Finger Tips

Chapter 14

The biting chill of the outside wind didn't faze Skylar. The only effect it had was making her pull a little tighter at the coat around her waist. She didn't care that the harsh breeze was whipping her hair around. All she could think of was Avery. Her lips still felt the pressure and desperation of that kiss. Where did all of that go in less than five minutes?

Angrily, Skylar pushed passed faceless bodies in the downtown area. She walked for longer than she cared to calculate. It would be getting dark soon and she had to find a way home. Slipping into a small 50's themed diner, Skylar found a secluded table. She pulled out her cellphone, remembering the conversation she had just had with her mother. Why did I lie for Avery when she did nothing but lie to me?

Tapping quickly on the touch screen she dialed Mara's number. Maybe she would come get her.

The phone rang five times before a distracted voice came on.

"Skylar?" Mara's voice was distant, drowning in the sounds of a party going on in the background.

"Mara! Hey, I need to ask you something." Skylar replied, curiosity of what was going on tugging at her.

The sound of air and tapping could be heard for a few seconds before everything got pretty silent. "Okay. Sorry about that, I'm in the bathroom now so I can hear you."

"Okay, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

"Could you come pick me up from the White Poodle?" Skylar asked, nervous that this friendship had also perhaps suffered because of her recently made choices.

"The White Poodle? Sky, that's like an hour and half away. Why are you in the city?" Mara's voice was clear and judgmental but somehow Skylar still knew that she would come help her.

"It's a long story," Skylar chuckled. "I promise to tell the whole thing when you get here."

Mara laughed. "It better be a damn good story, Mane."

…

Avery's fingers grazed the door as she listened to Skylar's angry footsteps march down the hallway and towards the elevator. She looked down, running an anxious hand through her hair. Then, she was pissed.

She was pissed at herself, pissed at Claira, even pissed at Skylar. It wasn't her fault that Skylar didn't understand just how deep and dangerous the hole they dug was. And it wasn't her fault that she wasn't willing to risk her job again for her. And that is when Avery became angry with herself. Of course you're willing to risk this stupid fucking job for her. She's special Avery, and you know it.

Avery felt as if the words of her good friend, Bee were ringing in her 23-year-old ears. They haven't seen each other a lot lately because Bee moved across the city to work at an accounting firm a few months ago. For one who was so good at numbers, Bee was never one for logic. Avery liked that though. She liked that Bee could overthink what was supposed to be right and encourage her to follow her heart. Of course-this was also a treacherous mind set.

With her emotions ablaze, she called her old friend.

"Hello, Bee Williams, Freedmen Accounting." A warm voice answered not two rings later.

"Hi-hi." Avery wasn't prepared for how cracked her voice would sound. She forgot she had been crying. "It's Avery."

"Avery?! Oh my god! How have you been?"

"Do you want to get dinner and catch up?" Avery asked, trying to keep control of her quivering bottom lip. She knew she sounded desperate, quick.

Avery could hear the distinct sound of a keyboard's keys being typed. "Of course."

"Our normal place?"

"See you there at 7." Bee replied excitedly.

Avery let out a breath of relief. "Thanks, Bee."

Avery hung up the phone, her mind still racing. She wanted to call Skylar, tell her that she would throw her on the bed right now if that would fix the things she said. But she knew that wouldn't be enough- and she knew she couldn't do that either.

…..

"Thank you so much, Mara." Skylar said as she plopped into the passenger seat.

Mara looked at her friend. She looked disheveled and exhausted.

"What's happened to you?" Mara asked as she began to pull out of the parking lot of diner.

Skylar huffed out a breath. She knew that she would have to tell Mara the story but she still didn't know how to start it. She just let her mouth begin to form words. "You know Ms. Camden?"

Mara gave her a curious look. "Yea, of course. Why?"

"I was in the city to see her."

"Why?" Mara asked. "There's such thing as email if you need to turn in a late assignment."

Skylar bit her bottom lip anxiously. "This isn't about homework, Mara."

"Then why did you come all the way out here to see her?"

"I'm going to tell you, Mara- but you can't tell anyone else."

….

The black dress Avery was wearing very well hid all the insecurities racking her insides. Her and Bee's "normal place" was a high classy Italian restaurant and Avery had completely forgotten this until about two minutes after she had ended the phone call. Because of this she was forced to dress to the nines when she felt like zero.

Bee had already arrived. She was dressed in a nice red dress- the one that was most envied by Avery. Avery had always said it went amazingly with Bee's dark black hair and piercing green eyes.

Avery approached the table that she was led to by a waiter. When Bee saw her, she stood up and gave Avery a tight hug.

They both sat down and ordered their respective wines.

"I can't believe how long it's been." Bee smiled as her eyes gazed the menu that she basically already knew by heart anyway.

Avery watched her as she took her own menu into her hands. "I know! I just really though that we needed to catch up."

"Oh, you know I don't believe that for a second." Bee winked. "I know the real reason you called me- you have a problem that needs fixing."

Avery rolled her eyes with a chuckle. "How did you know?"

"I know you." Bee replied quickly. "Alright then, get on with it."

"Can I order my linguini first?" Avery joked nervously.

"Sure," Bee responded. "But I want to hear every detail of whatever is bothering you."

…

"That's real life shit, Sky." Mara responded when she finally stopped reeling from what her best friend had just told her.

"I know." Skylar hid her face in her hands.

"You know how many guys at school want to be you right now?!"

"I know!" Skylar shook her head, further sinking into her seat.

"Okay, well…" Mara said calmly. "Do you love her?"

Skylar looked out the window, observing the light snowfall. "I don't know."

"Well… does she love you?"

"No." Skylar answered too quickly. "If she did, I would still be with her."

Mara glanced at her best friend. She could see how much this was tearing her friend apart. "I think she does. She wouldn't start this if it didn't mean anything to her."

Skylar sat up in her seat. "That's just the problem! I don't know who really started this."

"Didn't you say she brought you to her flat?"

"Yes, but…"

"And didn't you say that she kissed you first?" Mara continued.

"Yea, she did, but…"

"No buts!" Mara responded enthusiastically. "She wanted you. Probably still does."

Skylar sighed. "But you don't understand- she blew up today. She said that she wasn't willing to risk her job. She basically told me that I wasn't worth it. And you know what? I don't disagree. She shouldn't risk her job for me. What can I offer her?"

…

"I mean," Avery said with a mouthful of pasta. "What can I offer her? She's going off to college next year. She'll meet plenty of girls her own age and I will no longer be 'exciting' and 'experienced'," She put up air quotes. "I'll be old and tied down. I won't be what she wants in five months so what is the point?"

"I just want to know how you got into this position again." Bee said, accepting her second glass of wine from the waiter's silver plate. "I thought that the Claira thing turned you off to any kind of forbidden love."

"It should have!" Avery responded. "It should have. I'm stupid. I'm a teacher, Bee. Why did I think for a second that kissing her would be okay?"

"You really like her, that's why." Bee replied matter-of-factly. "You really like her, just like you liked Claira, and you're afraid."

"Of course, I am. I'm terrified." Avery said, resting her head in her hands.

"Did you tell her that?"

Avery looked up from her hands, a distant gaze in her eyes.

"I told her that she scares me." Avery said with the first real chuckle of the night.

Bee nodded her head. "That's a start…"