Kenzie Novak (howtobeme) wrote in the_dome, @ 2013-06-01 11:59:00 |
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Entry tags: | 03-31-2017, avery, avery and gabe, gabe |
Girl Related Advice
Who: Avery and Gabe
When: Evening
Where: O'Reilly's Bar & Brewery
Warnings: Drinking
Gabe arrived at O’Reilly’s promptly at 8 o’clock, though the second he stepped into the pub he felt out of place. They served food, but he’d never eaten there, and to his eyes he felt younger than everyone. It wasn’t necessarily true, though; it was just a matter of comfort. Usually when he walked into a place he’d never been before, he would scout for zombies and secure all the exits. In this case, his eyes scanned the pub, looking for Avery, sure she was about somewhere.
Avery had arrived a few minutes earlier and promptly took a seat at a small table in corner as far away from the bar as possible. The last thing she wanted was for her family to embarrass her, even if this wasn't a date. When Gabe began looking for her, Avery had ordered a beer already, more than a little happy to have someone who would actually have a drink with her. The problem with drinking at the family pub was having said family watching and limiting her, but Avery supposed she could work around them if need be. She was pretty good at improvisation. Spotting Gabe, Avery lifted her hand in a wave to catch his attention.
It made sense to Gabe that she would be tucked in the back, trying to get a bit of privacy in her family’s pub. Even if she was allowed to drink, he knew family could be nosey. They were likely to ask questions, want to know who he was and if she was seeing him, and even if the answers weren’t exciting, they could still be annoying. Heading back to her, Gabe smiled and slid into the other side of the booth. “Hey,” he said. “Have you ordered anything yet? I know nothing about beer, so I’m depending on your recommendation.”
"I'm not as knowledgeable as some of my family when it comes to beer, but I know the stuff they brew is pretty good from the sips I've had here and there." Avery thought it might be cool to try and help out with the actual brewing sometime, if only to know exactly how it's done. "If you want to have a sip of mine when it gets here to help decide, you can." Avery grinned on her side of the booth. "We'll get you something light so you make it home all tight, how's that?"
“That works for me,” Gabe smiled, glad that she would offer. If she hadn’t, he would’ve ended up picking something randomly, though if he didn’t like hers then he’d probably do that anyways. At least he’d had an occasional sip here and there, enough to know what beer generally tasted like. “So long as I make it home,” he said. “I’m supposed to text someone where I get there. Don’t let me forget!”
Avery folded her arms on top of the table, amused. "What if I forget? That's lot of pressure for a girl in my shoes. Should I assume it's your mom?" Avery knew Mrs. Bloom worked a lot of hours, but she had no idea how close Gabe was to his mother, and if she knew he was out at the local bar tonight. With how lax some things were in the dome, Avery didn’t know if she would even care or not, as long as he was responsible.
“My mom wants me to knock on her door, not text her,” Gabe laughed. “Claire’s the one that wants me to text her. I’d ask the same of her. She’s my best friend. Maybe my girlfriend. I’m not sure.” He really didn’t know social protocols well enough to know the difference. “I seriously doubt you want to hear about my personal drama.” He also wasn’t sure she could keep her mouth shut, which was something he pondered as Avery’s drink arrived at the table.
Raising a blonde brow, Avery nearly replied, but was interrupted when her beer was set on the table in front of her. She slid it carefully across the table toward Gabe for him to take a sip and decide if he wanted something similar, or different. "My family is pretty damn big, so I'm used to hearing about personal drama. Lay it on me, I don't mind. How are you not sure if she's your girlfriend? Usually that's something that requires some kind of clarification, or whatever, right?" That's what Avery assumed, anyway. It wasn't like she was an expert on the rules, but it made sense to her.
“I guess she’s not really my girlfriend, but maybe the girl I’m dating, but haven’t actually taken on a date yet,” Gabe tried to explain before taking a sip of Avery’s beer. He didn’t know what kind it was, but it was good enough for him. He’d order himself one the next time the waitress came by. “See, I have two really close friends, Ren and Claire. We all made it through the zombie shit together. I live with my mom and they live next door. So it feels like I’ve known both of them forever. The other day Ren told me that Claire liked me. And then we kinda made out. But now I asked Claire out on a date and I really don’t want her to find out what happened with Ren because I don’t care about her like I do about Claire. And I really need a drink,” Gabe sighed, flagging down the waitress. To hell with waiting.
