Post by Avery Miles III on Oct 23, 2017 11:20:35 GMT -5
* * * *
Location: Dry Branch, GA
When: FLASHBACK
Zoe: No, Avery. We can't talk about things. We always try to talk. All you want to do is stay here. In this small town. Doing the same thing. Your grandfather lived here. Your father lives here. That does not mean you have to live here. Atlanta is not that far away!
Avery: Zoe. This is home. Why do you want to leave-
Zoe: I want more, Ave. More. I was to experience life. I just want to get out and do new things. I am tired of going to the drive in stand on Fridays. I am tired of the little town square with all mom and pop businesses. I want more.
Avery: I- I am sor-
Zoe: I think we need a break, Ave. Look. I love you. But I need more than you do. Let's just take a break for awhile. If we are meant to be, we will be. But I need to experience life.
A seventeen year old Avery was getting ready for his Senior Year of high school. His girlfriend, Zoe, was also in high school. Avery was goint to attend Middle Georgia State university for a B.S. in Human Services. Topics like conflict resolution, crisis management, funding sources, research methods, and interviewing techniques spoke to him. He was unsure what he wanted to do, and that was a part of the plan. Zoe was glad that he was going to college as wrestling was never a viable option for a mature adult. His father struggled for some time and had to quit it. His grandfather worked in the building to train wrestlers, that Avery now owns called Peach State Wrestling School.
Avery: Zoe-
Zoe: Avery. No. We need a break. You can go out and do whatever you need to do. Don't tell me. And I won't tell you. If we are meant to be, we will be. But go. Be free. Let out whatever you need to let out. Do whatever you need to do. Live free.
She leans into him and kisses him.
Zoe: I will love you no matter what.
That was a hard summer for Avery. He did not want anyone else. Zoe was his love. At the insistence from his parents, he would go out with his friend Annabelle on a terrible date. Things were awkward, and by this time, she was also interested in her future husband, Sawyer. Avery and Annie would remain best friends through it. Everything would change one unfortunate Saturday night. One of the last weekends before Senior year would begin, there was a house party. Annie insisted that Avery came with her. Sawyer was quite a bit older than her, so she made sure to keep their relationship quiet. Most people figured Annabelle and Avery had become a thing but they were just best friends. As they head inside of the party, Avery and Annie grab some beers. They do some dancing and enjoy trying to relax. This was not normally the type of scene for Avery, but Zoe insisted that he relaxed. So he did.
Zoe and Avery had lost their virginities to each other at sixteen, the summer before. He figured that they would marry, have babies, and grow old in Macon or one of the surrounding towns. Zoe wanting more scared him but he loved her. If that is what she needed, he would give her some space. Looking for the restroom, Avery headed upstairs. The alcohol was flowing, but Avery had not touched a drop. Plenty of people dancing, loud music. A typical house party scene. As Avery headed upstairs there were four doors, and he did not know what was what. Opening the first door, it was a closet. He moved into the second, an empty bedroom. As he turned the handle on the third one, it slowly opened to another bedroom as moans were heard.
Guy: Close the fucking door!
The guy, on top of the girl, looked towards the doorway. Avery was like a deer in headlights as it was obviously the wrong door. As girl underneath him looked out, Avery turned ghost white. It was Zoe. She was with some guy that Avery did not know. He looked older, possibly a guy from a local college. Zoe did not see who it was as Avery slammed the door shut. He heard her voice clearly.
Zoe: Come on, give me what I need.
A dead look in his eyes, Avery headed back down the stairs and for the front door. Annabelle came up from the side room.
Annabelle: Ave- what's wrong? Ave?
He did not respond as he gave her the keys to his truck and he headed out of the house. Home was six or seven miles away, and he would walk every single one. He was not in the right mind to drive. He was not in the right mind for anything. He would never speak of what happened. Mid-way through school, Zoe would return back to him. He loved her, and inside, forgived her. Or so he felt. She was his girl. And to this day, she never knew that he knew.
