CHAPTER SIXTEEN: FOOD POISONING
June 17th, 2020
For days, all Gemma had done was work shifts at Target, even going out of her way to pick up additional hours so she would not have to deal with the wedding. Avery had been over often, planning things such as table placements, who would sit at each table, what kind of music would play, what kind of food there would be, and so much more that Gemma could barely remember, since she was trying to distance herself from it all due to all the awkwardness she'd faced lately. She kept wondering if all this wedding stuff was even worth it, though tried to tell herself that all she had to do was be there the day of the wedding, and occasionally attend get-togethers with everyone else involved. Gemma knew that Miranda and Peyton did not like her, but having Wes around helped. His presence made it easier to get through all the wedding antics. Although she had closure with Rowan, Gemma just did not fully feel comfortable being around him when he was with Avery, and she couldn't pinpoint why. It was likely just the strangeness of seeing her ex and her ex best friend together, which she still didn't fully understand. But like she told herself and Marcie, the past was in the past. Once the wedding was over, Gemma would never have to see Rowan or Avery again.
When Gemma walked through the door at 6:28, after her shift at Target had ended, she was surprised to see a few of Olivia's friends scattered around the living room.
And that's when it hit her.
"Happy birthday Liv!"
She didn't necessarily forget her sister's birthday. Gemma had not been paying much attention to the dates lately, considering she'd been working nonstop for the last few days.
"Thanks," Liv didn't look up from the movie that was playing on the TV. It was one of her favorites, one that she watched all the time with her friends: Clueless.
Letting her sister enjoy the movie, Gemma walked into the kitchen to find her mom baking a cake. Though to her surprise, Gayle was not alone.
Not only was Avery standing in the kitchen beside Gayle, but Rowan was, too.
Gemma could never catch a break, it seemed.
"Hello," Gemma mumbled when nobody in the kitchen noticed her presence.
"Oh, Gemma!" Gayle smiled. She put down the baking soda she was currently using, and walked over to hug her daughter.
"Not to be rude," Gemma started, which caused Rowan to roll his eyes. "But why are they here?"
Before Gayle could respond, Avery spoke for her. "We came over last minute to go over some cake tasting locations, because we're trying out different wedding cakes tomorrow!" The bride to be squealed at the thought of wedding cakes. "And since it's Liv's birthday, your mom invited us over to stay."
Gemma forced a smile on her face. This was her sister's birthday. A family occasion. It didn't make sense for Avery and Rowan to be here. Years ago, this was an occasion that Rowan would typically be invited to. But not anymore.
"Great," it was obvious that Gemma was irritated, but she didn't care. "Well, if you need me, I'll be upstairs."
Nobody responded as she walked away. Gemma quickly removed her work uniform and changed into something more comfortable: a University of Michigan tee shirt and a pair of tight pajama shorts. She could have dressed up given the occasion, but after a long 8 hour shift, Gemma did not care to look nice. She wanted to be comfortable.
When she walked back downstairs, the kitchen and living room were empty. She noticed everyone outside in the backyard, and just as she was about to join, the front door opened.
In walked Jax, and his girlfriend, Marissa.
"Hey Gems!" Marissa beamed.
"Hey," Gemma smiled, feeling her mood lighten a bit. With her brother and his girlfriend here, Gemma had more of a reason to avoid the tension that followed Avery and Rowan. "They're having quite the party outside."
Jax's eyes widened as he noticed Avery in the backyard. "Why the hell is she here?" He asked, annoyance evident in his voice.
"No idea," Gemma rolled her eyes, just as annoyed. "You'd think that mom would keep this to strictly family... and Liv's friends."
"Come on, it's not that big of a deal." Marissa shrugged it off. She didn't know the full situation with Avery and Rowan. All she knew was that Avery used to be Gemma's best friend, though she didn't know the details about Rowan. That was a story that Gemma did not feel like explaining again, so it made sense why Marissa pushed the issue aside.
"She's just annoying," Jax huffed. He was making a bigger deal out of this than Gemma, which she noted by the clear irritation in his voice.
"Agreed."
"Come on, party poopers!" Marissa laughed. "Let's get you some drinks. Then you'll loosen up."
"I'm good," Gemma shook her head. With all the drinking she did the previous weekend, her liver needed a break. Plus, she worked the next morning.
