Chapter Nine
Avery stood at the bus stop where she and Dean had made plans to meet. She leaned against it, boredly tapping her foot. She breathed in relief when she saw Dean walking towards her. He stopped in front of her and dipped his head to connect his lips with hers, pulling away after only a short few moments. He chuckled when she playfully pouted.
"It's your choice today." She rested her hands on his chest. He was wearing a simple black t-shirt since it was summer, and dark jeans. "What do you wanna do?"
"I…" Dean leaned in again, he brushed his lips against hers. "I want to be with you."
"I thought we were gonna stop with the cliches." Avery whispered.
"We are." He said, pulling away. "I'm broke."
"That's a bummer." She said. "Are you having troubles with your family again-" She stopped when he shook his head. He didn't like talking about his family at all, and rarely ever did.
"Well, then." She said. "I don't have any money too." She pulled her pockets out to make a point. "I gave what I have to Mike."
"Why did you give your money to your brother?" Dean asked. "Isn't that your mom or dad's job?"
"He's taking out a girl." She grinned. "I couldn't say no. He looked so cute and nervous because he didn't want to tell our parents so he doesn't jinx it."
"That's sweet." He didn't look at her as he reached into his pocket to pull something white out.
"Is that-" Dean nodded before she can finish and pulled out his lighter. He took a long drag and offered it to Avery.
"Thank God." She took it eagerly, sighing in relief when she started feeling the effects. "Do you know how long it's been since I last had one?" She didn't give him a chance to guess. "Two days. I swear I was going crazy." She noticed Dean eyeing her strangely.
"What?" She took another drag.
"You sure you aren't overdoing it?" He said evenly. "With-"
"If I want to stop. I'll stop." Avery gave it back to him. "Right now. I don't."
Avery looked at her reflection strangely in the mirror. The strapless lace white gown she wore felt heavy on her skin. Her hair had been done up in a twisted updo with a few dark strands left to frame her face. Her makeup was light with pale pink gloss and eyeliner and blush. She didn't have a veil like the rest of the girls, Jessica Dilaurentis had decided she looked better without it, she didn't know whether to take it as a compliment or as an insult.
"Avery?" She glanced at Aria, her sister was absolutely beautiful in her own wedding dress.
"Aria." She smiled softly, picking the dress up to walk over to her. "You look gorgeous." She placed a gentle hand on her cheek.
"Thanks." Aria said, checking Avery's dress. "But not in comparison to you." She complimented. "Dean's gonna freak."
Avery chuckled, looking back to the large mirror. "We'll see about that."
"The girls and I are in the other room, want to come?" Aria said. Avery nodded, grabbing her phone-now password protected. The three other girls were standing in front of a mirror, much like she did.
"Avery." Spencer sighed in relief. "I have to talk to you."
"Yeah." Avery said. "Something wrong?"
"Yes." Spencer said, a guilty expression on her face. "Mom fired Dean."
"What?" Avery asked, surprised. She and Dean didn't talk all day since Ms. Marin had roped her in with the event. They had agreed to meet after the show. "Why?"
"Okay, before anything. It didn't mean anything. I was just tired and he was reading," Spencer said quickly. "We fell asleep on the couch. We didn't do anything, I swear." She bit her lip anxiously. "Are you mad?"
"I'm not. Don't worry." Avery reassured the younger girl. "I trust Dean." Spencer breathed in relief, hugging her briefly before awkwardly moving back.
"So girls." Avery let out a teasing smile, though they could all see her straining to keep it. "You all look amazing. I'm sure everyone out there are going to drool over how you look."
"Thanks." Emily said, the others agreed but they all looked distracted.
"You look pretty too." Hanna added. Avery nodded her thanks before turning serious., crossing her arms.
"What're you up to?" She questioned.
"Nothing." Aria tried to shrug but she straighten when she caught the expression on Avery's face. She sighed "Hanna's mom found a bag with clothes in Alison's old room."
"You think those are for who? Alison?" Avery's brow rose in disbelief.
"We're not sure." Emily spoke. "We came here to look for an address or anything that could help us."
"I'll see if I can find anything." Avery offered, she slowly walked backwards out of the room. "Call me when it's my time to shine." She gestured mockingly to her dress. "I gotta find Dean-" Her back bumped into something hard.
"Looks like he found you first." Hanna commented before wincing at the glares the girls shot her. Avery waved one last time before grabbing Dean from his collar and yanked him out of the room. She opened the door of one of the rooms and pushed him inside and locked the door after them.
"Spencer told you." Dean concluded. "I wanted to first. Nothing-"
"I believe you." Avery intersected. "As long as nothing intimate or romantic happened."
"I promise." the tension in his muscles relaxed.
"Good. Okay." She smoothed the non-existent wrinkles on her dress. "Where're you gonna stay?"
"I don't know." He deflated when she raised her eyebrows. "I didn't really think about it."
