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“Those are perfectly respectable movies. We should have a Pitch Perfect marathon sometime.” Avery wiggled deeper into her pillow.
“I’d like that,” Stella whispered wistfully. “Umm, listen…” The phone was bouncing as she traveled with her plate to the table.
The bright future Avery had just pictured dulled with Stella’s hesitant tone. The tone of ‘it’s not you, it’s me.’ Avery sat up instinctually, grabbing her phone, although it was hard to see Stella’s clear picture with her shaking hands.
“Wait, I see your face falling. Don’t worry it’s not bad, I just wanted to ask if we should talk about the show at all?” Stella paused, her eyes not meeting the camera. “I felt horrible for not getting your number.” she said. Getting the phone just right, she settled at the table, looking back to Avery.
“It was a mistake on both our parts. I thought we’d have more time after we were whisked away. You know I kissed Quinn a few times. Are you okay with that?” Avery’s face scrunched as she brought the phone close, trying to see Stella’s reaction. She relaxed when Stella smiled.
“It wasn’t my favorite, but I’m okay with it. I understand it was part of the show. It was hard not to be able to talk with you. To see what you were thinking or feeling at times,” Stella said.
“I should tell you, I wasn’t stringing Quinn along. If you weren’t in the picture, I could have seen myself falling hard for her.” Avery winced, wondering if she’d divulged too much. The confession felt thick on her tongue. But to not answer truthfully would potentially stifle their growth as partners.
“You’re not that type of person. I knew you hit it off. It sucks, but also, I understand. I don’t hold it against you for trying a hundred percent on the dating show. Plus, Quinn is awesome. It would have been impossible not to be charmed by her at all, or else I would have thought you were a robot. You know what I’m excited for?” Stella asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.
“No, unfortunately I haven’t mastered the mind reading class. What’s got you excited?” Avery joked, feeling some of the tension leave her shoulders. “Wait no, let me guess. You’re ecstatic for the newest Aspen single to come out.” She grinned into the camera. Yesterday they had slow danced to one of her songs in Stella’s kitchen.
“I’m excited to watch the show with you. To talk about things we couldn’t say when the cameras were rolling.”
Avery grinned at the splotch of mustard gracing the corner of Stella’s mouth. “It would be great to get a new perspective. It’ll be amazing to be able to talk to you freely without having to censor ourselves.”
“Parts might be hard to watch. I had the ultimate front row seat, but had no way of knowing what you were thinking. It will be nice to go through the show a second time, and to actually communicate.” Stella’s voice was soft.
There was something about having open and honest conversations. Even with the veneer of a screen, the connection was refreshing. Readjusting back to her side, Avery stifled a yawn.
“I wasn’t sure we were going to talk about those things, but I’m glad we did.” Stella’s phone slid from its perch, giving Avery a view of the ceiling of Stella’s living room. It was a nicer ceiling than hers—no watermarks or bumps existed.
“We just need to continue telling the truth and keep things open and honest. With the gaslighting my mom did when she first got sick… I need to know what you’re thinking and feeling, even if it’s hard to say.” Avery found that talking to the ceiling about something this profound was easier than saying it to Stella’s face.
Speaking of Stella’s face, the video tilted, and Stella’s wide green eyes were staring back at her. “I promise I’ll always try to tell the truth. It’s not in my nature to keep secrets unless I’m getting paid to do so.” She winked, which helped break the moment. “But just know, I’ll try and keep the communication gates open as long as you do the same.”
Avery crossed her fingers along her heart. “I promise.” One hard conversation down, hopefully many more to come.
Stella brought the phone closer to her face. “How’s school going?”
“Better now that I’m not bone-tired at the end of the day. I’ve gotten more done these past few days than like three weeks prior. So, I only have two more tests and a final before I officially graduate.” She took a breath, still trying to center herself from the hard conversation. “When can I see you next?”
“Can I come to see your place in person?” Stella pleaded with her eyes.
She’d shown Stella her tiny apartment on FaceTime, but Stella had yet to come over. Anxiety clawed at Avery’s throat. Her apartment seemed even dingier now that Stella might come over.
“Umm.” She paused, not sure how to answer. “Why do you want to come here? Your place is way nicer.”
“I want to lay my head where you sleep every night. I want to step in the path of your hopes and dreams. I want to see you in your element. Just because your place is smaller doesn’t make it less of a home. You spend your time there, which I want to experience. I want to be where you are.”
Avery fell a little more. “Look at that sweet tongue saying all the right things. Fine, come over whenever and see how the other half lives. You’ll experience the joy of fourth-floor living without an elevator. A view of the butt of a concrete building, and don’t forget the life-changing experience of having your bedroom in your kitchen.” Avery laughed at the pinched look on Stella’s mouth. “You don’t have to. I can come to your place.”
“No, no. I want to see you in your natural habitat.”
“Come over anytime. Maybe you’ll meet my best friend, Martin.”
“I can’t wait to meet the infamous Martin. He sounds like a hoot.”
“He’s that and some,” Avery agreed. “So, when are you coming?”
“Is now too late of a notice? All my manners seemed to have flown out the window with you, but I can’t help it. You’re a distraction of epic proportions, in the best way.” Stella propped the phone against something on the table before she gathered her hair in a ponytail. It was part of her disguise since she was known for usually keeping her hair down.
“No, come on over.” Avery popped up from the bed, running around the tiny apartment, trying to pick up the best she could. “I’m in my sweats. Are we at the point in our relationship where I can stay in them, or should I change into something nicer?” Avery joked from the kitchen.
