Tangled

101 Ava: Calling Clayton

A plate of mixed greens, topped with an obscene amount of sliced chicken and shredded cheese, is slid

in front of me as I wait for Clayton to answer the phone,

There’s a lot of sound in the background, and I can hear Vester shouting that I’m on the line.

Stabbing a bite of salad, I crunch at it, the sound grating against my eardrums as I wait.

“Ava?” Clayton’s voice, usually so strong and assured, wavers with a vulnerability that catches me off guard. The sound tugs at my heart, a pang of guilt piercing through the layers of confusion that has settled

between us.

I should have asked Lucas to let me talk to him a long time ago. He’s probably been worried. He’s too responsible and caring to have just let things go without wondering how I’m doing.

I’m a terrible person.

I never really thought about him in this time.

1/7

101 Ava Calling Clayton

“Hey,” I manage, my throat tightening around the word. “How… how have you been?”

Lisa’s eyebrows shoot up at the sound of my words, her gaze fixed on me with an intensity that suggests she’s hanging on every word. I ignore her, focusing instead on the static–laden silence stretching across the connection.

“How are you feeling?” Clayton asks, dodging my question with one of his own. “Are you healing alright?”

There’s a lump in my throat at the sound of his

concern. Damn. I swallow hard. “I’m fine,” I assure him, though the words feel hollow even to my own ears. “I actually called because… well, I was worried about Ivy. I wanted to know how she’s doing. And I wanted to talk to you.”

He’s silent for a long time. “Ivy’s doing well. She’s healing, but slowly. She doesn’t heal much faster than

humans.”

I know that pain.

my daily soreness from exercise remains stubborn, not

15:19

Ava: Calling Clayton

sure what it means

talk to me?” he says,

other ear as Lisa watches, her eyes sparkling. She

you since everything happened. I figured you would be worried.”

am, Ava. I’m still worried. I want to know how you’re doing. If

healing.”

alone. I’m sure you know everything that happened by now, so I won’t rehash it. I’m glad I’m not with my parents

he answered the phone, and I wonder what

miss you,

that

15:19

Ava: Calling

“I miss you, too.” How else am I supposed to answer? I don’t miss him? I don’t think

much?

starting to feel awful about

even thought about Lucas very much. Well, not a lot… but a lot more than I

Clayton.

The hope in his voice breaks my

nice person. Responsible. Steadfast. He took

stranger.

also kept me locked away for my own safety,

to other things, like the sound of his voice in my ear, the way his

She

you haven’t

I frown at his odd question.

15:10

I didn’t tell von about him. Us It seems like the Aund of thing I should

now, though

is words are like a caress,

like I’ve said something that’s soothed him in

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response, and that niggling feeling

what it is.

was just calling to check on Ivy. I

blurts out. “Give me your number, so I can call you.”

nodding enthusiastically, mouthing, YES, YES, YES! at me. “It’s the same one I’m calling from

I call you tonight?”

wasn’t planning on talking to him again today, but how can I say