Chapter 14 Ivy
IVY
Another damn day. I really don’t want to deal with another minute at Belgrave.
Only because of Luca Montclair. But I’m hoping today he’ll back off.
I didn’t even go in the backyard last night so I wouldn’t have to look at his stupid face glaring from his balcony or his stupid back muscles gliding through the water.
Once I head inside the building, I spot him immediately, but he looks like he’s deep in conversation and barely pays attention to me. Good. Maybe I can get through a peaceful day and go with my original plan of blending in. Which means not swimming fully clothed with a big dummy.
“Ivy,” Brooke calls as she walks up. “I didn’t see you at practice yesterday.”
“Because I didn’t go.”
“Oh, I thought you’d give us a chance. We have another practice Thursday.”
I just look at her and don’t hide how uninterested I am.
“Are you really not going to participate in anything at all?”
“That’s the plan,” I admit. “I just need to get through the school day.”
“How about after school? There’s a big fight this evening at the Tomb, and everyone is going to be there.”
“I’ll pass.”
“No,” she draws out. “You can’t bail on everything. I need you to go with me.”
“I’m sure you’ll find someone else to hang out with since everyone will be there.”
“I want to hang out with you.” She glances over her shoulder before she looks back at me. “The truth is … my normal group of friends have been full of drama, and I don’t want to deal with it. My plan is to have the best senior year ever.”
“Okay but that’s not my plan.”
“Just for a little while. How about this? If you at least go tonight and try to have a good time, I won’t keep bugging you about joining the cheer squad.”
That does seem a little appealing except for the whole trying to have a good time bit. “Watching people beat the shit out of each other isn’t my idea of a fun time.”
“Oh, but you have to experience a fight at the Tomb. It’s actually the old high school building before they rebuilt after the storm.”
She keeps on, barely taking a second to breathe until I finally say, “Okay,” after which she continues to yammer on, explaining details about tonight as I head to the office. I need the schedule change sooner than later.
Once I step into the office, the same grumpy lady who probably still doesn’t have her raise asks, “What do you need?”
“I need my schedule changed.”
“All changes must be submitted through—”
“The student portal. Yeah, I did that. But I don’t have my phone to log in to my account.” Thanks to a jackass who decided I needed to go for a swim with it. I could’ve gone and got a replacement. Though not having the device has given me some peace.
She stares at me for a few seconds before impatiently asking, “Name?”
“Ivy Walker,” I state as I watch her click away.
“Yes. I see the request, but it was declined,” she casually informs me.
“Declined? Why?”
“I don’t know. It wasn’t my decision.” She leans and asks whoever is behind me. “What do you need?”
I shift, blocking her view. “Whose decision was it?”
Her pissy attitude remains intact, but she answers, “Mr. Dunn. Counselor. His office is down the hallway to the left.”
I head that way, and once I reach the guidance counselor’s office, I knock and wait a few seconds before I hear a muffled, “Just a minute.”
Moments later, the door swings open as a student walks out and a voice calls out, “Come on in. How can I help you?”
“Ivy Walker. I need to know why my schedule change was declined.”
“Ah, welcome to Belgrave, Ivy.” He shuffles some papers around his desk as he explains, “Unfortunately, I couldn’t approve the schedule swap.”
“Why not?”
“I know about the accident. And I think I’d be doing you a disservice if I moved you out of the class. Just give it a little time. If you still want to drop the class, we can talk about it next semester.”
“I will still want to drop it.”
“It’s just a class. You don’t have to compete. But maybe you’ll decide to if you give it a chance.” He speaks with an optimism I don’t share.
“What’s in it for you?” Coach has more to gain than anyone, so why is he the only one who’s actually backed off?
“Just looking out for the best interests of my students.” Dunn stands from his desk and steps past me. “I have to meet with Principal Guidry. Stop by if you need anything, Ivy.”
“Yeah, because that worked out so well this time,” I mutter to the empty office.
When I turn to leave, I collide with a solid force that blocks me from leaving the room. As the door closes, with me still inside along with Luca, I see he is the brick wall blocking my way.
So much for him staying away today. “Move. Now.”
He props against the door as he watches me.
I reach around him and grab the doorknob, attempting to pull it open, but the door doesn’t move with him leaning his thick head on it. “What the fuck is your problem?”
He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a phone. “I always pay my debts.”
“Oh, how freaking kind of you.” I make another effort to leave. “I don’t want anything from you.”
He shifts, removing my hand from the doorknob. Rotating me until my back is against the door, his arms cage me, trapping me in place. “Your eyes are telling a different story.” His lips move way too close to mine, but all I can focus on is his hand that slowly moves up my thigh and under my skirt.
“You’re delusional.” I grab his wrist, pulling his hand off of my skin. He looks down to where my hand has his in a firm grip and I tell him, “The only thing I want is for you to go away.”
He slowly pulls out of my hold. I turn, ready to open the door. He’s behind me, though, his chest to my back as he whispers, “Then why is your ass pushing against me? Why is your breathing shallow, your heart racing? I can feel all of you.”
“Because you’re blocking me from leaving.”
He chuckles. “That’s not it.”
“I don’t know what you smoked or what substance you’re on, but this is not okay. I don’t want you. I don’t even like you.”
“You can do better than that.” He says it almost like it’s a challenge. Like he wants me to get angrier.
And it pisses me off. I don’t know what I did to deserve a psycho neighbor who can’t take a hint—or even a blunt statement—but I’m so over it.
“You’re right. I can do much better than you.
I’ve already met the superior version after all.
And Micah is so much more appealing.” I see the tightness in his jaw, the muscle flexing which tells me I hit a sore spot, so I keep going.
“Much better choice if you ask me. I’d bet he’s better at everything. Even fucking.”
“Enough.” His hand comes up, slamming against the door next to my head.
I don’t flinch; I don’t make a move to escape him.
“You don’t scare me. There’s no pain you can inflict that’s worse than what I’ve already felt.
After experiencing pain so bad you’d give up your soul to undo it, some guy with anger issues and a superiority complex who’s hell-bent on making my life miserable is nothing but an annoyance. Better luck next time.”
A different air covers his face. Shock or maybe pain. I’m not sure. I’m just thankful when he leans away from me. But before I open the door, he tucks the phone in the pocket of my blazer.
I remove it and drop it at his feet. “I don’t want it. Consider us even. Do me a favor and stay the fuck away from me.”
Shoving past him, I hope he’ll do as I ask. But from the little I know about him, I fear it’s an impossible ask.