Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
January
Jenna: Why does Jake have a bedazzled shirt with your name on it?
Me: Long story…
Jenna: You know I’m not going to let this slide, right? You better just come over. Like, now.
Me: Is Jake home?
Jenna: That’s for me to know and you to find out.
Me: Real mature, Jenna.
Me: But seriously, is he?
Jenna: Get over here!
Me: Fine, be there in 10.
Unknown number: You know if you wanted to hang out, you could just ask. No need to stalk me in my home.
Me: Sorry, who is this?
Unknown number: …
Me: …
Unknown number: Jake.
Me: Jake who? I know lots of Jakes.
Unknown number: Wow.
Unknown number: I must have the wrong number. I thought I was talking to Avery James, but I guess not. Is this Dan?
Me: Ouch. Ok, fine. This is Avery.
Me: What can I do for you, Jake?
Unknown number: First of all, save my phone number in your phone. And also, we’re doing calculus together tomorrow.
Me: I’ll think about the first request. As for the second - fine. As long as you bring snacks this time.
Unknown number: I have a policy to only provide snacks for people who save my contact info.
Me: *sends pic of Jake’s saved contact info*
Jake: *sends pic of snacks*
February
31415: Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
I’m thinking about Valentine’s plans,
How about you?
80085 [Me]: Does studying for a math test count?
31415: Depends. Does the studying include anyone else?
80085 [Me]: Actually… yes.
80085 [Me]: And there will likely be chocolate involved.
31415: Practically sounds like a date to me.
80085 [Me]: That might be a stretch.
80085 [Me]: What are your plans, Mr. Pi? Serenading a lady over a slice of pie…?
31415: For your sake, I’ll ignore that “joke,” but yes… there are plans. No pie.
31415: But maybe chocolate.
55378: Avery, this is Analiese.
80085 [Me]: For the last time, Analiese - I know!
55378: Sorry! Geeze. They should make the names editable in this stupid app.
80085 [Me]: Maybe they will after the beta test?
55378: They should kill the whole idea imo. Anyway, you know how we have to watch Pride and Prejudice…?
55378: I was wondering if you wanted to watch it together. You know, to brainstorm for the essay.
80085 [Me]: Sure. But I’m giving you my phone number in class tomorrow so we can stop with this name confusion.
55378: Ok.
55378: Plus, I don’t need Holden Lovell reading my messages.
80085 [Me]: Right. Because he definitely is. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Dad: Hey, sweetpea. I have tomorrow off and I was wondering if you and Hunter wanted to ditch school to have a day together.
Me: Did you run that by mom?
Dad: Of course.
Me: Ok. Sounds fun.
Dad: Love you.
Jake: You feeling ok? I noticed you weren’t at school today.
Me: Who is this?
Jake: ….
Me: Kidding!
Me: All good. Hunter and I spent the day with our dad. Can you send me the calc assignment?
Jake: Of course.
Jake: And how come I wasn’t invited?
Me: I mean, that would have been a little weird?
Jake: I’m sure Hunter would disagree. We’re tight.
Jake: And your dad too, actually. I think I won him over with my Avery shirt.
Me: Sigh. Yeah, that tracks.
March
Braden: Hey, Av. I just got back from hiking through the Appalachians and thought we could hang out?
Me: (read)
Me: I didn’t realize you were REALLY going to wear that shirt to all my home swim meets.
Jake: You love it.
Jake: I’m thinking of designing another one actually.
Jake: Bigger. Better. Bolder.
Me: That won’t be necessary.
Jake: Oh, I think it is. Unless…
Me: …?
Jake: Unless… you agree to come to my next game. It’s the final.
Me: You have a deal.
Jake: *pumps fist*
Jenna: I think you made Jake’s year by coming to his game wearing his jersey. He won’t stop talking about it.
Me: I’m sure that’s an exaggeration.
Jenna: It’s really not.
Me: Thanks for stealing the jersey for me to wear, btw.
Jenna: Anytime.
Jenna: Besides, I’m starting to ship you two.
Me: Jenna!
Jenna: *shrug emoji*
Jenna: *kissy face emoji*
Jenna: Jake and Avery sitting in a tree
Jenna: K-I-S-S-I-N-G
Me: I’m not afraid to use the block button.
Jenna: Boo! Way to be a party pooper.
Mom: Avery, you have some mail on the counter. One of them is a BIG envelope from Boston University!! Just wanted to make sure you saw it.
Me: Thanks, Mom!
80085 [Me]: Since I seem to come to you for major life advice… any thoughts on how to pick the right college?
31415: Well, one you’ve been accepted to is a good start.
80085 [Me]: Maybe I picked the wrong person to ask…
31415: No no no. You came to the right place.
31415: Let’s see.
31415: For me it’s a combination of my sport, location, and major. I also really want to live on the east coast for a change.
