Blake pov
Tory calms down on the car ride and is just sitting silently in the passenger seat with her head against the window. I've been mostly silent.
I have no idea what to say. What could I say? This whole situation was a whole new level of fucked.
It was almost as if everyone just decided to bring out the worst versions of themselves tonight. Hawk, Sam, Tory, and even Miguel had done something they wouldn't normally do. God knows what happened in the rooms I wasn't in. Maybe Hawk picked a fight with Demetri after I left or Robby caught Miguel kissing Sam.
I could just ask Noah later, but for now, I had a mission. I glance over at Tory who's still sitting with her head against the window. An expression of pure emptiness coats her face. The makeup she had saved up for was smeared all over her face. I can only hope Avery had some magical solution.
When I finally get to the bar, Avery is leaning against her car on her phone and glances over at my headlights. I park in the spot next to her and get out of the car.
"Well, you've looked worse," she quips with a friendly grin.
I give her a small smile and go to open the passenger door and help Tory out of my car.
Avery sighs and runs a hand through her hair at the sight of Tory. She glances at me as if to say "any bright ideas?"
"I-I don't know what to do. She's hammered and her boyfriend cheated on her with her… worst mortal enemy," I say feeling defeated.
Avery's features darken.
"Cheated? Who is this son of a bitch. I'd be more than happy to give him a knuckle sandwhich! Which broad thinks she can compare herself to Tory?" Avery demands grabbing my shirt collar.
"Hey!" I say and lightly swat her hand away.
"Sorry, heat of the moment," Avery says brushing her palms off against her open flannel shirt.
"Don't shoot the messenger," I half joke.
Avery snorts a bit.
"Alright, let's get her in my car. We can convoy to her apartment and regroup there. Sound good?" Avery asks.
"Do you have her address?" I ask.
I had never been to Tory's place before and didn't ever makes plans to go, but here we are.
"You've never been to her apartment?" Avery asks a bit surprised.
"No, why would I?" I ask.
"I don't know. Thought y'all were friends or something," Avery sarcastically remarks.
"Yeah, but… not on that level. Anyway, could I get the address?" I ask.
Avery's sarcasm reminded me a lot of Robby in an annoying way. However, her quips were a lot more friendly and lacked the hatred Robby's remarks usually carried. If I were in a better mood, I'd welcome it, but now wasn't the time.
"Here I'll text it to you. Phone," she remarks holding out her hand.
"You trying to get my number?" I joke slightly.
"Oh dream on. I don't date prepubescents. Get through high school," she remarks.
"Prepubescent?" I say feigning offense and putting a hand to my heart.
"I'm twenty four. You're like… fifteen," Avery remarks.
"Ok I'm sixteen and it was just a joke. I'm… kind of spoken for at the moment. I'm not really sure where we stand right now. I guess I'll have to introduce you to my older brother some day," I causally say.
Avery shrugs. She sends me the address and we gently put a nearly unconscious Tory into Avery's passenger seat.
I hop in my car and follow Avery to Tory's apartment. Once we get there, finding a parking spot is a bit of a pain because there's only handicap spots by the residence. I find a small lot toward the outskirts and park there.
After helping a barely conscious Tory sit on her bed, Avery kicks me out so she can help Tory change. I didn't really object and went to sit on the couch. The apartment smelled like rotting food and chemicals. Before I can ask myself what these chemicals are, I hear what sounds like a respirator coming from a nearby bedroom.
My heart breaks as soon as I glance into the doorway. All I can see is a hospital bed with two legs under the covers and wires here and there. Out of respect for Tory's family, I don't go in there, but just close my eyes and look away.
However, if there was something I could do to help, it was clean this place up. Fast food wrappers, half eaten food items, and empty cups littered the room which was the source of the stench.
I understood everything now, why Tory was always so aggressive and angry about defending what she cared about. She really didn't have much.
I wasn't sure where her brother was, but hopefully he was spared to some extent from the harsh reality that was the life of Tory and her mother.
I grab a trash bag from the cabinet under the sink and begin picking up any trash I can find. I take out the trash bag which is nearly overflowing by this point to the dumpster outside and turn to walk back inside when a man with slicked back hair and a blue v neck tshirt approaches me.
