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Her unbridled enthusiasm melted some of Avery’s aversion to the attention. After checking in silently with Elizabeth, Avery stood on Elizabeth’s side of the table. Standing in the coffee shop, getting more attention than she wanted, Avery put her arm around Elizabeth and smiled wide when the girl indicated she was taking the picture.
“Don’t forget to shout out the shop,” Lucy called behind the counter. Even with a respectable line, she’d apparently watched the interaction. Never one to miss a marketing opportunity.
Avery’s shoulder brushed Elizabeth’s when they parted. “It was nice to meet you…” She held out her hand, pausing for the girl to add her name.
“Mia.” She held out her hand shyly. Avery was surprised the grip was so firm.
“You’re going to watch the show, right?” Elizabeth asked, shaking her hand next.
“I already have it set to record in case I miss an episode.” Mia beamed. Her eyes flicked to the logo on Avery’s shirt, a shot of confusion marring her brow. “Thanks for the picture. I’ll be rooting for you!” She waved her fingers before joining a group outside.
“That was… Interesting.” Elizabeth looked dazed as the buzz around the shop resumed. Phones were discreetly pointed in their direction. Most people probably had no idea who they were, but if someone made a big deal about them, they didn’t want to miss out on an opportunity. It was human nature.
“Especially if you get on Survivor, which is likely now. I know you’ll be a fan favorite.” Avery leaned in for a final hug. “I have to get back to work. My boss is side-eyeing me.”
She wasn’t, but Avery wanted to return to a routine, and being asked for photos was not routine.
“I’ll see you at the reunion. Or, more likely, I’ll stop by this place again. It’s on the way to my gym.” Elizabeth swooped out of the shop with no other fanfare, not waiting for a response.
“Back to work,” Lucy called from the counter.
After a long day, Avery dragged her feet up the last few steps. Stubbing her toe on the last step up to her door, she dropped all her bags on the ground, and kicked off her shoes.
Inside her apartment, Avery quickly pulled up her favorite show, needing the noise to drown out her thoughts. She mean-mugged her computer, knowing she should work on her paper for school, but not having the energy to put in any work right now.
Her phone beeped with an incoming email from ALLGAD TV. Her heart lurched as memories from her time on the show threatened to overtake her.
Dear Avery Greene,
A payment to you was submitted by ALLGAD TV. Payment invoice: 3912798SEAK
Best regards,
All of us at ALLGAD TV
Her heart sped up as she navigated to the banking app on her phone. It was twenty-five thousand—half of the fifty she was supposed to get. The pressure on her chest eased, knowing she finally had some breathing room.
Pacing the admittedly small room, she thought through what to do. She was so tired after her job that her schoolwork was suffering. Pulling out a pen and paper, she tried to write down a plan. Adding up all her bills, she saw she could live off the money until the second payment was due. Especially if she cut everything to the bare minimum. If she buckled down and finished school, that could open doors that were currently closed to her. Fifty thousand wouldn’t get her very far overall in life, but finishing school could provide her the steady job and paycheck needed to get her head above water.
Flipping the page of her notebook, she wrote her two-week resignation letter. Feeling lighter, Avery turned off the show on her computer, and with an extra burst of energy she got halfway done with her paper.
Stella navigated the steep staircase, trying to see over the package in her arms while simultaneously ensuring she didn’t break her neck in the process. It had been two days since her trip to the bar and a gray aura had settled around her. She’d broken down and got social media in order to try and get ahold of Avery, but her message still sat unread. Either she’d picked the wrong Avery, or she didn’t want to talk. She wasn’t sure how her heart could handle things if it was the latter.
Making it safely to the top of the stairs, she pushed open the door at the end of the hall. “That’s the last of it,” she huffed to Ethan, who was holding a painting, gently maneuvering it per Keisha’s directions until it hung perfectly straight. He wanted everything to be perfect, since it was the first house he’d bought.
“Thanks, Banana. I’ll order the pizza.” Ethan wiped his hands, stopping to kiss Keisha’s cheek.
“He’s sweet.” She sighed, flopping on the bed. “Thanks for your help.”
“No problem.” Stella tried to catch her breath. A sweat bead dripped down her face that she dabbed with her shirt. “Maybe next year we’ll be moving you in?” she teased.
“One can only hope. He did make sure he picked a house I’d like too. Too bad it’s a little too soon for us to move in together.” Keisha held out her hands to be helped up. “He found a good one, don’t you think?” She looked around the room with her hands on her hips.
“It’s perfect,” Stella agreed, feeling a bubble of pride well up for one of her closest friends. Buying a house was something to be celebrated. Keisha left to find Ethan while Stella took a moment to catch her breath.
“Holy shit.” Quinn ran into the room, grabbing Stella and spinning her. “Look at this.”
It was impossible to see what was on the phone with her hand shaking so much. Stella plucked the device from her excitable friend. On it was a photo of Elizabeth, Avery, and a kid she didn’t know, all smiling for a photo. Her thumb rubbed over Avery’s cheek, which only moved the image.
