*Avery's POV*
~+~
My phone buzzes as I drive back with Dylan. He's driving my car and I smile at him. My mom's face flashes on the screen. "Hey mom, I'm almost home. Is everything okay?" I ask her. "Everything is perfect! And do you want to know why? Because up you just an invitation from Stanford to visit the campus!" My mom exclaims. "What?" I ask. "Avery Maria Hernandez, I will not repeat myself. Now, I just bought you a ticket to the next flight for California and you're leaving tomorrow. Or later this evening. Now, I'll see you when you get home." my mom says and she hangs up.
I click the end button and stare at the phone in my hand. "Everything okay?" Dylan asks me, the concern obvious on his face. "I think so." I say slowly. "Babe, what's wrong?" Dylan asks and I slide down in my seat. "I just got invited to visit Stanford's campus. " I say. "What?! Oh my god, that's amazing!" Dylan exclaims. "I'm leaving tonight." I say and Dylan's smile falters. "Oh, so you'll miss school. No big deal." Dylan shrugs and continues driving. "I guess but what if, like, something happens?" I ask quietly.
"Nothing is going to happen. The trip is going to be perfect and your gonna apply to Stanford and get in because your awesome and smart. And I'll be just a few hours away at UCLA." Dylan says. "You sound very sure of this." I say, smiling. "Because that's what's going to happen. Okay." Dylan says and I give him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You are adorable." I say, smiling.
~*~
Dylan pulls up to his enormous circular driveway and stops in front of his door. "You are gonna go, right? To Stanford?" Dylan asks me and I shrug. "Should I?" I ask and Dylan laughs. "What? Avery, this is an amazing opportunity. I say, go for it." He says.
"Okay, okay. Yeah. You're right. I'm gonna do it." I say and and Dylan puts his hand on my knee, and squezzes it. "Well, text me when you land, okay?" Dylan asks and I nod. With a quick kiss on the cheek, he grabs his bag from the seat behind and opens the door. "Avery, I love you." He said and he got out the car and ran into his house.
"Avery, I love you." It plays over and over in my head as I drive the rest of the way around the driveway and onto the main street. I stop at a stop sign and turn on my hook up. "Drag Me Down" by One Direction starts playing and I relax. If Harry, Liam, Louis and Niall can all go on without Zayn, which is terribly good and bad, then I can do this.
"All my life, you stood by me, when no one else was ever behind me." I sing along, off key. I finally pull into my house and try to brace myself to face my mom. "Avery!" my mom chirps as I open the door and walk inside. "Hi, mom." I say.
"Okay, so your flight leaves at 6:00 am tomorrow. Oh, the principle called, said he needed to talk to us, so the meeting is this Friday. You didn't do anything, right? Oh, I have to go run some errands but I'll be back in a little bit. You should start packing. Take maybe a dress or two, if you're going to be meeting the Dean. That's it, if I'm not forgetting anything and I will see you later this evening." My mom says and then gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and walks out the door.
"Gee, mom. The ride was long but it was worth it. I had an amazing time at the beach, and even Emma was able to go. She's on crutches now, which is amazing. Yes, I did in fact get a little tan." I scoff as I go upstairs to my room and collapse on my bed. "This is just great," I rant to myself and prop up on my elbows. "Might as well start packing... and unpacking." I say sadly.
After packing, I head downstairs and make myself a sandwhich and turn on Netflix. "Yes!" I exclaim when I see that they added the last season to Glee on Netflix. I take a bit out of my sandwhich and click the episode. By the second episode, I hear my mom's car pull up and I grab my laptop and rush upstairs, sandwhich in my mouth. I close the door and flop on my bed and shove the remains of my sandwhich and quickly swallow them.
I hear the door open and I shut my laptop as I hear my mom call out, "Avery, I'm back!" I pull the covers over my body and close my eyes and then I hear her coming upstairs and I try to slow down my breathe and she opens the door. "Oh, she's asleep. I'll just let her sleep." My mom says softly and she closes the door. I wait a few minutes and then I hear stuff moving around all the way in the kitchen and I shrug off my covers. I reach over to my bedside table and take out my earbuds and plug them in and continue watching Glee.
