"Avery, I'm sorry, I don't think we should do this anymore. It's not you, it's me. I just need to figure out my stuff and I really want to do it alone without any distraction. I'm sorry I had to tell you like this but I couldn't face you to break this news to you. All the best, take care of yourself, Jasper."
Avery did not see the text till they were in the elevator. "What the actual fuck?!" She let out immediately she read the text.
Evie and Dixie turned to her. Then Evie asked, "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
She handed them her phone, still in disbelief and watched their faces turn from normal to shocked.
"Why is he doing this?" Dixie asked.
"Gee, maybe I can wave my magic finger and bring him here so we can find out. How the fuck am I supposed to know, Dixie?!"
Evie tried to hug her but Avery was not having it. "This is crazy, even for Jasper"
Avery looked at the text again and said, "He had the audacity to hit me with the it's-not-you-it's-me line, why...what...where did he get the nerve to do that?!"
"If this is any consolation, I'd say you're better off without him." Evie tried to console her.
Avery read the text a few more times till the elevator opened up and then they strutted out. Nobody but her could tell how hurt she felt. She knew that Jasper was a selfish prick but she did not know he was also this brutal. A lot of scenerios ran through her mind.
Was he cheating on me? Is there somebody else? Is this one of his sick jokes? Did he really just break up with me through a fucking text? Now, who the fuck does that spineless jock think he is? Suddenly he doesn't think he's good enough for me? I mean, he's not but who the fuck gave him the right to make that decision for us?! Well, good riddance to bad rubbish. Next! She thought.
"Avery? Are we going with this ride?" Evie asked, tugging her. They had been talking to her the whole time but she had blacked out on them. The estate made provision for transportation, they had rides outside the building waiting on the residents.
"Uh, yeah, sure. Let's go"
"But, where are we going?" Dixie asked.
"I'm in the mood for some Asian food." Avery replied.
"There's this nice restaurant with great Asian food, I don't remember what it is called. I visited when I came over about a year ago." Evie said.
"Maybe we could check online or something, I think—" Dixie started.
"Excuse me, Sir?" Avery called the chauffeur
"Yes Ma'am?"
"Do you know a good restaurant that serves great Asian food?"
"Sure, I know a place not too far from here, they serve great platters"
Looking at both Dixie and Evie, Avery announced, "Then it's settled. We're going where the man is suggesting."
When they got to Bayz, the place looked busy and the other girls did not like the ambience but Avery thought it was perfect for her to focus on something other than her horrible breakup. She looked around with Evie and walked inside the restaurant, while Dixie decided to see if there was a free table outside. Once inside, they could see that almost all the table were taken, except the one with a guy. He looked weird from afar but Avery had seen how he struggled to pick up his food because his entire body was shaking. She knew immediately that she wanted to be on that table.
One of the coping mechanisms Avery adopted over the summer whenever she felt like a situation was beyond her control was to focus her energy on something she could control. It could be helping someone out or just being nice to someone. It made her feel good as a person and she enjoyed it.
A waitress came over to them and Avery immediately requested the table with the guy who had Essential tremour. Evie could not object to Avery's plan even though it made her uncomfortable because she was more scared of getting Avery pissed than her own discomfort. Evie and Dixie know not to cross Avery. She was mean. She was vengeful and she could be heartless, so watching her be sweet seem weird for them because Avery was not nice unless she wanted something in return. They wondered what could have happened over the summer that made her change completely. Evie could not tell if it was a prank but she held her breathe hoping Avery doesn't do anything crazy here. She was shocked at how chill Avery was after she just got dumped. It was shocking to Evie because nobody had ever dumped Avery. She did the dumping.
As soon as they say, Avery said hi to the guy and calmly requested for the menu from the waitress. As they waited for their food, Dixie joined them and was also uncomfortable but would not date speak.
"I love your shirt." Avery said with a smile to the guy who just tried to smile. "I'm Avery"
"J–J–Ja–Jack"
"Hey Jack." She smiled again and noticed that he was struggling to eat his ramen with the chopsticks. Jack had not picked up any of his noodles the entire time they sat, and she knew that the food would soon get cold and soggy so she offered to help. First, she opened his bottle of water and helped him drink some, then she asked for his permission to help him with his chopsticks. "Don't worry, chopsticks are kinda hard to use. I still struggle a bit too."
