Book 3 -36-

[Carnage]

ARIELLA

The sound of knocking at the door disrupted my nap. I lay in bed on my back, staring up at the ceiling and contemplating whether to answer it.

“C’mon, El, I know you hear me knocking. Open the door,” Abby called out from the other side.

I sighed, pushed myself up, and trudged toward the door. My hand lingered on the knob, thinking. Maybe if I just ignored her, she’d go away.

Just then she started pounding on the door, and I knew there was no point in pretending I was asleep. I hesitated for a moment before unlocking the door and opening it.

“Hey,” I said, not sure what else to say.

“Hi,” she said with gentle empathy. “Can I come in?”

I stepped aside to let her in and shut the door behind her. We stood there in awkward silence, neither of us knowing what to say.

“So, um, how are you?” She mumbled, looking down at her feet.

Looking at her, I could see the worry in her eyes. It tugged at my heart. She wanted to say something else but held it back with an effor