It was early morning the next day and everyone was gathered around a table. They were sat at their local coffee spot near the college they were attending. It was quite popular known for it’s in house blends and affordable prices compared to things like Starbucks. You would think - in the early morning of the day - that people would not even have the motivation to get still groggy from there nights rest. You would think, but here was Blair stuck in between two people who seemed to be at each other’s throats. One was her former best friend now officially just a regular friend and the other was her girlfriend unbeknownst to anyone else but her.

 “Hey Olivia, I saw you guys drove together. You aren’t bothering Blair, are you?” Ava said with a scowl aimed at Olivia.

“Actually, we’re pretty good friends.” Olivia said slinging her arm around Blair “Even decided to spend Christmas together. Oh. I wish you were there with us we had a lot of fun.”

Olivia spewed out venom and was laying it on thick. She looked like she was thoroughly enjoying teasing Ava about her lack of presence on Christmas. The two seemed more than eager to tear each other others throats out whenever the other spoke. All Blair could do was sigh. She was not a morning person and definitely not in the mood to put up either of them right now.

Blair uttered a guttural growl toward the two “adult” women, “Stop.”

She uttered one word but that was all it took with her ferocious glare to shut these two up.

“Ha, well I guess I can stop joking around for today”

“Obviously, this is beneath us.”

Olivia talked first then Ava followed shortly after under the heavy gaze of the small but dangerous woman sitting with them. Now that they had both finally settled down the three of them talked about the upcoming assignments and work to do in the class they share. Blair didn’t think the two of them outright hated each other, but it seems they at least have a distaste for one another. Now that Olivia is her girlfriend, she didn’t want Ava to feel displaced or not wanted. They were friends again and she didn’t want Ava to drift out of her life like before. Blair thought that they should do something soon just the two of them to try to get back to where they were like old times. Before they all left the coffee shop, Ava called her over near a bench on the sidewalk.

Ava seemed pretty hesitant to ask what she wanted to ask, and I had a feeling I knew what it was. “You know… you seem pretty close to Olivia now?” and there it was but she didn’t blame Ava this type of behavior for Blair was very new so she could understand why Ava was apprehensive.

“Yeah, honestly, I have you to thank for that Ava. I know we weren’t on the best of terms but ever since meeting you again things have looked up for me again.” Blair said trying to be as honest as possible. She wasn’t lying. Ever since her reunion with Ava everything seemed to be going extremely well for Blair, so she was grateful for the coincidental encounter.

“R-Really? Well…I’m glad you’re doing better.”

There was a silence for a moment between the two who were unable to get out any other words.

“But Hey Christmas huh? Is your family still doing, ok?” Ava said sheepishly

Blair knew Ava wanted to ask if her family still “disliked” her. There friendship was under way again, but it’d still take some time for them to trust her again – especially Alexa.

“Yeah everyone’s doing ok, but Alexa’s still…..” Blair didn’t want to say that Alexa still hated Ava with a passion right to her face.

“I get it. I’m just glad there ok. I’m glad you’re ok.” She staired straight into Blair’s eyes when she said that. Blair could see how genuine Ava was toward her now. Maybe all her anger was misplaced or maybe she just needed the time to sort everything out after the incident. They had been the best of friends. Closer than anyone and had a bond - that she thought - couldn’t be broken. But life was sometimes cruel, and they were still just kids back in high school. ‘Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on both of us.’ Blair thought of that quote when thinking of Ava. She didn’t want to be fooled more than once, but she was willing to give Ava another chance after all this time. With Ava and Olivia by her side she was happier than she’d ever been before.

Ava glanced at Blair who was lost in though and saw her smile. How long had it been since she’d seen that beautiful smile? Even though she hated Olivia calling Blair a nickname. She had to agree that it fit her. Before she knew it Blair was staring right back at her while she had drifted off.

“What’s wrong?” Blair said quizzically.

Damn. Ava averted her gaze quickly. Her cheeks had gotten hotter and her heartbeat faster. She didn’t know why these things were happening or why she averted her gaze, but she did know that however her face looked to Blair right now that it was totally embarrassing.

“N-Nothing, I just….I hadn’t seen you smile in awhile so it caught me off guard.”

All Blair did to this confession was chuckle a little

Ava missed spending time with Blair like this. She regretted that split moment that changed her whole world and it left an irreplaceably huge hole in her heart. She cursed at her own cowardice. She cursed at her own selfishness. She cursed at ever getting involved with cheerleading, but that was all she knew. To play the role her parents forced her into. After she thought to days gone past, she heard Olivia beckoning towards Blair.

“Blair! You ready!” Olivia yelled near Blair’s car.

“Yeah! I’m good!” Blair yelled back.

“So, text me later?”

Ava wanted to get closer to Blair, but Olivia seemed like she would be an obstacle in that endeavor now. Whatever their relationship is Olivia clearly was more possessive of Blair than any of her other friends.

“Alright, I wanted to do something with you sometime soon anyways, so I’ll let you know. Later Ava!”

And off she went scurrying over toward Olivia and then the both of them got into the car to drive off into the sunset. “Ok that was a little dramatic” she said shaking her head. Ava WAS happy for Blair and knew Olivia was a good person even though she annoyed her 99.9% of the time. It was just that something inside her always ached when she saw the two of them together.