Avery took a deep breath, shocked at the sudden upsurge of emotion she was experiencing, simply by walking up to a cafe.
"This is dumb, it's just a cafe, I can just walk in, get a coffee, it's fine."
But it wasn't just any cafe, and that was part of the problem. Strolling in to get a coffee wasn't as simple as it sounded. She knew that as soon as she walked in, she would have to see him. And even though that was the reason for trip, she was starting to think it was too soon.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Avery reached the door and pulled the handle, almost jumping at the bell that sounded above the door. She'd forgotten about that.
What else had she forgotten?
"Hey hun, we'll be with you in a... Avery!" Kellie paused on her way to the kitchen, staring at the young girl in disbelief. Even though only two months since she'd seen her, a lot had apparently changed. She'd grown up... and Kellie wasn't sure it was in a good way.
"Hey," Avery offered simply, smiling shyly.
"Take a seat, I'll get you... a juice?"
"Thanks."
Avery looked around awkwardly for a moment, then sat down in the booth furthest from the kitchen, knowing Kellie would send JD over.
Just as she had predicted, moments later, JD walked over with her juice. He set it down in front of her and stood there for a second, before turning to leave.
"JD?"
He paused, his eyes sliding closed for a second. He'd forgotten the way she said his name and the way it had made him feel.
"Yeah?" he inwardly cursed for the slight break in his voice. But they hadn't parted on good terms, and for a moment, he felt like nothing had changed between them. It was so easy to forget the past when she was sitting in front of him.
"Sit for a bit?"
It was a question, not a request, and from the sound of her voice, JD knew she was as scared as he was. And though he was terrified of where this talk would head, he sat down across from her, feeling his mother's eyes on them, watching, studying.
"You're here," he said, after a long minute of silence passed between them.
Avery nodded, still unable to meet his eyes. "I just came to... I don't really know why I'm here."
JD looked up at her and frowned slightly. He knew when she was lying, he could hear it in her voice, and her reluctance to look at him confirmed it. Even though they'd been together for such a short time, he felt as if they'd gotten to know each other inside and out. There wasn't anything they could hide, telepathy or not. But now... he knew she was hiding something, but he wasn't sure what it was. And that scared the hell out of him.
"You do know," JD said softly.
"I know," Avery replied, her tone matching his. It wasn't defensive, it was just shy.
"Why won't you look at me?" JD asked gently, fighting the urge to reach across the table and take her hand.
Avery continued looking at the table, and shrugged slightly.
"Please," he said.
"I don't regret it," Avery began. "Any of it. Not meeting you, not being with you, falling for you, losing you, changing everything about my life... I don't. I met some amazing people after you left me. I found new friends who knew I was damaged and let me be damaged, but in their own way, they fixed me. They let me run around being as crazy as I was, they let me drink, they partied with me, they helped turn me into a stronger girl. They didn't judge me like some would. They turned me into this girl, and even though not everyone agrees with who I am now, I like it. I like being pretty for once, feeling pretty, being bitchy, leading boys on, fooling around for a night. I like everything about me. Except one thing."
JD was silent, letting her say whatever she needed to say.
"I don't like that I still need you at times. That you are the one person I have met that I can't shake off. I can't get you out of my head, and I can't stay out of yours. Even when we'd broken up, a link stayed between us, and I always knew what you were doing. I couldn't get rid of it, not because I didn't know how but because I didn't want to. And I don't like that. I don't like that I miss you and I miss our friendship, and I know things have changed and we are different now, and I'm not the same girl you liked and I won't go back to being her, but I just... I just want us to be us again. JD and Avery. I want you to be my best friend again." And with that, Avery looked up at him and his breath caught in his throat.
"Avery Laurel." JD stood up and moved over the other side of the booth to sit next to her. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on top of hers, breathing in the smell of her hair for a moment. "I know you've changed. I know you were hurt. I know I was the reason for a bit of that. But no matter what happens, the core of us never changes. Best friends till the end, didn't I promise you that?"
Avery smiled and leant into his embrace. "You did."
"I was an idiot," JD continued. "And I'm sorry."
"So am I."
"Please stay with me for awhile," JD said, hoping he wouldn't push her away. "I need you to stay with me."
"Whatever you want."