"Suit yourself." Marissa shrugged. She grabbed Jax's hand and dragged him out to the backyard, where everyone else was standing around the grill or sitting at the picnic table. Gemma sighed as she finally decided to join them.
Once outside, the smell of burgers and hot dogs on the grill filled Gemma's nostrils. Her stomach grumbled at the scent of greasy, grilled food, considering she hadn't eaten since her lunch break at Target. She walked over to her dad, who was flipping the burgers and hotdogs with ease. She had not seen much of her dad lately, given he was working insane hours at the hardware store he owned. His lack of employees made it difficult for him to take time off, though at this point in her life, Gemma was used to it.
"You're home early," she noted, resting her head on her dads' shoulder.
"Closed early," he explained. "Wouldn't miss Olivia's birthday for anything."
"These almost done?" Gemma asked. She proceeded to pick up a hot dog, which she immediately regretted as it burned her skin.
"Careful, kid." Her dad laughed. "Those are scorching."
"I see that," Gemma groaned and shook her hand. Her dad walked away to grab plates from the picnic table, so she followed because she didn't know what else to do. She joined Jax and Marissa at the table, who each had a beer in hand.
"Missing New York, yet?" Marissa asked in between sips of Coors Lite.
"Yeah," Gemma answered honestly. "Kinda wish I was there. I'm getting bored here."
"Oh, really?" Rowan chimed in, his eyebrows raised.
"Yep. Nothing to do here. Why work a retail job while I can be in New York doing what I love?"
"Good point," Marissa laughed at the same time Rowan said, "Sounds familiar."
Gemma ignored his comment, but felt a slight sting as the words left his mouth, because she knew exactly what he was referring to. Avery on the other hand, stood there completely clueless. She probably always would be clueless.
"Food's done!" Gemma's dad spoke, interrupting the tension filling the air.
Olivia and her friends made their way to the table from the trampoline, which Gemma was surprised hadn't broken yet. It was old and from the early days of her childhood but somehow, it was still holding up.
Liv and her two friends, Kylie and Sydney, were the first to grab the grilled food. Gemma quickly snatched a hot dog before they were all gone. She ate in silence as the table filled around her, careful not to look at Rowan and Avery who were feeding each other.
Gemma rolled her eyes. Of all places to show off PDA, why here? Olivia's birthday dinner was not the time nor place to be acting like that.
Marissa seemed to notice as she held her second can of Coors Lite into the air. "To Liv! Happy seventeenth birthday. You're one year away from adulthood!"
The rest of the table toasted to Olivia.
"To Olivia," Avery smiled. "For being the little sister I never had."
Liv almost spit out her sip of sprite from laughing. "Thanks," she didn't look Avery in the eye, as she knew her toast was bullshit. Gemma bit her lip to keep from laughing, locking eyes with her sister. Gemma and Olivia were definitely thinking the same thing.
For the rest of dinner, mindless chatter filled the air. Gemma stared off into the distance, hoping Marcie would be back from work soon to relieve her from this mess. Not that she didn't want to spend time with her family; she would just rather spend time with her family without the bride and groom to be.
"I'm gonna to use the bathroom," Avery slowly spoke. "I'm not feeling too good."
"Want me to come with you?" Rowan asked, grabbing Avery's hand as she stood up. She almost stumbled backwards, but he was there to catch her.
"That would be great, babe."
Olivia pretended to make a gagging noise as the two walked away. Again, Gemma bit her lip to keep from laughing.
"Damn dad, maybe your cooking killed Avery." Liv laughed.
"Wouldn't that be great," Jax chuckled.
"Oh, stop acting like children." Gayle shook her head at her oldest and youngest child. She drifted her eyes towards Gemma, who did not say a word.
"No but really, we're all eating the same food. Why is she the only one feeling sick?" Olivia questioned.
"Who knows," Gemma responded, and after ten minutes of sitting there talking with her family, she wondered why the two hadn't come back yet. After drinking two cans of sprite, she had to pee.
"I have to use the bathroom, so I'm gonna go check on them."
