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| Ivy Dewshine: | Ryouko Hirosue |
| Adonis: | Ueda Yuuji |
| Randoruun: | Ryoutarou Okiayu |
| Quinn: | Ota Shinnichirou |
| Hiko: | Hekiru Siina |
| Jonothan: | Masami Kikuchi |
| Arlen: | Akira Kamiya |
| Gray: | Hikaru Midorikawa |
| Yamatako: | Megumi Ogata |
| Mrs. Dewshine: | Ai Orikasa |
| Emma: | Aya Hisakawa |
| Solomond: | Akira Ishida |
The
recollections Ivy had of the Matheson estate were vivid. The stale,
still air gave her a nauseating headache.
Darkness swallowed everything. Ivy could not see any of the curtains, coated with a thick layer of undisturbed dust. No light leaked through the cracks in the worn and tired walls.
But still, those hollow footsteps echoed in the pitch black. She would cover her ears and try in vain to repress them. The single noise seemed to stress the barrenness of the estate.
The footsteps were subdued, but they grew closer. They seemed almost vociferous, as Ivy still couldn’t get them out of her mind.
A light seemed to be on her, making her violently shaking hands visible.
The footsteps were closer. Out of the darkness, he appeared. His gray eyes were void of all emotion, of all sentiment. His rough cheekbones stuck out distinctively, and his ash-colored hair grabbed his neck. His healthy skin now seemed a deathly pale.
Everything in Ivy pulled her back, but she stepped forward, and lightly rested a few slender fingers on his pallid lips. Her hazel eyes searched his face for a trace of sentiment as they stared back at eachother.
"Where have you gone?" she breathed. Her fingers trembled as she felt his cold, lifeless mouth. "Where can I find you?"
He blinked, and wrapped his coarse fingers around her hand.
Ivy’s eyes widened, and she gasped.
"You won’t find me." He replied. His voice was flat. "Never."
Ivy cried out. "No!" she screamed at him, "I’ll never be at peace until I know why!" she rested a clenched fist on his chest, "I have to see you!"
"Then you’ll never be at peace." He gripped her fingers tighter. "You should’ve learned by now…not everything will go your way."
"Don’t do this to me!" Ivy shrieked furiously. "You monster! Don’t you dare do this to me!"
"You need to learn to settle with what you get." He said, "Or you’ll have nightmares forever."
Ivy felt her sweat penetrating her sheets. She shot up from her pillow in an instant. She ran her fingers through her damp hair. Her breathing was heavy, and she felt chills.
"That’s MY hair-towel, you little freak!"
"Uh-uh! Yours is the girly-pink one!!!"
Ivy turned to the doorway, hearing Hiko and Adonis bickering outside. She pulled her legs out from under the sheets, and slipped her feet into a pair of slippers.
"If that’s so, where is it, huh?!"
"Like I’d know?! Your stuff isn’t my responsibility!"
"I bet you have it, you thief!"
Ivy stood, and once again ran her fingers through her hair. She rubbed her eyes, and sniffed. She sat down in her vanity chair, and stared at her reflection.
C’mon. Smile. She told herself. She began to curl her lips upward, but only gave it a half-hearted attempt. She sighed, and frowned at her reflection. "You know you can do better than that." She scolded herself. She put in more of an effort this time…
There was a knock at the door.
"It’s open, Mom!" Ivy called.
The door opened, and Solomond walked in, completely disoriented.
Ivy let out a ridiculous laugh, finally succeeding in smiling, "What happened to you?!"
Solomond was glowering, "Those two wretched red-heads."
No doubt he meant Adonis and Hiko. Ivy laughed again, and turned around to face him. "They’re always like that."
"I figured as much." Solomond sighed, sitting on Ivy’s unmade bed.
"What do you need?" Ivy ran a brush through her hair and pulled her hair up into a towering ponytail.
"Huh?" Solomond looked to her, "Oh. Letting you know breakfast is ready."
"…oh…" Ivy went silent after that.
Solomond walked behind her, and leaned over her. He quickly planted a kiss on her head, saying "I can still kiss you ‘good morning’, right?"
Ivy hesitated to answer, "S-sure…"
"I’m glad of that." Solomond rested his hands on Ivy’s shoulders, and straightened back up. "See you downstairs."
"Mmh." Ivy replied, and watched him in the mirror as he walked out of her room. As the door closed, she relaxed a bit, and lightly touched her forehead.
She regretfully remembered the kiss from the night before. She felt regret because she knew that although she loved him dearly, all intimate emotions she had for him right now were strictly sexual. She wished she could fool herself into rushing herself into a relationship with him. She thought it would make things easier, but she knew it was just the opposite.
