ms. robinson

avery jane robinson || lucy hale 

thirty years old. kindergarten teacher. born & raised in madison, ga

“They’re family,” she admitted, shrugging a little. Whilst her mother and she had never seen eye to eye she couldn’t bring herself to leave her family deal with the aftermath of her passing. There was so much to go through, and her father was lost without the woman he’s spent almost forty years of his life with.”Art, the upperclassmen. It’s pretty interesting so far, the kids and their scope it’s … incredible. I never had that level when I was their age, I swear.”

“Family is important,” she nodded her head. While she didn’t have any siblings, Avery’s family was incredibly important to her. Her parents were everything to her and while Avery usually got busy around the beginning of the school year, her parents always understood because her own mother was a teacher for a long time, having just retired not long ago. “Art is always a fun subject.” She smiled smally. Kindergarteners were not artists by any means but their creativity tended to run wild. “I’m glad you seem to be enjoying it so far.”

Deacon’s tongue darted across his lips before he nodded at her selection. “Perfect, I’ll go grab us a couple cold ones. Feel free to grab a seat on the couch. I think I got all the the Hot Wheels pulled out, but if you find one, let me know.” Rubbing his hands together, Deacon quickly made his way to the fridge in the kitchen and pulled out two beers, using the magnetic bottle opener on the door to pop off the lids. He headed back into the living room and sat down on the couch, not directly at the end but a little closer to the middle. Giving her space sounded fine but Deacon was a little more focused on getting closer to Avery, not sitting a whole couch away. After resting the beer on the coaster that he’d left out from last night, Deacon moved another one toward Avery and sat her drink on it. His fingers lingered there briefly as he looked over her face, giving Avery a smile. Finally, the man leaned back, resting his arm on the back of the couch, fingertips close enough to brush through her hair if he wanted to. He did, of course, but he would give it a minute before doing that. Instead, he turned his body to face Avery. “So, how’s school goin’ so far? You wranglin’ those little rascals into shape?” 

Avery nodded her head at his words, heading toward the living room but not before laughter fell over her lips. “I’ll let you know if I find one, but finders keepers.” She shook her finger at him, something never instilled in her kindergarteners, if she could help it. Avery did her best to make sure the kids she taught left her classroom She moved to the living room, being careful not too stare too much. This was her first time in the James house and well, Avery was a curious person. There was, however, nothing more clear to her other than the fact that he loved his children. She settled down on the couch, laying her hands over her lap. Her nerves were getting the best of her, but a smile touched her lips as she looked up to Deacon as he came into the living room with two drinks in his hand. “Thank you,” she only hesitated a moment before taking the drink from the coaster after he set it down for her. Her body turned toward Deacon more as she sat back with the beer in her hand, taking a sip before answering his question. He was close to her, close enough that she could reach out and brush her fingers through his hair. And God did she want to do that. “The kids are a good bunch this year so far. But it’s only a matter of time before their mischievousness decides to come out.” She teased with a smile, “But don’t worry, they don’t have nothin’ on me.”

If she adopted a dog, would be a good thing for him too, he could have a dog, without actually having one. He would spoil that dog, and would want dogsitting them whenever she needed, and even have playdates with Diana, if she allowed them to. She got along with dogs, he put her with one before, and she actually seemed to enjoy their company, “When you adopt them, I want to know everything, the name, I want pictures, I want to meet them,” he smiled widely, getting excited, despite not being the one that would adopt them.

Amelio was sweet, kind, a person she enjoyed spending plenty of time with. “Have you met me?” She shook her head, “Of course you will have all the photos, I mean, it’s in my nature to only take a hundred a day.” She laughed, only teasing. That was a bit absurd, but it felt appropriate for the moment. “His name is Bo,” she told him, “He’s about five years old, so I don’t think I’d go on and change it. It suits him just fine.” She told him with a smile, “You’ll be the first to meet him, I swear by it.”

“Right? I definitely can’t imagine being in their shoes. What happens if your kid walks in while you’re… You know? Like, do you have to start over? Make new kids and send that one off to Antarctica?” Hadley shuddered at the thought. “Oh, I live with a teenager, now that I think about it. That would be even worse, right? Them knowing and you having to face them after being caught? Gross!” She wasn’t exactly the queen of sexual encounters as it was, and often, Hadley wondered if she’d ever get to a point where that sort of thing was a normal part of her life. She really hoped, for all parties involved, that it never needed to be addressed with a kid. “I mean, we can’t all live up to Addi’s level of brattiness. It’s truly next level.”

