Chapter 22 Avery
Chapter 22: Avery
Thursday September 4, 7:35 AM
Avery yawned as she pulled into the high school parking lot. As much as she loved working at the library, putting in a full day the day before had been exhausting. Training, shelving, tagging, assisting—there was so much to do. Her manager had told her they hoped to bring her on full-time eventually, but that would depend on the city’s budget. So she’d stay part-time for now.
Meanwhile, Mom had had more follow-up appointments, meaning more medical bills adding on to the ones she was already helping to pay for. Which meant she had to work as much as possible as a substitute when she wasn't at the library. Thankfully, Mom was healing. And that was great news.
Avery parked and got out of her car. No sign of Gabe’s truck yet. Well, that was fine. After her talk with Claire the other night, she was sure her friend would help put more distance between her and Gabe. Claire wouldn’t be able to resist spilling everything Avery had told her.
Avery had thought Claire would be jealous about the kiss—kisses—between them, but she surprisingly wasn’t.
“Honey, you can’t be giving your heart away like that,” Claire had told her, putting her hand on her shoulder.
The comment had taken her aback. Usually Claire was focused on looking out for her own interests. But she seemed to have genuine concern for Avery. Still, she had questioned Claire’s motives. She had purposely pushed Avery and Gabe apart, and for what? Claire apparently worried that it was too fast? To be fair, Avery had thought the same thing.
“Marshall is coming this weekend. I know he hurt you. But give him a chance to at least apologize. You don’t have to get back together, but I’d be lying if I said your breakup hasn’t changed him.”
Avery had bit her lip and shook her head. Seriously? Changed? Big whoop. But it wasn’t Claire’s fault for thinking so well of Marshall. Because Avery had failed to tell her much about their relationship over the past few years.
“There’s something you need to know, Claire. A lot you need to know.” Hot tears threatened to escape her eyes. As much as it hurt to say out loud, Avery needed to say it and Claire needed to hear it.
“I don’t know what Marshall has told you, but he wasn’t a good boyfriend. Sure, there were good moments. All of those were shared on social media.” Avery thought of the times they had hiked the Enchanted Aspen Trail every year—it was their thing. The fall colors, the crisp air, all of it made for a romantic experience. Those were the type of memories and pictures shared.
Claire listened, her eyebrows downturned with concern.
“But in between the good stuff, he wasn’t nice.” No, she wasn’t being completely honest. “He was mean, Claire. Put me down. Made me feel like I was worthless. Do you know how many times a day I think ‘Duh, Avery,’ thanks to him?”
Avery kept going, spilling her memories like a flood, Claire folding her arms and shaking her head, tears streaming down her face.
“So maybe you think you’re being a good sister to him or a good friend to me by trying to push us together, but you weren’t. And now you know the real reasons why I left.” Avery folded her arms, rubbing her hands up and down her arms in an effort to calm her frazzled nerves. “I should have left years ago. I… I deserve better, Claire.”
As the words left her mouth, Avery believed them. Made them a part of her being. In the same moment, she realized something.
“Gabe has made me realize I deserve better. He treats me like I’m the most special person in the world.”
Claire sniffed, offering a smile-frown, then opened her arms and reached over and held Avery in a big hug. “I had no idea. I’m so, so sorry.”
Avery cried too, but not tears of sadness. Calm washed over her. The friends parted and wiped away their tears.
“So, does that mean you’re with Gabe now?” Claire asked. “He’s quite a guy.”
Avery smiled and shrugged. “He really is. But like you said, I have to protect my heart. I need some time to heal. And he’s leaving. I need to focus on myself. My mom. My plan is to avoid Gabe as much as possible and stay friends. That way, he gets to follow his dream, and I get to follow mine.” Logically, it made sense. Avery just had to convince her heart.
Claire and Avery talked for hours, laughing about old times, but with her newfound confidence, Avery brought up the times that weren’t so laughable.
“Remember Steve, that guy who sat between us in science?” Avery asked.
