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.

my daily soreness from exercise remains stubborn, not disappearing

15:19

Calling Clayton

what it means or why my body’s acting

wanted to talk to me?” he says, hesitant.

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

everything happened. I figured you would be

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

healing.”

sure you know everything that happened by now,

has disappeared since he answered the phone, and I wonder what he

miss you,

is so startling that I almost drop the

15:19

Ava: Calling Clayton

answer? I don’t miss him? I don’t think of him very

much?

feel

not a lot… but

Clayton.

you?” The hope in his voice

nice person. Responsible. Steadfast. He took care

stranger.

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

things, like the sound of his voice in my ear,

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

you haven’t

at his odd question.

15:10

him. Us It seems like the Aund

now, though

Ava is words are like a caress,

wavelengths. It sounds like I’ve said something that’s soothed him in some way. T’ll never

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his happiness at my response, and that niggling feeling inside of me grows. I’m not sure

what it is.

I guess I’ll let you go. I’m sure

number Clayton blurts out. “Give me your

at me. “It’s the same one I’m

I call

again today, but how can I say no