Wolf Heart

Chapter 15

I-Pen's scribbled around her in predictable movements, and Ava blinked when Miss Wuolon left her podium and headed to their row. "Mr. Matthey, is something wrong?"

"What?" Meryn's voice went up an octave and wavered with the thunder outside. "I-I don't know what you mean, Miss Wuolon."

"It's just..." Miss Wuolon frowned deeper. "You haven't moved since you came in."

Ava leaned into her brother, who gripped his I-Pen tighter when Meryn bleated, "I'm sorry! I think I need to go for a walk. I'll get the notes from someone later!" He rushed down the row, almost tripping on Rayan's foot, who grabbed the back of Meryn's coat in one smooth motion. He shoved Rayan into his chair, who grunted as he ran out of the classroom.

"I'll go with him, Miss." Ava bolted out of her seat and used James to continue her momentum. Her steps faltered by Rayan, who rubbed his back with a soft huff. Her fingers trailed along his shirt, where something tugged at her to pull him along, but she left him in his seat to catch up with her best friend.

"Meryn!" she called through the empty corridor of lockers, save for the timely chirps of janitor bots which sucked mud and excess water from the floor. "Meryn!"

He ignored her, and she had no other option.

Ava sprinted, and he jolted when she grabbed his forearm. "Meryn, come on," she begged and forced him to turn. "Aren't we friends? What's going on?"

He stared at her shoes. "I'm fine," he hissed, and Ava frowned at the watery grey depths. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you all that I can take care of myself." He wrenched his arm out of her hand. "Not everyone will want your help, Ranier. James is right, you need to stop meddling in other people's business. I don't want your help. I can handle this by myself."

Ava ignored the jab. "Meryn, you know you're not thinking straight. I-I can take you to the counselor's office, or home even if that's what you want. But you're my friend—"

"I said I don't want your help!" Meryn snapped, shrill. "I can deal with this, so take the hint already!" He stumbled out of her reach. "I'm just going to the wash station."

Ava stood there and watched him disappear.

Frustration rang with the release of the bell to ring in her ears and she went down the hall. Rayan and James slipped out of homeroom when she stomped past.

"Avie—?" James reached out to her, but she shoved him away. Her own reflected pain stretched across their twin hazel eyes. Ava raced for the one place she'd get peace and quiet. Away from the heavy sense of failure and imperfection.

The student council room.

Ava sunk into a seat in the corner, where Katie and Yvonne's plans sprayed across the holo-board, of all the events and plans to come to fruition. Ava groaned and ran her fingers through her hair. Her thoughts turned to white noise, and she listened to the lunch bell chime through the facility. Furious spikes made her leave the chair of inability. I should've followed you. So what if I'm meddling, Meryn?

Ava returned to the homeroom to pick up her bookbag. Stragglers wandered the corridors to discuss class or the latest gossip. In a small town of Eastpoint, nothing stayed secret for long. Others waited for the storm to pass overhead, while the sun shone on the edges of the silver clouds.

Her new goal dawned in her mind with the break through the storm.

I need to find Meryn.

As she left the eastern facility, she ignored Jon's call.