Next day at school, Avery walked down the hallway on her way to class. As she approached the spot of where the whole drama happened she felt her heart skip a bit and her mind replayed it all for her again. "Hi Avery" Nathan called out to her, she turned around on shock". "Umm...Hi Nathan I didn't see you there" she said. "Oh yeah I just got here—i guess you are heading to class, do you mind if I walk with you". Nathan said. "No I don't" She replied with a smile.
During lunch after class this time Avery didn't sit alone. Nathan waved at her to, sliding his tray aside to make space for her. Julia was already there.
Avery hesitated. "Are you just gonna stand there? Come have a sit." Julia said. Avery sat down slowly. "I didn't think I was welcomed here". Avery said. Julia raised a brow, "Brianna's not the Boss of me". She said. "Julia seems cool without a friend squad". Nathan said with a smile on his face. Julia rolled her eyes but gave a wild smile and said "Don't tell anyone."
They laughed, and Avery thought—this felt new, not entirely sure but real.
Conversations began. Avery shared stories from her old school , and Nathan chipped in things with sarcastic comments that made her laugh more than she meant to. Even Julia admitted the drama in their school but had to flow with it for the sake of attention.
"People won't notice you of you are not loud", Julia said slowly chewing her fries.
Avery nodded. She knew exactly what that meant.
As the bell rang and they parted ways, Julia surprised her again. "You're not bad, Avery. Kinda like you."
Avery blinked. Thanks....I think.
Nathan walked her to class just like he did earlier. She looked at him, heart beating a little bit faster than it's supposed to
"Thanks, again. For... not treating me like I don't belong."
He smiled. "You do belong, you just haven't realized it yet."
As Avery and Nathan walked down the hallway, laughing at someone jokes he made, they noticed the pair of eyes watching them from all over the hallway.
Brianna.
Leaning against her Locker, arms folded and she stared at both of them, and she wasn't smiling.
Julia her usual company, had ditched her. Again.
And now her brother —the one person she thought would stay out of her business —was laughing with her?
Brianna tilted her head to the side with a smirk on her face.
"Oh so that's how it is now?" She whispered to herself, as she watched them till they disappear around the corner.
This wasn't over just yet.