Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid. With each fall of her feet and the clack of heels on sidewalk, Avery admonished herself. What could she have been thinking? What made her think she can pull off the twin switch after so many years out of practice? Worse, why was she loyal to her cheating scum ex that she never saved Austin's number?

And how could she not notice she tapped the wrong address on the Uber app? Nothing went right tonight. Now she was doing the pathetic version of the walk of shame home.

Avery sighed, shook her head and her morbid thoughts returned to the what might've been. They could've become friends. He wouldn't have fallen for Aria's duplicity. And hadn't grown disappointed when the relationship didn't work out. And as she would've been single, maybe they could've gotten closer.

Maybe he would've invited her to his prom not Aria. Instead she was miserable and he was furious with her. With both of them. And she didn't blame him. No matter how she tried to explain-

Bzzt. For god sakes. Careful not tear the seam of her lace reticule, she pulled out her cell phone. She didn't have to look at the screen to know who was calling. She'd been calling repeatedly, it had graduated from texts in response to the earlier one she sent about Austin showing up.

Swiping the screen, she meant to tell her sister she was fine but was cut off when Aria demanded, "Did he hurt you? Go all stalker mad? I swear I'll make him pay if he did?"

Hurt me? Yes. "No Aria. I'm fine."

"I've already called him and cursed him out if he tried anything."

Avery snorted. Aria was the one that started this mess by not telling him he had the wrong sister. She was no better either as she did the same thing. No two people deserved to be curse out more than them this night.

"Aria," groaned Avery.

"You're my sister. My twin. It's my job to look out for you. Sistas over bros."

Unbelievable. "Really? Then why go out with him when you knew..." Avery couldn't finish the tongue lashing she wanted to give her sister. Hurt and anger swirled inside her until her eyes began to mist over. The last thing she heard was Aria going on about how she coudn't help it, Austin was so cute before blurting out she was fine and will call back later and hanged up.

She passed the neighbor overturned trash can and never been so glad to be home. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she tried to focus on one good thing about tonight. She still at least had the chance to finish binging Stranger Things. Walking the final, she blurrily hurried up into her yard. Then crashed into a wall. A wall wearing a tux.

"Why are you crying?" That voice. No it couldn't be him. Someone else wearing a similar sharp tux with two buttons with an even crispier, snow blindingly white button down shirt and no tie was standing before her. Probably lost and asking for directions. "Avery, why are you crying?"

Nope. Wrong again. It had to be him.

Avery sniffled, both happy and mortified he finally called her name. Dipping her chin to her chest, she wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, hoped she didn't have panda eyes because the makeup was supposed to be waterproof and took a deep breath. Raising her head back up, she stared with what she hoped was her best haughty expression.

The night had ended awfully already. She refused to let it get worse. Besides everything wasn't her fault. Yeah, Aria was partially responsible. But come to think of it how couldn't he tell he had the wrong girl all this time? For the short time she known him, she knew how observant he was.

"You're sister been calling me nonstop after you left. Jenny even threatened to kick my ass too."

"Good."

Austin winced at the harsh tone of her voice and a thrill leapt inside her chest. She'd successfully wounded him. It should've been enough but Avery couldn't let it go. For too long she'd been passive about her wants, needs and desires. She'd simply let Mike go without a fight. Accepted her sister's shallow excuses about the twin switcharoo. Which ended up with having to play this farcical twin version of Victor Victoria. Then she had to endure Austin's abuse for being duped.

No. No more. Not this time.

Freed of the weight of all her emotions pressed down on her lately, she let him have the full weight of it, like a volcano eruption on an unsuspecting island village.

Charging forward she jabbed her finger at his chest. "When we first met I remembered you telling me how you like to observe your subject before you draw them. Figure out their secrets. What makes them tick. So what happened to your amazing observation skills Sherlock? Huh? Or were you so busy admiring my sister's assets you didn't care which girl you had?"

Austin opened his mouth to speak but she wouldn't let him. She'd only just begun. "Now you dare blame me for your failing to notice beyond our looks? Yeah, Aria and I share some similarities but that's where it ends.Then we're different as night and day. Sorry you felt you were played but that was never my intention. I only wanted one night. A second chance...

Look I never thought I'd see you again. Then you showed up at my parent's house and stupid me, I was actually happy about it. Because until you came over I had myself half fooled I was glad about missing prom. And now because of you I wish I had missed it. So sorry. And thanks a lot."

Her tirade over, Avery skirted around him. She almost made only made it the front porch when Austin gripped her wrist and wheeled her around, the force of the rotation making her slam against his chest. Her arms immediately wrapped around his waist to keep her balance. And damn it all, it sent her heart topsy turvy. That was her first mistake. Avery's second mistake was looking up into his contrite and cute face & thought why Austin couldn't be butt ugly, she thought.

Ignoring the tiny flutterings in her stomach Avery pushed against his chest and told him to let go. She stumbled a bit but righted herself quickly. Taking a step back and up the porch step she realized too late they were now on the same eye level, his clear blue eyes drawing her in like a magnet.

Making her feel as if she was both drowning in its depths and flying high into a cloudless sky. With great effort she wrenched her gaze away and stared at a tree limb beyond his left shoulder. She sighed in relief when her body met solid, steady terra firma again.

With her anger deflated, she was having a hard time not noticing her awareness of him. She had to hurry and send Austin away. He was dangerous.

She waited as patiently as she could to find out what was so desperate he had to stop her and nearly twisting her ankle.

"Well," she demanded, her gaze now on his chin and lips pressing together. Seconds of silence passed but still he said nothing. Fed up Avery opened her mouth to tell him good night when Austin finally spoke.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice cracking.

