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Chapter 10: Un Pas Après L'autre

Avery and Carson sat curled up by her reading nook, each holding a mug of hot chocolate. It was now early December and the first snow was due to fall. The temperature outside had gotten really cold at what seemed to be lightning speed. Avery was deep in thought as she looked out the window. The beautiful multi-coloured leaves were now gone leaving patches of almost grey looking grass and stark naked tree branches. The period before the snow was always the ugliest. When the sky was grey, everything looked apocalyptic and Avery half-expected to see a horde of zombies on the horizon.

Avery was snapped out of her head when Carson picked up the can of whipped cream from the floor. "Refill?" he offered. She nodded her head and reached out her mug to him, her whipped cream from before already melted.

Carson topped her up before himself, making spirals with the fluffy substance until it reached the brim of her cup.

"I-," they both started at the same time. Carson chuckled and shook his head while Avery gave a sheepish smile.

"I have something I want to tell you, " Carson spoke up after they spent a moment staring at each other, both waiting for the other to start.

"Me too," Avery chimed in. "But, you go first."

Carson adjusted himself under the throw that covered both their legs. They were facing each other, one on either side of the reading nook and their knees were touching. The nook was only made for one person and Carson was tall, but the extra body heat was greatly appreciated.

"I think I like Marigold," Carson blurted out to his best friend. His cheeks and the tips of his ears were pink and Avery knew it wasn't just from the temperature. "I know you don't trust her and I don't expect you to trust her that easily, given my history with girls. But, I just wanted to let you know. She seems like a really genuine and amazing girl and I think she likes me too."

Avery frowned. It was no secret that she was still unsure of how she felt about Marigold, even the redhead herself knew. At first, she had taken offence but once Carson explained why she became more understanding.

Carson looked down at his hot chocolate, anxiously waiting for his best friend to say something. Her opinion meant the world to him and Avery knew that. Avery couldn't find anything wrong with Marigold and oh did she try. But as Carson said, she seemed really genuine and down to Earth. If it wasn't for her protectiveness, Avery figured she and Marigold would have been able to get on by then.

Avery couldn't deny the chemistry between the two when she saw them together. Plus, they had so much in common and Marigold didn't seem to be interested in popularity. Avery could honestly say that she didn't seem like that type of girl.

"Okay," Avery smiled at Carson, causing his head to rise back up as he looked at her with wide eyes. Looking at the expression on his face, she was reminded that she would never want to get in the way of his happiness.

His face broke into a grin, "Really?" Avery nodded.

"She's a nice girl and you two have chemistry. Plus, you'd make a super cute couple. I just want to see you happy, Carson. And love, well, it's a risk," Avery said honestly, reaching her free hand over to hold his.

"Thank you. What was it that you wanted to say?"

Carson's question made her remember what she wanted to tell him and anxiety settled in her chest and stomach. It felt like her chest had caved in and her throat had closed up. Avery gripped Carson's hand, trying to calm herself down.

Seeing the distress in his friend's eyes, he rubbed circles into the back of her hand with his thumb in an attempt to calm her down. Avery took a look around the room, registering where she was, identifying mint-green objects and trying to breathe slowly. She ignored the nauseous feeling at the pit of her belly and tried to clear her mind of the negative and worrisome thoughts that had previously flooded.

Taking one last deep breath, she spoke. "I think... I think I like girls."

She tried her best to look Carson straight in the eyes and not look down at her lap. She felt her eyes start to water as the nanoseconds that flew by waiting for his reaction felt like minutes; hours even.

"Oh, Aves," he breathed. He put their mugs down on the windowsill and stretched over to give his best friend a bear hug.

"I love you so much, okay?" he whispered into her ear. Avery nodded into his shoulder, her breath coming out shakily as she started to cry. It was like a huge load lifted off of her chest now that she had told her best friend. Once she found out, she knew she had to tell him.

"I love you too."

The two let each other go and Carson went to ruffle Avery's hair but this time she let him.

"When did you know?"

Avery chuckled through her tears and sniffed, "Yesterday. Are you surprised?"

Carson shook his head with a smile, "I've had a feeling. I've caught you checking out girls before, but I don't even think you knew you were. At first, I thought it was because you're an observant person that likes to watch the world go by. But that changed when I realised that you would stare at the girls way longer than the guys."

Avery blushed, "Well that's just because girls are more aesthetically pleasing than guys."

"And that's why you're a lesbian," Carson said, making the both of them laugh. "Are you going to tell your parents?"

"One step at a time," Avery paused, glancing out the window, "Oh, it's snowing."

****

Avery stood in the doorway of her house's main entrance, seeing Carson off as he left. A few moments after he had driven off and she closed the door to preserve the heat inside, Avery felt her phone vibrate.

