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.

but my daily soreness from exercise remains

15:19

Ava: Calling

haste. I’m not sure what it means or why my body’s acting this way.

talk to

ear as Lisa watches, her eyes sparkling. She loves a good romantic drama, and my current

haven’t talked with 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 you’re okay, if you’re healthy, if

healing.”

I’m sure you know

answered the phone, and I wonder

miss you,

admission is so startling that

15:19

Ava: Calling Clayton

answer?

much?

to feel awful about

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

Clayton.

you?” The hope in his voice breaks

miss him. He’s a nice person. Responsible. Steadfast.

stranger.

for my own safety, but it isn’t like

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

cheeks, and I shake my head at Lisa as her eyes widen. She can’t hear him on the other end, so she has no idea what’s happening.

haven’t chosen

odd question. “About

15:10

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

now, though

care. Ava is words are like

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

to access chapters of novels early

his happiness at my response, and that niggling feeling inside of me

what it is.

on Ivy. I guess I’ll

me your number, so I can call you.”

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

call you tonight?”

him again today, but