*10 Episodes Later...*
I'm in tears by the time the second to last Glee episode is over. It was a throwback episode and Corey was in it, and oh my god. I'm wiping away tears and I happen to look over at the time. It's 1:09 am. I should really get some sleep but one more episode can't hurt. It's the last episode... ever.
*The Last Episode*
I am full on sobbing now, and I cry myself to sleep. A few minutes later, I'm getting shaken awake. "What?" I mummble. "Sweetie, it's time to wake up. You slept all day yesterday, and I didn't want to wake you up. But it's 3:15, and you're flight leaves at 3:45." My mom says. Urgh, I nod and roll out of bed. I should've not stayed up watching Netflix, but it was worth it. I pull on some joggers, an over sized sweater and a beanie.
I met my mom in her car and we droe all the way to the airport. "Don't do anything stupid. Now, you have money on your credit card and well, here's your passport. And just give my name and you'll get the ticket." My mom advices. "Window seat?" I asked hopefully. "Aren't all first class tickets window seats?" My mom smiles smugly. "What? Mom, no. I can't. That's too much." I reply. "You've earned it." My mom says and she guves me a quick hug. "Now, go." She says and I get out the car and get my suitcase.
~*~
I strech again and wait at the baggage claim. 5 hours on a plane is uncomfortable, even if it is first class. Finally, I spot my suitcase and reach for it, at the same time someone else does. "Oh, sorry." I say. "No, it's fine." He says. "Ah, here we go. It says... " He looks up and I am taken back to find Josh's face. "Goddamn it." He says. I groan and then Josh speaks. "What are you doing here?" He hands me back my suitcase and I smile tightly. "I, uh, I got invited to visit Stanford's campus." I say, feeling shyly.
I don't know why I'm feeling shy with him, all of a sudden. I clear my throat and Josh raises his eyebrow in amusment. "Stanford, huh?" He says and we start to walk out of the airport, when we pass a Starbucks. I look at it longingly but continue walking. "You want anything?" Josh asks me and I raise my eyebrow. "Huh?" I ask. "Do you want anything from Starbucks?" He repeats. "Um, sure. A Java Chip Frappé." I say and he nods. "Wait here." He says and goes inside. I walk over to one of the tables amd sit down. I look at the people walking around and rushing by. Everyone' s here for a purpose, and now, so am I.
A Java Chip is placed in front of me and I look up to find Josh's familiar brown eyes. "Here," He says and I smile "Thanks, how much do I owe you?" I joke. "Nah, it's on the house. I flirted with the barista when I ordered for you and she gave it to me for free. Then I ordered for myself and she got mad, it was hilarious." Josh explained and I laughed. "Oh my god. Let Emma find out!" I joked. Josh chokes on his coffee and I awkwardly pat his back. "You okay?" I ask, slightly concerned.
"Um, Emma's kinda, not speaking to me right now." Josh says softly. "What did you do?" I ask and he scoffs. "Fine. We were making out and then I said your name." He says. I almost spit out my coffee. "Josh, what the hell!" I exclaim. "You wanted to know." He says smugly. "Dude, if she tells someone..." I drift off. "Things with me and Dylan just got better. If this gets ruined..." I drift off again. "He's just a guy. It's the 21st century, Avery. You don't need a guy to make you happy." Josh sighs.
"I know what century I'm living in." I snap. Josh holds his hands out in surrender and we both stand up. "Well, what are you doing here?" I ask him. His eyes immeditaly harden and he shakes his head. "Just visiting." He says. I nod slowly, but I get the feeling that he's lying. "How long do you plan on staying?" He asks me, changing the subject. I want to call him out but I decide against it. "Just until Thursday." I say. "And you?" I ask. "Until I know that J-" Josh cuts himself off. "Until I mostly feel like it." He says instead and I shrug.
"Then I guess this is it." I say as me and Josh make our way outside and start looking for a taxi. "Hey, just, hit me up if there's a party on campus, eh." Josh jokes, I think, at least. I laugh and say "Of course. Good luck with ... whatever." I say and with a quick hug, I get into a taxi and drive away. "Boyfriend?" the taxi driver asks. "No, just a friend." I say softly. "Does he know that?" the driver asks and I blush madly. I look outside the window and watch the California state go by.
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a/n : hey guys, happy Sunday! good chapter? I think so :)