Besides, she had more important things to deal with. She’d only be kidding herself if she thought having a boyfriend would help her get through this…or a fiancée, for that matter. It would only make things harder. She’s too unstable for anything right now.
And it seemed even Solomond realized it before she did.
But what am I supposed to do? Ivy brushed away some strands of hair framing her face. She turned to her closet, and got out an outfit: a green skirt and a white button-up blouse. She noticed her pulled up hair would not go well, and she pulled it down. She set the hair-band on her counter on the vanity, next to her impressive perfume collection. She stubbed her toe against the heavy sword leaning against the table’s legs. She winced, and drew her foot back. Glaring down at the obnoxious object, her face abruptly softening, she realized the first step she would take in minding her life…and maybe, quite miraculously, the lives of her newest and dearest of friends.
Emma noticed that morning her older sister’s shining smile. She skeptically analyzed Ivy’s behavior from her seat in the dining room.
"A good morning, everyone!" Ivy piped, taking a seat in-between Yamatako and Hiko. She sat across from Adonis. Her eyes grew wide, and gleamed with a playful light. "Didja find your towel?"
Before Adonis could answer, Hiko interrupted him:
"It was on his neck."
Ivy tried to hold in her laughter while Adonis tugged on Hiko’s hair.
"Watch it, squirt!"
"Ah!! Miss Emma, save me from the fierce-faced man!"
Randoruun put a piece of egg in his mouth, and smiled at Ivy with an equally warm expression. "What are you planning to do today?" he grabbed the back of Adonis’s collar when the dragon reached across the table to strangle Hiko.
"Hmm?" Ivy took a plate Emma handed her. "Uh…well…" she nervously began. I’m not sure if I should tell them…they might worry… "It’s a secret!"
Randoruun and Adonis both blinked.
"A secret?" Adonis repeated.
Ivy gave her most convincing smile, and nodded. "A secret!" Great, now I’ll have to come up with something!
Adonis sat back, and put a grape in his mouth. "And we’re supposed to believe you?" he gave a sideways glance to Ivy.
Her heart jumped to her throat. She saw everyone’s eyes on her.
Adonis cracked up. "Gotcha! Man, you’re easy! Do you believe everything you’re told?!"
Ivy’s brow furrowed, and she growled, "That was mean!"
Adonis’s laughter didn’t die down. "Wasn’t it?!"
Ivy growled once more, and launched a strawberry in Adonis’s direction.
"Oops." Adonis moved slightly to dodge the fruit.
"Ivy!" Emma gasped, "What will Mama and Papa think?!" she leapt from her seat next to Solomond, and walked over to the wall behind Adonis to scrape off the strawberry.
Ivy sighed, glad to have the attention drawn away from herself.
Emma frowned, and stiffly returned to her seat, leaving the wall spotless.
"Hey, where’s Jono?" Ivy noticed the absence of the doctor’s presence, and felt a growing curiosity as to why he wasn’t around.
Solomond looked up from his plate, and looked to his best friend. "He never came down." He quietly said.
"Probably slept in." Adonis scoffed, "Geez, that guy’s weak." He leaned back on the back of his chair, and folded his arms.
Ivy sharply kicked Adonis in the leg. "Wanna see how well you handle getting stabbed like that?"
Adonis shot up, and gripped onto the edge of the table, "Ow! Geez, when did you get so freakin’ defensive?!"
"He got hurt helping me!" Ivy lifted her fork, and jabbed another strawberry with it. She shook it at Adonis, "If I remember correctly, you were asleep when this all happened."
"He was." Hiko droned.
"FINISH YOUR BREAKFAST, SQUIRT!" Adonis roared, leaning across the table.
Ivy pinched Adonis’s nose, and twisted it, "Get away from him."
Hiko cracked up as Adonis jumped back.
His nose began to turn red, and he glared at Ivy, "Damn it, woman! Why are you so violent?!"
"Watch the language, Mister!" Ivy shot back, "Unless you’d like to take this outside!"
There was complete silence in the dining room at that moment.
Emma’s mouth gaped slightly in shock. Why must it get so out-of-control when Mama and Papa aren’t here?!
Adonis felt his mouth go dry. "Y-you can’t be serious."
"Y’wanna bet?!" Ivy’s fork was still pointed at Adonis. Her lips were pulled to a threatening frown.
Solomond took a strawberry from his plate, and bit into it, "Hey, Ivy…"
"What?!" Ivy shouted, "Can’t you tell I’m in the middle of something?!"
