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.

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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.

serious wounds have healed, but my daily

15:19

Ava: Calling Clayton

not sure what it means

to me?” he says,

sparkling. She loves a good romantic drama, and my current love life is her

happened. I figured you would be

worried. I want to know how you’re doing.

healing.”

friend is here, so I’m not alone. I’m sure you know everything that happened by now, so I won’t rehash it. I’m glad I’m

answered the phone, and I wonder what

you, Ava.”

is so startling that I almost drop the

15:19

Ava: Calling

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

much?

starting to feel awful about myself.

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

Clayton.

in his voice breaks my heart.

person. Responsible. Steadfast.

stranger.

away for my own safety, but it isn’t like Lucas has done much better.

the sound of his voice in my ear, the way his

at Lisa as her eyes widen. She can’t hear him on the other end,

you haven’t chosen

his odd question.

15:10

like the Aund of thing I should apologize

now, though

are like a

on slightly different wavelengths. It sounds like I’ve said something that’s soothed him in some way. T’ll never hold that

Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of

at my response, and that niggling feeling inside of me grows.

what it is.

I guess I’ll let you go.

out. “Give me your number, so I can

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

I call

planning on talking to him again today, but how can