Avery laughed to Hadley’s ideas, “Honestly, those the second suggestion really might be the way to go.” She teased, knowing all and well that she would never be able to actually consider an idea like that. Her nose wrinkled at the thought, “Oh, I couldn’t even imagine,” she shook her head, laughing more. It was in that moment shew as thankful that she lived alone. It’s not like she hadn’t watched children before, but if she was watching them, there was no chance she was getting any action on the same night for anything to go wrong. “She still maintaining that after all these years?” Avery asked with a soft smile, “I know some grow out of it.” 

She smiled a little, wishing that she had gotten in contact with Avery sooner. But between the Madison inquisition and dealing with old feelings and thoughts around her mom she hadn’t been up for it. Plus, she hadn’t thought about sticking around for this long. “Yeah, I uh, my dad needs me to stick around and Temp can’t handle all it on her own. She shouldn’t have to.” she added weakly, “I uh, took a job at the High School. I was just meeting with the teacher who recommended me to thank her.” she smiled a little, “Honestly, I am not surprised you’re here, you always did like kids.”

Avery nodded her head along to Harper’s words. “That’s,” she paused, “that’s nice of you to stick around and help out.” Which she meant. It’s what siblings were for, right? She wouldn’t know. Her parents were only able to have her at the time. “It’s nice you can stay and help out.” Avery added with a smile, “Oh, really?” She was surprised that Harper took a job teaching. Though, how could she know what the woman was interested in after all these years of not speaking to one another? “I’m- I’m glad she could recommend you for a job over there. What are you teaching?” She asked with a smile to the woman’s words, nodding her head, “I do love my kids, seven years down in kindergarten.”

Deacon smiled at her accepting his invitation to come inside, hoping for the best. He was only human, after all, and had been attracted to Avery since the first Meet the Teacher night last year, but he’d known better than to make too much of a move while his kids were in her class. His gaze followed her hand to her hair, already wanting to follow suit and mimic the movement.“Me too,” he said as way of a reply before stepping back and holding the door open for her. “I, uh, don’t have a lot to offer but I can get you a beer or some water, or maybe a juice box if you’re feelin’ frisky?” Deacon topped the joke off with a wink, looking down at the brunette before him. “We only keep the best here in the James house.” 

Avery followed Deacon inside, realizing this was the first time she had stepped foot in his place. Her eyes scanned the walls, her eyes meeting his as he mentioned juice boxes. The corners of her eyes crinkled with her laugh as it turned into a smile, “Juice boxes do bring on this frisky feelin’,” she joked softly, cheeks turning red once more. She was flirtatious but there was nothing that was graceful about it. “Clearly, I can see why the kids would never stop ravin’ about coming over to the James house.” Avery commented with a still remaining smile on her lips, “A beer is fine by me,” while it wasn’t her favorite, she knew that a pinch of alcohol might bring a bout of relaxation to her. 

Drew took a step closer with the basket when she accepted it. He loved seeing the obvious excitement in her radiate out in what looked like an almost bounce but she held on so well to the peaches she had already. That was adorable, but Drew thought a lot of things and people were adorable. He held held the basket out for her and waited until all of the peaches in her arms were safely inside it. “I can’t believe you were able to hold on to so many, you’ll have to teach me you your tricks. Do you have webs shooting out of your wrists to trap them in, Spidey?” He grinned and handed her the basket so he could pick up his own and continue picking a couple more and fill it up. “I don’t think I ever went fruit picking back home. It’s not a thing in LA. We usually went to the beach if we wanted to see some nature.” He grabbed a peach that was high up in a tree and dropped it in her basket. He started walking with her uninvited and hadn’t noticed.

