. Had she said something wrong? They seemed to be enjoying themselves, then he suddenly wasn’t happy, goofy Gabe.
“See you in a bit,” she said as he left through the door.
Was he okay? Avery’s first instinct was to go check on him. But soon students entered and it was time to get back to teaching. She quickly took roll and got them started on the setlist.
Avery smiled as she played. Her shoulders didn’t feel tense. Thankfully, her feet didn’t hurt. Maybe she could really do this subbing thing. At least, until a better job came along. The interview for the library position coming up on Friday was her dream job. The pay wasn’t stellar, but she could make it work. And it was something she could grow with.
The clock on the wall indicated it was now halfway through class, so Avery and the choir students headed out the door.
Back in the band room, Gabe was fidgety until the music started. Then he stared at her. What was he feeling right now?
Her fingers tripped on some of the harder parts, but for some reason, she didn’t berate herself. It had been a while since she had played piano, and she was doing great.
Positive self-talk?! Where did that come from?
Smiling, quick fingers on the keys, eyes closed, she concentrated on the notes, l ike no one was judging her. No thought of “duh Avery” for a while. She was needed and appreciated. By the students, and by Gabe, who smiled.
After the last bell rang, Avery lingered in the band room. She liked how she felt around him, and she wanted the feeling to last longer.
“So, you subbing tomorrow?” he asked as he picked up his sub binder off the band teacher’s desk.
“Maybe,” Avery said as she turned off the keyboard and put the music away. “What’s available?”
Gabe pulled his phone out and opened the app. “Two for PE. Mr. Snyder and Miss Goss usually team teach. Crazy it’s for both of them—that never happens. I bet Doreen knows the scoop. Could be fun to sub in there, though” He looked up at her, not asking if she wanted to sub along with him, but not NOT asking either.
Another day with Gabe? He had helped her yesterday, and she had sorta helped him today. Why not? They seemed to work well together.
“Let’s do it. I mean, if you want to.”
He smiled, his dimples reappearing. “It’s a date.” He clicked on the app and then closed his phone.
Good grief. Avery clicked to accept the sub job on her phone. “Working is not a date.”
He opened the door for her, and her heart fluttered in her chest. She had never felt so... so… honored. Still, it was too soon after her last relationship to jump into something again. Avery had to guard herself. She stared him down to gauge his thoughts. He seemed to always err on the side of playful. How can you tell if an outgoing guy is flirting or being himself?
As they walked toward the office, Doreen appeared behind the desk.
“Doreen! I missed you,” Gabe said.
Her eyes lit up, then she playfully put her hands on her hips. “But no prep period or lunch visit today? What gives?”
Gabe turned and looked at Avery. “I, uh”—he turned back toward Doreen—“was super busy.”
“With the students,” Avery added, handing her the sub binder.
He followed suit. “Yeah, we spent lunch and prep period focusing on the students ,” he repeated, a little sarcasm in his voice. “Who else?”
Doreen lifted an eyebrow. “All right. Next time then.”
“I promise. Oh! So, both of the PE teachers are absent tomorrow? What’s up with that?”
Doreen leaned in. “They both have the same virus. Draw your own conclusion.”
Avery and Gabe looked at each other, Gabe waggling his eyebrows. Avery rolled her eyes and giggled. They both turned to leave.
“Oh, by the way,” Doreen said. “They need a few more chaperones at the Fall Fling this weekend. I don’t suppose either of you would want to go?”
Avery stopped. A school dance? That was the last thing on her mind. Sure, subbing was going better today, but she had her interview on Friday to prepare for.
“Uh,” Gabe looked at her, and she shrugged. “We’ll let you know.” He held the door for Avery.
“I’m making my famous sugar cookies,” Doreen called.
“Cookies?” Gabe repeated, waving goodbye to Doreen. “Now that changes everything.”
“So you’re thinking about going?” Avery said as she noticed Gabe’s truck parked next to her car.
“I am tempted. But who would I dance with?” He elbowed her playfully.
“Doreen? She’d love that, I’m sure,” Avery said. A school dance. She had mixed feelings about those. In high school, her first date with Marshall was homecoming. They doubled with Claire’s boyfriend-of-the-minute, and they went mini golfing and the guys even made them dinner. Those were the carefree days, before she made the biggest mistake of her life of pulling a Legally Blonde and following him to college. They were supposed to go to the big, themed dance the first weekend of fall semester, but Marshall he told her he was sick. Avery was bummed. Instead she studied with a classmate at a diner, when guess who walked in? Marshall. With another girl. That should have been her clue to go. But Marshall had apologized profusely and promised to change. Years later, and she was still reeling from his mistakes.
Avery needed time. But there was something different about Gabe, and well, she would be careful.
“Obviously, I have to save a dance for Doreen.” He cleared his throat as he pulled his keys out of his pocket and walked over to the driver’s side of his truck, putting space between them. “I know Hal would love a dance from you,” Gabe said.
“Hal?” The name sounded vaguely familiar.
“The janitor.”
Avery practically choked. “Oh my gosh.” She laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Gabe smiled, his dimples appearing.
“When I told my friend I was going to start subbing, she told me to keep a lookout for hot janitors.”
He laughed. “That’s what I’m saying. Hal may be close to retirement, but he is super spry on the dance floor.”
Avery unlocked her car door, reluctant to end the conversation. “What about you? Are your dance moves as good as your singing voice?”
She turned in time to see him blush. Gabe Manwaring, class clown, natural substitute teacher, everyone’s friend, was blushing.
“I’ve got some dance moves,” he said. “But you’ll only get to see them if you come.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“Will you come with me? Technically they won’t pay us. So it could be like a semi-date.”
“Oh, a semi-date. You’ll have to tell me about those. I’ve never been on a semi-date.”
“I’m about to set the bar high,” Gabe said. “Prepare yourself.”
“So you think I’m going to say yes?” She fought back a smile. He was flirting. Right? Harmless. Marshall had been her only boyfriend. Now she was starting over. But this could also be fun. Avery deserved to have fun. She didn’t have to be so serious all the time.
“I do like getting dressed up.”
He pursed his lips. “You’re going to torture me, aren’t you?”
“Yep.” She laughed then turned toward him. Avery got in her car and drove away, only giving him a honk and a wave. She couldn’t believe she had flirted with one of the hottest, nicest, most fidgety guys she had ever met and left him hanging. Avery was so quiet in high school, it was a miracle Marshall noticed her, though Claire must have pushed him along.
Before she said yes to Gabe, she’d need to figure out if she was ready for a date, semi- or otherwise. Plus she wasn’t sure she had anything to wear. And she wasn’t about to go buy something.
After she pulled into her driveway, she opened her phone and found several missed texts from Claire.
CLAIRE: Talk to hot janitor today?
AVERY: Oh yeah. Gonna dance with him at the Fall Fling. By the way, do you have a dress I can borrow?
CLAIRE: For reals? You’re taking this subbing thing very seriously.
AVERY: It probably won’t last long. Interviewing for a library job.
CLAIRE: *whispers* So exciting.
AVERY: I like books, okay?
CLAIRE: And I like muscular guys, so yeah. By the way, when are you coming to workout? I have a friend discount. Free.
AVERY: Soon. Promise.
Maybe if she got the library job she could head to the gym before work. As a sub, she barely had energy left to do anything besides come home and help Mom.