“If that were true, you wouldn’t have bonded with him. He’s your soulmate. Don’t give up, Kallie,” I insisted.
She sighed. “At any rate, it’s not like he notices. I’ve been giving him such obvious hints, and they fly right over his head.”
“Then do something he can’t ignore,” I stated. “Then, once you have his attention, you can be honest with your feelings. I’m sure it’ll all work out.”
Kallie nodded thoughtfully. She passed by the chapel, in the obvious direction of the music room. I panicked, thinking she was taking me straight to Charlie, but I relaxed when I saw the only person inside the music room was my brother. Ezekiel sat in a chair and strummed an old acoustic guitar like the one he had back home. He looked up as he saw me enter, but didn’t stop fiddling with the chords.
“I’m late,” Kallie said. “But youdidgive me an idea, Ava. Thanks for the advice.”
Kallie left, and I crossed my arms. “You all are passing me around like a hot potato,” I grumbled. I didn’t need a babysitter.
Or maybe I did, because without one, I kept getting into brawls.
“I just wanted to talk to you. The nurses wouldn’t let me visit,” Ezekiel protested.
I didn’t clarify that was because I’d asked them not to allow visitors. “I didn’t want you to see me like that.”
“Not like I haven’t before.”
“It’s still humiliating.” I sat on the piano bench. It felt so empty without Charlie next to me.
“I’m your brother. I want to help.”
“You can start by tuning that guitar. It’s too pitchy.”
Ez made a face and turned the pegs. “Kallie didn’t escort you here without a reason.”
“I nearly shoved Fire and Water down Digger’s throat in the prison yard. She stopped me before I got into trouble. He was being a real bastard.”
“I hate guys who pick on girls,” Ezekiel grumbled.
“Yeah, we know. It’s what got you landed in here. You’re like the savior of women.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No. It’s one of the more charming things about you.”
I began to fiddle with the piano. I played a song Charlie and I had written the other day, and it came out sounding like silk. Oberi bobbed her head, like she loved the tune.
Ezekiel strummed the guitar a few times. “You should talk to Charlie.”
I groaned. “Ez.”
“Come on, Ava. Don’t let this wedge grow between you. He makes you happy— happier than I’ve seen you in a really long time.”
“How do you know he makes me happy?”
“Because you started singing again,” Ezekiel said softly.
I stayed silent, and Ezekiel said, “When I told Mom, she was so happy. She told me not to say anything to you, but she got all choked up and started crying, and—”
“Oh ancestors, Mama.”
“All of us have been waiting for the day you’d start making songs again, and now you are, with Charlie.”
A hard knot formed in my throat. “Pretty sure that’s over now.”
Ezekiel put his guitar down. “You think everyone is going to abandon you because of how your brain works, but all of your friends are here for you. We’ve all been here since you got out of the infirmary, trying to support you as best we can. That doesn’t seem like we’re running away.”
