Elliot and Avery

Chapter 17

The car sped past Avery, leaving a trail of dust.

She lifted her head and saw the blurry tail lights of the Rolls-Roice in the darkness.

Was that Elliot’s car?

She wiped the tears off her face, calmed herself down, and walked toward the house.

She saw the car parked in the courtyard when she arrived.

She waited outside in hopes of going in after Elliot had gone to his room.

Her eyes stung. She looked up at the stars shining brightly in the night sky.

It was a beautiful spring night.

Before she knew it, she had been standing outside for an hour.

The driver had already moved the car into the garage.

The lights in the living room were still on, but there was nobody in sight.

Avery felt normal, so she walked slowly into the house.

On the veranda on the second floor, Elliot, dressed in a grey robe, was sitting in his wheelchair. The last dregs of wine sat at the bottom of his wine glass.

He had watched Avery the entire hour that she had stood outside in the cold.

He could not figure out the thoughts that would lead her to spend an entire hour out in the cold. She was so still that she could have easily blended in with the trees that stood next to her.

Elliot had met countless intelligent minds in his lifetime because they were the only people worthy enough to stand by his side.

However, Avery was an exception.

He did not consider her bright because she had provoked him despite knowing what kind of man he was.

She was an extremely foolish woman.

Seeing her miserable, however, affected his mood in a peculiar way.

It was a feeling that he had never felt before.

……

was because of the cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she got to

a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself in it, and

night, ridding herself of the

next morning, aside from feeling a little sticky, she

into clean clothes, and

the smell of food to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper immediately served

had breakfast?”

hasn’t come

of milk and a piece

was done eating

of him, Madam?”

to see him,” Avery said, then

more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will you

today, so I won’t be

to take you there,” Mrs. Cooper said. She left, intending to inform the driver of

said, “It’s fine. I’ll just take a

for Master Elliot and one for the odd jobs. I’ll get the other one to take you,” said Mrs.

could not

Avery turned to the driver and said, “Thank you. You can head back now.

ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder, and said, “Avery! Who was that

in her best friend

Portia’ to you,” Avery said as they walked into campus together. “Tammy, I

it because of your family? I heard about your dad. I’m so

“Actually, I

of marrying your boyfriend after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are you going to introduce

Avery was taken aback.

her mother

knew that she was

you know what it feels like to have someone completely destroy your

placed her arm around Avery’s waist when she saw her red eyes, and said, “Forget about that, Avery. We’re

depending on myself than a man,”

“You were completely love-struck before summer break, but look at the mature young lady you’ve turned into

just hope I can

major I know who’s at top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit

flushed at the

Avery and Tammy left the campus together. They had planned to have dinner

instantly pointed at the Portia parked by the

that the Mr. Portia who dropped you off this

remembered the