Not Going Anywhere
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters featured on South of Nowhere, and only own the few that I created.
This is my first SON/TV series Fanfic, so please comment with anything! Thoughts, criticisms, advice, whatever. Thanks!
Chapter 2 – Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
"I'd like a small choka mocha…. decaffeinated, and no whipped cream", screeched another of the customer voices that scratched at the walls of my brain like a cheese grater. Hold it together, Spence, I told myself. Just another hour.
"I'm sorry, we don't carry any 'choka mocha'. Our drink options are on the menu that you can find right behind me" I gestured lazily towards the wall behind me, on which an enormous menu was written in gigantic letters that a blind person couldn't miss. Okay, maybe a blind person could miss it. "And also, for future reference, the drink size you are referring to is tall. They come in tall, grande, and venti." I said in a voice as sweet as I could muster.
"Well, my friend told me you have choka mochas. But since you refuse to comply, I suppose I'll make do with a Java Chip Frappuccino. Tall." The woman said indignantly.
"Tall Java Chip Frap!" I called over my shoulder to the employee making the drinks. "That'll be $3.25" She pulled a fifty out of her wallet and slid it across the table top. I looked at her for a moment before acting. I had to give her change for a fifty? Seriously?
I ran my fingers through the money in my hand one more time, checking that I was returning the correct amount.
"Here's your change, have a nice day" I said half-heartedly. I was hit with a tiny pang of remorse that I was acting out on my bad mood, but today just couldn't seem any longer.
I was clearing the register when the next customer came up. "What can I get for you, today?" I asked in my routine way, without looking up.
"Hmmm… well I think I'll take a Spencer" chimed a familiar voice. Its funny how quickly one's spirits can fly. My eyes shot up and beheld her shining face, that contagious smile sparkling in its perfect way.
"Well that will cost you one hour", I laughed. "My shift doesn't end until 5:30"
"Nonsense", She replied quickly. "Sydney!" She called confidently. Sydney was Avery's older sister. She also happened to be the manager of this Starbucks. How she lasted long enough to climb that Starbucks employment ladder, I'll never know. I'd only been working here for about 6 months and I wasn't too keen on my future here. Sydney, though, seemed to live for this place. It was her pride and joy- and she made that clear on those frequent nights when she would stay after hours to make each table sparkle.
"Baby Avery, what a pleasant surprise" Sydney mumbled sarcastically. "I suppose you've come to steal my best employee?" Avery was now making a pouting face. Her lower lip jutted out subtly, ever so slightly quivering. Her eyes grew wide, and I swear she conjured up a thin sheet of tears. How anyone could resist those big begging brown eyes, I'd never figure out. "Fine" Sydney sighed. "See ya, Spence"
I smiled, and within 10 seconds I was peeled from my apron and yanked out the door by a dancing pixie. A gust of fresh air filled my lungs, and simultaneously elated my mood.
"Where are we go – " before I could finish, there was a push, and my head met concrete. My back against the wall, I exclaimed, "Hey! What was that about – " but once again, I was cut off. This time though, it was her lips that interrupted me, moving with mine softly. I quickly forgot the increasingly dull pain in the back of my head. One of my hands tangled itself in her fiery hair, each lock becoming tightly coiled around my dancing fingers. I loved kisses that caught me off guard. I could feel my body gaining strength, warming up. With each passing moment the little ember that glowed inside of me burned brighter. My other arm made its way around her back, inviting her closer – she didn't object. Our torsos met: not a gap of air existed, but it was still not close enough. I needed her closer to me.
Passion burned inside of me. We moved in a rolling motion along the wall, taking turns with our backs against it, until we were behind the coffee shop, and beyond and reach of public eyes. My stomach was twisted into a series of tight knots that only tightened with each catch of my breath. Why did she not feel close enough? It was like a crazy thirst ripping at my lungs. A small voice in the back of my mind questioned my intensity, but the thirst drowned it out. Our lips broke apart. I guided her cheek next to mine and held her there for a moment, feeling her unrelenting breath cascade down my shoulder. I loved the sound of her breathing. I could hear her voice in it. I kissed her ear, her cheekbone, gradually moving down until my tongue played along her collarbone. Her quickening breath was all the ammo I needed. The hand on her back slid down over her ass onto her thigh. My fingertips teased her, just barely skimming the surface of her skin. She was trembling, her breathing caught and stopped.
"Spencer", she exhaled breathlessly. "We've gotta go." My body was still pressed against hers, my eyes still on her neck. I sighed, turning and pressing my cheek to her chest and resting there a moment. The thirst still existed, but it was quieter now; quieted to a growl from a roar. The rational part of my mind began to seep back in through the cracks. Why was I so intense? Not that Avery wasn't hot, she was. But usually I was the gentle one. "Not that this isn't great… it is" She laughed, probably as surprised as I was at my passion. "And I want to pick up where we left off, but I told your mom that we'd meet her and your dad for dinner tonight"
All thought and feeling was arrested momentarily.
