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.

……

the cold wind, but Avery’s head felt heavy by the time she got

took out a thick blanket from the closet, wrapped herself

herself of the

from feeling a little sticky, she

into clean

of food to the dining room, and Mrs. Cooper

had breakfast?” Avery

hasn’t

glass of milk and a piece of toast, then began to

eating in under five

you that afraid of him, Madam?” Mrs.

see him,” Avery said, then lifted her chin slightly and

fine after spending a little more time together,” said Mrs. Cooper. “Will you be coming home for

do on campus today, so I

there,” Mrs. Cooper

“It’s fine. I’ll just take a cab. He can have the

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

could not

driver and said, “Thank you. You

young woman ran up to Avery, tapped her on the shoulder,

best friend Tammy Lynch

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

stopped in her tracks and said, “Is it because of your family? I

I never really wanted to go to

after graduation, right?” Tammy said. “When are you going to introduce me to

Avery was taken aback.

told her mother of what

and classmates only knew that she was dating

have someone completely destroy your trust? I thought he was the best man in the world, but he was nothing

and said, “Forget about that, Avery.

better off depending on myself than a

love-struck before summer break, but

head and said, “I just hope I can take care of

course! You’re the only double major I know who’s at top of the class in both majors. The sky’s the limit for

flushed at

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

campus gates, Tammy instantly pointed at the Portia parked by the

the Mr. Portia who dropped you off this morning? Is he here to pick you

still remembered