{irl. social media}

disco - surf curse

"Goodnight, Avarie June" Chris smiles as they were at the front of their dorm doors. It was 11:30pm, and the official end of their first date.

It was everything AJ had ever wanted, someone who really listened to her and heard her. Most girls want expensive dinners or luxury entertainment, but as long as she had Chris with her, AJ was okay with sitting in a park and enjoying being with each other.

"Goodnight, Chris" AJ returned the smile, turning around and unlocking her door. Even inside the room, the smile on her face did not disappear.

As soon as she focused on her environment, AJ noticed Matt and Monica, who were cuddled up on her bed with a movie paused on the television. They both had sneaky grins wiped across their face, and they both were staring at her.

"Well hello there" Matt wiggles his eyebrows

"Don't you ever go home?" AJ playfully rolls her eyes "You don't live here, in case anyone hasn't told you"

"Did you have a good time?" Monica asks, sitting up to look at her best friend, with Matt following

AJ slides her shoes off and sits on the corner of her bed, evaluating the room. Matt and Monica had obviously been here for a while, as they had bed head and messy sheets. As two people who love to sleep, they take naps together often.

It was their own form of love language.

"The best time, ugh!" AJ grins, covering her mouth with a mischievous expression "You're gonna freak out whenever I tell you what happened" She was hinting at the fact that she would spill the details when it was the two of them privately, out of respect for Matt.

"Don't let me stop you." Matt waves them on, making himself at home "Girl talk all you want"

"I need to know now" Monica shakes her head anxiously "Tell me"

AJ leans forwards, closer to the both of them, "He kissed me"

Monica lets out an excited shriek as she moves to the same side of the bed as AJ, shaking her hands in excitement as she playfully pushes her best friend.

"How was it?! Oh my God!" Monica giggles with a smile

"I retract my previous statement" Matt teases as he shakes his head in disappointment "This is Chris we are talking about"

"You dug your grave" AJ playfully shrugs, talking to Matt. She turns her body to continue talking to Monica "He is such a good kisser. Genuinely I was so surprised. But he did it in a gentle way, which I really appreciated"

"So...any official titles yet?" Monica questions, biting her lip in anticipation

"No! Why? Did he say he was going to ask me out?" AJ widens her eyes "What do you know?"

"I don't know anything!" Monica quickly throws her hands up in defense, although she did seem to be lying "Swear."

"Matt?" AJ questions him next

He does the same action as Monica, holding his hands up in protection as he shakes his head, "Don't involve me in this"

"What do you know, Sturniolo?" AJ gasps, now hopping over to the bed he was sitting on

"Listen, I don't know much. But...Chris isn't the type to just fool around. If it didn't happen tonight, I would expect it sometime soon" He shrugs

"That's...good news, right?" AJ asks into the air

"Babe that's great news. Be happy for yourself" Monica nods, poking her knees with a smile

"Tell him that I told you, and you're dead" Matt points at her with a serious expression "On that note, i'm exhausted. See you at practice tomorrow"

"I'll walk you out" Monica smiles, standing up as they walk to the dorm door and move into the hall, leaving AJ alone in the room

After a long day, she knew she needed time to reset. AJ quickly hops in the shower, allowing the hot water to wash away her heavy thoughts. Afterwards, she changes into pajamas, does her skincare, and leaves the bathroom.

Monica was already deep in sleep by time AJ closed the curtains and the lights, and slides into bed.

The next morning, AJ and Monica were awoken by the loud alarm. Quickly, they changed and rushed to practice, running a few minutes late. Luckily, Coach was not there yet.

"Why are you so chronically late always?" Nick asks, tightening the straps of his skates as the two friends walk up to the group

"Are you only hating on me because you love me?" AJ teases with a smirk, playfully blowing him a kiss

"Absolutely" Nick winks back, pretending to catch the kiss that was previously blown

"Should I be worried?" Chris jokes, raising his eyebrows and crossing his arms

"Absolutely..." Nick repeats himself, teasing once more

Coach skates onto the rink, causing everyone to form into a line based on their teams. AJ made eye contact with Wes, who was finally allowed back to practice, and who was also shooting her a death glare. He was obviously angry.

"As everyone should already know, there is a week left until the scrimmage. It goes without saying that this is not the time to be slacking. It's going to take blood, sweat, and tears. Spend this week working, and pushing forward. Don't only prove yourself to me, but be proud of what you have learned this summer. For today's practice, give me fifteen laps, twenty shoots, work on your stick handling, and at the end we will finish with breakout drills." Coach announced loudly, blowing his whistle towards his finishing remarks, indicating it was time to begin

Every team takes off in their laps. AJ allowed her mind to completely focus on the ice in front of her, and how it just scraped under her skate. She was fast, and found herself going even faster when she thought about Wes being allowed back in practice. It made her especially mad that she would likely have to deal with him for the next upcoming school year at Somerville.

How could it be fair? Wes unrighteously caused a fight with Chris, and has constantly teased him. AJ knew that Chris - the most loving and caring guy ever - did not deserve the treatment he received. It made her more angry when she considered that just as she didn't like Chris at first, Wes has held that grudge.

AJ found herself in the lead of laps, using her anger and frustration to push herself in hockey.

Before meeting Chris, she thought it would be best to completely ignore him, and she assumed hate was better than love. She used her hurt and pain to get through hockey.

But AJ soon learned that love always wins, love leads. She knew now that Chris was love.

@avyoung made a new post!

@avyoung: where did my pants go (camouflage joke)
liked by @nicolassturniolo, @nathandoe8, and 5120 others
view all 420 comments 

@nathandoe8: cover up!
↳avyoung: eeeeekkkk!

@user: get this girl off my feed

@christophersturniolo: oh my god
↳christophersturniolo: you are so pretty
↳christophersturniolo: i can't scroll away
↳avyoung: i'm blushing rn

@user2: are we just going to pretend you didn't post a photo of chris??

@matthew.sturniolo: i hate to admit that the fit goes crazy
↳avyoung: i will never forget this matthew
↳matthew.sturniolo: oh no

@user3: why did you disable the comments on the chris photo???

@nicolassturniolo: i think im in love with you
↳avyoung: i think i love you more

@monihayes: GODDESS
↳avyoung: kissing u thru the comment section

@user4: why were you alone with Chris??
↳user5: obviously because she's allowed to be? why do you care?

@user6: i actually don't mind her too much