"What?" I replied incredulously, still trying to catch my breath. My mind slowly processed this. My parents. Paula and Arthur Carlin. Dinner. My Girlfriend. "I thought we talked about this. The less they know –" She interrupted me.
"The happier they are. I know, Spence. But we've been dating for almost 6 months, and I'd really like for them to know me better. I know they like me Spencer." She pleaded.
"Yes, and I'd like to keep it that way!" I replied. So far Paula and Arthur had taken a liking to Avery. Arthur came as no surprise, but Paula was still acclimating herself to the idea that her daughter was gay; in her defense, she was trying very hard. I knew that the best way to keep her happy was to keep my relationships out of her face. In addition to this rational thought process, a sharp memory poked violently in the back of my mind: a certain brunette being ripped from my arms by her hair then shoved out the door. The hateful leer that shot from my mom's tear filled eyes. The dysfunctional relationship that had existed between her and Ashley ever since.
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to banish the thoughts from my mind. Back to the present, I thought. I opened my eyes and took in the girl standing before me. Her face was nearly blank except for the eyes. They were waiting. They even looked… the littlest bit hurt. "I'm sorry, Avery." I said quietly. "I'm just so used to having to hide everything. The thought of sitting there with them at dinner caught me a little off guard. How did you go about planning this?" Her eyes lit up again, to my relief.
"Well I've been thinking about it for a while, but only decided to act on it last night. When we were getting ready to go out last night I decided to go downstairs and ask. I told you I was getting a drink because I knew if I asked you about it you would say no." She said, searching my face for a response.
"You know me too well" I smiled, looking down at my feet.
"Well, they said they'd be happy to have dinner with us. Your mom even seemed happy that I asked, she's been wanting to go try that new restaurant on Melrose – The Bonefish House, I think its called?" My mind registered the place. Fancy. "Anyway, I said we'd meet them there at quarter of 6, they wanted to do an early dinner" She finished. My eyes were still locked on my feet. Silence fell between us. Awaiting an answer, she took her index finger and gingerly lifted my chin. My eyes met hers.
"Well, I guess we had better get going, then" I offered a weak smile, still unsure of this plan. She took it as a bright green light.
"Thank you thank you thank you for being okay with this, Spence, I'll make it worth your while" She sang excitedly, taking me into a tight hug. The thirst burned again for a moment, but the dampening situation kept it quiet. She pulled away, smiling, and laced her fingers into mine, pulling me gently away from the building.
We arrived home a few minutes later, few words having transpired between us on the walk home. The silence didn't seem to bother either of us, she was smiling and humming contentedly, and my mind was buzzing with thought. The thought of tonight unnerved me, but I knew how much it meant to her. She was a very "official" type of girl. Everything had to be out in the open, which, after Ashley I didn't mind so much. Half of the time with Ashley, I had no idea where we stood. With Avery, I knew how she felt about me.
I prayed my mother would be kind. I envisioned the worst: her posing questions to put Avery on the spot, looking at me with scrutinizing eyes as if asking why I even bother. Well, I didn't bother. Not after everything with Ashley crashed and burned. If nothing else, Ashley taught me that love is fleeting. I shouldn't have wasted my energy over making my parents like her. It wasn't as if we were going to last. I guess you can say, that when Ashley left, so did my faith in love. I was terrified for the day when Avery would bring out that 4-letter word. The word that I wouldn't be able to return.
These thoughts bounced around in my mind as I prepared myself for dinner. We didn't have much time, so I decided to just let Avery have the shower; my hair wasn't all that dirty. Besides, I probably needed all the time I could get to choose my outfit.
Time flew by, and before I knew it we were heading out the door. Given that it was such a nice place, I dressed myself in a form fitting open shouldered black dress, with open toe heels. I curled my hair with the flat iron, a procedure I had mastered after watching it many times on youtube, so it hung in loose blonde curls. Avery wore an empire waisted brown and off-white patterned dress, clinging snugly to her breasts and then falling loosely over her torso. I wasn't going to lie, it made her breasts look really good. On her feet were a pair of brown flat boots that cut off mid-calf. If I do say so, we looked pretty hot. Whether this would help our case with the parents, only time would tell.
We arrived just after they had, and we were seated within moments, thanks to Avery's reservation. My father looked sincerely pleased to see both of us, hugging both Avery and myself, planting kisses atop both of our heads. My mother took me into a hug, and then did the same with Avery, perhaps exaggerating it a tad by embracing her for too long. I knew my mom was trying. She caught me looking at her and smiled sweetly, her blue eyes revealing her ever so slight discomfort, but also sincerity simultaneously.
