<span style="font-family:Fira Sans Condensed">Normally, Avery was really big into people-watching and bars were usually a fantastic place to do that. However, on this particular day, whatever he had on his mind was really consuming all of his focus because he didn’t even glance towards the people sitting around him once. Heck, he even took a moment to look up at Charlette once she actually walked over to see what he wanted to drink. It was very unusual behavior on his part. <br/>
<br/>
However, once he did pick up his head and look towards his long-time close friend, Avery managed to pull a smile out of all the turmoil that had been consuming his expression. He had a hard time not smiling around Charlette and never even stopped to consider that it was odd that he smiled with her and not quite as much with Bridget. “It has been a long time, hasn’t it?” he remarked briefly, filling in the conversation where he felt it was fair to do so. He nodded along - nothing she said was out of place and there wasn’t much he needed to add just yet. <br/>
<br/>
When she leaned in and gave him a hug, Avery reciprocated wholeheartedly, too. As she pulled away, he even grabbed her for a second and kissed her forehead. It as almost comparable to a gesture someone would give a younger sister. “I know you do. And you know I’d be disappointed if you didn’t. It’s good to see you, Char.” The smile he wore continued and it was truly genuine. <br/>
<br/>
Onto drinks. “I’ll take an old fashioned sweet and if you want to make yourself a drink, I’ll buy.” He knew that as a bartender, she could probably make herself drinks more or less whenever he wanted, but if he offered to buy, then she could make something that probably tasted better than what she was usually allowed to make for herself. “It might be easier to tell you what’s going through my head if we’re both drinking while we talk,” he added. <br/>
<br/>
All of it was odd, though. She would surely realize something was bothering him.</span>