Read Online Saving Avery by Angela Snyder - Free Book Online Page A

we were starting to make some progress, but then she threw me for a loop once again.
    I still haven't told her that I'm her neighbor. I know I will have to tell her eventually, but I'm waiting until the time feels right. But if she keeps ignoring me the way she is, maybe I'll never get the chance to tell her. I don't think she's ignoring me because she doesn't like me. I think there is another reason, and perhaps it's because of whatever happened last night.
    I've caught her talking with several kids and Rosie today, and she doesn’t seem to have a problem chatting it up with them. When she's around the children, she looks happy and the complete opposite of how she is with me. I figure my best bet is to catch her when she's visiting with Jacob. Maybe I can get her to talk and tell me what happened to her last night.
    In the afternoon, I make my way towards Jacob's room. I have Avery's daily routine pretty much down pat, and I know she always stops at Jacob's room before she leaves for the day. She adores that kid, and the feeling is totally mutual. I can tell how much she cares for Jacob as if he were her own son.
    My footsteps slow as I near the room. Avery's voice floats out into the hall. I can't really hear what she's saying, but Jacob giggles. A grin pulls at the corners of my mouth. I want to talk to her again and see if she responds with more than just a smile. It's not that I mind her usual engaging smile that seems to instantly turn me to mush; it's just that I love to hear the sound of her voice.
    "Hey, Avery," I say as I walk into Jacob's room.
    She looks up at me with those hauntingly beautiful blue-gray eyes. Her dark hair glistens in the sunlight cascading through the window, highlighting the deep shades of red. Her smile dims a bit, and I feel a profound sense of sadness radiating from her. I just can't quite shake the feeling that she's constantly on edge around me. I just wish I knew why.
    Avery remains quiet, barely acknowledging that I'm even there. I know she was just talking to Jacob right before I entered the room, so I wonder why she won't talk to me. Maybe her foul mood is because of something I've done and has nothing to do with last night at all. The thought of me upsetting her in some way puts me into a panic. "How are you?" I ask, trying to strike up a conversation.
    Her eyes go to the floor and dart left and right as if she's trying to decide. I wonder what's going on in that pretty little head of hers. She opens her mouth, but closes it almost immediately. I can see the tears in her eyes as she runs out of the room. I look at Jacob, and he just shrugs.
    I dart into the hall and see Avery disappearing into the break room. I follow her, catching the door before it can close. Her back is to me, and she's slumped over the sink with her hands gripping the counter. "Avery," I say as the door shuts behind me.
    She immediately straightens her spine, and it reminds me of what she does on the beach after she's let out all of her emotions. It's as if she's rebuilding a hard exterior around herself that no one can penetrate. "I'm sorry," she says so low it's barely above a whisper.
    She's sorry? For what? I don't even know what she's apologizing for. Confused, I walk over to her. "Hey, if I did something to offend you, just tell me." I'm behind her now. She's staring straight ahead out the small window above the sink. Her breathing is shallow, and her shoulders are bunched up around her ears from being so tense. "Did I do or say something wrong? Is that why you've been avoiding me? Is that why you won't talk to me?" I'm asking a lot of questions, but I'm desperate to know the answers. There is some kind of connection between us, and I need to know that I'm not imagining it. I just want her to tell me that she feels the same way. Even if it's just friendship, I'll take it. I just want to help her with whatever it is she's dealing with.
    She turns and looks at me for a fraction of a second, but it's long