Chapter 33 Ivy
IVY
“I’m so happy you’ll be back at school on Monday,” Brooke announces as she stands at the entrance of my closet.
Yeah, not so much for me. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
She rolls her eyes just as she did when I told her I could wear the T-shirt and jeans that I already have on. She starts skimming through my clothes until she pulls out a black strapless minidress and holds it up to me. “Here you go. Classy and simple. Get dressed.”
Why did I agree to go to the party? Probably because Brooke guilted me into it.
She showed up at my house, crying about how horrible Micah has been to her and she needed a night out.
I haven’t seen that side of him, but it’s not a stretch from what I’ve witnessed of his brother.
And I know damn well the Montclair twins will attend the party. Those fuckers are everywhere.
“Let’s go watch a movie instead,” I suggest as I change into the dress.
“Maybe tomorrow. I really just want to drink and let loose. Garrett has the best parties.”
There’s no party that seems appealing, but maybe part of me wants to go see if I can find out something about who left the picture.
My gut keeps telling me that it has to be another player.
Maybe the Deceiver. Or it was actually Luca, and he’s screwing with my head.
All of them do. I doubt I’ll figure much out because they lie so well.
So drinking is slowly moving to the top reasons I want to go to the party.
That and Anthony has been asking me every hour if I need anything since the photograph was delivered.
He said they’re trying to recover footage, but it looks like everything was permanently erased.
So, whoever did it knew their way around the system. Which basically excludes no one.
“When do you think we’ll get another dare?” I ask.
She looks at her phone, her posture tense. “I hope it’s soon. I’m ready to get it over with and be done with Micah. He’s an ass.”
“So is his brother. Which is another reason I vote to go see a movie instead.”
Brooke ignores the suggestion and asks, “How is that going? Y’all seemed to be getting along at the hospital.
Or at least you weren’t trying to throttle each other like I was with Micah.
My shoes were literally trashed. I barely had enough time to get home and shower before school, then we had the game.
But thankfully we won. It was definitely the perfect way to end yesterday. ”
I’d heard Belgrave won the game. I also heard Willowbrook won when Everett messaged me earlier.
And then he guilted me for missing that one too.
Then got even more upset when I said I didn’t want to hang out tonight.
Plus, saying no to Everett is easier than Brooke because she won’t let up until I give in.
Or so I think until I get another message from Everett. It’s a picture of him and Kendall with a message attached.
Everett: You’re missing all the fun. It’s not too late to join us.
I miss Everett. I think I do. And I don’t mind the thought of hanging with him. It’s everyone attached to my old life that I don’t want to face. It’s hard to think about seeing them as more time passes by. I feel even more alienated from the old me than ever.
Ivy: Maybe another time.
Maybe I’ll want to one day again. I hope.
Everett:
“You look hot.” Brooke’s whistle draws me out of my thoughts as I click off my phone.
I step in front of the full-length mirror. It’s the first time I’ve worn the dress in forever. The last time I wore it was to a team celebration dinner. “Let’s get a drink before we head out.”
“Good plan,” she agrees, so we head downstairs and grab a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet. After she takes a drink, she holds up her phone. “Ride will be here in a few. It’s not that far from here.”
I was on board as soon as she volunteered to call us an Uber.
Because I don’t plan on being in a sober enough state to drive after the party.
I feel my cheeks warming already, the buzz of the liquor taking over.
And I welcome the feeling. “I should just stay home.” I feel like I could sleep for a year, and it’d still not be enough.
“No, ma’am. You’re my buffer. Plus, you got all dressed up. You can’t let that effort go to waste.
I disagree with all of it. Because going to the party is a waste. Everything we do is pointless and just another way to pass time until it runs out. “I wish they’d give us a good dare.”
“The hospital was scary as hell,” Brooke shudders before as she excitedly shouts, “Ride is here.”
We go out to the driveway and slide into the back seat of an Explorer. Brooke was right because we’re only in the SUV for a few minutes when we get to the party. “We could’ve walked.”
“No, we couldn’t have. Walking isn’t safe even in this area. Don’t get out by yourself, Ivy. It’s not a good idea.”
