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.

daily soreness

15:19

Ava: Calling Clayton

any haste. I’m not sure what it means

talk to me?” he says,

Lisa watches, her eyes sparkling. She loves a good romantic drama,

talked with you since everything happened. I figured you

worried. I want to know how you’re doing. If you’re okay,

healing.”

you know everything that

he answered the phone,

you, Ava.”

startling that I

15:19

Ava: Calling Clayton

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

much?

starting to feel

haven’t even thought about Lucas very much. Well, not a lot… but a lot more than I ever think about

Clayton.

in his

a nice person. Responsible. Steadfast. He took care of

stranger.

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

of his voice in my ear, the way his gentlemanly demeanor changes when my

eyes widen. She can’t hear him on the other end, so she has no idea what’s

you haven’t

I frown at his odd question. “About Lucas… I’m

15:10

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

now, though

words are like a caress, and I

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

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response, and that niggling feeling inside of

what it is.

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

out. “Give me your number, so I

YES, YES, YES! at me. “It’s the same

call

talking to him again today, but how can