“Oh yeah. Blonde, nerd, but somehow still hot?” Claire smiled and had a faraway look.
“That’s the one. Remember how he kept turning around and talking to me, but then you’d butt in and turn the attention to you?”
Claire’s faraway look changed to a downturned mouth and eyes. “Oh, but I didn’t mean to.”
“Or Javier on the track team, who always ran up to me in the hall, but then you’d put yourself between us and practically divert him down a different hall away from me?”
Claire gulped and shook her head. “You know how flirty I was. The last thing I wanted was to—”
“Hurt me? Well, you did. Only at the time I didn’t recognize it fully. I always felt second best to you, Claire. And I didn’t deserve to. If you had let those guys talk to me, maybe I would have had more experience with guys, instead of only dating Marshall, like you wanted.”
“But we were supposed to be sisters-in-law. Right?”
Avery closed her eyes. “We were teenagers. We had no business planning our lives like that. And you had no business planning my life for me.”
Claire rubbed her eyes. “I was doing that, wasn’t I? Gosh, I was so immature. Always wanting the attention on myself. No wonder I own a gym where all the guys have to look at me.”
Avery fought the urge to wrap her arm around her. For a little while at least, Avery wanted Claire to sit in the realization of how she had truly treated someone she had called best friend.
“I can’t tell you how sorry I am. I was a terrible friend.” Claire bit her lip and played with her hair. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
“Actually, there is one thing.”
Avery entered the school and approached the front desk. “Hello, Miss Williams. Ready for some drama today?” Doreen giggled as she handed her the sub binder.
“Uh, thanks. Yep, so ready.” She shook her head, grabbed the binder, and headed down the hall. She was looking forward to teaching freshman drama for the next two days. They’d be going over Shakespeare, or so the drama teacher had told her. She’d be working a few hours in the evening at the library as well, so the days would be long.
She unlocked the door to find a large classroom with chairs facing a small stage at the front flanked by curtains. How cute!
Avery sat at the teacher’s desk, reading through the sub plans. Apparently the lit class down the hall was going to join them in their reading of Romeo and Juliet . Maybe it was the same language and lit class she had subbed for on her first day? It would be nice to meet the teacher.
She gathered copies of Romeo and Juliet off the bookshelf and placed one on each chair, saying good morning as students came in. After the bell rang, the morning announcements finished, and she had taken roll, she explained the plans for the day.
Then came a knock at the door. The student nearest the door opened it, and students from the lit class entered.
“Welcome. I’m Miss Williams, the sub for today.” She walked toward the door, helping to direct students. “Go ahead and find a partner, one lit class student per drama student. If it’s not even, then either I or the other teacher can step in. Boy-girl or whatever you want to do.”
Her back was to the door when she bumped into someone, throwing off her groove. “Oh, sorry!” Avery turned around. “Oh. Well, hi, Ga—Mr. Manwaring.”
A few of the drama students turned around, then whispered amongst themselves. She wanted to sneer at them for yet again assuming they were an item.
“Hey, Av—Miss Williams. Nice to see you.” He held up his hand in a brief wave and offered an awkward smile.
She leaned toward him and whispered, “What are you doing here?” Her plan of avoiding him was not off to a great start.
“Subbing. You?” He whispered back.
Avery rolled her eyes. “Did Doreen put you up to this?”
“Actually, yes. I signed up for math to avoid you, but she switched my assignment.”
She searched his eyes, furrowing her brows. Avery wondered Doreen’s angle.
“Honest. Cross my heart and hope to die. Although, I’m kind of a drama expert, so, you’ll be thanking me later.”
“I doubt it,” she said.
He headed to the front of the classroom, like he was the one in charge. This was like the first day of school all over again. The only difference now was their history. Avery climbed the steps of the small stage, taking charge before he could, his gaze fixed on her as she joined him.
“Are you two like boyfriend-girlfriend finally?” Sarah, a student on the front row, blurted out.
