chapter seven
AVERY WAS NERVOUS, BUT not your typical first date nervous. It was really just this faint, unsettling feeling she couldn't shake. No matter what she focused on, or did, it never settled down, sizzling in the depths of her subconscious. Of course she did her best to hide the fact she was underwhelmed.
She wanted to be excited. She wanted her body to feel all tingly and her heart to beat in anticipation of what was to come by the end of this rather peaceful night. The girl had a handsome boy beside her in the driver's seat, one that didn't hesitate to tell her how beautiful she looked when he first laid eyes on her. He was the guy that always offered his hand to hold and smiled his typical sweet smile every time she did anything he thought was cute. He was good for her... too good.
Teddy had picked her up on time, even bringing her a bouquet of freshly picked roses to start the date off perfect. She remembered how surprised she was, telling him he shouldn't have, but she shouldn't of been. This was normal behavior of the dirty blonde — he would go to extreme lengths to make sure this date was the best one Avery had ever went on. He could tell she needed a break, a night out, and when she finally agreed to go out with him, Teddy swore to himself he wasn't going to blow it.
And he didn't. The conversation during the ride to the theater was comfortable and entertaining, not awkward in the least like the brunette expected. He opened the door for her, paid for the tickets and popcorn, and was overall a perfect gentleman throughout the entire film. Avery was so at ease that she even leaned her head on his shoulder after he put his arm around her, getting used to his warm embrace and understanding that maybe this wasn't so bad.
The movie had been great, laughter tumbling out from both of them at the comedic parts. The plot keep them interested, kept them invested, and there were even some scenes that made Avery's gray eyes water at the sadness unfolding on the massive screen in front of her. She felt Teddy hold her tighter during those emotional moments.
Now they were on their way to a local dinner to get a meal that would fill them up unlike the bucket of popcorn they didn't end up finishing. She allowed him to hold her hand the entire drive, his other hand on the wheel while he drove unhurriedly to the location. Her gaze ended up focusing on the charcoal sky through the glass of the window, noticing a lack of stars that usually were sprinkled throughout. The moon was nowhere in sight either, vanished after saying goodbye with its crescent-shaped glow the night before.
It was just a small detail, but one that she couldn't help but focus on more than she should've. Avery could have thought about their intertwined hands, the dazed expression Teddy had every time he looked at her, or even the cute dimples he had when he grinned wide enough. She couldn't though. She couldn't be interested in him like that or be in awe of everything he did, because the stars were missing from the night sky and there was also something missing from this date.
The brunette couldn't quite put her finger on it. He hadn't done anything wrong — not in the slightest. He somehow always said and did the right thing, showing that he cared about her whenever it was possible. He was sweet, and gentle, and... everything you would want in a boyfriend. So why couldn't she even remotely picture an instance where they were more than friends?
"Ave, you okay?"
Her head turned to look at him, watching him shut the vehicle off, the car now motionless as it rested in a parking spot. "Yeah. Well, okay enough for a hungry person."
"You ate most of the popcorn. I thought you'd be at least half-full," he chuckled, taking off his seat belt and opening the door on his side, "Then again, I shouldn't be surprised. Your appetite is insatiable."
She breathed out a light laugh, watching him through the windshield as he rounded the car to get to the passenger side. He opened her door, waiting for her to step out, which she did without hesitation. His adorable smile was uncontrollably contagious, and she felt one of her own forming despite the doubts infesting her brain.
Avery made sure her white sundress was situated and wasn't rode up awkwardly before stepping into the establishment with Teddy's arm loosely wrapped around her waist. It wasn't long before a hostess guided them into an empty booth and the pair were sitting across from each other on the red leather the cushions were made up of.
"So..." Avery let out after the waiter disappeared with their drink orders, her slender fingers picking up the menu.
"So..." The dirty blonde repeated, his lips upturning again, an action that happens a lot when he's with her.
"Do you know what you're going to get?"
"Let's be honest. I'm going to get my regular, a cheeseburger and fries, and you're going to get yours, a kid's pepperoni pizza with extra cheese. And of course a chocolate milkshake for dessert."
"You know me too well. It's almost kind of scary," She giggled, abandoning the menu and now playing with her silverware that was laid out neatly on the table.
"Well, you're the only person I know that orders pizza every time you go to a restaurant," He explains, remembering the look on the waitress' face when Avery told them her order at a fancy seafood place his parents had brought them to. It was yet another thing he couldn't help but adore about her.
"Hey, you can never go wrong with pizza." Avery shrugged, the conversation pausing soon after because the worker had returned with their drinks and had began writing down what each of them had wanted.
The waiter was middle-aged, thin black hair styled the best it possibly could, but he was polite and had a kind tone to his voice despite the fact he was working a night shift once again. Both of the teenagers returned the small smile he offered before leaving them alone once more, getting ready to put their orders in. There was only a few other customers in the restaurant too, the dinner rush over, so the atmosphere was calm and enjoyable just like the rest of their date had been.
"I'll be right back. I'm going to to go to the bathroom real quick," She told him, gathering the over-the-shoulder purse she had set beside her and getting up from the booth.
After watching Teddy nod in understanding, Avery walked towards where she remembered seeing signs for the restrooms. She passed a few people, not really paying attention to any of them, since she was mostly focused on how much her bladder was about to explode any second. Thankfully the bathrooms weren't difficult to find and the girl ventured towards an empty stall in the luminous room.
