As soon as Avery arrives home, she dumps her stuff in the house, jumps into her car and drives over to Everly's place. Nolan had wanted to stay and talk with her, but Avery insisted that she go speak with her best friend first.

Nolan agreed, saying that he'd stop by later on and Avery was secretly relieved.

She realizes on the drive over, that she still hasn't had a chance to ask Nolan if Everly could possibly accompany them on a few jobs, but that will have to wait until later. Right now, the most important thing is making up with Everly.

Avery makes it to Everly's apartment in ten minutes, flat. That's the quickest trip she's ever made. Avery parks, climbing out of her car, phone in hand as she makes her way up to the front entrance to Everly's apartment building.

As soon as Avery's inside the lobby, she dials up Everly's number.

"This better be you calling to tell me that Nolan agreed to let me join you," Everly snaps.

"Sadly, no," Avery replies. "This is me calling to say I'm at your apartment building and heading up to your floor."

"In that case," Everly's tone takes on a haughty sound. "I'm not letting you in."

"Oh for Pete's sake!" Avery marches over to the elevator, pushing the button with much more force than necessary and waiting impatiently for it to arrive.

As soon as it does, Avery gets on, pushing the button for the fifth floor and rides up.

"I'm already on your floor," Avery tells Everly, who apparently has decided to let Avery inside her apartment. Avery squeezes past her best friend, wrinkling her nose. It's plain that Everly hasn't showered in a while.

"If you're here to gloat," Everly says in the same haughty tone. "You can just go."

"I came so we could talk shit out," Avery says, surveying the mess in Everly's living room. There are empty pizza boxes, several empty tissue boxes and a couple of empty boxes of donuts, along with some Styrofoam cups, which clearly held once hot coffee.

"Who died?" Avery asks, wrinkling her nose again.

"I was mourning our dearly departed friendship," Everly retorts, returning to her nest on the couch, flopping down and turning wounded eyes on Avery.

"You're being ridiculous," Avery says impatiently. "I told you, we're still friends."

"Could have fooled me," Everly says glumly. Avery carefully picks her way through the mountain of trash on the floor, pushing aside some boxes and gingerly sitting down.

"Perhaps it's slipped your cluttered mind," Avery says crisply. "But it was your idea for me to get involved with this paranormal crap."

"I wanted you to interview them, maybe tag along on one or two jobs. Not start screwing the boss and practically living with him!" Everly sounds like she's going to start crying.

"Since when should you care if Nolan and I want to date?" Avery asks irritably. "I'm not dating him because he's a paranormal expert. That's not part of the agreement, for crying out loud."

Everly sighs loudly, reaching for some tissues to wipe her nose with.

"I guess I'm just feeling kinda..jealous. Here you are, going on all these adventures, having fun, while I'm stuck here, alone with nothing to do."

"Oh, sweetie. I'm sorry. I am. I wasn't trying to push you out. I never even dreamed that this would become so important to me."

"It has, though." Everly's gaze is now accusatory. "You spend all your free time, going on ghost hunts instead of doing shit with me."

"I'll back off some," Avery tells her friend. "Nolan will understand."

"He might," Everly says. "Or he might dump your ass."

"Seriously?" Avery frowns disapprovingly at Everly. "We're adults here. Let's act like it, huh?"

Everly sighs. Avery watches as her friend fidgets with the blanket she's pulled over herself.

"Okay. I'll forgive you. This time." Avery smiles, leaning over and hugging Everly, who hugs her back.

"Thank you. And I'll be speaking with Nolan this afternoon about you joining us, okay?"

Everly nods.

"Oh, and by the way?" Avery adds, smirking.

"Yeah?"

"Lennox is interested in you." Everly's eyes widen.

"He is?" Avery grins, nodding.

"Oh yes. He was asking me if you were seeing anyone. I told him you weren't."

"Oh my God!" Everly squeals, looking happier than Avery's seen her in weeks.

"He is pretty cute," Everly says dreamily. Avery laughs.

"I knew you were interested."

"How?" Everly asks.

"Um, duh," Avery says. "Because you were flirting with him." Everly chuckles.

"Jeez. An hour ago, I was feeling pretty low. Now I feel like I'm on top of the world."

"That's great." Avery stands up, heading for the door. "Also, just one more thing." Everly looks puzzled.

"What?"

"You might wanna take a shower."

****

"What do you think?" Nolan has stopped in, just as he said he would. As soon as Avery thought it was appropriate to bring up Everly's request to tag along with the group, she asked Nolan.

"You can vouch for her?" Nolan asks. Avery nods, making an 'x' motion over her heart.

"Absolutely."

"You know how I feel about that particular subject," Nolan adds.

"I do," Avery replies. "And I completely understand where you're coming from. You have to be a little choosey about who you let in."

"Reputation is everything," Nolan murmurs. "It can be destroyed in a heartbeat."

"Unfortunately, yes," Avery agrees. "But Everly understands that this is something serious and she can't just say or do whatever."

"True." Nolan scratches his beard. Avery doesn't mean to distract him, but she leans in, gently kissing him. Nolan grins, taking Avery's hand and just holding it.

"Did you think you'd help sway my decision by kissing me?" Nolan teases. Avery smiles.

"No. I just felt like kissing you."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. You have very kissable lips." Nolan chuckles, shaking his head, a pink flush creeping up his neck and coloring his cheeks.

"You're too kind," he murmurs. Avery leans in, stealing another kiss. Nolan's gaze darkens with longing.

"All right. Your friend may join us for one investigation. If she behaves herself, I'll consider letting her tag along on a few more jobs. How does that sound?"

"I think it sounds reasonable," Avery says. Nolan leans in, stealing his own kiss from Avery, who lifts her free hand, caressing Nolan's beard.

"Great. I'll let you give her the good news."

****

"He did?" Everly is staring at her friend, hardly able to comprehend what Avery's saying.

"Yes," Avery says. "Nolan agreed that you could come on one investigation."

"Oh my God Oh my God Oh my God!" Everly claps her hands, grinning. "That's fantastic! I cannot wait!"

"You have to behave yourself," Avery warns. "Nolan's only agreeing to this because of my recommendation. You can't screw this up for either of us, you got that?"

"I promise!" Everly throws her arms around Avery, nearly squeezing the breath out of her.

"Oof! Careful! I can't go if I'm unconscious!" Everly releases her friend, grinning.

"Sorry! So! When are we going?"

"Whenever Nolan says so," Avery responds.

"I hope it's soon!" Avery studies her friend. She hopes so, too. Before Everly spontaneous combusts.

☆Fourteen☆

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