Page 125 of Reaching Avery
I slammed the door in his face and leaned against it, smiling. He was on the other side, making kissing noises and saying Mav’s name in a high-pitched voice, followed by sex noises that’d put all those porno girls to shame.
Rolling my eyes, I stepped away from the door, discarded my clothes, and showered.
***
I wasn’t much of an English person. Math and science were more my thing. I liked reading—especially theHouse of Nightbooks that I’d already read books four, five, and six and started on the seventh—but actually learning about literature, grammar, and all of that? No. It didn’t hold my interest.
As Mr. Harper—aka Dan as he didn’t mind being called—lectured about Dante’sThe Divine Comedythat day in English class, I zoned.
It was a week into December. Thanksgiving break had passed way too fast. However, it had been unexpectedly amazing.
When Karen had found out my family didn’t have Thanksgiving plans, she’d invited us over to her house. So I got to spend the holiday with Mav, and our families had come together for that special day. I’d never had such an extravagant meal as that, but the company had been the best part.
My mom had helped Karen in the kitchen that morning, preparing for the big dinner, while me, Mav, and Declan had played video games.
Mav’s dad had probably been the most surprising part of the day, though. He’d lacked all of his judgmental behavior and had seemed to genuinely enjoy visiting with us. He gave some odd looks to my mom that peeved me a little, but other than that, nothing had gone wrong.
It had been a great day followed by an even greater night—for various reasons.
I blushed as I remembered.
“How about you, Avery?” Dan asked.
I zeroed in on him, feeling the heat in my cheeks grow even hotter. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear the question.”
“What does Dante’s journey to Hell represent?” Dan repeated, ever so patient.
We’d read the poem in class and discussed it in great detail, but I wasn’t the best at interpreting hidden meanings and all of that.
“He was dead to the world,” I answered, looking down at my desk. I didn’t have that class with Mav, otherwise I would’ve looked at him for the confidence I needed. “Dante basically started at rock bottom. I think before you can rise above your demons and recover, you have to hit that level of pain. Face them.”
“Why do you think that?” Dan asked.
“Because it makes you want something more,” I answered. “The journey through Hell was essential to Dante learning and being able to see how harmful his behavior was. The next level is acceptance of those wrongs and healing.”
Dan started delving deeper into the meaning, and my mind slipped once more.
I was Dante and Maverick was Beatrice. Beatrice had led Dante through the levels of Heaven and given him his first taste of light and hope. Just like Mav had done for me, being the light to my dark.
He’d made me want to be a better person.
“I have an assignment for you guys,” Dan said, drawing my attention back to him. “Dante had his demons, and now I want you to write about yours. Don’t worry. No one will read it except for me. Write what scares you, what you wish you could change. Anything that evokes a strong emotion from you. Make me feel what you feel through your words. It can be as long as you want it to be, but at least a page and a half for the minimum.”
A page and a half? Hell, I could write a book about mine.
He grabbed a marker and wrote the assignment and due date on the board before circling it. December twenty-first: the last day of school before Christmas break. That gave me exactly two weeks to get it written.
After school, I met Maverick at his locker. Right away, he pulled me in for a kiss.
“Easy there, big guy, let’s keep this G rated.”
He chuckled and put his arm around my shoulders. As we walked down the hall, I slipped my arm around his waist. I felt so safe with him.
Even my demons couldn’t reach me.
I had only cut once since the night I told him, and it had been a small episode. Mom had come home early from work one night, and she’d had a mark on her face. I’d been so pissed off that I’d just shut down. Not having a way to talk to Mav, and not wanting to wake up Declan, I’d fallen back into my old ways.
The good that came from that ordeal, though? She told me she was actively searching for another job and would quit the club when she found one.
