(Jackson)
I woke up Saturday morning with one thought on my mind: Avery. I couldn't get rid of the feeling from yesterday, the way everything felt off balance without her. Hockey practice had been a disaster because I couldn't focus. All I could think about was seeing her again.
I got dressed quickly and grabbed my keys and left without waking my parents. I didn't text or call ahead. I wanted to surprise her, to show up and hopefully steal some time together. The drive to her house felt longer than usual, my hands gripping the steering wheel as I thought about what I'd say.
When I pulled into her driveway, I took a deep breath. I walked up to the front door and rang the bell. To my surprise, it wasn't one of the staff who answered. It was Mr. Blake himself. He looked at me for a moment,
