26. Declan
DECLAN
One day until OA Con
Last night was the longest I’ve experienced in five years. After school I raced to the PE office and got my phone back from Coach Adams, only to find the battery had died. Some speed limits may have been broken on the return home.
When I finally succeeded in getting it turned back on, my heart just about stopped when I saw Ava’s message.
“Tell me the truth, and I promise to believe you.” Only I hadn’t told her anything, because I couldn’t.
So I typed out a lengthy text explaining what had happened and assuring her, I had, in fact, been planning to tell her. Begging her to understand.
No reply.
I debated going to her house and knocking on the door but couldn’t decide if that would only cause trouble with her mom. Indecision held me captive until nightfall, when I opted to skulk about her bedroom window with a handful of pebbles.
Curse my terrible aim. Every last throw went wide, until one actually hit the neighboring window and I freaked out, because I’m pretty sure it was either her mom’s bedroom or her office.
Either way, it put an end to the rock toss attempts.
I spent the next three hours at the park, sitting on the swings and staring at my phone.
Ava never texted.
I trudged home just after midnight and fell into bed feeling thoroughly defeated. Little to no sleep was had.
Now I’m starting the day exhausted, and from the ghastly reflection looking back at me from my bathroom mirror, it shows.
No new texts from Ava.
I step into the shower and crank up the heat. Trying to scald some feeling back into my numb limbs. It doesn’t work, but at least I smell better.
I check my phone again. No messages from Ava, but there is one from Hiro, reminding me that he’ll pick me up at 10 a.m. to head over to the con.
Every year we skip school in order to pick up our badges and scope out the vendor hall before things get crazy.
It’s tradition. One I’m seriously tempted to bail on. I need to talk to Ava.
Before I can decide whether to ruin Hiro’s day, however, an email notification pops onto my screen: I have a new message from Grady Wells. My moral dilemma takes an immediate backseat while I swipe it open.
Declan,
Just wanted to touch base before tomorrow’s workshop and make sure everything is prepped and ready to run smoothly.
Also, about the collab I mentioned—while I can’t technically say who it’s for at this time, I will say they’re going to be at the convention, and I gave them a heads up about your workshop.
She said she’d stop by and check out your work.
Oops, did I say she? Silly me. In completely unrelated news—wink, wink—don’t be surprised if Jenni Messenger stops by your workshop (in costume, of course).
Best of luck, kid, and may the odds be ever in your favor.
Grady
Holy hand grenades. He did not just say what I think he said. I rub my eyes and read the email a second time. Then a third and a fourth. By the fifth time, I can quote it from memory, and yes—it says what I think it says.
Jenni Messenger is coming to my workshop.
In real life.
Suddenly I’m questioning the quality of every piece of pre-cut foam, berating myself for not getting more screenshot references of Sally’s daggers.
Did we get the dimensions right? All of the details?
Ava’s going to flip when she finds out Jenni is making an appearance. She’s almost as big a fan as I—
But no. Ava isn’t going to be there, is she?
Hiro’s a fan too. I’m sure he’ll be just as stoked.
Only it doesn’t feel right, knowing this epic moment is coming and Ava won’t be a part of it.
If I tell her, maybe she’ll change her mind and come after all.
Or, flip side—I make an already difficult decision even harder, and she winds up having another panic attack.
Blarg. When did life get so hard?
One thing is for sure, though. I need to cancel everything today and spend the time touching up every piece that’s going to the workshop tomorrow.
And then I need to write out what I’m going to say and rehearse it until it’s bard-level smooth.
I’ll need to get Hiro over here too, make sure he’s familiar with each step of the process. And then—
My phone buzzes.
Time screeches to a halt.
A new message from Ava.
My stomach swoops down to my toes as I swipe a trembling finger across the screen. I’ve been waiting for this exact moment, and yet, now that it’s here, I kind of want to throw my cell out the window and pretend I never saw it.
What if she doesn’t believe me?
What if she tells me she never wants to see me again?
I was cut out of Ava’s life before, and it just about killed me. I’m not sure I can survive it a second time. I close my eyes, take a deep breath. Then I force myself to read the words that will determine the course of Ava’s and my future.
Ava: Why did the star-crossed lovers break up?
Um, okay. Not at all one of the responses I anticipated, but at least she’s talking to me.
Me: I don’t know, why?
Ava: Because they weren’t in their right constellations!
A huff of confused laughter slips from my lips, even as I wonder if this is some cruel way of saying she wants to break up.
Only, can we break up if we were never officially together?
Or does that night at the park make us a couple?
I’m saved from further spiraling by the appearance of those three little dots.
I swallow, bracing myself for the follow up.
Ava: Sorry, that was weird. It’s just, you didn’t get my first message because your phone was confiscated during school, and then I couldn’t respond to your message because my mom took my phone after school.
It just felt so ridiculous that I couldn’t help comparing us to some kind of Greek tragedy. All of which is to say…
I believe you. <3
If I don’t see you before tomorrow, Bailey told me that you and Hiro were skipping school today. Good luck with the workshop. I just know you’re going to do an amazing job. I only wish I was strong enough to be there with you.
She believes me. With a heart emoji.
My legs give out, and I sink down onto the end of my bed, relief flooding my system. She’s not saying goodbye; she’s saying good luck. I reread her last sentence, heart squeezing with a wistful ache. I wish she was going to be there too. I wish…
I wish she didn’t feel like she has to hide.
Me: Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me.
A moment of hesitation, then,
Me: For the record, I believe you’re a whole lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. You just haven’t tapped into it yet. You’re like a boss in Final Fantasy. Just when you think they’ve been beaten, they go and reveal their true form.
Ava: Ha. I’m not so sure. Also, if you’re going to use FF as a reference, then the true form would have to be followed up by their true true form. And then their ultimate true true form. Not sure I have that many in me. :P
Heh, touche. Still,
Me: Nah. Ava Aimes has got it all. Trust me.
There’s a pause, and I wonder if she’s going to leave it at that. But then,
Ava: I do trust you, Dec. Always.
Ava: Now go get your convention on.
The smile on my face stretches from ear to ear as I pull out my box of foam cutouts and start going through them, one by one. And you know what?
They’re perfect.