CHAPTER 25
Ivy
Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
My flight is delayed by an hour. I went to get a sandwich and now I'm sitting between strangers at my gate waiting for any updates.
I'm starting to get a headache. For some reason it's ridiculously loud around me and I cannot stand it.
My leg is bouncing, and I swear time is slowing down.
I just want to leave. I might be in shock.
I wish I could leave at this moment. Maybe being home would make it hurt less.
I could be with my family and focus on school so I wouldn't even have time to think about James, Abby, Alec or Lucas.
I feel my phone buzz in my pocket, and I lift it up to see a missed call and a voicemail notification from Bailey.
She would only call now if something were wrong.
I rush, quickly, to open my phone and listen to the voicemail. I fumble slightly as I do. I left my phone on do not disturb so I could listen to some music in peace so it could hopefully calm me down. Now my heart rate is quickening and beating sporadically.
I push the phone up against my ear and turn up the volume, but I still struggle to hear it over the sound of my pulse in my ears. Her voice is sad, maybe she's crying. I can't tell.
“Ivy, I can't believe you didn’t work it out with Lucas. He just came home and watching him made me realise I owe it to myself, him and especially to you to tell you the truth. Right, please don’t hate me for this.
” She takes a steading breath. “So, back in June you had said how much you loved it here and you didn't want to leave one night when we were together.
I really wanted you here too, so I spoke to your parents and the career advisor from school and long story short, I sent in a late application for college, well university, here in Pennsylvania.
They sent in the acceptance right before your birthday.
I was going to show it to you and give it to you as a gift but then you got that text from your mom, and she said how much she missed you.
I knew you'd miss your family, and I realised how selfish it was of me to ask you to stay but when we spoke earlier you said that if there was a way you could study here you would.
I'm not asking you to take it, I just want you to have this option too.
Lucas does not know about this, but I know how much you love him so please just think about it before you leave.
It's not far away, you could live here or in the dorms and live less than 2 hours away from Lucas by drive.
While, when I spoke to them, your parents were okay with it, I understand if you can't be away from them for so long. I love you, Ivy. Whatever decision you make, I know it will be the right one. Text me soon.” The message ends.
I wish I could say I laid back in my chair and thought about it for a moment. I wish I could say I stuck to the plan that had been laid out for my entire life. I didn't.
I ran. I ran from the gate, toward the entrance of the airport.
I rushed into a taxi, and I couldn't sit still the entire drive.
The moment of hearing that message it felt like everything had changed.
It's like everything around me has shifted completely.
It's surreal. A strong unfamiliar feeling has carried its way through me like it's not supposed to be there, but it's changed my reality for the terr.
The air around me is electrified, full of new possibilities.
A new pathway. A new direction. It's like Lucas had said.
A twist in my fate.In our fate.
For once, I don’t overthink my choice. My mind was full of other thoughts.
I could not focus at all. I spent the drive viewing the university website and texted my parents that my plans had changed.
I realised then that my mum had messaged me earlier to check that voicemail.
I guess Bailey told her that she sent it.
The university looks quite a lot like the one I had planned to go back home.
It has large buildings and fields where the students study.
I didn't know that they would have accepted so late in the year, they must have had a space. It was pure luck.
The car pulls up at the front of the farmhouse not long after.
The panelled white home is being illuminated by the sun that I was sure would be gone by this time.
It's just after lunch and all three cars are parked outside.
I pay my driver before slipping outside the car with my luggage.
Nerves build up inside me as I step closer to it.
I was so unfair to Lucas. He seemed so upset.
Bailey seemed upset too and now I'm worried they won't want me back.
I take a deep breath again and knock on the door. As soon as it swings open, Daisy is the one behind it and a puppy, that I almost forgot was here, is rushing through the door, jumping up to my legs.
“I knew you'd be back.” She smiles and I roll my eyes, rubbing the dog by its ears. Teddy has a new collar with his name on it and definitely has had a bath today because he wasn’t this clean the last time, I saw him. Elizabeth had said he loved rolling around in the mud on their walks.
Someone starts walking from behind her yelling, “Daisy. What did Mom tell you about opening the door to strangers? Never open the door unless—” They stop as they see me and my heart stops as I look into his eyes.
Teddy runs between us, and Daisy extends the door for me to step inside. I thank her as I do.
