along the middle path they tread

Avery had gotten up from his bar stool at some point during the conversation, even just to use his father as a barrier between himself and the gaggle of strangers. However, he couldn’t help but glance up when he heard his name spoken. It didn’t help that the blonde woman, Angelica, had drawn Thaddeus off to the side just a little to engage him – or perhaps, distract him, with one of her famous stories.

“That’s me,” he spoke up, with a small wave of his hand. “I’m Avery.”

It was a moment of social bravery that surprised even himself. It did help, however, that his father was distracted, and that Ricky was right next to him now. Ricky was his best friend…perhaps, indeed, his only friend, and having him there was the greatest comfort of the evening for Avery, seeing as he could always count on him to deflect attention away from Avery and onto himself.

Ricky, at the moment, was smiling his smile that some would call cordial and others would call dazzling, with his focus trained on the two younger men in the party. Younger, of course, but closer to Ricky and Avery’s own ages.

“Ricky’s the name,” he introduced himself to the man who’d addressed them both, whom Thaddeus had called Mal; while extending his hand for him to shake. “You weren’t far off, though; I am mainly known for standing around and looking pretty.” Despite himself, he glanced over at the other young man standing next to Mal, the doe-eyed, curly-haired one who had been described as Stefan’s son. The one who had kept sneaking glances at him since the group had walked in. “How y’all doin’?” Ricky asked, directing the question towards both men equally.

Avery knew his friend all too well, and averted his eyes for a moment to keep from rolling them. He knew that look – Ricky had a habit of finding the one person in a room he should not flirt with, and setting his sights squarely on them. Clearly tonight was no exception, but at least Campbell Jr. seemed receptive to it.