80085 [Me]: What sport?
31415: Hockey.
80085 [Me]: Huh.
80085 [Me]: This isn’t Dan, is it? Please say no.
31415: No.
80085 [Me]: But now I feel like that ‘no’ doesn’t count because I told you to say no.
31415: Do you really think Dan would have known what pi was? Or given you killer life advice?
80085 [Me]: Good point.
80085 [Me]: Are you done with your project yet?
31415: What project?
80085 [Me]: The one you’re ‘tweaking’...
31415: Ah. Almost done.
April
Me: If someone told you they were ‘tweaking’ a project before they would agree to meet in person, what would that mean to you?
Analiese: Is this some kind of psych exam question?
Me: Why would you think that?
Analiese: I don’t know. I’m studying for AP psychology right now, so maybe that’s why.
Me: You’re taking AP psych and AP art history?? No wonder you’re valedictorian.
Me: Congrats on that, btw. I saw the announcement.
Analiese: Thanks.
Me: Can you answer my question now?
Analiese: Look, I don’t know. Maybe they’re embarrassed about something and want to resolve it before you see them? Like losing weight or getting a nose job.
Me: What?? You can be so dark sometimes.
Analiese: My original thought was that they were in prison and needed to finish their sentence, but then I realized this was likely about Connection Services and so had to be something more practical for our student body.
Analiese: I know of at least 3 girls at school that have had nose jobs.
Analiese: I personally don’t care, but there’s a girl on cross country who talks about that kind of stuff all the time and I can’t help but overhear it. Just to clarify.
Me: I mean, I guess that’s possible. Not prison, but the other ideas.
Me: This is a guy though.
Analiese: I know of at least one guy that’s had a nose job.
Me: Nevermind.
31415: Are you going to prom?
80085 [Me]: Of course! Aren’t you? Or maybe you can’t because you’re a freshman…
31415: I’m not a freshman.
80085 [Me]: I would know that if we actually met.
80085 [Me]: Are you getting plastic surgery?
80085 [Me]: IMO beauty comes in all sizes and shapes, just so you know. True beauty is in the heart and I’m not judgey.
31415: My head is spinning and I have no idea what is happening.
31415: Putting whatever that is aside…
31415: Do you have a date for prom?
80085 [Me]: I do.
31415: Really?
80085 [Me]: I’m feeling a little offended by that question. Is it really that surprising?
31415: No, I guess not. I just…
31415: Ok.
80085 [Me]: Ok.
Jenna: Omg look at this cute pic of us I got at prom.
Jenna: *sends pic*
Me: I love it! Your dress was amazing.
Jenna: Not as amazing as your HAIR! I also have pics of the back of it in case you want them.
Avery: Oh good! It took me hours *sweating emoji*
Me: I’m glad we decided to just go together.
Jenna: Me too. I’m over guys. You were the perfect prom date.
Jenna: Well, you did let Jake steal you away half the night though…
Me: He told me he knew where the best dessert table was!
Jenna: Riiiight.
Me: He did!
Jenna: And then that led to dancing??
Me: He can be very persuasive. And it’s not like I ignored you all night!
Jenna: *kissy face emoji*
Jenna: *tree emoji*
Me: One of these days I’m going to block you for real.
Jenna: Nah. You love me too much.
Me: Sigh. True.
May
Braden: Hey, Aves - just checking in. Haven’t heard from you in awhile. Did you pick a college yet?
Me: Hi, Braden. Yes, I did—Boston University.
Braden: Congrats! That’s so great.
Me: Thanks. I got a good scholarship, and I’m excited to go to the East Coast.
Me: What have you been up to lately?
Braden: I’m sure you’ll love it over there.
Braden: I got a job at Vons at the deli counter. My mom insisted I get a job while I pursue acting. I have an audition for a commercial next week that I’m super pumped about.
Braden: It feels like it could really lead to something, you know?
Me: Right. Definitely. Well, I hope that goes well for you.
Braden: Thanks, that means a lot. Maybe we can hang out before you leave for college?
Me: We’ll see.
31415:I have good news.
80085 [Me]: Oh, I love news! Tell me.
31415: My ‘project’ is done.
80085 [Me]: Does that mean what I think it means?
31415: If you think it means that we’re meeting IRL officially, then yes.
80085 [Me]: Now that I think about it… this makes me nervous. Are you sure you don’t need some more healing time?
31415: What?
31415: And no.
31415: I mean yes?
31415: Scratch all that. This app needs message deleting capabilities!
31415: It’s happening. I’m coming to your graduation.
80085 [Me]: Wait, how do you know I’m graduating?
31415: I know a lot of things. It will all make sense.
31415: I hope.
31415: Trust me.
80085 [Me]: Okaaay. But how will we find each other?
31415: I’ll take care of that. You won’t be able to miss it.