Once we had placed an order for drinks the questions began, but they were not as accusatory or jaded as I had preconceived. They first asked us about school, which lead to conversation about basketball and the cheerleading team (which Avery was on).
"…And I was prepared to catch her, but she wasn't spinning correctly. If I had kept my arms out, I would have had a foot to my arm. She insists I let her fall on purpose" Avery laughed about fellow cheerleader and King High Bitch, Madison. "Though I think her grudge is becoming a little over the top – it wasn't even a rally. It was a practice. Nobody even saw it happen" Avery finished, smiling sweetly.
"That Madison always was a drama queen, remember when Glen dated her?" My dad asked, looking between my mom and me.
"Oh god, don't remind me" I whined, rolling my eyes sarcastically. I meant it though – those times were an emotional rollercoaster for me that I wasn't sure I wanted to relive. I associated that time period with finding my first love, coming out to my parents, and being at war with my mom.
"Clay always saw through her though, and always lit into him for having such a nasty girlfriend" My mom laughed. I felt a little sting inside my chest. She was smiling, but saw a flicker of the somber mom underneath. We all sat there in silence for a moment, in I guess what was out of respect for Clay. It had been 7 months, but we tried to talk about him as casually as possible, even though we all knew that it secretly burned us inside.
"Didn't you two meet at his wake?" my mom mused, halfway changing the subject. I looked from her to Avery, who glanced at me quickly with her mouth half open, ready to speak.
"Yeah, we did" She gently slid her fingers into mine and squeezed my hand under the table. "I knew I had to introduce myself, I mean Clay was so inspiring to be around, I just had to know his family" Avery had been in nearly all of Clay's classes, so she had gotten to know him quite well prior to ever meeting my family. I had heard about her in passing, but I never thought she'd be part of my life, much less my girlfriend.
When I met Avery she had just put a white rose onto Clay's casket. Her bright auburn hair is what caught my eye. She then came to stand beside me, and after wiping her tears, introduced herself. Only part of my mind stored away that encounter's memory, because the other part was paralyzed with hurt that my current girlfriend wasn't there with me. Avery and I got to talking at the party afterward, though, and we hit it off from there. I honestly believe that we became close so quickly because in the month that passed, I was so desperate for a shoulder to cry on. The shoulder I had always thought I could cry on wasn't even on this continent, let alone available for my tears.
When Ashley returned I was so blinded by my anger, by my hurt that she wasn't there for me, I sent her away. To him, I guess. In what seemed like moments, she had glommed onto Aiden, confirming the suspicions I had during our relationship. She'd been with him ever since, as far as I knew. I tried to block her from my mind.
I clung even tighter to Avery, even more in need of someone to keep me busy, to hold onto.
This brought my mind back to the hand that was currently in mine.
"…and Sydney desperately needed an employee, and I thought, who better for the job?" Avery said, clearly having advanced the conversation while I took a stroll down memory lane. I caught my father looking at me out of the corner of my eye. His concerned eyes searched my face. "You okay?" He mouthed subtly. He could always tell when something was wrong. I nodded my head once, lying to quell his concern. I don't think he bought it, but he looked back to Avery, I guess tuning back into her story.
"And thank god for you" my mom chimed quickly. Wow, I was impressed. My mom was doing very well. "Spence really needed a job" she paused, "and a friend" Thanks, mom. Why don't we just throw more salt in the wound?
Avery squeezed my hand again.
The rest of the conversations followed very smoothly, and the food was delicious. I made a mental note to come back here sometime without my parents. As we left, my dad and mom hugged both Avery and I, and my mom squeezed my shoulder, throwing me a smile before she left. Was that… approval?
Once they were gone and Avery and I were in the car, a squeal of delight nearly shattered my eardrums.
"That went so well!" Avery cried, barely able to contain herself. "I think they really like me! Do you think so?"
"Yeah!" I said with forced enthusiasm. She could hear it.
"Is something wrong?" She asked, her ecstatic face falling a little.
"No, no nothing. I'm just tired – I stressed so much about that dinner" I smiled at her. She flashed a huge one right back.
"Secretly, me too" She said quietly. "But I knew that if you knew, then we definitely wouldn't go through with it", I smiled.
"Once again, you know me too well" I looked into her dancing brown eyes, which now swam in the glint of moonlight. She drew in close and gently kissed me before settling herself back in her seat and turning on the car. On the ride home I caught her breaking a smile as she hummed, and I comforted myself with the fact that she was happy.
Everything had gone better than I could have imagined. My parents practically loved her. Paula liked her. The fears I had earlier today were washed away. Why, though, wasn't I feeling ecstatic? Why wasn't I internally leaping? Why was I fighting tears, while my girlfriend was fighting a smile?