Chapter 18 : Make New Friends

*Ava’s POV*

It’s late when Ellie and I get back to her apartment. We were going to go to my place, but I still don’t feel safe in my own home. Texting with Seymore had been the highlight of my evening. While Ellie flirted with every guy at the bar, I spent the night shutting myself off to the noise and drunken fun and scrolling through my phone.

I now have a bunch of new books to read on my book app, and it kept me away from the unwanted attention of the bar patterns.

“Wasn’t that fun?” Ellie asks, throwing her stuff on the floor by the door and kicking off her shoes.

“Sure, lots of fun,” I reply, trying not to sound too ungrateful at my friend's attempt to cheer me up.

She pauses in front of me and sighs.

“You asked me to keep you from thinking about Seymore and this mess with Conner. The only thing that comes to mind is a night out at the bar,” she huffs, throwing her hands up on her hips like a disappointed parent.

“I know, and I appreciate it. I just don’t do the whol