Work Text:
desidolia
u still up 2 meet Right
2 talk about him
ThatMostMayo
yep
is it too soon?
we can like. postpone it if you want to
you're not obligated to do that
desidolia
derek liked u. its fine
he wouldnt like some1 that wouldnt be safe 2 meet with
especially if the stupid video from the wifes guy is true
ThatMostMayo
it is!
if you insist
desidolia
i do
Avery tugged on his jacket, knocking on the door again and looking around anxiously. He's not gonna get kidnapped, it'll be fine.
The door finally opens, and Avery sees a stern-faced woman, with black long hair and brown eyes. She stares judgementally at him, it makes him a bit self-conscious.
“.. Eleni will be out soon.” She finally speaks, pausing. “You were one of Derek's friends, weren't you.” It's not exactly a question.
But Avery replies anyway, “Um, yeah I was. Haha.” His laugh is awkward.
He is, usually, much more social than this. But he's been off since, well, new year's. Avery isn't exactly the most popular guy in town, but he does have a lot of friends (or, more accurately, acquaintances).
The woman hums, her lips twitch into a frown as she looks back into the house. “I see.”
They both stand in awkward silence before Avery hears someone running and the woman steps back, letting a teenager almost slam her face into a door.
The younger of the three had short black hair, which had clearly been cut choppily recently, her skin is much paler than he expected, almost paper-white, her face looked a little wild, wide green eyes staring at Avery.
It made him feel even more nervous.
“You,” Eleni started, before taking a deep breath, seemingly thinking better of what she was about to say. “Avery. You're here.” Her voice was quieter as she sent a look to her mom, who just raised an eyebrow at her.
“I sure am.”
Eleni nodded, as if he had just said the most serious thing in the world.
Her mom sighed. “Be back before six, Elle.”
The girl didn't acknowledge it, walking outside and closing the door. She quickly took Avery's hand and began dragging him to the park.
Avery had gotten a grape popsicle, while Eleni chose vanilla ice cream.
They had both found a seat in one of the benches around the park, and had been quiet since. Eleni kicked her legs softly to an unknown beat.
“Derek liked going out.” She suddenly spoke, and Avery tried to not look like he was curious about it. “He sorta stopped when he went to college ‘cos life got busy, but, y'know.”
Avery hums, watching with rising horror as Eleni bit into her ice cream. She’s absolutely insane, Avery thinks.
“Yup.” Her lips wobble and she rubs her eyes, looking like she's on the verge of tears. “He- He took me out to these like. Really nice flower fields.” She sniffles. “I remember the last time we went.. He promised me he'd make more time for me, but college was just. Tough.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.” Eleni's brows furrow, as she bites into the ice cream again a little more irritably. “and, and, he was just so- burnt out! All the time! And after he dropped out I was sorta glad- is that bad? Is it bad that I was happy he dropped out?” She gestures insistently with one hand, face turning worried as she looks at Avery for.. Reassurance? “Because- Because he was just so.. Sad, and tired, and annoyed all the time, I thought he'd relax more after dropping out, but no! He just - sorta closed off more?”
Avery isn't sure what to say to that. “I see.” No, he doesn't, actually. But he's never been particularly clever, so.
“Derek never messaged me either! So I thought I'd give him some space and-” She cuts herself off, actually starting to cry as her face scrunches up. Oh no. Comforting people is one of Avery's worst abilities.
He pats her shoulder gently, as she covers her face with her hands, tears running down her face.
Eleni let's out a loud sob. “I just- I just wanted him to be alright. He wasn't. And he's never gonna be alright again because he's gone!” It's said a little loud, and Avery sweatdrops when a few of the other people in the park look in their direction.
Logically, Eleni is far more important than some random people Avery will likely never get to know, however, being seen is truly embarrassing.
“Hug?” Avery asks, as gently as he can, and Eleni launches herself into him, as he lets out a weak “oof”. He thinks he drops his popsicle, but that's not important right now.
“Derek was- was just! Insufferable! He never told me when things were wrong!” She sobbed into his shoulder, and Avery mourns his shirt for one second before he starts patting her back. “And- and he always pretended everything was fine! And it ruined my videos! And he was only apologetic about that part! Never about not telling me so we could postpone it! No! Just about the video!”
Avery seriously isn't qualified to deal with this.
“There, there.” He comforts, hoping it doesn't sound mocking, still patting her back.
It's, much more information than he expected, Avery thinks, a little hysterical. He was waiting for, like, favourite colours, or what snacks he enjoyed first. And then maybe, just maybe, that part. Grief is weird like that, he supposes.
“I hate him! I hate him so much!” Eleni sobbed. That obviously wasn't true, but Avery was not gonna be the one to point it out.
He, very cautiously, stopped patting her back and put his hand on her shoulder. “Maybe we shouldn't be doing this in public?” Avery offers, as a sign of goodwill. She didn't seem the type who'd like being seen by the whole world while sobbing her eyes out.
Contrary to expectations, however, Eleni quickly gathered herself, drying her eyes with her long sleeves.
“No,” She sniffles. “It's fine. I just- Sorry, I don't know what came over me.” Eleni looked a little embarrassed, quickly putting a little distance between her and Avery, and he remembered just how young she was. It was a heavy burden for someone of her age to carry.
“It's fine.” He replies, cautiously. “I'm sure he wouldn't have wanted you to bottle up your emotions like that, Eleni.”
She nodded. “.. Yeah.”