As she helped him eat, her food came so when she takes a bite of her meal, she'll help him to a bite of his.
"What's going on with her?" Dixie texted Evie
"I don't know. I'm as confused as you are." Evie texted back
"Do you think this is because of Jasper?"
"I think so. I'm more worried of whether it is a prank. I really hope she's not trying to do anything crazy"
Then Evie got a text notification, it was about an exclusive party that was happening and someone had sent her a message asking if they were truly attending the party.
"Hmmm, really?" She murmured
"What's wrong?" Dixie inquired.
"So, earlier, I think we somehow got invited to an exclusive party and someone just asked if it was true that we'll be attending it."
"We're not right?"
"Are you kidding? We totally are. We can't turn down our first exclusive party, that'll ruin our first impression."
"Who exactly got the invite?"
"I think Avery did, she said someone asked her to something and she agreed."
"I'm really exhausted Evie I don't think I can come."
"Well, Avery and I will attend it."
At the counter, a guy walked up to Avery and said, "Hey neighbor"
She turned to see who it was and it was the guy from earlier. The one in front of the apartment opposite theirs. She smiled as she recognized the familiar face.
"Dylan. What's your name?"
"Avery."
"Lovely name"
"Thank you." She was about to offer her bank card when he stopped her saying, "I'll get that, and I insist. Listen, I saw that guy when he walked in and saw how everyone avoided him. I was literally about to go over to him when I saw you and your friends go over to him—"
"How long did you watch?" She interrupted. The thought of Dylan just watching Jack struggle without doing anything disgusted her.
"Not too long" Dylan noticed that she seemed to be getting upset. He hoped she would not think he was not kind enough.
"I'd say it was long enough to entertain you"
"No, no, no, I couldn't go because I didn't know if he'll be embarrassed that someone was coming to feed him. Most people have egos like that."
Avery knew that Dylan was right, most people with abnormalities struggle with letting people assist them before they feel like those people just want to feel good about helping them. "Well, Jack was really sweet and it would have been nice if you have helped him. When I got here, his ramen was almost soggy, Dylan."
"Got it. So, thank you for being an angel, Avery, but can you let me pay for everything, please?"
"Okay."
As he paid, she noticed the wristband he wore. it was from Ian but it had the university's logo so she asked, "Do you attend Brasswell?"
"Yeah, do you?"
"Uh huh, I'm a freshman though"
"Not bad, I'm a sophomore."
"Nice... Dylan, it was lovely running into you here, but I have to go now, I have my friends waiting on me."
"Sure, I don't wanna keep you waiting. Take care of yourself."
"Okay, you too...see you later."
When she got back to the table, she saw Dixie trying to help Jack up. She wasn't sure why Dixie was trying to help him but when she noticed the group of boys—they looked like they played sports—watching their table, and the conversation she just had with Dylan, she put two and two together. She just thought it was no big deal and sat down beside Evie who immediately said, "We have a party to attend."
Confused, she asked her "What are you talking about?"
"I think you're invited to a party earlier. Remember that girl who invited you to a party and gave you a code or whatever?"
"Yeah?"
"I just got a dm from a reliable source talking about this exclusive party that would have some celebrities in attendance. And they asked if we're coming"
"Ohh, well I guess we can't miss that."
"Exactly!"
Dixie came back to their table and wanted to know what they were talking about. After finding out it was about a party, she said, "You guys, I'm really worn out."
"You can stay back, Avery and I will not." Evie replied.
Then the three girls got up and walked out of the restaurant. As soon as they got outside, they saw their ride waiting for them. Evie had texted the chauffeur to come back and get them.
Back in their apartment, Evie let out a sign and said, "I gotta shower and then see if I have anything good enough to wear."
"Me too" Avery said as she hurriedly walked into her own room.
After the quick shower, both girls ranstacked their luggages to find something to wear while Dixie went to make herself a milkshake. As she opened the fridge, it was filled up. "Nice" she thought smiling at the choice of groceries in the fridge. "Giona did a good job" she thought as she picked out what she needed and shut the door of the fridge.
As soon as she finished making the milkshake, she cleaned up and ate the food in silence before the other girls started coming in and out of their rooms and into each other's rooms.
