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.

daily soreness from exercise remains

15:19

Ava: Calling

sure what it means or why my body’s acting this

to talk to me?” he says,

Lisa watches, her eyes sparkling. She loves a good romantic drama, and my current love life is her biggest fascination.

happened. I figured you would be

to know how you’re doing.

healing.”

sure you know everything that happened by now, so I

unnerving. The cacophony in the background has disappeared since he answered the phone, and I wonder what he was doing before

miss you, Ava.”

is so startling that I

15:19

Ava: Calling

am I supposed to answer? I don’t miss him?

much?

I’m starting to feel awful about

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

Clayton.

in his

nice person. Responsible. Steadfast. He

stranger.

me locked away for my own safety, but it isn’t like Lucas has

his voice in my ear, the way

head at Lisa as her eyes widen. She can’t hear him on the

you haven’t

his odd question. “About

15:10

von about him. Us It seems like the Aund of thing I should apologize

now, though

is words are like a caress, and I feel

said something that’s soothed him in some way. T’ll

on Gøøglᴇ to

and that niggling feeling inside of me grows. I’m not sure

what it is.

I was just calling to check on Ivy. I guess

me your number, so I

Lisa’s nodding enthusiastically, mouthing, YES, YES, YES! at me. “It’s the same one

I call you tonight?”

on talking to him again today, but how can I say no