Three

Avery was arranging her big psychology books in her locker. The faculties were open even on Sundays during the exams period. She was humming the chorus of a song Damian started writing a year ago. 

She had to beg him for weeks to let her listen to it. Damian enjoyed being a DJ because people never recognise him on the radio, or in the dark. He wasn't comfortable about sharing his songs, especially the most personal ones, but he was okay with Avery as she was his best friend.

“Your voice is sweet,” Avery jumped when She felt a warm breath on his neck. She quickly turned around and almost fainted when she saw the one and only Nate Walker standing in front of her, smirking. “T—thank you,” she mentally cursed herself for stuttering in front of her crush.

“You were cool yesterday. I was bored with those girls, and you saved me,” Nate winked.

“Yesterday?” Avery raised an eyebrow. The only thing she remembered from that night was her talking to Emmett and getting bullied five minutes later.

“I love how you pretended to be my girlfriend. You scared the hell out of them!” Nate burst out laughing. “And the way you caressed my thighs kind of turned me on,” he whispered in her left ear, sending shivers around her fragile body.

Nate smirked again, looking at Avery's pink cheeks. “So, is it still okay for Friday's date?” he asked.

“D—date?!” Avery dropped her pencils on the floor, making Nate chuckle.

“Come on, I don't remember you being drunk yesterday. You already forgot?”

“Um, no!” Avery lied. “We have a date, right.”

“Great,” Nate smiled. He knelt to take a black pencil and grabbed Avery's arm to write something. “Here is my number,” he said after he finished.

Avery kept admiring how numbers could look so beautiful on his arm.

“Text me tonight, pretty girl,” Nate winked and left with his crew.

Avery kept watching him and trying to analyze what just happened in her mind. She stood speechless during long minutes, staring at her locker like she was trying to solve a mystery. 

“Holy shit!” Avery covered her mouth in order not to scream in front of everyone. She quickly closed the drawer and left running to the music faculty.

“Dam!” she jumped on her best friend and hugged him tightly, making him confused.

“Why? What happened?”

“You won't believe me, Dam!” Avery grinned.

“Spill!” 

“Next Friday I'm going on a date with Nate Walker!” she exclaimed.

Damian frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. “Are you serious? You were not dreaming or something?”

Avery shook her head hastily. “I'm kind of not complaining that Scarlett appeared. She's going to change my life!” 

“Scarlett,” Damian faked a smile. “And what is it on your arm? Don't tell me he wrote his number there.”

“Yup!” Avery answered excitedly.

“Tsk,” Damian shook his head. “Too many fuckboys on earth. That's disgusting.”

“Don't say that, Dam. Anyways, you should help me pick an outfit for the D-day!”

“There is no way I'm going to do this for you.”

“Hey, Avery,” Emmett smiled. “Can I sit here?” he pointed to the chair in front of her. They were at the faculty library, preparing a report on PTSD.

“Of course you can,” Avery smiled. “By the way, our dance instructor sent me a message saying that we'll work on Dusk till Dawn tomorrow. He said the choreography will be hard, but worth it.”

“Oh, I see. I love that song.” Emmett grinned smiled. “Is it going to be only the two of us?”

Avery nodded. “We need to prepare for the competition.”

“Yeah, I'm kind of nervous about it,” Emmett whispered.

“Same,” Avery said before she flipped the page of her book.

Emmett bit his lower lip, staring at how pretty she looked when he's concentrated, a pencil between her teeth. “Say, Avery.” she hummed.

“You're still coming over for the duo project thing?”

“Yeah of course. I like your loft because it always smells good, and I love the cappuccino you make for me.” she smiled, making Emmett's heart burst inside of his chest.

“That's cheesy and cringy as hell,” Damian rolled his eyes when he read the text Avery sent to Nate.

To: Nate Walker 09.12 pm

I hope I'll be a part of your dream tonight. Sleep well. Xoxo

“Shut up, Dam. You're saying this because you're jealous.” Avery chuckled.

“Jealous? Why would I be jealous?” Damian raised an eyebrow.

“Because you never liked anyone. You don't have feelings, Dam. You have a heart made of ice.”

“Rude,” Damian mumbled, staring at Avery, who was checking her phone every five seconds.

“Oh!” Avery pretended to faint on the bed when she finally got an answer from Nate.

“Let me see,” Damian said.

“Holy shit!” Avery blushed and covered her face.

From: Nate Walker 09.22 pm

I hope you'll be a part of my wet dreams.

Damian frowned and nibbled on the inside of his cheeks. He stared at his best friend, who looked like she was floating on the clouds.

He stared back at the text and shook his head slowly. 

I don't like this guy, he thought.

“I'm so nervous!” Avery whined from behind the curtains.

“Ave, you're wasting my time. Hurry up,” Damian mumbled. “I have tons of songs to arrange.” 

Damian spent the afternoon helping his best friend choose an outfit for her date. He hated doing these kind of things, but Avery always managed to convince him.

“Okay! I finished!” Avery said excitedly. “Do I look okay?” she asked, looking at Damian, who was busy staring at his phone. 

“You always look ug—” Damian widened his eyes when he saw how stunning she looked.

“So...?” Avery pouted.

 “You... you look okay,” Damian cleared his throat. “Not bad,” he tried his best not to look surprised by Avery's sexiness. 

“Do you think he'll like it?” Avery asked, and Damian immediately rolled his eyes. For a second, it escaped him that Avery did all this for her date with Nate. 

“Yeah, maybe,” Damian said. “If he doesn't like it, then screw him.” Avery laughed and hugged her friend. “Thanks, Dam,” she said, and Damian pushed her away gently. 