"Who are you? Never seen you around before," the man remarks with a snide tone.
"Just a friend," I respond.
"Friends? With them?" The man asks with a hint of disgust pointing at Tory's apartment.
I pick up on it immediately and my eyes narrow.
"Yeah actually, got a problem with it?" I ask ominously.
The man chuckles.
"You must be that pissant Diaz kid she never shuts up about. Taking a glance at your face, I guess even trash finds solace," the man jabs.
My fists clenched and I grit my teeth.
"Uh uh uh, you'd hate for me to make a phone call to a certain someone about how that blonde white trash chick never pays her rent on time. Oh how I'd hate to screw around a family with a sick parent," the man very sarcastically remarks feigning sympathy during the last sentence.
"Listen asshole, I'm just helping a friend. If she's forced to live around pricks like you, no wonder she always craves a fight," I step closer to him "then again, looking at you, I don't think she'd have to give it much effort before you'd be begging her not to mess up that shitty hair gel," I remark and the man's features darken.
"You're lucky I'm the landlord of this joint or id drop your bitch ass in an instant. Oh yeah, and tell Tory that we may be able to work something out, if she's at my house the night before the first," the man responds with a sly smile.
I'm shocked at his last sentence. So this landlord was one of THOSE guys, huh.
It took every ounce of willpower not to smack his head against the concrete until his brain matter was strewn about the property. First Amelia's dad and now this prick. I give the landlord a death stare and begin to walk up to him.
He smirks, but stops as he doesn't see me stop walking. I grab a fistful of his shirt and pin him against the wall. He struggles but I press my arm against his windpipe which stops him.
"You listen here you disgusting piece of shit, you touch Tory or any other young girl who happens to live here, I'll come back here and do to you whatever you do to them. Then I'll rip your fucking teeth out. Understand?" I whisper with pure malice in my voice.
The man begins to whimper slightly so I slam him against the wall again.
"ANSWER THE QUESTION YOU VULTURE! Do you UNDERSTAND ME?!" I yell.
He nods his head. I let him go.
"You're lucky I'm showing mercy," I remark as he glances at me in shock.
I walk back into her apartment and begin doing dishes to calm down. Once Avery walks out of Tory's room, she sees me hard at work cleaning the house.
"You didn't tell me she kissed you," Avery remarks.
I immediately drop the plate I was scrubbing in the sink. Luckily it doesn't break, but it makes a loud clatter.
"She was drunk and she made a mistake," I say.
"Guess she did, but you do seem to care about her a lot. She cares about you to," Avery warmly remarks.
I sigh.
Tory and I's paths could only ever intersect, never join.
"There won't ever be anything between us. It wouldn't work out. Besides, she has, or had, a boyfriend. I'm not sure how that'll turn out. Plus, I'm trying to create something with another girl," I confirm.
Avery who's wiping the kitchen table looks over at me.
"What's her name?" She asks with a smug, but lighthearted smile.
"Amelia," I say my face glowing a bit red.
"You don't mean Tory's karate friend with the blue eyes right?" Avery asks coming to a realization.
"Wait, you know Ames?" I ask.
"Yeah, Tory brings her to my bar all the time," Avery finishes.
"Hopefully under better circumstances then when you and I have met," I say.
"Well, yes, usually it's just for a night out. They also bring some girl names Aisha with them a lot. She's cool," Avery casually says then throws the wipe in the trash.
"Well, yup, that's her," I say with a smile as I stare off into space for a second.
"Wow, you really do have it bad. You should go for it honestly. She kept complaining when she got too drunk about how some guy in her dojo won't pay attention to her and is too busy boning a hippie," Avery responds.
"Wait, really?" I ask with a wide grin.
I guess she still did like me after all.
"Well, she said this at the beginning of the summer so I don't know how she feels now," Avery responds.
My face falls.
"Oh," I say.
"What about you? You keep trying to peak into my love life, how's yours despite saying you "won't date prepubescents,"" I quip.
"Well, I'm talking to this one person on Hinge, but I don't know how far that's gonna go," Avery responds.
"A dating app?" I ask.
"Yeah, don't judge," Avery says with a smile while she puts her hand on her hip.