This area is beyond upscale compared to my old neighborhood. She’d freak if she saw the areas I previously called home. Even if she doesn’t consider herself one of the preppy, sheltered kids, she is around them and only in their world all the time.
As soon as we enter the house, Brooke finds where they’re serving drinks and grabs us both one.
I take a few sips before downing the rest as we weave through the crowd.
The house is crammed with people from wall to wall.
It’s making me regret being here even more until we get to the backyard where it’s not as jam-packed.
Brooke dances to the blaring music as she grabs my hand and twirls around.
“I’ll pass. Have fun.” I move to the side, seeing another drink table. So, I head over and refill my cup as my phone dings with a message from Everett.
Everett: I miss you.
Ivy: Miss you too.
Minutes later, I’m watching Brooke yell along with the song and bounce around as I feel my phone vibrate again.
Everett: I’m outside your door. Let me in.
Shit.
Ivy: I’m not home.
Everett: Where are you?
Ivy: Party down the street.
Everett: Send me your location.
I glance up, seeing Brooke still swaying along before I send Everett my location.
It’s about ten minutes later when I see him step out the door into the backyard.
He scans the crowd as I wave to him before he finally sees me.
Before he reaches me, he says, “I thought you didn’t feel like going to a party. ”
“I didn’t. Brooke talked me into coming out.”
“Ah. So new friends have more pull.”
“It’s not like that.” I take another sip before I tell him. “Being at a party with all the old friends feels heavier. I just want to relax and not be the girl with the dead mom.”
“I get it, Ivy. But I’ve missed you. I hate that we’re missing out on our senior year together. It was supposed to be us against the world.”
“I know. Only it’s not anymore. Things changed.” Everything changed in a split second.
“It doesn’t have to be this way” He wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. “Just promise me you’ll stop pushing me away.”
“Okay,” I agree but don’t return the hug before he releases me.
“I’ll get us some drinks.” He glances around before I point him in the right direction.
He disappears as Brooke returns, plopping down beside me. “It’s so hot out here.”
When Everett returns, she sees the drink in his hand and grabs one. “Thanks, dude. You read my mind.”
Everett just smiles as I introduce them before he says, “You’re welcome.” He takes a sip of the one in his hand before passing it to me. “I’ll grab a few more. Seems like we might need them.”
“For sure,” Brooke hollers.
He returns with three more drinks as Brooke downs another and goes back to the dance floor. When a slow melody comes on, she calls us out there before she wraps her arms around some dude’s neck who I don’t recognize and sways to the music.
“Dance with me?” Everett asks.
We’ve danced before, but something makes me say, “I’d rather skip this one.”
“Got it.” He doesn’t seem bothered, but he stays quiet.
When Brooke joins us again, she motions to the house, “Let’s go inside. It’s too hot out here.”
“Agreed.” Everett stands, holding out his hand, and I place mine in it before we follow Brooke inside and up the staircase.
There’s a sitting area that isn’t as crowded as downstairs but there’re still people everywhere as we squeeze onto one of the sofas.
Brooke doesn’t remain seated for long before she’s twirling around the makeshift dance floor here.
The air-conditioning makes it much better though.
Everett ends up talking to some guy who’s in one of my classes about football.
It’s not long before I spot him. Luca. All his buddies and his brother are around him, but his severe eyes are fixated on me.
Or more like where Everett has his arm draped across my shoulder even though he’s focused on his sporty talk with the guy whose name I still can’t recall.
All I can think about is the idiot within too close of a proximity.
And the way he’s acting reminds me of his stance on the balcony.
He wants me to know he’s nearby and watching.
It takes everything I have not to lift my finger and flip him off. Bastard.
“What about you, Ivy? Ready for the Belgrave versus Willowbrook matchup?” Classmate Dude asks.
“Oh, she’s a Bulldog fan for sure. Loyal to the core,” Everett announces as I hear a loud chuckle across from me. So does Everett because his arm tenses before he pulls me a little closer as several partygoers look to Luca.
“What’s your issue, man?” Everett asks.
But it’s Remy who chimes in first. “No way she’ll root for the losing team. Right, Walker?”
I ignore Remy because I can feel the tension as Everett stays focused on the jackass who has a smug look on his face as he answers, “Just don’t think you know your best friend as well as you think.”