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 soreness from

15:19

Ava: Calling

what it means or why my body’s acting this way.

talk to

phone to my other ear as Lisa watches, her eyes sparkling. She loves a good romantic drama,

with you since everything happened. I figured

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

healing.”

is here, so I’m not alone. I’m sure you know

since he answered the phone, and I wonder

you, Ava.”

startling that I almost drop

15:19

Ava: Calling

I supposed to answer? I don’t miss

much?

to feel awful

Lucas very much. Well, not a lot… but a lot more than I ever think about

Clayton.

in his voice breaks my heart.

a nice person. Responsible. Steadfast. He took care of me, even

stranger.

away for my own

of his voice in my ear,

at Lisa as her eyes widen. She can’t hear

you haven’t chosen

his odd question. “About

15:10

like the Aund of

now, though

words are like a

we’re on slightly different wavelengths. It sounds like I’ve said something that’s soothed

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response, and that niggling feeling

what it is.

I was just calling to check on Ivy. I guess I’ll let you

Clayton blurts out. “Give me your number, so I can

YES! at me. “It’s the same one

call you tonight?”

today, but how can I