Alex: I'm bored. WYA?

A: At my house. Where else?

Alex: Oh right

Alex: Forgot you don't have a life.

Avery rolled her eyes, a small smile playing at her lips and she inserted a shrugging emoji.

Alex: Come over

A: In case you haven't noticed, it's snowing outside.

Alex: Barely

Alex: You don't like snow?

A: Oh, I love snow.

Alex: Alright well come over

A: That's enough logic for me *eye roll emoji*

Alex: Okay so see you in 10

Avery scoffed at the girl's response to her sarcasm. She jogged all the way up her stairwell and went inside her room to put on some warmer clothes. She had only been to Kaden and Alex's mansion-like house once before and hoped she remembered the directions.

But it turned out, she didn't have to. As Avery was combing her hair in front of the mirror on her vanity, her phone buzzed once more with a message from Alex giving her the location of her house. Neither of her parents was home so she sent them both a message letting them know that she was leaving the house before forwarding them the address. She grabbed her purse, started her car and soon she was off.

When she arrived at the Aldridges' house, she couldn't help but let out a tiny gasp. The house was even more beautiful during the daylight than it was at night. Granted, the grass on the lawn was a brownish-grey and the bushes and trees were bare, but it was a step up from when she had last seen it. Hundreds of red cups and drunk teenagers littered across the lawn didn't do the estate much justice.

Avery parked her car and ascended the slight slope of steps. She rang the doorbell before stuffing her hands into the pockets of her coat, rocking back and forth on her heels as she waited. When the door finally swung open, Avery's eyes settled on the tall brunette that stood in front of her. She was wearing sweatpants that were rolled up to her knees and a tank top, yet she could be mistaken for a goddess. It was the first time Avery had seen Alex with her hair down and she admired its length as it rested by her waist. She wished she could run her fingers through it, just to see how it felt.

Alex was now smirking at the shorter girl, leaning against the doorway as she waited for her to come in. "You're letting in all the cold air, you know?" she said, bringing Avery's mind back from wherever it went. She smiled sheepishly and stepped inside.

Now that it wasn't crowded, the house seemed much larger than it did on the night of the party. Avery tried not to stare but found herself doing so as her eyes explored the entrance room and the stairwell leading to the next two floors, finally landing on the chandelier above them.

"Oh. So you're rich rich," Avery commented resulting in a chuckle from Alex.

"No, Kaden's dad is," she said as she gestured with her hand for Avery to follow after she had taken off her boots. Avery walked behind Alex quietly as she led them up the stairs and to the second floor. She felt a bit awkward and out of place, which was evident in the way she wrung her hands together.

The two stopped in front of a door which Avery assumed was Alex's. Her suspicions were confirmed when the girl opened the door and Avery was met with the same lifeless room she was in once before. Shrugging off her coat, Alex took it from her and folded it, placing it on a stool that was nearby.

Alex observed the slight frown that rested on Avery's face as the shorter girl looked around. Avery had hoped that since she had been there, Alex had put up at least a few decorations or something. "You alright, Freckles?"

Not wanting to offend Alex in any way, Avery nodded, deciding not to voice her opinion. Alex only shrugged and went to sit in her loveseat.

"I thought you were bored- No, don't do that!" exclaimed Avery. Alex paused, hair tie held by her lips as both her hands were in her hair; previously in the process of twisting it into a bun.

"I-um. I mean... it looks nice when it's down," Avery mumbled, her cheeks heating as she went to sit on the bed. She looked to the side in an attempt to avoid the curious girl's gaze. Alex slowly lowered her hands and removed the hair tie from her mouth.

"You're a strange girl, Avery Toussaint," Alex commented.

"Toussaint."

"Toussaint."

"Toussaint," this time Avery said it slower.

"Toussaint."

"Oui, Toussaint," Avery said with a smile. Alex was getting closer.

"Croissant."

Avery grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at Alex, laughing in the process. Alex rolled her eyes, giving a small chuckle as well.

"You gonna tell me what's up, Freckles? I don't bite."

"You sure look like you do."

Alex only smiled, biting her tongue as she sat back in her seat. She kept looking at the freckled girl, waiting for her to talk. Avery didn't know if it was the tense silence or Alex's gaze, but she opened her mouth after a few moments.

"I don't want to be that person and I know it's not a big deal, but your room feels so... not you. I don't know if that makes sense," Avery looked to her lap.

"That's because this isn't my room," Alex said nonchalantly, her eyes still on Avery. "Well, it's my room but not my room."

Avery looked back up at Alex with a confused stare. What did that even mean? As if in response to her thoughts, Alex stood up and walked to a door that was located not so far from her loveseat.

"Come on," Alex said softly as she twisted the doorknob.