14
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 oneverything. I need you to go with me.”
“I’m sure you’ll find someone else to hang out with sinceeveryonewill 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?”