Avery let out a small laugh, the basket swinging slowly in her hand. “I’m not really sure how I was doin’ it, it must have been magic or somethin’ like that.” Avery didn’t believe in magic, not in the slightest, but managing to hold that many peaches in her arms without dropping one until a savior approached with an extra basket, well it had to be something magical. “No webs, but that would actually be pretty cool. Probably pretty up there with me doing it’ with magic,” she teased again, laughing softly. “You’re from LA?” Her brow raised as she looked at him, “You ever meet an Audrey Matthews? She’s my best friend, actually I’m the godmother of her baby girl and she lived in LA for a while.” As soon as the words tumbled from her lips, she knew it was absurd. Los Angeles was huge in comparison to Madison. “She’s actually from here and moved back pretty recently herself.” She explained, the words simply falling from her mouth. “I don’t think I’ve been on a beach since my senior spring break trip down to Florida,” she admitted with a shake of her head, “but we do get to pick peaches, so I think that’s a decent compromise.” 

“Taking care of kids is way harder than of dogs and cats though,” especially cats, they were so independant, he barely had to do anything for Diana, she mostly took care of herself, “But it wouldn’t be exactly easy either though, so I get it. Not to mention the space, and how much money you would have to spend,” he would take care of them all if he was rich, but despite his salary not being bad, he wasn’t, “No, you can’t,” he gave her a smile, he wished people normalized platonic cuddles, a lot of times, they found weird when friends cuddled.

She leaned back on the couch, nodding her head as she listened to Ameilo give her all the rational bouts of logic, where some of her good friends were more apt to squeal in excitement and ask when the dog was coming home. It was actually a little appreciated that he was taking the time to talk to her like that. Not a lot of people would. “All very good things to think about,” she admitted to him with a small laugh, propping her head up as she rested her elbow on the couch, “I didn’t think so,” she matched his smile, happy to have him in her life. 

Matt nodded at her comments, thinking back on the last few months and just how hard the transition had been for them all. “It’s been hard. They’ve been through something really traumatic and even with the counseling they’ve had it’s amazing to me how well they’ve adapted to me and all the changes.” His own mother had left him when he was a little boy and so he’d never gotten the chance to bond with her the way he should have, but he still felt her loss, even if she hadn’t died right then. “We’re gonna be alright I just need to know how I can help her to be doing better at school. Megan’s teacher has been calling me saying she’s been crying in school too.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, closing his eyes. “I don’t know what to do to help. I want them to do well in school but I need some help.”

Avery nodded her heads, “Kids are so much more resilient than anyone can give them credit for,” she commented softly, “Granted,” she paused, “not every kid has been through what these two have, but even so, they bounce back better than some of us as adults could.” Avery was certain that her life could easily be turned upside down and it would take a hell of a lot longer to get her back on her feet, at least emotionally. Her eyes remained on him, her hands itching to reach out and take his in a comforting hold. Alas, she knew that was unprofessional. She was careful not to squeeze her coffee cup too hard in response to not comforting him. “That’s what I’m here for,” she offered him a small smile, “I may not even be Megan’s current teacher,” Avery told him, “but that doesn’t mean I can’t try to help there either. Do the girls have anyone else in their life besides you? Someone that can help you out as well? Even you must need a break from everything going on.” 

♫

Reign it in Saff, this isn’t LA. Her default reaction was to immediately, and savagely, refuse her assistance. Years of city based defenses was a natural combatant to small town hospitality. Every deeply rooted instinct urged her to question what this woman’s ulterior motive was. People didn’t just offer help without promise of getting something in return. So what exactly was ‘doe eyes’ angle, she didn’t know but blatant aggression didn’t seem to be the appropriate line of defense for once. Furthermore, releasing any ounce of malice at this tiny woman was starting to feel like kicking a newborn puppy and Saffy wasn’t a complete monster. It seemed she did still retain an inkling of conscience, however weak the voice may be. With her phone still clutched tightly in her grip she stared the woman down with a blank expression, head dipped to the side. 

“Do you usually offer help to strangers? I could be a serial killer for all you know. A drifter who goes from place to place luring unsuspecting townies to their death” she warned, shoving the disrespectful hunk of useless plastic into the back pocket of her jeans. “If you’re really willing to take that chance then lead the way Bambi” 

Avery lifted her shoulders at the woman’s question, “I mean, you could be.” The woman before her could be a serial killer for all she knew and Avery would be more likely to fall victim to such a thing in the first place. It was what she got for being far too kind to random people on the streets. “I am just tryin’ to help out a new face in town,” regardless that this face had tried to rips her off with the tone of her words. It was not unusual of Avery to keep pressing the issue at hand. Not in the slightest. It was as if there was some part of her that refused to let someone go without help if they needed it and maybe wouldn’t quite admit it. Look at Wyatt Tucker for example. “Just this way,” she gestured to the woman with the wave of her hand, “it’s actually really easy to miss,” she tried to make the woman feel better, “it’s tucked right between all these shops and it all starts to blend together.”

