AN:
Sorry for the delay! (Geez, seems like I'm always apologizing for that, haha)
Not much happens in this chapter, I literally sat down staring at the blank screen for five minutes before coming up with something. I just really wanted to get something up for you guys so if you don't like it, please, let me know, and I'll delete it and try my best to get the next chapter up and running.
Hope you enjoy it nonetheless! :D
Coming up: the next two chapters will be the party at the Dells and Reid and Avery's 'date'.
Special Shout outs:
Acechica: Haha. 'official' Reid and Avery is coming up soon, promise. :)
Lady of Sign: I'm glad! I love writing it. haha. ;)
Guest (so cute): So do I. :)
Guest (natxcaleb): There should be a few of those coming up, I'm actually really glad you said something because they have kinda slipped my mind. They're a slow burn, and I think I might have put them on a back burner as well. :/
To all my reviewers: you guys rock, thank you for the encouragement, it means a lot!
To all you non reviewers: you rock too, and I'm glad you're still reading!
x
"So," Liz inquired from her seat between Pogue and Lace, an echo of darkness in heterochromatic eyes underlined by tired, sleepy lines. "What time are we meeting up at the Dells tonight?"
"Ten?" Lace questioned in between neat bites of her lasagna. "I'll catch a ride with Ty and Reid."
"Should probably make it ten thirty." Caleb offered from his seat between Reid and Pogue. "Avery, you need a ride?"
"I'm not going," Was her response, "Reid and I, we've got plans to do something else." All eyes flickered to Avery – namely Avery and Reid – and Natalie felt the collective internal sigh of the group deep within her bones.
All had been wary when they had first claimed their seats at lunch when they saw Avery and Reid sitting together – and though Natalie knew a step had been taken that morning to remedy the tension between them, she hadn't been sure whether or not that peace would last; for their last attempt at transgression hadn't stuck. But, she knew – just as the others did – that Reid and Avery getting together tonight instead of going to the party, was an opportunity for them to resolve whatever conflict had arisen between them a few days ago – and Natalie could feel even Caleb's relief that his sister and friend would be fixing their altered – and not for the better – relationship.
Caleb may not have liked the idea of Reid and Avery being friends – or more than friends – but the two had always been close, and the lack of aforementioned closeness was an unsettling weight pressing against his conscious. He hated it, yes, but he hoped that by Monday, all would be well on that front.
Avery didn't let her eyes stray to the boy beside her when she felt the press of muscle against her leg, just returned the touch with her own as she mindlessly pushed her macaroni around on her tray.
"Tyler?" Lace looked up at him in the ensuing silence, "Can I still get a ride with you?"
He grinned, looking down at her with warm affection as he lifted his arm to rest around the back of her chair, "Of course. But I'm driving little Garwin."
She laughed, giving a nod of acquiescence, "I don't trust myself driving such a big car anyways."
"Jesus, Lace, break my heart why don't you," Reid held a hand to his chest, wincing in mock hurt.
She gave him an impish grin as Avery looked to Natalie, "You're not riding with Dev?"
She gave a simple shake of her head, "I'm meeting him later, his sister has a recital tonight."
"And you're not going?" Liz inquired softly, tiredly. "Ellie adores you."
Natalie smiled with warmth at the thought of the young girl that was Devon's adorably perfect little sister – Natalie had always had an unparalleled weakness for children, and in turn, children usually worshipped the ground she walked on.
"I promised Connor I'd help him with his physics project."
Avery gave a low, husky laugh as the name slipped past Natalie's lips. "Good, he's so busy eyeing Jacob, it's a wonder he isn't failing the class."
"Are they ever going to confess their undying love for each other?" Lace inquired, brows raised as she looked around their table in question.
"You should see them in the locker room after swim practice." Caleb mused, sharing a sharp grin with Pogue. "Everyone knows to leave the showerheads furthest from each other free."
Pogue laughed, "Not to mention getting ready for practice. In between the two of them, naked," He shook his head, "The tension is ridiculous."
"A Pogue sandwich," Liz mused with a wicked gleam in her gaze, "I'd pay big money to see that show."
As the table lit up with laughter, Pogue cast the curly-haired girl a speculative look, taking note of the shadows beneath her eyes with the soft edge of possessiveness pushing at him; it took more self-control than he thought necessary to refrain from lifting a hand and tracing those lines, had to bite his tongue on multiple occasions to keep from questioning her about what exactly put those shadows beneath her slightly dulled eyes.
"You would, would you?"
She grinned, "Oh most definitely. Jacob and Connor aren't all that bad to look at," A teasing wink accompanied by a quick squeeze of reassurance to his thigh; and the only reason he would allow her to get away with the remark, was because both Jacob and Connor were so undeniably in love with each other – and gay.
"I don't know how I feel about that comment." Tyler mused, still wearing a smile, "Should I be executing my right as a big brother and giving a longwinded overprotective speech right now?"
"I think that only applies to the situation if at least two of the three males are straight." Natalie pointed out, and the look of utter horror that suddenly lined Tyler's expression had the table laughing anew.
"Don't worry big brother," Liz teased, "You only have to worry about it if all three of them are straight."
Pogue choked on a surprised cough, and Tyler looked a little green as everyone else just continued to laugh – even if Caleb looked just the slightest bit disturbed; only Reid seemed to be wholly undisturbed by the idea, and that was only because he knew it would never actually happen, two men, maybe, but never three.
"Oh my god," Tyler murmured, "I'm going to be sick."
As Natalie lifted a hand to gently pat his back, Lace handed him her water bottle, her impish smile near identical to the wicked grin Reid was rather infamous for.
Tyler had just taken a sip when Lace spoke, "Just be glad she's not in her sexual prime, two is her max for now."
The water spewed out of Tyler's mouth, shooting across the table to land on Caleb, as he swung a disbelieving gaze to the suddenly innocent-faced Lace.
Blinking large sapphire eyes up at him, she raised her brows, "What?"
Avery hid her smile behind her hand as she heard Reid mutter "'Atta girl." Beneath his breath, choking back his own laughter, before trying to stifle it by taking a forkful of Avery's uneaten mac.
Rolling laughing chestnut eyes, Avery handed him a napkin, to which he gave a thankful nod, so that he could wipe the cheese sauce from his mouth.
"It's always the quiet ones." Caleb mused laughingly as he wiped the discarded water from his shirt.
It was as they were getting up to head to their next classes that they each exchanged quick glances with one another; each individually thankful to the others for the brief respite their friends and family had provided through laughing teases and affectionate gestures. For they each left feeling just a little bit lighter than they had when they initially sat down to eat.
All followers, favoriters, reviewers, non-reviewers, continuous guests, and first-timers: I hope you enjoyed!
Feel free to review!
Until next time,
x