Just then, they got a knock on the door and Dixie volunteered to see who it was, and it was Sheryl. Immediately she saw Dixie, she was stunned, she did not know the entire trio were in their school, but she decided to play it cool.
"Hey, um, I'm Sheryl and this is for Avery. A-Actually, it's for all of you. It's the invite to the party. You are all invited." She brought out the invite she was holding and extended her hand to Dixie who just looked at it.
"Okay" Dixie finally collected the invite from her.
"I just got tipped that the security will be tight and this invite is the only way in. Look, I think, It'll be epic if you all come" She pointed at the invite and said, "the password to the venue is on the invite with the location."
"Sure."
"I'm a huge fan, I told Avery earlier. I really can't believe I live in the same building as my favs! This feels bogus!"
Dixie just smiled. She thought Sheryl was an interesting character and wondered what it would feel like having someone like that around them.
"Thank you Sheryl, we'll attend."
"Awesome! See you then!"
As she left, Dixie decided she'd go to the party with her friends so she went to her room to start dressing up.
"Who was it?" Evie called out from Avery's room.
"Sheryl. She brought us an invite with a password and a location." Dixie yelled out from her room.
"OMG! I didn't even know the venue and we were getting dressed" Avery said.
"I would've asked for it, know someone." Evie said assuring her.
"A password though. It better be a good one."
"It's a college party, it will be good."
"You look too hot! That should be illegal somewhere" Avery said as she accessed Avery's outfit. She wore a black bodycon sleeveless short playsuit topped with a white denim crop jacket, a white Alexander McQueen sneakers with black socks. For her hair, she wore a deep blue shoulder length Bob wig. For her makeup, she used a glitter eyeliner the same shade as her hair and a nude lipstick. "I love the thing with your liner, it's giving euphoria vibes, I love!"
"Thanks baby, I was going for that makeup look", when she turned to look at Luna, her jaw dropped, "I'm officially jealous of you Avery, look at you!"
Avery wore a light pink silk scarf with multicolored strips tied around her boobs with a baggy cream colored baggy Nike sweatpants, a light pink bucket hat, a white Nike sneakers with white socks. Her makeup was very natural looking but she had on a perfect winged liner.
The two girls added some jewelries to their outfit and carried the same tiny sling bags but Avery's was in pink and Evie's was in black.
"We deserve a couple of pictures before we leave. Come on let's ask Dixie." Avery said and they went to call Dixie from her room. When they got into her room, she was doing her makeup but she was all dressed up in a black crop top that exposed her entire stomach but her stomach was covered in a gold body chain and she had a short denim skirt and a thigh high boots.
Confused, Avery queried, "Are you coming with us? I thought you didn't want to come?"
Dixie without looking up but carefully outlining her lips said, "I changed my mind. This should be fun, right?"
"Well, you good amazing! Love the outfit!"
"I know right." Evie chipped in.
"Thank you"
Avery nudged Evie and they decided to take some pictures of themselves by taking turns to capture each other. After a couple of rounds, Dixie was finally done with her makeup and then they all decided to take more pictures of themselves.
"These should be okay." Avery concluded as they all walked out of their apartment.
When they arrived at the location of the party, it was at a private house with security cameras and from outside, it didn't look like there was anything going on but immediately they got infront of the gate, someone called out "password?" from inside.
Dixie opened the invite and responded " bootah?" Immediately, the gate opened up and the girls were escorted to the main building. The walk to the door was a quiet one but immediately the girls got into the building, the loud noise that was being concealed by the noise-proof doors and windows was almost deafening.
As soon as the girls walked in, heads turned towards their direction. It was clear that more than half of the girls knew who they were—or at least who Avery was. Some guys recognized them. As the three girls scanned the room, in less than ten seconds someone screamed "Damn! Literal angels just walked in." The host of the party—one of the popular rich kids of their school whose parents were very generous with their annual donation towards the school's growth—just walked towards the girls.
"Hey ladies, nice to meet you all. Um, Luna, I'm a huge fan. Welcome to my party. Let me show you girls around." The tall handsome shirtless guy who wore just a sweat pants and a Gucci black slides with a pair of white socks, said.
Avery smiled and then they all just followed Troy's lead.