After the night at the Powerhouse, she sees the mystery man around some more. Once going into the library as he was walking out, twice from the bus, as Avery looked out of the window while he was walking somewhere with purpose. And once, when she was sitting at the Ivy. That one was the most upsetting.

It was almost a week after the first time Avery had seen him, and hasn't been able to think about much else. She had considered talking to Felix. But first of all, she didn't know if he was really the ex boyfriend Felix had mentioned. And also, it seemed pointless to stress Felix on his vacation, while he was already not having the best time. There was nothing he could do anyways.

And who knew, maybe he was here to apologize. For being a dick and not holding Felix's hand when he was panicking in public. God, maybe she could trip him next time she saw him somewhere and get away with it.

It was at The Ivy when she finally heard his voice, making polite conversation with the barista. He ordered a latte and left, not without looking around attentively. He sounded... Well, cool. Like he was on top of things and had no worries. Calm, collected, if a bit careless. He was wearing a cream linen button-down, which Avery would have liked if it was on anybody but him.

After every encounter her mind was running wild. She tried not to think of them together. Him with Felix; the babbling, blushing, beautiful Felix. Always asking to be hugged and held and touched. Smiling like the sun. Felix who waved at the babies that stared at him in awe, who pointed all the dogs out to Avery each and every time and made lunch and dinner and remembered every little thing about Avery.

Yes she is jealous, of course she is, of everyone who has gotten or will get to be with Felix. But more than that she is confused. How could anyone mistreat him, or not give him the world. He asks for so little, and doesn't expect to get even that, and is always suprised when he is cared for.

And to think that someone could be so careless with him. When he is so kind and vulnerable and gentle and special.

*

Avery keeps busy, counting down the days until Felix comes back.

She meets with Olly a couple times. He pesters her about the summer and she looks out the window, now gray skies and rain, and tells him some of it. About the day they went to Ikea, or the times they sat at The Ivy, but there is nothing more she can say.

Felix has been so open with her, told her a lot about himself, what he fears, what he loves, and more than it being private, it all feels so precious, Avery wonders if she will ever consider sharing it with anyone. When she can't even bring herself to think about it in depth.

"What is that face?" she snaps after the millionth time. "Everytime I talk about Felix you're looking at me all grandma-like. Don't make it weird."

"Seems like you had a really good time with him -"

"I did -"

"And he was a good friend to you and -"

"And? Are you jealous?"

"Your eyes change when you talk about him."

"Olly," she sighs "you see two bags of garbage next to one another and think they're in love. Sometimes people are just friends or there is no epic love story, like, maybe stop writing rom-coms in your head?"

He keeps smiling at her across the table.

"So... Are you in love with him?"

Avery asks for the check.

*

Felix had said he would be back after two weeks and it is two weeks now. Yet, he hasn't said a word about his return. Not that Avery asked. But maybe she kinda hinted at it.

Because Jeff is back and it makes Avery upset. More than it should. He is back and so are most of his friends. Their friends. Jeff and Felix's. God. It's a thing. It really is, they are friends. Good friends, maybe best friends. Which is just strange because whatever vibe Felix gives off, Jeff is the opposite. Avery is probably hundred percent wrong about this because she doesn't know him at all, but Jeff is always - he is just - he seems calculating. Like he always has a plan and is guarded for all the wrong reasons.

It is all baseless assuming and prejudices. After all Jeff is filthy rich. He works for his father's billion dollar company, has a flashy car and all that.

Everything Avery would like to have without a moment's hesitation. To be born into that life, to have never known anything else would be the greatest gift.

But as it is, Avery despises Jeff and keeps seeing him around.

It is a Friday, and Avery is at the Powerhouse again, overcome with the most mundane wave of deja vu. Same crowd, same terrible songs, same drinks. Olly gives her a tequila shot and opens his mouth to say something but then he looks out at the crowd and stops, his eyebrows coming together.

"What the -" he mumbles quietly.

Avery turns around and there he is. Jeff. Sitting in his booth, surrounded by friends and his girlfriend sitting next to him. It is all very typical. What's out of the ordinary, however, is the man next to him.

The X guy. Felix's possible ex.

He is sitting next to Jeff, talking to him animatedly while they're all smiling and sipping their drinks. Jeff claps the guy on the back and laughs loudly.

"I guess all is well in the rich-man world" Olly shrugs.

Avery swallows. "I guess... I mean if he is an old friend of Felix's, then Jeff probably knows him."

"Yikes."

"What?"

"I mean yikes, that guy was saying all kinds of shit about Felix, and Jeff is supposed to be his friend and now they are pals?"

"Wait, wait, what do you mean he was saying shit - like what? What did he say?" Avery asks, her heart beating in her throat. For no reason. Why does she even care?

"He didn't say it to me. I heard him talking to Damien -"

"Lord!"

"Exactly. And Damien was like being vaguely disgusting about Felix in his own unique way and I was trying not to spill a drink on him and this guy was laughing along and agreeing. I thought - some friend you are."

Avery listens with disgust. Damien used to be good friends with that group and has always been an asshole. Some time last year they had a falling out and they had stopped being friends. Since then Damien has been bad mouthing each and every single one of his ex friends as they paid him no mind. His main target was Jeff. And of course Felix, simply because he was the one most annoyed and bothered by Damien's petty antics.

So this new guy talking to the devil incarnate couldn't be anything good. And now Jeff seemed delighted at his company.

"It's none of our business," Avery says to Olly finally. They are both still watching the scene in front of them with twisted faces.

"And thank God for that," Olly tears his eyes away from them. "Even their drama is stilted and shitty."

Avery can't help but laugh.

It reminds her of Felix. He would act like he was over something, but keep coming back to it and be bothered in the most adorable way.

The next day Avery stays home. Everything is too heavy and bothersome.

She's had enough of all the things she heard the night before. Not just from Olly either. Most everyone was talking about the same thing. And it made Avery's stomach churn, every assumption and rude comment made about Felix's possible relationship with this man.

Apparently, everyone had talked with him at some point. And it was upsetting to think that a couple months ago Avery would have laughed along. All in good fun.

But now she remembers Felix sitting in her bed with tears in his eyes, talking about how he was stupid for wanting to be loved.

And then Felix calls.

She jumps, standing up instinctively. She stares at her phone for a few seconds in shock before pressing the accept button with shaky hands.

"Felix?"

"Avery," he says and right away, it sounds like he is about to cry.

"Are you okay? Where are you?"

"I'm here," he says.

"Here? You're back?"

"No. I'm here, still in Cyprus."

"Oh."

"I'm so sorry."

"Don't. Are you okay? Is everything okay?"

"Not really," he says, voice shaking and now Avery is one hundred percent sure he is crying.

"What's wrong?" she asks, scared to hear what he might say.

Felix takes in a shaky breath. "I don't know, it's just - everything. I hate it here, I want to come back."

"What's so bad about it?"

"We keep arguing and -" he exhales, "I have to stay here some more. I'm sorry, I really don't want to."

"I'm sorry it sucks."

"I have to go, I'm so sorry."

"Okay, text me when you can, yeah?"

"I will."

They stay silent for a second, which really feels like an hour after the panicked, frantic conversation they just had.

"I -" Felix starts. "I'm - nevermind I'm sorry, I gotta go, okay? Bye."

Then he hangs up before Avery can say anything.