She did her best to keep up with Gabe’s personal drama ramble, and she took her beer back and sipped it while she listened. Avery glanced over at the waitress who noted Gabe’s arm up and then she smiled again before leaning back against her chair. She didn't bother mentioning that she knew Ren. Avery had no intention of saying anything unless Gabe wanted her to. "Okay, so... you’ve got two girl friends, one you like, and one you like. And you made out with the one you like, but then asked out the one you like.” Was this what high school was really supposed to be like? Avery pushed her hair behind her ear and contemplated the problem for a moment. "So... do you want like, my advice? Or do you just need someone to vent to?" Because Avery could totally give him girl related advice, seeing as how she was one.
“Advice would be welcome,” Gabe said, turning to quickly place his order before focusing back on Avery. “They’re my closest friends. I don’t really have any close guy friends. I’m pretty sure I’ve seriously screwed up, even if it hasn’t blow up yet. I just don’t know when it will or how bad things will be when it does.” If he could take it all back, he would, but that wasn’t an option. Instead he just had to hope for the best, which meant hoping Ren kept her mouth shut.
After another drink of her beer, because she sure as hell wasn't going to waste it,
Avery licked her lips and kept her fingers wrapped around it. "Okay, so... let me ask you something before I agree that it's going to blow up in your face. Why'd you make out with Ren if she told you that Claire liked you, and you thought you liked Claire?" Avery was guessing it had something to do with Gabe having a dick, because most guys thought with that brain rather than the one that did all the real thinking.
“It really didn’t happen exactly like that,” Gabe sighed. “It was more like, she told me, and then we got to talking about relationships and how neither of us had really been in one. And then we were talking about having never kissed someone and what if we were bad at it? It was just supposed to be a practice kiss, but then it kept going and suddenly she was in my lap and...” Gabe shrugged, as if that was explanation enough. He’d pretty much lost control the second Ren had straddled him and was thankful his mother had come home when she did, despite his frustration at the time.
Avery nodded, thinking she'd want to be in the lap of a guy who looked like Gabe too, though not at the expense of a friendship. "Ok, well, I guess you've got two options. And those really depend on how well you know Claire? Like, if she would be upset that you kissed Ren, either tell her straight up, you might get points for honesty, especially if you just tell her it was a kiss and leave off the lap part. Or, you can wait and hope she doesn't find out, ever, 'cause if she does and it's not from you, then... Boom!" Avery smacked her hands together and made a loud explosion sound. "I'll just say that as a girl? I'd be hurt, maybe? But that's better than being hurt and pissed. So... Depends on how you really feel about her. And Ren, since she's the one you made out with."
“I think she’d be upset,” Gabe said, not even having to think on that question. “She’d want to know why and I just don’t have a good reason.” Except that the opportunity was there and he wasn’t entirely positive he had other options. Just because Ren said Claire was interested in him didn’t make it true. If he’d had any idea that he’d have a date with Claire a day later, he’d not have done it. “So when do I tell her?” he asked. “We haven’t even had our first date, and I’m pretty sure that telling her will ruin it. But I think you’re right about the longer I wait, so... I don’t have a lot of good options, do I?”
It was kind of sweet, in a weird way, that Gabe seemed so worried about it. Some guys were just dicks and didn't seem to care about what kind of consequences their actions had. Swallowing another sip of beer, Avery realized she needed to pace herself or she'd probably pass out in the booth later. "You have options." Avery corrected with a small, sympathetic smile. "But they all kind of end badly, you know? You don't have to tell her. You and Ren could, like, probably talk about it and agree to keep quiet? But then you gotta hope you never piss of Ren to where she'd tell. And avoid the truth serum!" Avery lifted her beer glass, her smile widening. "You wanna come clean, tell her. Don't worry about your first date, or ruining it. If she likes you enough, she'll forgive you and get over it. Besides... technically? Did you do anything wrong? It wasn't like you guys were dating yet." Pausing, Avery had more of her beer, impressed that she was so damn insightful.