Avery was stunned. She didn't think she'd receive an apology.

"Please Avery," he pleaded. "Say you forgive me."

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she lifted her eyes to his watery gaze and asked, "Why?"

Austin reached out to touch her, pulled back and clenched his hand into a fist.

"You're right Avery," Austin stumbled through the rest of his apology, "I got it wrong. I messed up. When I met you again, or thought I did, I was so excited."

He was excited? Avery shivered, her skin becoming over sensitized, from his confession.

His hands clenched open and closed. Then were shoved into his pockets as if he was afraid to touch her because he was now unworthy to. "You're a beautiful girl Avery. Inside and out. Thought so then. And when I met you again tonight... when I met your sister it should've dawned on me I had the wrong girl."

Her heart trembled at the words. And the way he looked at her with such intensity when he said 'wrong girl.' But did he really speak the truth? Maybe he wanted to soften her up so she'd accept his apology more easily.

"Look, I found something while I was waiting for you." He pulled out a brown leather wallet out of his pocket. Avery glanced down quickly to see him removing a plastic package the size of his palm. "It belongs to you. I got this to give you on our first date," a silver bracelet dangled from his fingertips, "but was never able to. Never felt right. Been carrying it around all this time."

Why did he have to say that? And look at her that way? As if he cared. As if he see her, Avery, not her sister. Austin was an expert at turning her mind to mush. He did the same when she ran into him with her cart. And again when he took her into his arms asking her why she was crying before taking her to prom. She needed to be smart. Stay strong.

She had every intention of doing so when her eyes caught the cutest charm and gasped. A silver and baby blue sewing machine. Austin nodded to her to take it.

She didn't know what to do. What to think. Avery was numbed from the sweetness of it. As if he knew her predicament, he took the decision out of her hands and grabbed her right wrist. He gazed into her eyes, silently pleading for her to not stop him. His thumb caressed the inside of her wrist. It was only a second but it set her blood boiling. He clasped the charm bracelet on then turned it around so the charm laid in the center of her palm.

"There. Now it feels right."

"Why are you giving me this," she whispered.

"Because."

"Because?"

"It belongs to you. And I wanted to apologize. For everything."

"With a gift?"

He shrugged. "At least we can say goodbye in a friendly matter. And it was always meant to be yours." Austin leaned down and she knew he was going to kiss her. She didn't try to stop him. Closing her eyes, she waited in bated breath. His lips pressed against her cheek and she inwardly sighed in disappointment. Oh hell.

Avery turned her head. Before he could pull away she cupped his face, pulled his head lower and captured his lips. Warmth spread throughout her body. His lips on hers felt right. More than right. It was sweetness and perfection and slow burning.

She felt his arms wrap around her waist. Gliding her hands over his shoulders she played with his hair, deepening the kiss. It became hotter and wetter. And when her mouth parted and their tongues touched she swore time stood still. The light spring breeze puffed out. It was as if they were in a bubble and she didn't want it to pop and have the real world crash in. She wanted to freeze time at this moment, kissing Austin on her parent's porch steps forever.

Much too soon Austin ended the kiss and they both were panting for breath. His forehead touched hers, his long, golden locks curtaining her face, he whispered, "What was that for?"

"I wanted to kiss you."

If Austin was surprised by her candid answer he didn't let it on.

"Kiss me goodbye?"

"No," she said shakily.

"No?" She shook her head and felt a butterfly caress of warm lips on her cheek. Her hands touched his chest, over his heart and felt his heart racing in time of her own. "Then," he hesitated for a brief moment, "if I asked you out, would you say yes?"

Avery couldn't stop the smile spreading across her face. Who knew ten words could turn the entire night around from one of disaster to heavenly bliss. But should forgive him so easily. It still rankled he hadn't tell Aria and her apart. From what she gathered his instincts were telling him all along that Aria wasn't Avery.

"Depends. Do you know which girl you're asking out this time?"

The corner of his lips lifted in a small smile as he grabbed both her hands in his and squeezed. "I'm asking my cute little ant. A girl named Avery. Who knows her way around needle and thread but," he chuckled, his eyes lighting up with joy she was sure mirrored her own, "not around a shopping cart. My ankle still hurts you know."

"Yeah right," she giggled. "You're still not over that?"

"Depends."

"On what?" she asked, recognizing her words being lobbied back at her. She waited in anticipation but his next words nuked any reserves of trepidation to ash.

"You saying yes."

"Well, I'll need some time to think about it," she joked.

"Avery," he said, stretching out her name. "Not funny."

"Yes it was," she laughed, then leaned up for a quick kiss. "Yes."

Austin smiled. And kissed her swift and hard leaving her momentarily breathless.

He squeezed her hand, nodded to the car and led her down the drive. "Come on."

"Why? Where we going?"

"The night's not over yet."

Avery was still confused. They stopped at the passenger side of the car. He nudged her chin up with his finger and said, "How's this for an apology. Got tickets to the after party at a club on route one. Think we can have a do over and salvage the night?"

Avery was smiling so hard she knew her cheek bones would be sore tomorrow.

"Hell yeah."

"Good." He opened her door and waited until she seated herself. He ran around the hood of the car, slid into his seat and started the car. "Because Jenny promised to kick my ass if I don't bring you."

"And that won't do," she replied mockingly. "Don't worry, you're very cute butt is under my protection. I won't let big, bad Jenny near it."

"My hero," he said as they drove off into the night, their laughter filling the car. Avery placed her hand in his and squeezed, relishing in the knowledge that their night wasn't over yet. And that one night would would never be enough. That there'll be many more nights for her and Austin.