✎

Sabrina would love to deny that her vanity didn’t play a central role in how pleased she felt watching Avery’s cheeks redden at her presence, but she had to be honest with herself. There was few things more important than her egomania. Not to mention Avery looked mighty fine in this state, the rosy hues complimented those blushing pink lips of hers. Lips she absolutely would not mind kissing, though this wasn’t anything new. She’d been fantasizing about it for nearly two decades. After all the hours she spent with Avery - watching her talk, laugh and frown - she was certain she knew all there was to know about those lips. Except how warm they might feel pressed against her own. Despite her meticulously controlled veneer she didn’t mind being a love sick fool when she was involved. Now if only she could predict if the brunette would ever reciprocate her fervor, or at least recognize that her pursuit was genuine. 

“You flatter me sweetie, but do go on” she teased with lightness of spirit, nose wrinkling in delight. With care she placed the bouquet on her desk before retrieving a chair to sit across comfortably. “Now don’t laugh but I also brought a vase. You know me always prepared” and indeed she was carrying a slender glass container to arrange the flowers in. It was a marvel it even fit in her methodical organized handbag but she made it work. Knock an errand curl from her vision she beamed brightly at the apple of her eye. “Now tell me, how much free time do you have before the school year starts because I’d like to reserve some of it” 

Avery’s lips remained in a smile, “I’m sure I could write up a whole list of things to keep on complimenting you for days.” She teased, “but I don’t want to waste all my ammo in one day. That would be mighty foolish of me, now wouldn’t it?” Avery laughed softly, keeping her gaze on the woman in front of her. “Nothin’ wrong with being prepared,” she told Sabrina, “As it seems my vase did not make it in this trip of boxes.” She furrowed her brow at the thought. “I will have to make sure to remember it for next time,” she told Sabrina with a smile as her brows softened to a more relaxed state. “I have just about a few days left before school starts so the days are numbered but I’m willin’ to squeeze you in.”

“Oh, I remember one time, I was nannyin’ this girl in college and she was around this age. She told me all about how she caught her mommy and daddy havin’ a pillow fight in bed one night and how Daddy kept saying all sorts of stuff. She had the noises down to a T.” Hadley couldn’t help but laugh as she recalled the event, remembering the awkwardness of having to relay that info to the mother over the phone later that day. “Oh, I don’t think you were too moody back in school. At least, no moodier than most of us, I’d reckon.” 

Avery listened to Hadley’s story with wide eyes. “Oh my!” She gasped, pressing a hand over her mouth as she laughed. “That, I cannot,” she shook her head, “Kids are really impressionable,” she knew that and the laughter kept on spilling over her lips at the thought of this kid imitating all the noises. “If I ever have any kids, I really hope that doesn’t ever happen,” Avery admitted as her laughter died down. She knew there was always a chance but at that story, that’s all she needed her own future kid going around and doing was telling it with all the sounds down to a T. “Comes with the territory,” she nodded her head, “Though some of us certainly more than others,” she teased. 

“You loss, I guess. I mean I have got an entire Yelp section solely describing the bliss I’ve brought to this town’s ladies.” Wyatt said with a cheeky grin. He pressed a light and quite endearing kiss to her head. “But if you just wanna free peek, I’ll allow it.” He clicked his tongue in defeat. “Friendly gesture, my ass. I know you’re sweet as pie but not that sweet. Is that rust bucket of yours still rumblin’? Do you need me to take a look under the hood? Don’t worry that wasn’t some innuendo or nothing’.” 