"Alright, then." Avery nodded. "You're staying with me."
"I can't ask you to do that." Dean took a step towards her, they were almost touching. "I'm not the kind of boyfriends who mooches off his girlfriend."
"You're not using me, Dean." She sighed, taking his hands and running her fingers lightly over his knuckles. "I'm using you."
"Really?" He allowed a small smile to break through his face. "How's that?"
"You know..." She closed the space between them and placed her hands in his pockets. "I'm alone in that apartment all day and all alone." She watched his eyes darken. "I need some company."
Her gasp went unheard when he crashed their lips. His tongue immediately parting her lips and forced its way in, not that she minded. She bit his bottom lip, earning a low growl from him as he slammed her against the wall. Her hands intertwined behind the back of his neck while his were tightly pressing around her waist.
"Avery!" She and Dean broke apart. Ms. Marin's voice was on the opposite side of the door. "Hanna told me you're here." She sounded impatient. "It's almost time."
"Be right there." Avery called. She was breathing heavily from the previous lack of oxygen, she looked at Dean, he didn't even turn to glance at the door where Hanna's mom stood.
"I ruined your lipstick." He said, his eyes turned to hers when she snorted. "I honestly don't care." She kissed him again, only to have him pull away.
"Did I tell you that you look beautiful?" Dean moved a strand of hair behind her ear. "Because even if I did. You're beautiful." He smirk when he saw the blush covering her cheeks.
"It's nice to know I can still make you blush." He breathed. "But I won't hold you up." He released her with a final kiss on her cheek. She smiled and led him by the hand to outside the room.
"Are you nervous?" Dean asked as they walked.
"About walking down the runways?" Avery said. "A little. It's weird."
"Weird." He repeated, as if testing the word. "Why is it weird?"
"Not weird." She said. "It's sort of intimidating." She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. "Being in a wedding dress."
He looked at her more questionably. "I just never thought I'll wear one after…" She trailed, not wanting to bring up last year.
"Avery," He sighed. "Don't blame yourself."
"How? I-" She was interrupted by someone calling her name. Hanna's mom stood, an anxious expression on her face, she gestured to behind her where Avery was supposed to go. She sighed and leaned up to press a kiss to Dean's mouth.
"See you on the other side." She mumbled before moving to the runway.
"You looked beautiful." Dean said as soon as she went down. "Too beautiful. I think I'm going to whisk you away from the world and keep you hidden with me forever."
"I'll be very willing." Avery teased. She fanned herself with one hand. "God, it's hot."
"Yeah." He said. "Wanna get out of here?"
"Please. And this dress." Her eyes widened when she realized how the last part sounded, Dean's smirk from besides her informed her he noticed her too. "Oh, shut up." She shoved him before going in the dressing room where her old clothes were in.
"Can you wait for me outside?" She asked him before going in. "I took a ride with the girls."
"Sure." He lowered his head to kiss her on her forehead and left. She touched her lips softly after he disappeared from view. Almost five years and it still tingled and sent electricity through her whenever he touched her, no matter how cliche that sounded. She dressed back to her light skinny jeans and over-sized sweater that had one of its sleeves hanging off her shoulder, she sighed when she took off the heels Ashley forced her in and threw her hair up in a high ponytail.
"Avery." She smiled friendly when she saw Jason standing at the end of the hallway.
"Hey, Jay." Avery greeted, pulling the strap of her bag on her shoulder irritably, she hated carrying purses and bags.
"Hey, I wanted to catch you before you left." Jason said.
"Yeah, well." She gestured to herself somewhat awkwardly. "I'm here. What's up?"
"Good, good." He said, again vaguely. "You looked pretty out there in the dress."
"Thanks." She said. "It didn't feel like that though."
"Why?" Jason asked, stepping closer to her. She almost took a step back, not feeling comfortable.
"Heels." Her face scrunched up in fake annoyance.
He snorted a laugh, shaking his head. "Are you against all things girly?"
"Only the really annoying ones." She nodded her head seriously.
"So," He began counting on his fingers. "That counts purses, heels, shopping, pink-"
"Okay! I get it." She explained loudly. "I'm a terrible person."
"I was just kidding." Jason smiled widely.
Avery allowed a small grin, chuckling. "I know. Hey, look. No offence but I really need to go back. Dean's waiting for me."
He nodded, she began walking but was stopped by him calling her name. "What exactly are you and Dean?"
"I love him and he loves me." She said before walking away, leaving Jason standing in the middle of the hallway.
"Ready?" Dean was waiting for her outside, she pecked him on the lips and got in the car.
Thanks a lot for you all who waited for me. I know it's been forever since I updated and I'm super sorry, life has been repeatedly kicking me in the ass for the last few months and I couldn't write for a while. So...thanks for following me or favoring the story or reviewing. Please tell me what you thought, I would love to hear your opinions!