AN:
To all my reviewers and followers, I'll have you know that I did this one just for you (thank you all for the push, I needed it, haha). I sat and stared at my screen until some whisper of an idea hit me and I went with it.
I hope you all enjoy this next chapter.
Special shout outs:
BrooklynSommerson21: You helped give me the push to sit down and write this, I hope it is satisfactory! :)
Guest 007: I'm glad the one-shot series hasn't steered you wrong in checking out the actual story! You helped force me to write this next chapter as well, hopefully it doesn't disappoint.
SammieLuvsFood: I hope you continue to love it! Thank you so much for your support. :)
xo
"So," Avery mused after she sunk the eight ball into the corner pocket, "You going to tell me about swim practice?"
Reid's jaw pulsed as he began to rack up the balls, "What's there to talk about Ave?"
"Nothing," She assured him, "If you don't want to."
Pale sapphire eyes peered up from behind the shield of pale blond hair, his fingers still moving quickly, skillfully as he put the balls in their correct positions. "He was being a dick."
"Of course he was, the question is, why did you react when you're very adept at ignoring him?"
His jaw turned to granite as he lifted the wooden frame and came around to where she stood at the head of the pool table. "He made an offhand comment."
"About?" She questioned as she leant over the table and took aim.
"About my friendship to you." He admitted and she immediately disregarded her shot, pool stick placed hazardly on the green as she straightened to look at Reid; his expression blank and stony if not for the fury darkening his eyes.
"What about it?" She demanded, barely even realizing how little space there was in between their bodies; everyone else noticed, though they saw nothing more than spectators usually did when looking at Avery Danvers and Reid Garwin together.
He looked as if he wouldn't answer her for a moment, and she briefly entertained the idea of forcing it out of him, but then he unclenched his jaw and spoke. "If I didn't get my act together, I wouldn't be able to see you any longer. He may have mentioned that I was already a horrible influence and that he was just waiting for the moment I make you as big of a failure as I am."
Fury had her eyes darkening to near obsidian, had her powers pulsing with furious strength, with intent to do harm; it was the cool touch of a hand against her own that had her reigning in her powers just in time for her to notice that multiple people around Nicky's were recoiling in a fear that they couldn't see but could very much feel.
Looking up into worried blue eyes, Avery took her free hand and placed it gently to his chest, "No one can take my friendship away from you Reid. No one," She swore, "And there is nothing about you that makes you a failure of any kind. If anyone is the failure, it's Caleb for failing at being a friend, for failing to be a leader worth following." She promised him. His expression gentled as he looked down at her and she offered him a small smile, "You didn't honestly think I'd ever listen to what Caleb instructs me to do, did you?"
He shrugged, "Caleb's persuasive."
Eyes narrowing, she lifted her hand from his chest and playfully slapped the lean planes of muscle beneath his shirt. "You can be an idiot sometimes Reid, you know that, right?"
He gave her his wide, Reid Garwin grin that screamed trouble and her body settled, she was glad to see him return to himself for she absolutely hated it when Reid doubted himself, doubted her, and though she could blame that doubt on a multitude of things, Avery knew most of Reid's doubt stemmed from the very words and actions of her own flesh and blood.
"Yea," He grinned cheekily, grabbing her hand and pulling her into his arms, "But I'm your idiot."
One brow lifted, "My idiot, huh?" She questioned, both hands to his chest as she leaned back in his arms to regard him more fully.
He gave a nod and opened his mouth to speak when his pupils widened and Avery felt the pulse of a mind far different than Reid's brush up against him.
When his pupils returned to normal he peered down at her, "Nat says she and Dev are going to head our way when they get done with dinner."
Avery felt the ease of their friendship strain, a wall of formality overwhelming them both even as they remained in their rather familiar embrace. "Then I guess we best finish this game, you know Natalie can't play pool to save her life."
He gave her a soft grin, "A disgrace, even Lace can handle a stick." His arms tightened around her very briefly before he released her and took a step back.
"Lace's gift enables her a sure victory each game." Avery countered, picking up her discarded stick and getting into position, acutely aware of Reid's presence at her side. "And with you as her brother, she was probably born with a pool stick in hand. Give Natalie a paintbrush or a car engine, and I can guarantee you she'll put us both to shame."
"To each their own," Reid murmured softly, as he watched the line of Avery's back, as he noticed the silk of her dark hair tied into a knot at the nape of her neck, and studied the pull of her lips as she took the bottom one between her teeth as her dark eyes narrowed and she took her shot; sinking two stripes and two solids. "What's it gonna be Ave?" Though he didn't have to ask, he knew she preferred stripes.
"Stripes." She answered, maneuvering around the table to sink two more stripes before it was his turn – and just as he had studied her, he was intensely aware of the dark eyes studying his own shifts and movements.
If you have a special request as to who you see next, I'm up for ideas considering I haven't yet written the next chapter and considering these first few chapters are really just an introduction to the characters, I'm more than happy to write those introductions in any kind of order (for now at least).
Feel free to review and I hope you enjoyed!
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