Chapter 124

Audrey

We all sat up in unison, our eyes wide with shock,

"WHAT?!" 1 practically shouted, then cleared my throat and lowered my voice. "You're... You're not coming to Grayspring in

the fall?"

Avis looked around at our stunned about it for a while now."

"er expression a bit sheepish. "I know it seerns sudden, but I've been thinking

"Why wait so long to tell us?" Betty asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"I thought we were all going to graduate together," Tina practically whispered.

Avis took a deep breath, her small fingers fidgeting with a blade of grass. "I've just always struggled with school," she admitted quietly. "I've always had to drag myself through, barely scraping by with a C average. It just never clicked for me."

"You know you could always come to one of us for tutoring, Gavin said. "Why didn't you ever tell us you were having these issues?"

"I don't know." Avis shrugged. "Shame, I guess. Truthfully, I have had tutors all throughout college. They've never helped much.

She paused, glancing up at us sheepishly again. "I just don't think academia is for me, guys. I thought I had to get through school because it was expected of me, but I never enjoyed it. Not really." "So what are you going to do instead?" I asked.

A small smile played on Avis's lips. "I waited to tell you guys about this just in case it didn't work out, but now that the paperwork has gone through: I'm starting my own tailoring business. And someday, I want to expand into a boutique selling my own handmade clothes."

There was a moment of silence as we all processed this information. Avis pulled out her phone, swiping on the screen a few times until she had pulled up an email. The title read: "Confirmation of LLC: Avis Tailoring."

Finally, Tina was the first to say, "Avis, this is.. Amazing!"

Avis's smile grew wider, and she let out a sigh of relief. "You guys really think so? You're not disappointed in me?"

store. You have a real gift." Tina nodded enthusiastically, her earlier shock replaced by genuine happiness for our friend. "You could

over with tears. "Thank you all so much was so worried you would be disappointed in me for not finishing

disappointed in you for following your dreams? It's the bravest thing anyone

We want you to be happy, not miserable trying to fit into some mold that

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Wed, Sep 18

we can still be friends? Even though I won't be at ayspring?" "Of course

group hug, felt a lump form in my throat as I realized how much I was going to miss seeing Avis every day

my voice mu**ed against someone's shoulder. "And we'll help you get your business started. You're not getting rid of us that

with the finances," Gavin suggested. "Make sure you're not underselling yourself. We'll make

"I can even make you a website if you need

escaped down her cheek. "You guys are the best. I don't know what I'd do without you. I was so scared to tell you, but I should have known

brainstorming ideas for her business, and reminiscing about our summer. Eventually, the sky turned from dim

met Gavin's from across the hall. He

the only one who had friends who supported her. We all had each other's

awe. I was still at the airport, but already it was everything I had

the past few minutes,

protests that I could just take a cab to my hotel. Part

imagined he would say. "We're safe now. We can

of our different statuses at Grayspring, of course. But in just a couple of weeks, I would officially be a senior. We'd only have to keep our relationship private for eight months after that. I

realized, as I watched a sleek black town car pull up to the curb. The driver stepped out and

and too far from home to manage using the bit of French

summer.

"Welcome to Paris. I hope you had a

thank you," I replied, sliding into the back seat

Everything was so beautiful. The architecture, the cafes with their outdoor seating, the stylish people walking down

13:03 Wed, Sep 18

Chapter 124

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