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.

wounds have healed, but my daily

15:19

Ava: Calling Clayton

sure what it means or why

talk to me?” he

her eyes sparkling. She loves

you since everything happened. I figured you would

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

healing.”

so I’m not alone. I’m 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 I

you,

that I almost drop

15:19

Ava: Calling

answer? I don’t

much?

I’m starting to feel awful about

a lot… but a lot more

Clayton.

you?” The hope in his voice breaks my heart.

miss him. He’s a nice person. Responsible. Steadfast. He took care of me, even

stranger.

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

like the sound of his voice in my

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

you haven’t chosen

frown at his odd question.

15:10

seems like the Aund of thing

now, though

words are like a caress, and I

said something that’s soothed him in some way. T’ll never hold that against

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that niggling feeling inside of me grows.

what it is.

calling to check on Ivy. I guess I’ll let

your number, so I can

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

call you

talking to him again today, but how can