Avery and JD sat side by side, just outside from the reception. Dried tear tracks stained Avery's face, and she'd turned her head to avoid making eye contact with JD.
"I'm sorry," JD offered again, his voice low and wavering, almost as if he wanted to cry but wouldn't let himself.
Avery didn't answer, just stared into the distance, focusing on anything but JD.
"I think it's for the best."
Next to her, she felt JD shuffle his body, edging closer.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" he asked, not in a mean way, just gently.
When she didn't answer again, he let out a sad sigh and lifted his arm to enfold her in a hug.
"Don't," Avery said, her voice sterner than either of them had expected.
"Aves, I can't just leave you here... your family - " JD tried again.
"Just go," she told him. "Go before I do something stupid."
JD rubbed his eyes for a moment, then stood slowly, looking down at Avery's blonde head. She turned a little furhter away from him and he sighed again, louder this time, a sigh filled with regret and hurt, then he turned and scooped his jacket from over the railing.
Avery didn't look up until he was just disappearing into the night.