She said when the sight of the Mayweather campus reminded her of the real situation at hand. “It’s better if I get to it while no one else is awake.”
Combined with the fact that she’d lose her nerve waiting any longer, Avery was ready to jump right into her plan. Mason cut off her path though. Green eyes finally serious, he gave her a last lecture.
“You can’t be stupid about this, Avery. You have to be very careful and if anything at all seems wrong, just leave. We can find some other way to deal with it.”
Avery tried not to let the comment get her down.
“Come on, you don’t trust my acting skills?y an She asked rhetorically. The joking tone didn’t quite lighten the moment as much as she’ intended.
“You’re more of a magnet for trouble than anyone I’ve met in my life. At least tell me you’ll be smart about it or I won’t let you do this at all.” When she nodded he added in a hushed tone, “Avery, do not die. If we’re going to be together, then I don’t want a dead girlfriend one day into the relationship.”
Avery offered him the most reassuring smile she could muster. The confidence in his face never bolstered but he did step aside and allow her access to the sidewalk. Before she could back out, Avery hurried down the open pathway towards the entrance of Crepuscule Hall. She heard the sweeping sound as Mason took off in a gust of wind and flew somewhere into the woods. He’d probably create a perimeter and scan the dark skies. Feeling much more alone, Avery rushed down the stairs and through the entranceway.
Inside the hallways were dim and only the flickering emergency lights illuminated the building. The usually boisterous hall stayed quiet this late at night and Avery could hear every single one of her footsteps loudly. Her hazel eyes trailed around fanatically at every nook and cranny, though she recognized her own behavior as overkill.
She reached the last door on the end, 1128, and hesitated outside. She paced her breathing and shook her limbs loose. Leela would most likely be asleep and not even stir when Avery went inside. But grabbing the cold knob, Avery knew she couldn’t be sure of that either.
Finally unlocking the room, she pushed the door open. The lights from the hallway spilled into the room and bathed it in a yellow glow. Leela’s bed, closest to the door, sat empty. Avery took a cautious step in and that’s when she heard the voice pierce through the darkness.
“Avery?”
Avery stopped, searching blindly until her pupils became accustomed to the darkness. Sitting on her desk was the petite form of Leela. The girl looked up, her face white and startled.
“Hey, I didn’t know you were awake. I just- I just got back.” Avery tried to sound realistic and took another slow step in to let the door slide shut behind her. The light outside disappeared and with it, Avery’s courage dwindled. Leela shifted a bit and reached out for a desk lamp.
The bulb clicked on and she was able to see well again, Avery looked over Leela’s form. The girl still wore jeans and a hoodie but swung her bare feet. Hands closed and in her pockets, she didn’t ever reach out for the typical hug.
“What are you doing here?” Leela asked.
“Huh?”
The question made Avery flinch, and she immediately whirled to face the bed. Mason had told her to get out immediately if something went down, but Avery refused to leave so early. It was an innocent question she reminded herself.
“I just, like just got back. Overnight flight.” She struggled for the words. “Why? Did I interrupt something?” She asked casually and headed for the bed, her movements too jerky and uneven. Forcing herself to breath, Avery walked slower and put thought into every tiny movement. At her bed, she slipped off her boots and let them hit the floor. Then she turned to face Leela.
“Oh, nah, I was just talking to Nate.” Leela gave a sly smile and jumped off the desk. “Welcome back. How’s Chase
Combined with the fact that she’d lose her nerve waiting any longer, Avery was ready to jump right into her plan. Mason cut off her path though. Green eyes finally serious, he gave her a last lecture.
“You can’t be stupid about this, Avery. You have to be very careful and if anything at all seems wrong, just leave. We can find some other way to deal with it.”
Avery tried not to let the comment get her down.
“Come on, you don’t trust my acting skills?y an She asked rhetorically. The joking tone didn’t quite lighten the moment as much as she’ intended.
“You’re more of a magnet for trouble than anyone I’ve met in my life. At least tell me you’ll be smart about it or I won’t let you do this at all.” When she nodded he added in a hushed tone, “Avery, do not die. If we’re going to be together, then I don’t want a dead girlfriend one day into the relationship.”
Avery offered him the most reassuring smile she could muster. The confidence in his face never bolstered but he did step aside and allow her access to the sidewalk. Before she could back out, Avery hurried down the open pathway towards the entrance of Crepuscule Hall. She heard the sweeping sound as Mason took off in a gust of wind and flew somewhere into the woods. He’d probably create a perimeter and scan the dark skies. Feeling much more alone, Avery rushed down the stairs and through the entranceway.
Inside the hallways were dim and only the flickering emergency lights illuminated the building. The usually boisterous hall stayed quiet this late at night and Avery could hear every single one of her footsteps loudly. Her hazel eyes trailed around fanatically at every nook and cranny, though she recognized her own behavior as overkill.
She reached the last door on the end, 1128, and hesitated outside. She paced her breathing and shook her limbs loose. Leela would most likely be asleep and not even stir when Avery went inside. But grabbing the cold knob, Avery knew she couldn’t be sure of that either.
Finally unlocking the room, she pushed the door open. The lights from the hallway spilled into the room and bathed it in a yellow glow. Leela’s bed, closest to the door, sat empty. Avery took a cautious step in and that’s when she heard the voice pierce through the darkness.
“Avery?”
Avery stopped, searching blindly until her pupils became accustomed to the darkness. Sitting on her desk was the petite form of Leela. The girl looked up, her face white and startled.
“Hey, I didn’t know you were awake. I just- I just got back.” Avery tried to sound realistic and took another slow step in to let the door slide shut behind her. The light outside disappeared and with it, Avery’s courage dwindled. Leela shifted a bit and reached out for a desk lamp.
The bulb clicked on and she was able to see well again, Avery looked over Leela’s form. The girl still wore jeans and a hoodie but swung her bare feet. Hands closed and in her pockets, she didn’t ever reach out for the typical hug.
“What are you doing here?” Leela asked.
“Huh?”
The question made Avery flinch, and she immediately whirled to face the bed. Mason had told her to get out immediately if something went down, but Avery refused to leave so early. It was an innocent question she reminded herself.
“I just, like just got back. Overnight flight.” She struggled for the words. “Why? Did I interrupt something?” She asked casually and headed for the bed, her movements too jerky and uneven. Forcing herself to breath, Avery walked slower and put thought into every tiny movement. At her bed, she slipped off her boots and let them hit the floor. Then she turned to face Leela.
“Oh, nah, I was just talking to Nate.” Leela gave a sly smile and jumped off the desk. “Welcome back. How’s Chase
Similar Books