Avery rolled her eyes at Wyatt’s words, “Whatever you say, Wyatt.” She gave him a smile, only messing with him. It was easy for her to get along with him, even if he did find it best to push her away when he needed someone around. Avery was a determined bugger, refusing to be pushed away from someone who could use a friend. Avery looked up at him with pinched red cheeks and a smile as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. Shaking her head, she found herself rolling her eyes again at Wyatt’s words. “Nope, not happenin’,” she chided him, though there was a smile peaking against her lips. “Wyatt!” She gasped. While he said there was no innuendo at play, she couldn’t help but feel like since he pointed it out, he wanted her to think it. “This is just a friendly gesture. My rust bucket,” she was at least referring to her car in this mention, “is just fine.”

@averyxrobinson​ ; closed ; ellison peach groves

Another one of the things that Drew was doing on his own that week was picking peaches. He was tired of sitting around at home and waiting for his shifts at the station every day so he took a notebook and scribbled away, making a list of things he would do to stop being a bore and get a life. Yes, he had a list. So far, Drew was doing really good at completing each item. The sun was high in the sky and he was half way through filling his first bucket when he realized that he didn’t know how to make peach-anything. He walked to the person nearest to him and raised up his other basket, the empty one. “Hey.” A small smir spread on his face. “Do you want this extra basket? By the time I’m done eating both baskets I’ll have peaches coming out of my ears and that’s not a good look on me.”

Picking peaches was something Avery simply didn’t do enough of, especially when the months were so warm down in Georgia and the sun shining so brightly through the trees. She was wandering through the peach trees when she realized that she didn’t even grab a basket. The teacher had been too excited to get started that she forgot the one thing that she even needed. As she was approached by a man with a smile on his face, she actually breathed as sigh of relief. Her arms were not merely big enough to hold all the peaches she gathered and the ones she still wanted to get. She was certain her kids wouldn’t mind a little peach pie treat on during the first few weeks of school. They wouldn’t rival her cupcakes but it would be a start. Didn’t want to start the kindergarteners off spoiled. “Oh, thank you!” Avery nearly bounced, though she didn’t want to lose any peaches nestled in her arms. “It’s not a good look on anyone,” she teased lightly, letting the peaches tumble into the basket before taking it from his hand, “I was beginning to lose places to put peaches.” 

One of the reasons why he thought would probably be a bad idea to spend a lot of time in the shelter volunteering, was because he knew for a fact that he wouldn’t be able to resist adopting a bunch of dogs and cats. As he wasn’t rich nor he had a big enough place for it, he knew was a bad idea, “I don’t know how you didn’t adopt all of them already, I wouldn’t be able to,” he had a hard time as it was not to take all stray dogs and cats home, “Awesome… I like cuddling with you…” he didn’t have romantic feelings for her, he avoided them, after his ex, so if she found someone, he would actually be happy for her.

“It’s honestly hard not to adopt them all,” she laughed, shaking her head. “I’m not sure how I’ve managed this long but I s’pose teaching a bunch of kindergarteners half the year is exhausting enough to keep me from running my own animal shelter in my one bedroom apartment.” She teased in response, laughing softly. It’s not like the thought hadn’t crossed her mind before. “I enjoy it too,” she admitted to him, keeps flushed at the thoughts. “You can’t go wrong with some comforting cuddling.” 

“I know you do but the vision of you unpacking pencils makes me chuckle.” Arielle offered with a chortling snicker. Avery was literally perfect. The idea of her doing anything so trivial brought the girl glee. At least perfect people still had to play by the rules of common folk. The rushing of color that burned on Avery’s cheek warmed Arielle to the core. Sabrina’s affections for the woman was endearing; no matter her own personal feelings about Avery. All Arielle wanted was for Sabrina to clinch that happy ending. “It’s not a terrible idea. I think it’s one of my better ones. Sabrina is a knock out. She’s brilliant, beautiful, kind, and she’s the prettiest of lips. How can you go wrong with that?” 

Avery knew Arielle was not wrong about anything she said in regard of Sabrina. Sabrina was in fact brilliant, beautiful and kind. Her feelings for Sabrina were nothing short of happening but she wasn’t quite sure how to go about them at the end of the day. Her relationships with women in Madison were much fewer than that of her relations and intercourse with men. And seemingly so, those men rarely had any intent on keeping her around afterwards. It’s what made the whole thing with Sabrina so intimidating to the brunette. She knew Sabrina was genuine. “I don’t think someone can go wrong with it,” Avery admitted, “Unless that someone was me..”