Ren had agreed not to tell Claire, but Gabe knew how reckless Ren could be, so who knew what might come spilling out of her mouth. She wouldn’t do it to hurt Claire, but she and Gabe had had enough blow up fights in the past that he couldn’t count on her not to use it as ammunition at some point in the future. “I’m not sure I’ll be lucky enough to never piss Ren off ever again,” Gabe said with a half laugh. What Avery was saying was true-- it wasn’t like Gabe had cheated, since he and Claire weren’t dating yet, but he still thought it would hurt her. He wasn’t sure why; he just knew it would. “If it were you, would you be upset?”
Avery really couldn't say anything about using hurtful things against someone in the midst of a fight, because she had done it one more than one occasion in the past, so she couldn't exactly try to reassure Gabe that Ren wouldn't. Brushing her thumb across a bit of condensation on her glass, Avery thought about his question for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, probably. Uh... let's say you've got a best guy friend? We'll name him Fred. And you really like Claire... so she asks you out. Then you find out that Fred made out with her recently. Since Fred's not real, maybe it's hard to put yourself in her shoes, but it gives you something to think about? Plus, I mean, sounds like Ren knew Claire liked you and got on your lap anyway." Avery shrugged. "But again, this is all, like, my opinion. Claire might not have the same mindset as me at all, you know? Maybe she'll just blow it off?"
Gabe’s beer arrived and he drank as Avery talked, reminding himself that drinking the whole thing at once wouldn’t solve any problems. Some people seemed to think that, from the way they drank, but he was pretty sure the problem would still be there in the morning. “I guess I’d want to know how Claire felt about Fred. And if Fred knew that I liked her, then made out with her anyways, I probably wouldn’t trust the them together.” Shit. That was bad, but he could easily see it going that direction. “Yeah, I don’t know what Ren was thinking, or why, and I really can’t guess,” he sighed. “So that’s what’s been going on with me in the last twenty-four hours. Anything you want to talk about?”
Avery nodded, because he pretty much caught on. Though Avery knew the three of them had been close for a long time, so maybe it was something that wouldn't create any huge problems if they talked about it, or whatever. But Avery couldn't be sure. She was just a bystander to the whole thing. At his question, Avery swallowed her drink and shook her head before smiling. "Nothing as interesting as what you came here with. I'd ask you if you planned on signing up for the bachelor auction, but sounds like you've got enough female problems. I promise not to add to them." She lifted her beer in a mock salute. "I think I might try and hold onto my single status a bit longer. All that relationship stuff sounds too complicated."
“Last week I would’ve been all over it,” Gabe answered, just now remembering the bachelor auction. “Now, no way. I can’t even imagine how it would go down if someone other than Claire bid on me. She’s kind of insecure to begin with, so I really don’t want to add to it.” Which was a big part of the reason he didn’t want to tell her about Ren. Ugh. There was no good answer. “I don’t think the relationship stuff is complicated so long as you don’t do what I did. Not the smartest move on my part. But I was curious, you know? I feel like I missed out on all the typical stuff you experience growing up normally.”
"Smart move," she said, about the auction. That would have probably made things worse. Especially since Gabe was stupidly good looking. He would have had plenty of girls bidding on him. Avery's lips twitched into a faint smile. "A lot of us missed out. Really sucks too. And it's not like there's a ton of opportunities out there to have those experiences now, you know? So, I kinda get why you did it. It was just probably the wrong person to do it with. Ugh, I really hate thinking about all the crap we have to deal with. We don't get any any if that coming of age stuff."
Definitely the wrong person, Gabe thought. If he’d been smart, he’d have waited, but it felt like he’d been waiting to kiss a girl for so long that he couldn’t pass up the chance. Now he realized how close at hand the girl he wanted was and he might have already messed things up. “The only reason I really go to school is for the social aspect. I mean, I know we need to know what they’re teaching us, but I like it because it feels normal. We need a dance or something, though. I’m sure the girls would like a prom.” He’d never been to a dance himself. He’d never had a chance.
