Going Home PV Mikey Forville

Interacting with: @Mikey Forville Mentioning: N/A Date: 06/31/25

Word Count: 272

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Avery smiled at him when he said he wanted to sit with her again on their way back to Hogwarts. That alone would make Avery's birthday better. She already knew it wasn't going to be another easy birthday since her mother obviously didn't even care enough to say happy birthday or goodbye before she left for another year at Hogwarts. Avery nodded her head in agreement. "I feel the same way. It's as if my heart leaps into my throat whenever I see you and I never have the right words to say." She took a deep breath. Wow. Had she just admitted that out loud? To him? What had she been thinking? All she could hope was that things didn't become even more awkward between them. "Me too." Avery said. She knew she too would write so much that he would probably be tired of her before the summer ended. That thought made her smile. Yes, she was going to be with her best friend and family over the summer, but having someone that cared about her and that also wanted to write to her over the summer, that hit different. Avery felt nervous energy creeping up her as an idea crossed her mind. If they weren't going to see each other until the first of September, she had to at least make a hopefully memorable farewell. She pushed past her awkwardness and nerves and hugged him tightly. She was at a loss for words, so it was the only way she could express how much she would really miss him and how she couldn't wait to see him again soon.

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Mikey was barely able to process Avery’s words before she leaned forward and hugged him. His brain immediately scrambled. His arms kind of hovered awkwardly in the air for a second, like they didn’t know where to go. His heart gave a weird lurch and he felt his breath catch in his throat. His arms kind of hovered awkwardly in the air for a second, like they didn’t know where to go. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to hug her back. He did. but it was like his body was running on a one-second delay. His mind raced, thoughts jumbled and spinning. Was he supposed to say something? Do something?

What did you even do when a girl hugged you like that. When she had just said those things about her heart leaping into her throat? Eventually his arms figured it out and folded around her. A little hesitant at first like he was afraid he might mess it up somehow. But then, as she didn’t let go right away he felt himself soften into it. The tension in his shoulders loosened, and he let himself sink into the moment, just breathing in the quiet hum of the train, and the warmth of her leaning into him.

He didn’t say anything right away. He couldn’t, really, because it felt like if he tried, his voice might betray him. So he just stood there holding her. When she finally pulled back a little, Mikey swallowed hard and his eyes wide in a way that said Well that just happened. He tried to smile tried to keep it light like he always did. “Um… yeah. Okay” he said with his voice catching slightly. “Guess we’re both having trouble finding the right words, huh?” He looked at her nervously. The corner of his mouth quirked up just a touch. Then he added, “I’m really going to miss you.”

And that was it. He let it hang there, clumsy but completely honest. Just Mikey, standing next to her on the train. Queueing to leave for home. Feeling a million things he didn’t quite have the words for yet except for I’ll miss you. That much, he knew.

Interacting with: @Mikey Forville Mentioning: N/A Date: 06/31/25

Word Count: 217

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Avery nearly pulled away from Mikey in embarrassment as he sat there. Rigid as a board while she hugged him. She probably should have asked him before she jumped in and gave him a full-blown hug. Avery hoped that she hadn't just made things even more awkward between them. She really enjoyed his company and didn't want him to think that she was crazy. Eventually he softened and melted into the hug. Just holding her there. She was surprised. The last time anyone had ever hugged her like this was when she had to say goodbye to her real home in Wales. Dylan had hugged her with tears in his eyes right before her mother had dragged her away never to return until now. Once their hug had broken, the look on Mikey's face caused Avery to blush and look down at the ground in embarrassment. What had she been thinking? Was she even thinking? "I-I'm so sorry about that. . ." Avery stuttered out. Avery smiled and gave Mikey a short nod when he made a comment about neither of them having the right words to say. It was true. She really didn't know what to say after a hug like that. "I'm really going to miss you too." Avery whispered out after she finally found her voice.

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The words I will miss you lingered in his mind like a persistent song you cant get out of your head. He thought he ought to say something. However, what? I appreciate the hug. I apologize for spending the first three seconds standing there like a stunned rabbit. Maybe I'll write you awful jokes every week until we meet again next year. Instead, he managed a little smile, scuffed his shoe toe against the floor and cleared his throat. "Well, so For now, I suppose this is where we say our goodbyes." Suddenly self conscious, he pushed his hair back from his forehead to try to hide the slight crack in his voice that came with saying goodbye.

He gave her another look, and when his eyes locked with hers, his cheeks turned slightly pink. "Well, I hope you have a good summer. And I will definitely write." He laughed a little, but it was clear that he meant it. He moved his bag over his shoulder and looked out at the parents gathered on the platform. The idea of spending months apart from her made his heart skip a beat. It seemed excessively lengthy. "I'm really glad I met you this year, Avery," he blurted out almost spontaneously. He spoke quietly but truthfully. "Like... really happy."

With a sheepish smile, he glanced back at her after glancing down at his shoes once more. In any case. “Please remember me.” He spoke almost in a whisper to himself. It was as if he were afraid that if he spoke too loudly the words might be lost. Then, with a fluttery, strange, hopeful ache in his chest for which he had not found the right words to describe yet, he waved to her. The kind of wave you give when you don't really want to say goodbye, and turned to go toward the platform where his dad should be waiting to take him back to Liverpool.

Interacting with: @Mikey Forville Mentioning: N/A Date: 06/31/25

Word Count: 202

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Avery nodded. The right words unable to form on her lips. Honestly, she didn't know what to say. Thought he train ride had been short, so much had happened between them. Leaving her even more confused than before. What was there to say? What could she say that wouldn't make things even more awkward? That she didn't know, so she just stayed silent. Avery smiled at him and nodded before saying, "I'm glad I met you too." Those were the only words she said before she watched him leave the compartment and head towards the station where they would go their separate ways. Their only form of communication being through owls they would send back and forth over the summer. She whispered the words, "I'll never forget you." as she followed him out of the compartment and began her walk towards the station and the crowds. Once she was on the station, she would need to find her best friend and father then leave the platform and board another train that would finally take her home. Though, she knew the second she stepped off the train that her life would change over the summer. And it probably wouldn't be for the better.

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