“You really missed a lot, Ava. Why would you just vanish like that?” Freya complained for what felt like the hundredth time. It was clear she still didn’t believe Ava’s excuse.
Ava gave her a brief smile, tucking a few loose tendrils of hair behind her ear. “Trust me, Freya, I got cramps out of nowhere,” she said with a sigh, lifting her glass of juice to hide the flicker of embarrassment on her face.
Freya slowly nodded twice. “Are you feeling better now?” she asked, eyeing Ava carefully, as if trying to read something hidden in her expression.
Ava gave a faint hum of acknowledgment and glanced at her phone to check the time.
“Have you talked to Caleb? Did he say why he’s not in school today?” she asked, wrapping her fingers around the phone, her nerves beginning to show.
She didn’t