She was glad to get away and take a breather, to think without worrying if Teddy was trying to decipher her body language. Of course she actually had to pee as well, but now was the time for her to make a decision. She could either walk out there, pretend everything was alright and maybe even let him kiss her goodnight when he took her home. Or Avery could be honest, and not waste both of their time by investing in something she's never going to feel the same way about.
A sigh escaped her while she headed towards the sink, beginning to wash her hands as she simultaneously stared at her reflection in the large mirror. She studied how her stormy eyes began to water and the shaky breaths starting to heave out of her. The thought of hurting him broke her heart. She wanted to love him the way he clearly loved her, but she couldn't. She never would be able to, and that just made her even more sad.
After drying off her hands with a few paper towels, she exited the ladies restroom, phone out as she stopped in place for a moment to reply to her parents that were checking up on her yet again. They only had two more days of their vacation left; their plane would arrive early Monday morning. Avery did miss them. The house was quiet without them.
"So tonight's date night?"
She nearly dropped her phone when she looked up, seeing the tall figure leaning next to a cracked door, the crimson exit sign above it letting her know it led out to the back of the building. He was clad in another set of Stiles' clothing, but of course the outfit was made up of dark colors. The area underneath his eyes had gotten more pink from lack of sleep, contrasting with his brown irises as they looked her up and down.
"Can you stop stalking me already?! I don't have time for this."
"Oh, right. You have someone waiting for you. Eddy, is it? He seems... boring." Void confessed, letting his fingers tap rhythmically on his leg, a taunting habit he had picked up since possessing Stiles' body.
"I don't care what you think. I'm leaving, and unless you want me to scream, I suggest you let me," Avery replied, watching his mouth open up as amusement flickered back onto his face, "And don't say anything about screaming your name either."
"Aw, you know me so well. That's cute," he commented, kicking off the wall so he could finally stand up straight, making slow, calculated strides towards her.
She jumped back immediately, trying to get enough space between the two of them in this rather narrow hallway. "What did I just say? Seriously, can't you find someone else to bother with your arrogant attitude? Just because for some insane reason you like me doesn't mean—"
"I don't like you," Void disagreed, a sinister laugh falling from his lips that held his typical, demented smirk.
Her body stopped sliding along the oak walls at his words, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion as to what he meant. This new obsession he had with her must mean he was fond of her in someway, right? She felt her chest constrict at the possibility he didn't feel anything towards her at all, which made her more perplexed. Unexpectedly she was rather speechless, dumbfounded by his statement, and she felt even more uneasy.
"I mean, don't get me wrong. You're attractive and once and awhile you say something interesting, but that's about it. I don't like you. I only get joy from interacting with you, because let's face it, you're just fun to play with," the fox explained, letting himself stand right in front of her. Their distance decreased yet again as he leaned his hands on the wall, caging her in around his set of limbs.
"Then you're going to get bored," Avery muttered, his confession unpredictably stinging.
"Eventually. And then maybe I'll kill you along with the rest of your little friends. Haven't decided yet."
"I think that's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me."
He hummed, gazing down at her, expressionless. His eyes were suddenly cold and bleak, showing a vast emptiness the girl was finally noticing. She couldn't help but agree with Allison even more in this moment. He didn't have the capacity to have any sort of compassion. He only cared about himself and the blood he desired to shed. Anything in between that was used to fill a dark satisfaction for ruining everything and everyone in his way.
Void on the other hand made sure his outside appearance didn't hint at anything he was thinking, because what he was thinking in this moment among too many others was that she may be the most perfect thing he has ever discovered. His urges towards her hadn't subsided like he hoped, and if anything he was more drawn to her more than before. It was the most frustrating thing and until he figured out how to end it, he went through with the one option that would push her away: scared her and lied to her.
He thought maybe if Avery began to glare at him with hatred again and became utterly appalled by him, then he could pull away at his end as well. Void could tell she was starting to give in to their... connection, and as much as that thrilled him, it also terrified him. So he impulsively figured out where she would be tonight and made sure to let her know that everything between them was completely meaningless. It was better this way. He didn't need a distraction right now.
"Now that everything is out on the table, I'm going to go. I'm sure I'll see you again. If I'm in the mood, maybe we'll fuc—"
Avery interrupted him with a harsh slap across his face, one he didn't notice in time to stop, one that was way too personal for her liking. Her nostrils were flared and her eyes hardened venomously, his head turning to the side from the swift collision. He breathed out an amused chuckle, his tongue running along the inside of the cheek that suffered the blow. The anger radiating off of her could be felt by him.
"Go to hell, you fucking sociopath." The brunette hissed out, vexation flowing through her veins.
He stepped back, giving her the space she desperately wanted, but the cocky smirk was back on his face. "That was hot."
Before she could spit out another hateful remark, someone else's voice spoke up. "Avery?"
"Oh my god. Teddy," Avery whispered, hearing that he wasn't far away, and before she could think of anything else, she started heading towards the sound of his voice.
The human didn't dare to turn back to look at the possessed boy still standing in the middle of the hall, focused primarily on her friend she had completely forgotten about. If she did, maybe she would have seen how his facade had disappeared, replaced by a vulnerable expression while his face dropped. His fingers even twitched at his sides, itching to grab ahold of her and tug her back to him and admit that everything that just happened wasn't how he really viewed her. In the end though, he left through the door he had came from, his heart heavy and the world as he knew it not making as much sense as it did before.