Once Bitten and Twice Shy Solo Finished

Interacting with: N/A Mentioning: N/A Date: 04/08/25

Word Count: 1011

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Avery knew the day the other schools arrived that Mateo hadn't shown up. She was surprised and confused at first. Why had he not come? Did he say anything about not being able to make it? Hundreds of questions flooded Avery's mind as she played through her recent memories to see if Mateo had hinted or said anything about not being able to come. From what she remembered, he hadn't said a word. Actually, he had seemed excited the last time she had talked to him when they were in France. Actually, he had been the one to ask her to the ball. That's what hurt. She had been so excited to finally go to a ball. This time she actually had a reason to go, but now? Now she didn't really have a reason. Though, if Dylan had come, then maybe she would have fun. She did remember Lya mentioning about coming, so maybe she would be able to enjoy herself, but it wouldn't be the same. It never would be. Avery kicked herself internally. She should have been smarter and thought things through before diving in and agreeing to go to the ball with Mateo. She barely knew him at the time, and she only said yes because he was the first boy to ever ask her to go to a ball. It was her own ignorance and the fact that Mateo didn't stick to his word that she was know in this situation. Avery sighed and leaned her head against the wall of the courtyard. Things had been rough the past couple months for her. She could barely stand on her own two feet with the weight that had been pressing down on her shoulders. She was hoping to get a break. No. Escape from all that had been happening to her at the ball. She needed a break. No matter what she did, the pain and suffering constantly filled her mind. Enveloping her into a darkness she couldn't break out of, and she was the only one that knew about it. The one good thing that had come out of all her life problems was that she was finally on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Her training and pain had finally paid off and landed her as the backup seeker for the team. She smiled to herself at that achievement. She had always wanted to be a seeker, and now she finally had the chance to prove that she was a valuable player and that even though she was a first year, she would not be easily defeated. Avery walked over to a bench to sit down. She pulled her knees close to her chest and buried her face into them. Even though the courtyard was empty, she didn't want any passerby to see her crying and question her. All she wanted at the moment was to have some alone time to think and be alone for the moment. That's when the tears came. Avery couldn't even remember the last day she hadn't cried. So much had happened that every night she cried herself to sleep. The news of her grandfather possibly dying still heavy on her heart. Not only that thought was weighing her down, but there was another thought. How was she going to tell Dylan? He had been just as close to their grandfather as she had been. Like her, he hadn't seen him since the day that everything went wrong. The day that everything changed and Avery lost part of herself. A day she would never forget. Thanks to her mother. After what felt like forever of crying, Avery lifted her head from where it rested on her knees. She hadn't even realized other people had walked into the courtyard. She quickly wiped her eyes and acted as if everything was normal even though everything was far from normal for her at the moment. All she wanted to do was curl up into her bed with Jasper, but she knew she had better things to do. Things that would be a lot more productive than lying around and crying. Avery thought for a moment about what she would do. She obviously couldn't stay in the courtyard. Not when many curious eyes were boring into her soul and trying to pick her apart. She knew that all they wanted to know was why she was crying, but she wasn't willing to talk to anyone about it. Not yet. Not when the pain of being abandoned was still fresh in her mind. She had to go somewhere else. Somewhere quiet and peaceful where she could be alone. It was at that moment she realized where she could go. Avery stood up quickly. She had probably startled someone in the courtyard because of how abruptly she moved, but she didn't care at the moment. The only thought that was running through her head was get to the forest. There, she would be alone from prying eyes and people she knew just wanted to help even though she didn't want help. Didn't need it. Or so she thought. Avery quickly gathered up her things and walked out of the courtyard. She took the long path up the flights of stairs and made sure to dump everything, but her cloak into her dorm. Jasper had peeked his head up from where he was sleeping in confusion, but Avery ignored him. She had to get out of there. Once she had made sure all she had was her cloak and wand, she ran for the woods. Not having a single thought about who may follow her, or how much danger she was putting herself in for going into the woods alone again. All she knew was that she needed to be free. She needed to stop for a moment and be alone before she ended up getting destroyed by the weight of responsibility pressing down on her. Threatening to destroy her if she let it get to her. She couldn't let that happen. Not again. Not now. Not ever.

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