"How is this guy? Is he cool or a douche?" I ask.
"Well… SHE'S very nice, but I'm waiting till she gets back from being overseas before I pursue anything," Avery responds.
She? I guess Avery was into girls to. Wow, finding two people being into girls as well on the same night no less. I wasn't wrong last night when I told myself tonight would be weird.
"Oh… well… I hope it works out," I say.
"Yeah, I spent a while trying to decide whether I was into girls or guys, but then just thought, why not both?" Avery casually says.
"Yeah, um… cool," I say.
"I should introduce you to my older brother at some point if this chick doesn't work out," I remark.
"Oh, is he anything like you?" Avery asks.
"Not really. More arrogant and stupid than me, but somehow makes all A's while I can barely make B's and C's in school," I shrug.
"Ouch, well if he's nothing like you, I'd say we could try something," Avery jokes.
I give her a lighthearted glare and she laughs.
Once we get the kitchen and living room all cleaned up, I decide to head out and Avery says that's fine as she'll crash at Tory's place.
I see a parking ticket on my car and curse. The security officer is parked a street away and I stick my middle finger at him before getting in my car muttering cuss words under my breath.
Then as I pull out, I decide to text Ames. I just wanted to see her. Tonight had already been an absolute mess, even if it wasn't gonna be romantic or anything, I just wanted to hang out with my friend that wasn't currently in the middle of some drama.
Ames agrees to meet me in the same park and I drive there. Unlike yesterday, I'm the first one to arrive and I just wait on the same bench I found her at. When she shows up, she calls my name and I turn around.
For once, the nerves I've been getting recently upon seeing her aren't there. It feels like it used to, but I'm more open to the fact that I am into her.
"Hey, Princess," I tiredly rasp out.
"What's wrong?" She casually asks.
"Long night. I just… wanted to see someone who wasn't in the middle of a bunch of drama," I remark and give her a warm smile.
She crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow.
"Oh, that's the only reason, huh," she jokes.
No it wasn't at all. I just wanted to see her. The whole reason I was gonna go to Moon's party was to hang out with her. I liked Miguel and Hawk, but Miguel has or HAD a girlfriend to occupy his time and Hawk has once again proved that he's off the rails.
I just look into her blue eyes and pull her into a hug.
"What's this about?" She whispers into my chest.
"Look, you know what, that's not the only reason. I-I wanted to see you, Ames. The whole reason I went to that party was because I thought you'd be there," I say just letting it sink in.
She looks at me for a second.
"Why?" She asks sounding a bit nervous.
"I can't explain it, I just… feel happy when I'm around you. Like everything's gonna be okay," I remark throwing my hands in the air.
Amelia looks at me.
"It's been a long night. Lets relax and hang out. We have our date next Friday to be all lovey dovey," Ames remarks and places a hand on my chest.
Why was she pushing this off? Did she not want to date me? She said yes after all.
"Do you… even want to go out with me?" I stupidly ask.
She looks at me confused.
"Yeah, obviously, I said yes, didn't I?" She says almost sounding offended.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to accuse you of anything, I just… don't know what to think right now," I say sitting down.
"Blake, what happened tonight?" Ames soothingly asks as she sits next to me.
How do I tell her Tory kissed me? That isn't something you just say to someone. Especially considering how gossipy girls are. Ames wasn't every girl, but she still was one.
"A lot of stuff happened. Moon kissed her new girlfriend right in front of my face. I'm over her, but I mean, considering how open I was with her, I'm surprised she didn't tell me she liked girls to. The whole reason I care is because I feel like I was more into the relationship than she was. I guess I'm just scared about trusting someone like that again," I somberly remark.
Amelia grabs my hand and gently massages her thumb across the back of my knuckles.
"Look, I'm scared to. I don't know whatl come from this. The reason I'm scared is because I love having you as a friend. Last year, it hurt seeing you with someone else, but deep down, if you were happy, then it was okay. Now that things are like this, I just… am afraid of losing you if this dating thing doesn't work out," Amelia says.
I look into her eyes.
"You won't lose me princess," I say.
She smiles.
"Good," she whispers.
Before I know it, I lean in and softly press my lips against her's.