Wolf Heart

Chapter 14

Planet: Eteran

First Insurgency War

JAMES

He sat in his bed, staring at his empty notebook. Words flowed along the lines, but never told a story. A sigh tickled his lungs, and he let it go to the wind when Ava's voice sounded from Janelle's room. He swung his arm across his brow while their tone lifted into an argument.

What is wrong with me? Ever since we got back home I can't concentrate. He closed the notepad with a snap, and groaned into his pillow while Janie and Ava bickered back and forth about the laundry. Snap. He smacked the pillow against his face. Out. Smack. Of. It. I need to get over to Rayan's to help him with Ava's birthday gift...

His thoughts dwindled to the day among the willow tendrils of stars. It pressed him deeper into the bed as Ava's footsteps stomped to his door, and he scowled into his pillow when it swung open. He lowered the pillow, where she stood in the frame with her arms crossed.

"What happened?"

"Janelle's been stealing both our clothes. Again," Ava said. "Why have you been so mopey recently?"

"Have I?"

"I counted ten deep, solemn sighs today." Ava raised her hand to count her fingers. "Two huffs when we got back home yesterday. One disgruntled scoff when Dad asked how the camp  out was." Ava loomed over him. "What's the matter?"

"Who said anything was the matter?" James tucked his notebook into his pocket. "I'm fine, Ava. Not everyone can be perky, Miss Perky."

"I just want to know why you're upset. You've been acting weird."

"Again, who said I was upset?" James scowled.

Ava shook her head. "The look on your face."

"I don't know, maybe I'm frustrated because..." James faltered and squished the sides of his pillow. "Actually, I don't know why I'm frustrated." Back against his picture wall, surrounded by his frozen moments, with one left uncaptured and out of his reach. "Ever thought that maybe I'm just having one of those weeks?"

Ava grabbed the laundry hamper with a grunt. "Whatever you say, James. Also, you better not have mixed your clothes again. If I get a piece of fabric from you in my pile."

"What's the big deal?" he questioned. "It's just clothes."

He crawled out of bed and gathered his glitchy datacam and I-Pen's. He threw it into his schoolbag and slung it over his shoulder. "You not going to come with me to Ray's?"

"Unlike some people, I've got chores."

James frowned at her. "Great, which you also did at the camp out. Chores. The point was to have fun, Ava. You didn't have any. But, whatever." He shrugged his shoulders and left his room, where she shadowed his steps. "I'll tell Rayan you're taking a raincheck, but if he calls you, not much I can do about that." He stuck his tongue out at her.

"If he does, I'll just tell him the same thing I've just told you," Ava said and threw the hamper out into the corridor. "Besides, isn't this... something you two do together. Alone?" she drawled with a twist to her lips. "You two talk about your art stuff and classes, I'm not going to shove myself into that." Her grin deepened into one of smugness. "In fact, I was thinking about how I've never seen you like this with anyone else, really. Not even Jon. Usually you're a recluse."

Waves swept through his heart. "And what, exactly, is that supposed to mean?"

"It means I'm happy that you're finding friends to connect with and share interests."