Shift

Fifty-Seven

Jace

Ava shivered against my chest, letting out a yelp as soon as I scooped her into my arms. I allowed her to fall into the water, gasping.

“Ava…” I mumbled.

She shook her head, her hand grabbing her neck. “It’s not your fault. I’m sor-“

“Don’t you dare apologize,” I snapped, the amount of guilt crashing down on me overwhelming.

“Jace-“ she began, reaching out.

I shook my head. “Just… stop, Ava,” I whispered, turning and hurrying back up to the cabin.

Ava

Tears found their way down my cheeks, my stomach cramping up with each sob. I bit my lip, trying to hold the hiccups back. I wanted to tell someone how I was too weak, but I wanted someone to hold me and tell me that everything would be okay. The reality, though, was that nothing ever seemed to be perfectly okay in my life.

I opened the door to Roman’s cabin, releasing a shaky breath.

I stepped inside, tears clouding my vision. However, I could make out that there were two figures- a man and a woman- speaking, and they were very close together.

I blinked the tears away, my eyes adjusting enough to see that one of them was Roman, and the other was a very pretty girl wearing some very ****** shorts.

****. Those are my shorts. “Ava-“ began Roman, taking a step toward me.

I moved back a step. “Who is this girl, and why is she wearing my shorts?” I asked.

He said, “She d- Wait a second, have you been crying?”

“Wh- No,” I mumbled, my gaze dropping to the floor.

“N- What did Jace do to you? **** it, I’ll kill him,” he growled.

I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I-I shouldn’t have come here,” I muttered, turning and finding my way outside, travelling to the edge of the village, and plopping down on the hot porch outside Jace’s cabin.

I rested my head against the wall and drifted off, tears still stinging my eyes.