“Stop touching me, you idiot,” he groaned.

“Well, I should go,” Avery grabbed her phone and wallet. 

“Ave,” Damian called.

“Yes?” 

Damian wanted to tell her to take care of herself and not to trust Nate because she didn't know him well. He wanted to tell her to say no if Nate ever asked her to do something bad, and call him if she ever needed him.

“Um, nothing,” Damian rubbed the back of his neck. “Call me when you finish. I'll pick you up.” 

“Okay,” Avery grinned and left the loft.

“Great job, Damian. Great job.” Damian sighed deeply and walked to his room to finish working on his songs.

His biggest dream was to become a famous producer in the future. He liked making music since he was thirteen, and he spent all his years writing lyrics, composing melodies, and arranging songs.

He wasn't a social person, and didn't care. Avery and Elias were enough for him, and only his music mattered the most. 

Elias was studying to be a producer too and Damian envied him a lot because he never loses his inspiration. He always had a song in mind. 

During a time, Damian almost gave up his career because his mind went blank and he couldn't write anymore. He went through a mild depression, and he couldn't touch the piano keys anymore. It was annoying and sad.

And the one who saved him from that situation was Avery. She helped him get rid of the demons controlling his body and mind, and lifted his head to face all the struggles. 

She knocked at his door every day to force him to go out of his dark room. They walked in the park, ate ice-creams in front of the sea, tried new restaurants, went to the amusement park, and a bunch of other things. 

Avery wished Damian would regain his strength and find his happiness once again. And he did— thanks to her.

He started writing a song for her, but he couldn't tell her. He didn't even know if he would be able to make her listen to it someday.

Damian sat in front of his computer and the first thing he saw was Avery smiling to Nate— that smile she showed only to him before. 

Nate Walker was worrying him a lot. He didn't trust him at all.

“You look very good, Avery,” Nate lowered his head to kiss her cheek. 

“Thanks,” Avery blushed as he was making her nervous. 

Nate looked hot with his black ripped jeans, his white t-shirt, and his black leather jacket, not to forget his black and silver ear piercings.

“Let's go,” he grabbed her wrist and led her to his car. “Get in.” 

“Where are we going?” Avery asked. 

“To the club,” Nate smirked and Avery frowned. She didn't like clubs, and loud music, and drunk people dancing like cows everywhere. 

“I see,” she faked a smile.

“What? You don't like it?” Nate scoffed. “You seemed to enjoy yourself that night.” 

Avery bit her lip when she remembered that Scarlett was the one who caught Nate's attention, and the problem was that she was nothing like her. 

“Y—yeah, you're right. Clubs are cool.” she chuckled nervously.

When they arrived, Nate directly walled to the bar.

“Two of my special cocktail, please.” he winked at the bartender, who seemed to know him. He must be a regular there.

“Here for you Nate, and one for this cutie,” the red-haired smiled to her. 

Avery frowned when she saw the weird-looking blue drink. She didn't have a great knowledge of alcohol beverages. She only knew beer, wine, and champagne. The basic drinks that she didn't even dare touch.

“I don't drink,” Avery said and both raised their eyebrows. 

“Come on, don't play the innocent!” Nate scoffed. “Don't tell me that you can't handle a small drink.” 

“Uh? No, it's just that. I have class tomorrow,” Avery nervously rubbed the back of her neck. She didn't like to lie, but she didn't want Nate to make fun of her because of her low alcohol tolerance. 

“Fuck the classes, Avery! I have a hangover syrup if you want.” Nate winked to her and offered her the glass once again.

Avery hesitated at first, but Nate's beautiful green eyes hypnotised her and obliged to take a sip of the sour drink. 

“One shot, Avery!” Nate shouted before she gulped the entire drink. 

Avery smiled nervously and gulped as she felt her throat burning like fire. 

“Let's go dance now!” Nate grabbed her arm and ran to the dancefloor.

After a few moments, Avery started to feel dizzy, and the music sounded far, and people started looking like shadows. 

She was having a hard time to keep her eyes wide opened and she stared at Nate, who was looking at her with eyes full of lust. 

“Are you okay?” he approached their bodies and whispered in her ear. 

“I'm dizzy.” Avery said.

“Let's go somewhere else then,” Nate grabbed her by the waist and they left the crowd as they bumped into people dancing, and couples devouring each other's mouths.

“Your cheeks are red,” Nate chuckled, running his finger on her face. 

He pinned her against the wall and approached his face to hers. “You smell good, Avery,” he whispered before kissing her neck. “Very good.” 

“S—stop,” Avery mumbled, trying to push him away, “Nate, what are you doing?” 

“Just tasting a little of you,” Nate mumbled, not leaving her exposed neck.

“Nate, stop.” 

“Hey, what's wrong with you today? You're so different from that night.” Nate furrowed his eyebrow. “Did you decide to act like a fake virgin girl?” he scoffed.

“No,” Avery lied, but not entirely. She wasn't acting like a fake virgin because she was a real one. 

“Alright. Wait here, I'm going to pee, and I'll come back.” Nate said before heading to the bathroom.

Avery closed her eyes and sighed. Her head was hurting and she felt weak. She took her phone out of her pocket and quickly dialed Damian's number.

“Avery?”

Avery felt relieved to hear her best friend's voice. “Dam,” he spoke with a tired voice.

“Avery, are you okay?” 

“I'm dizzy, and my head hurts a lot,” 

“What? Are you drunk? God damn it! Avery, you're an idiot! Where are you?” 

Avery looked around and mumbled, “Star Club, I think.”

“Alright, I'm coming now.”