“Yeah, I heard you guys kissed in the parking lot,” added Jake, a boy next to her.
Standing side by side, Avery and Gabe glanced at each other, all the kisses they shared rushing back to her at once. They were so, so good. She fluttered, but only for a moment.
“Nope. No, no, co-workers,” she said. “He’s not my type. At all.”
The students laughed and a student said, “Oh snap!”
Gabe didn’t seem offended in the least. In fact, he flashed a goofy grin. At her? Or at the students?
She was determined not to let him get to her. She didn’t need his help, anyway. Avery was a good substitute teacher without him. Except this wasn’t only her class, it was his, too. They had to work together.
"Alright, everyone," she began, holding up her hands to quiet the students. "Today, we're doing a reading of Act 1, Scene 5 from Romeo and Juliet . The party scene where Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time."
“Yes, Miss Williams, you are correct. Now what’s important to remember when two lovers are meeting for the first time?”
Avery stood next to him, sneaking a look at him. They locked eyes for a split second, Avery remembering when they met.
The class giggled. “Lovers? Really, Mr. Manwaring?” One of the students balked. Inside Avery froze, but of course Gabe was all smiles and fun.
“Whatever you want to call them, it’s love at first sight. So be sure to bring that emotion across,” he added.
Okay, good save and good direction. “Take turns reading the scene with your partner,” Avery announced. “Get used to the words, raise your hand if you have any questions, and in about twenty minutes we’ll have some of you try it for the class on stage.”
The students grumbled at the mention of performing in front of everyone. “No worries, guys,” Gabe said as he held his hands up. “This is a safe space. We’re sharing and learning together. Right, Miss Williams?” He elbowed her softly, and she took a small step away from him to avoid him touching her. Avoiding his electricity.
“Yep.” She took a deep breath. Gabe wasn’t making this easy. “Alright, you have eighteen minutes left. Get going!”
Gabe looked at the gap between them, obviously noticing the distance Avery was trying to put between them. He narrowed his eyes at her, then took his own step away from her. What a stinker . This is so on.
They separated into the sea of students, the hum of voices practicing Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet wasn’t her favorite Shakespeare—a little unbelievable they so aggressively fell in love at first sight—but still, it was a classic and the students should at least learn what the story was about. Combining lit and drama classes like this was a great idea so they could look at the text from different perspectives.
Huh. Am I thinking like a real teacher right now?
She shook off the thought. Substitute teaching was only a side gig. Something that had really challenged her. Given her an opportunity to grow. Meet new people.
Laughter brought her glance over to Gabe, who was fully engrossed with helping a pair of students with the scene.
Gosh, he’s cute. No, he’s leaving. You rejected him. It’s over. Duh, Avery.
Then she remembered—thanks to the deprecating voice—Marshall was coming tomorrow . Apparently Marshall had changed and missed her. Probably missed the way she did pretty much everything for him. Avery didn’t miss how he always put her down and never appreciated her. But she wanted Marshall to change. She saw so much potential in him, and she wanted to help him.
Was that love, though? Maybe she didn’t even know what love was.
“Alright, time’s up!” she said, making her way up to stage right.
Gabe stood and switched from silly kid mode to teacher mode. “Who will our first Romeo and Juliet be?”
“How about this couple right here?” Avery pointed at Sarah and Jake on the front row, both of them like deer in headlights.
The other students mocked them with a collective, “Ooh!”
“Okay fine,” Jake responded. “But only if Miss Williams and Mr. Manwaring take a turn after us.”
Panicked, Avery shook her head at Gabe, who put his hands on his hips and smirked.
“Sub-sti-tutes! Sub-sti-tutes! Sub-sti-tutes!” The students chanted loudly.
Gabe yelled, “Deal!”
Everybody cheered.
Avery’s mouth dropped, frustration building at him making the deal without asking her. “What are you doing?” she mouthed.
He shrugged, though he didn’t look bothered by the whole thing. Maybe he wanted to be her Romeo. Or maybe she was reading too much into it. Gabe was trying to please the students.