“See, it wasn't a stranger,” she says before skipping down the hall to a room I'm guessing is her own. Before she closes the door, she peeks through it and gives me a thumbs up which makes me smile a little. It's funny how observant these children are despite us trying to hide it for so long.
“Hi,” I say, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. He looks so extremely confused. I just want to run up to him and wrap my arms around him.
“Hi, Ivy,” he says, looking away for a second before continuing. His voice is so quiet it is almost a whisper. “Why are you back? Did you forget something? I'd get Bailey but she's on a walk with Mom and chestnut.”He can’t meet my eyes.
“I didn't forget anything. I'm staying,” I say, confidently, stepping closer to him.
“You're what?” he asks, his eyes widening.
“I'm staying here. I'm not going back home.
I'm going to school in Pennsylvania. I want to be with you, if that's okay.” He stands still dumbfounded. My heart rate doesn’t slow for even a moment.
I think he is shocked or maybe even expressionless.
I'm not sure I can tell. All I know is that this is all I've wanted almost all summer.
The ability to stay with him, love him and be with him.
His stillness starts to build up my anxiety.
I start to ramble to explain myself. “Bailey called me, and she told me that I got into a university here but later than usual and I can start this year.
The moment I knew I could be with you, still go to school and follow my dreams, I practically ran all the way here.
" I stutter a bit as I continue, “I mean I ran through the airport and into my cab. I just want you to know that I want to be with you. The moment I opened that voicemail it felt as if everything changed around me. It was exactly like you had said. It was a twist in fate. I was supposed to go one way back to London, but my fate changed because of you. I am meant to be here, at home. I love you, Lucas. I would do long distance for you, but now I don’t even have to let it cross my mind.
You are worth everything and anything," I say, but Lucas starts to stride over towards me.
Within seconds he wraps his arms around me and lifts me up off the ground to pull me closer to him.
I laugh lightly in the air, wrapping my arms around his neck, interlocking my fingers.
“Are you sure this is what you want, sunshine?”he asks, looking me in the eye.
“I promise it is. I have never been so sure of anything.” He smiles and pulls me in for a kiss.
His lips are soft and passionate as they move against my own.
His warmth envelopes me and I feel butterflies radiate in my stomach.
His hands lift up the fabric of my hoodie lightly to brush his hands against the skin of my waist and hips, still holding me tightly.
He places me down and we break apart, ever so slightly, but he still doesn’t let go of me. It feels as if he is scared to lose me.
“I love you,” I say, through a smile, laughing the words out slightly as he pulls me close.
“Say it again.”
“What?” I ask.
“Tell me again, please.”
“I love you, Lucas Miller. I will tell you that every day from now on." His smile grows wider, and he pulls me into a tighter hug than ever before. “Hey! You have to say it back!” I attempt to pull back, but he only tightens his hold on me if that’s even possible.
“I love you too,” he says into my neck as he holds me, clinging onto my clothes. It is almost muffled but I knew he wanted to say it clearly so I could hear it.
“So, what now?” I am not entirely sure what to do with myself. I probably will be allowed to stay here but I can’t assume until Mrs Miller is home.
Lucas squats down slightly, wrapping his hand round my hips and lifting me up off the ground.
I squeal loudly as he moves his hands up closer to waist, walking over to the sofa in the living room.
He places me down into the it and moves next to me, lifting slightly, so that I’m lying on his lap.
He leans over to the coffee table and picks up the TV remote.
Teddy hops up onto the sofa with us wagging his tail rapidly.
“Now, we are watching whatever you want until we either get hungry or are forced to move because when Bailey gets home she may tackle you to the ground out of happiness,” he says and I laugh, like usual.
“What if you don’t like what I put on the TV?” I ask.
“That doesn’t matter, sunshine. I have something better to watch anyways." I laugh again and he looks down at me with a new smile on his face, one I'm not sure I have seen before. It’s more relaxed and relieved.
I meet his eyes, and he whispers, “I am so happy.”
“Me too,” I say, and I wrap my arms around him, putting ‘To All the Boys I've Loved Before’ on the TV. It's one of my favourites.
Within our moment of peace, the door bursts open to Bailey in boots and what I'm guessing is an outfit she rides in.
She practically screams my name as she notices us on the sofa.
I stand up and walk closer to her but as soon as I do, I am, as predicted, tackled to the floor from a hug.
Teddy races up to us, licking our faces the more we laugh.
Today has been the best and most difficult day of my life.
I wouldn't change it for the world. I am finally where I am supposed to be.My future has led me here.