No one responded necessarily. Liv just gave her sister a thumbs up, and Gemma was on her way. When she entered the house and walked upstairs, she was surprised to see the bathroom empty. While she used the bathroom, Gemma was still confused on where the hell Rowan and Avery could be. Though once she heard some noise from across the hall, her question was answered.
Gemma walked into her bedroom to find Avery laying on her bed, clutching her stomach in pain.
"What the hell?" Gemma's voice startled Rowan, who was kneeling beside Avery.
"Oh, hey." Rowan scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"What's going on?"
"Avery thinks she has uh â food poisoning," Rowan treaded over his words carefully.
"Okay, so why don't you just leave?" Gemma asked, quite rudely. "Instead of laying her down in my bed?"
"Well, I was going to take her home," Rowan explained, "But she fell in the bathroom. She needs a minute before she can try and walk again."
"Just carry her."
"I can't,"
"Why not?"
"She's in too much pain."
Gemma threw her arms up in frustration. "You're being difficult,"
"I'm being difficult?" Rowan's eyes widened. "We'll be out of here in a few minutes, Gems."
"I'm sorry Gemma," Avery winced. "I just need a second."
"Fine," Gemma groaned. "I'll be right back. By the time I get back, please be gone because I need to get my shit ready for work tomorrow."
"Deal," Rowan sighed.
Gemma slowly walked to the bathroom to kill some time. Once inside, she brushed her teeth and washed her face. She was ready for bed, after a long day of working at Target. It was nearing 9PM which was early for Gemma, but it was becoming more difficult for her to stay awake. She hoped by the time she got back, Rowan and Avery would be gone.
Though to her disappointment, as soon as she walked into the room, she groaned to see that they were still there.
Except this time, Avery was fast asleep in Gemma's childhood bed.
"Rowan, what the fuck."
He stood up from the bed, startled by Gemma who walked in silently.
"I tried to get her up," he sighed. "But she wouldn't. She dozed off."
Gemma knew that Avery was more than just dozed off, given she could hear soft snores echo throughout her bedroom.
"Dozed off? More like passed out." Gemma rolled her eyes. All she wanted was to go to sleep, and Avery was making that absolutely impossible.
"I'll get her up,"
"How the hell did she even get sick, anyways?" Gemma asked, the curiosity bugging her. Everyone else ate the same exact food, so it didn't make sense for Avery to get this sick.
"Like I said, food poisoning."
"But we all ate the same food," Gemma pointed out the obvious.
"I guess her body just rejected it," Again, Rowan chose his words carefully.
"Makes no sense. She used to be able to slam burgers at Clementine's," Gemma disproved Rowan's statement. "But okay."
Rowan sighed. He wrapped his arms around Avery, gently pulling her from the bed so he wouldn't wake her. Her eyes opened slightly once she was over his shoulder, though they closed once again when she let out a soft groan. Gemma looked away as Rowan placed a light kiss on Avery's arm.
He noticed her reaction. "Sorry,"
"Why are you apologizing?"
"For the PDA, I guess."
"Whatever, it's fine. She's your fiancée, do what you want." Gemma's words sounded much harsher than she intended.
Rowan walked slowly past Gemma, but stopped in the doorway. It was awkward -- given he was holding a sleeping Avery in the middle of Gemma's doorway.
"Are we good?" He asked out of nowhere.
Gemma was taken aback by his question. She nodded her head yes, quick to respond. "Yeah, why wouldn't we be?"
Rowan paused for a moment before answering. "Just wondering. I want us to be good, since you're apart of my wedding and all."
Gemma nodded slowly. She didn't quite know what Rowan was getting at. She was good with him, as he put it. No hard feelings, despite her still not understanding their relationship.
"Yeah. We're good, Rowan."
He didn't respond. Instead, he just nodded and continued walking out of the room. Gemma watched him carry Avery down the hallway, shutting her door when the bride and groom to be were no longer in site.
Once she heard the front door open and close, Gemma buried herself in her pillows and blankets which now smelled like Avery. She would definitely have to do laundry tomorrow.
Just before Gemma dozed off, with the lights still turned on, Marcie walked into the room drenched in sweat in her Dunkin' uniform.
"Just saw Rowan carrying Avery out of here on his shoulders. What the hell did I miss?"
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a/n: this chapter seems a little messy BUT it's leading into what is going to happen next chapter!!! ;))