Dear Ava

Chapter 23

Another day of university was not going well for Ava. Ever since their free period had ended, Ava had to return to studies but she couldn't. It was grief at first that kept her away and then it was those letters. 'Who would do such a thing and Why?' the only thoughts repeating in her mind.

"Focus on the lectures, get through the day, and head home to work more on the letters with James and Oliver, you got this." One last time repeating her mantra, Ava got out of the car, the same thoughts of walking and goofing with Mason on the campus hit her hard enough.

"Ava!" She turned to find Mason's lab partner rushing towards her. "Hey, Ava!" Pam was breathless, "Ava, sorry for interrupting you, but I never see you around here, I just wanted to make sure you all are doing ok!"

Ava, Mason, and Pam had hung out many times, mostly the other two working on their projects while Ava just doing her work. "Pam, I'm good," she spoke in a soft tone. "How are you?"

"Believe me, that is not the question you need to ask, I'm doing alright. Last I saw you at..."

'The funeral' Ava thought

"You looked, pretty worn out. Any help, I am here, Ava. Don't forget that." Pam continued.

"Yeah." she sighed. "Well, see ya later, I have to get to the library before going to my class."

"Of course, I'm going there too, shall we?" Pam led the way.

'Why is she acting so good to me?' Ava thought but immediately steadied herself. 'Pam is a great person, she does always act good to you, her mind reasoned.

"Hey?" Pam looked at the girl lost in her own universe.

"Yes, Pam, let's go" Ava rushed behind her.

The day went on with all the classes and the assignments that they were given. A worn out and half attentive Ava emerged from her last class to head home.

'Oliver said that he lost the key, we checked the date, now we have to find the person who stole it? Who could it well damn be? Is it one of our College friends? I have never seen Oliver with anybody except our group, Practical buddies, and Gym friends? Who the heck is it? This just broadens the search to an infinite level'

"Hello?" Ava had collided with someone in the middle of the hallway. Immediately shaking her thoughts she apologized.

"I'm sorry."

"Ava, it's fine, how are you?"

"You know the answer yet you ask me that."

"Sorry, I'll go now." It was Max, another one of their study buddies. Max went ahead avoiding any further eye contact.

'Why did he not ask more?' Ava started thinking once again but immediately shut it off, not liking where the thought process was going. Her ringing phone was enough to wake her once again.

"Hey Liam!" she was feeling good talking to him after a whole day!"

"Hey! Where are you? I thought you'd be coming too, Oliver was here before!"

"Ollie? Yeah I told him to talk with you, I thought you guys had not met up in such a long time, it would have been fun catching up?"

"Yeah" Liam sounded off tone to Ava.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing! See you then, Ava!"

"Okay..." the phone call ended.

Ava set out for her car ride back to Mason's apartment where they all were still meeting up.

'What is it with everybody? First Pam, Max then Liam? Why was Pam talking to me so much? She had never shown any interest? Why was Max avoiding me? Wait, did Max have lectures with Oliver? Don't they hit the gym every Sunday? What was the day of March 23rd? Did Max....'

Ava was in turmoil.

'What are you thinking, Max is just shy, maybe, What do you know about him? If you don't know about him, that means he is not the guy, Mason said, one that you are close with, one that you would know about, then Pam? Pam met Oliver many times, I know her, maybe I could contact Oliver and ask him...'

A horn could be heard before she pressed the brakes to her car. It skidded but came to a stop. She had almost missed the red signal, she could have seriously ended up wounded.

"What's going on with me? I have turned paranoid, suspecting every other person. Is everybody my enemy Mason? What should I do?" Ava parked her car near the sidewalk as tears flowed freely out of her eyes.

"I just don't want to do this anymore. You said you would take me to a place, where there were only the two of us, Mason, let's get there, why don't we?"

Ava froze as soon as she spoke this, a hint of realization spreading on her face.