Okay, then that’s what they would do. If it got the students to learn the drama and the literature of Shakespeare, why not? Her annoyance started to melt away. Act professional, Avery.
Jake and Sarah took to the stage, each holding their books up to their faces.
“For reference,” Avery explained, “Sarah is from drama class and Jake is from lit class. The point is for us to learn from each other, so we’ll work on a bit of the scene and discuss. Go ahead.”
Jake cleared his throat.
ROMEO/JAKE (in a flat voice) : What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand
Of yonder knight?
SERVINGMAN/SARAH (in a dramatic, deep voice): I know not, sir.
The students giggled.
ROMEO/JAKE (in a flat voice) : O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night ….
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.
Gabe, standing stage left, clapped as he approached the two students. “Good effort there, Jake. But could you try it again, only this time, act like you at least, you know, think Juliet is totally cute?”
The students giggled and Jake’s cheeks flushed.
“No worries. It’s just pretend.” Gabe stole a glance at Avery, her cheeks flushing like Jake’s had earlier. Was Gabe insinuating something?
Again Jake cleared his throat, but hesitated. Gabe approached him and said, “What’s your favorite movie?”
Jake shrugged and answered: “Spider-Man.”
He nodded. “Just pretend you’re Spider-Man, and Juliet is MJ.”
Gabe backed away stage left as Jake looked over the words again, cleared his throat and began again. This time, the words flowed much better, the drama in his voice more natural.
Everyone clapped. “Great job!” Avery said. “Okay, continue on line 104.”
Jake scanned the text. “It says I have to take her hand. Do I have to?”
Sarah already had her hand out, waiting, sighing and rolling her eyes. “It’s acting. Come on, hurry or there won’t be time left for the subs to act out this part!”
Jake grabbed her hand. “Woah, softer, bruh,” Sarah said, and Jake let go, then more gently held her hand. Avery tried not to giggle, thinking how awkward yet cute it was.
“So, a note, Jake,” Gabe said. “Romeo is already super in love with Juliet, so he calls her hand a shrine, but then Juliet is trying to shoot him down. But Romeo keeps going through the sarcasm.” Again, he glanced at Avery. She narrowed her eyes at him. Wait, was he talking about Romeo and Juliet or Gabe and Avery?
Jake nodded, holding up Sarah’s hand. He was really getting into this.
ROMEO/JAKE: If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.
JULIET/SARAH: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.
ROMEO/JAKE: Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
JULIET/SARAH (with sarcasm): Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROMEO/JAKE: O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.
They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
JULIET/SARAH: Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.
ROMEO/JAKE: Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.
“Wait, the book says to kiss her.” Jake backed away while the other students snickered.
“No, no. You can stop there. You both did great. Everyone give a hand for Romeo and Juliet!” Avery said, directing them to sit.
The students really had done a good job. Avery clapped and smiled, but inside her heart dropped. Because there was still time for her and Gabe to act out the scene. Maybe she could draw out the discussion portion of the class.
“What are your thoughts on the drama or the literature of the scene?” she asked. “Yes, over there, Kate, right?”
She nodded. “I mean, even though the words were super old, it was still kinda the same vibe as kids talking today.”
“Absolutely, good point,” Avery said. “Anyone else?” Please? She looked at the clock. Ten minutes of class left.
“Subs! Subs! Subs!” the students chanted loudly.
Gabe stood stage left, his hands behind his back. He raised his eyebrows at Avery, who begrudgingly grabbed a copy of Romeo and Juliet and joined him center stage, the students cheering and clapping.
“Don’t you need a book?” she asked.
Gabe shook his head, his eyes gleaming, his face smirking. Somehow this enigma of a man was completely vulnerable at his kitchen table, but up here on stage he was the epitome of confidence.
“You are full of surprises,” Avery said, mostly to herself.