"Oh yeah, I get the normal thing. And honestly, I probably wouldn't know half my friends if I didn't go every now and then." Glancing down into her glass, she noticed it was almost gone. Maybe she could get another. Though it was probably best to wait on Gabe, right? Or maybe he wouldn't care since Avery was making sure the drinks were on the house. She waved for another glass before smiling at him. "A dance is a little less terrifying a prospect than an auction. Though prom would probably be a casual thing, you know? Not like you can rent tuxedos and buy dresses anymore. Not like before." Avery arched a brow teasingly. "Aw, Gabe, do you want a dance too? It could be romantic and all that cheesy stuff, huh?"
“Hey, I think it’d be fun!” Gabe laughed. “Even if it was super cheesy, at least we’d have one, though you’re probably right about dressing up. Maybe we just need to a have a big school party. I’d suggest a lock-in, but considering the current state of things, I don’t think anyone wants to be locked in anywhere else.” Being locked in their school wouldn’t be near as much fun as he imagined it might be, which was why he was leaning towards big school party. Maybe down at the lake. It was just something fun to do, something that broke up the monotony of their lives.
“I think a party sounds like fun. No pressure to ask people to go with you, or finding a dress.” Avery would never admit it, but something like prom was just one of those things they would miss out on. And it sucked, but that was life these days. “But being able to do something without adults lingering around... you should set it up.” She grinned and tilted her glass in his direction, since it was his idea and all, and she sucked at organizing anything. “If we can’t have the super cheesy dance, we’ll get the crazy, wild party instead.”
“I think I could manage that,” Gabe grinned, then finished off his first beer. He’d never planned a big party, but he was confident he could if he wanted to. He liked the idea of the teens being able to get away and let loose without having to fear zombies or the surrounding adults. He understood why they were all so protective, but that didn’t mean he didn’t get sick of it. “So if I did plan a party, would we just make it BYOB? Cause wild, crazy party has beer written all over it. Also, after how many of these should I stop if I don’t want to be miserable tomorrow?”
Laughing, Avery sat back as her second glass to set in front of her and the empty one taken away. She knew Lochlan was watching her, and would probably keep her limit at two, despite what she may want. That was okay. If she got totally wasted, it was likely she would make a pass at Gabe herself, or end up vomiting on his shoes. Neither sounded overly appealing with the combination of alcohol, and the latter didn’t sound appealing in any circumstance. “I’d say BYOB, sure. I can always see if I can get some beer to bring along, but my brother would probably use that as an excuse to come play chaperone, which would just be annoying. But I’ll see what I can do.” Avery nodded toward Gabe’s empty glass. “And as for that, it all depends on your tolerance level. How’re you feeling after only one? I usually stop once I start giggling at everything, because if I keep going, who knows what I’ll do.”
“We should make a rule-- no one over twenty admitted,” Gabe grinned. He realized that included a few people who were technically not in high school, but he didn’t want to exclude a nineteen year old from the chance to socialize either. “I don’t mind people a few years older, but I don’t want someone policing me like a parent.” He got enough of that at home, despite surviving the zombie apocalypse himself. His mother would always be his mother. “I’m feeling good. Kinda fuzzy, but not at the giggling point. If I start giggling, it’s time to take me home, for pretty much the same reason. You don’t need me dancing on the table or something equally ridiculous.”
“Totally a good rule. That’ll keep annoying, watchful eyes away. Or away enough.” If someone wanted to crash the party, they probably could, but Avery didn’t know many people who would want to hang out with a bunch of teenagers. She was already feeling excited, because a party was something new, and different, and something she figured she would never get to experience. Avery sipped her drink and then nodded, trying to keep from grinning with beer in her mouth. After swallowing, she laughed and tapped her finger against her glass. “Fuzzy is good. Fuzzy is when it sort of leads into awesome. I promise to get you home when you start giggling. Although if you dance on the table when you’re drunk, I may have to see that. Or at least see what you’re capable of. That might make the party a lot more promising when it comes to being entertaining, or something.”
“I’d really like to avoid dancing on things here,” Gabe grinned. “Too many people around that would report back to my mother. Now, at the party? Always a possibility.” He was all over getting away for a night and just being teens with nothing else to worry about. It felt like he’d been fending for his life as long as he could remember, and then he’d come into a world where he was working five, sometimes six, days a week, farming. He’d never dreamed of being a farmer, that was for sure. So being a normal teen for one night? Gabe was willing to bet they all needed it.