He held out his hand and waited. She slowly approached, not looking at him so she could avoid his beautiful blue eyes, and yet the strong reassurance of his touch calmed and excited her as she slid her hand into his.
ROMEO/GABE (his voice soft and low): What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand
Of yonder knight?
SERVINGMAN/AVERY: Uh, I know not, sir.
ROMEO/GABE (Putting his other hand on hers): O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night ….
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.
For several seconds, Gabe’s eyes lingered on her, Avery and Gabe the only two people on Earth. His words, though part of a play, felt so real. Her heartbeat quickened.
“Yay! Let’s goooo!” hooted Jake from the front row, while the rest of the students cheered. The applause only egged on Gabe even more.
ROMEO/GABE: If I profane with my unworthiest hand…
Avery pulled her hand away from him—an off-script move, but heat was rising up her throat. She had to put a stop to their interaction.
JULIET/AVERY: Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much!
She turned away from him, but he walked around and faced her, the students reacting with scoffs.
ROMEO/GABE: Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?
He reached out and held her chin, but she pushed his arm away. No you didn’t, Gabe.
JULIET/AVERY (with sarcasm): Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.
ROMEO/GABE: O then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do.
They pray: grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
JULIET/AVERY: Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.
ROMEO/GABE: Then move not while my prayer’s effect I take.
Avery and Gabe locked eyes, neither moving a muscle. In that moment, the man she thought she could resist was literally reciting Shakespeare from memory, their relationship basically playing out as if the bard had written it about them.
How could her literary-loving heart not swoon?
“Kiss her! Kiss her!” The students chanted.
The bell rang, Gabe walked away, and the students booed.
“Alright, get out of here, you thespians!” Gabe ushered them out the door.
Avery made her way over to him and waited for them to be alone before speaking. “What was that all about?” Her confusion and frustration carried her voice a bit higher than she intended.
He turned. “What?”
She waved her hands around. “All that… that… flirting. Knock it off.”
“Uh, isn’t this drama class? That was called ‘acting.’”
She shook her head. “Whatever.”
“You’re the one who wants to be friends. Can’t friends act in a scene together?”
Avery sighed and folded her arms. Blast him for being logical. For not actually flirting. She couldn’t win. She wanted him to flirt and yet she didn’t want him to. “I… yeah I guess.”
“I’m leaving soon, you’re too scared of falling in love with me, I get it.”
Avery’s mouth gaped. “Excuse me?” She stepped forward and pointed at him. “You’re the one falling for me. Admit it.”
Students started filing in for the next period, and they dropped their argument as she greeted students. Avery widened her eyes at Gabe and motioned at the door.
“Oh, yeah. Gotta get back to the lit classroom. See ya in a minute, Juliet.”
Gahh. She clenched her fists at her side. Could she really handle a full day with this… this… Romeo?
Thankfully, the rest of the day was much more tame. They both put more distance between them, and even when she looked over at Gabe, he didn’t notice. Maybe he had been acting. She must be really bad at reading him.
At lunch, he disappeared, saying something about needing to talk to Doreen. It was just as well, since Avery preferred to eat alone. All their prior lunches had been disastrous, in the keeping-this-a-friendship sort of way. A ding came to her phone.
MARSHALL: Can I see you tonight?
Woah. Tonight? Seriously? Panic washed over her, her lungs tightening making it hard to breath. On one hand, he was going to come anyway, might as well get it over with. But she wasn’t mentally prepared to face him yet.
AVERY: Meet me in front of Claire’s gym at 7:00. We can pick a restaurant somewhere close by.
She couldn’t believe she was agreeing to it. Part of her wanted a distraction from Gabe. Was that wrong? Not that she wanted Marshall back. That part of her life was so over. Tonight was dinner only. That was it.
The lunch bell rang and students filled the classroom once more. After explaining the day’s lesson and taking roll, Avery busied herself so she wouldn’t see Gabe walk in. But when everyone was settled, she had no choice but to join him on the small stage.
“You okay?” he asked as she approached him.
So much about her was not okay right now.