Solomond kept a straight face as he spoke, and he kept his gaze on his strawberry. "Do you know where you right hand is?"
Ivy’s angry grimace relaxed, and she followed the length of her right arm to see her right hand wrist-deep in the bowl of eggs. She glanced up to Emma, whose hands were on each side of her face, her mouth agape in shock.
Ivy flashed her most sincere smile, and nervously laughed. "Was someone planning to eat that, by any chance?"
In a silent huff, Emma took the remaining eggs off of the table, "Well, if they were, they’re out of luck."
The others dining silently stared at Ivy, who now had a blank, but almost guilty, stare on her face. She silently watched Emma take the eggs back into the kitchen. She then turned to Adonis. "Look what you caused!" she hissed.
"Can’t you go thirty seconds without arguing?!" Adonis hissed back.
Ivy folded her arms, and glared at Adonis, "I was hoping that I would have a peaceful breakfast."
"No such thing with him around." Hiko butted into the bickering to give his two cents worth.
"Pipe down, you shrimp!" Adonis struggled to keep his temper in check, and was failing miserably.
Hiko hollered at the top of his lungs, "Miss Emma!!! Don’t let him hurt me!!!"
Both Adonis and Ivy put a hand over the kinder’s mouth, "Shh!!!"
"Do you want to wake Jonothan?!" Ivy said.
"Don’t bother Emma!!" Adonis hissed at the same time.
Both youths looked to eachother, and each had a glare spread across their face.
"Since WHEN did you have any concern for my little sister??" Ivy puffed up her chest protectively.
"Why do you have such concern for the Doc, huh?!" Adonis replied in the same dry tone.
Yamatako set her napkin on the table, and stood. "Can you handle this?" she addressed Hiko.
Hiko and Ivy both looked to Yamatako.
"This isn’t a fight, Yamatako!" Ivy rose a fist angrily.
"Then what the hell do you call this?!" Adonis bellowed.
Ivy spun at Adonis, "If this were a fight, you would’ve lost already!!!"
Adonis cracked up. "What time are you gonna wake up this morning?!"
Ivy grimaced, and sat back down silently, "Hmm!" she smiled smugly, "I know when I’m wasting my time."
Adonis smiled in the same manner, "You finally admit defeat."
"Did I say that?" Ivy sounded astonished.
Quinn heard the two squabbling downstairs when he woke up. He lay still for a bit, not opening his eyes. His face felt cold in contrast to his body, which was comfortably wrapped in blankets.
He heard the window open, and felt the sunlight warm up his face.
"Are you planning to get up anytime today, Mister Edwards?" Emma’s sweet tone couldn’t hide her spite towards the man.
Quinn opened his eyes, and sat up.
Emma turned around, and sighed as she looked at him, "Oh, I do hate you so."
Quinn looked to Emma and blinked, confused.
"You manage to look beautiful the moment you wake up." Emma picked up a washcloth, "How unfair that such a gift be wasted on a man, when it is a girl who is in such need of it."
Quinn laughed, "For such a soft gentlewoman, you have a bite."
"By your tone, I’m assuming that was a compliment." Emma never got eye contact with Quinn as she neatened up the room. She straightened up, and wiped the sweat off of her brow, "Where’s your friend?"
"You mean he’s not downstairs?" Quinn asked.
"Believe it or not, the doctor is not part of the ruckus." Emma stretched her arm under the bed to reach for another cloth.
Quinn lay on his stomach, and easily picked up the cloth. Emma saw his grin as he hung upside-down, and kept a perfectly straight face.
Quinn sat back up, and waited for Emma to stand back up before offering the cloth.
With a polite "thank you", she took it, and continued straightening up.
"Why is this room so cluttered anyway?" Quinn asked.
"This used to be my Grandmother’s room. After she passed on, it became my sewing room." Emma simply replied.
"Ah." Quinn pulled off his covers, and stepped out of bed.
Emma frowned, embarrassed to see Quinn without a shirt. "H-have some decency around a young lady!" she blushed, and turned to have her back facing him.
"Oh. Sorry…" Quinn paused for a moment, and took his shirt. He began to button it, and Emma went back to cleaning the room.
Both were very absorbed in their own responsibilities, both of them jumped when they backed into eachother.
Both spun around to face eachother. Quinn gave Emma one of his charming smiles, while Emma scowled in reply, and went about her business.
Quinn’s grin faded, and he left his top blouse button undone.
Emma left the room for a moment, and Quinn walked over to the window.
The sunlight warmed his face even more, and he looked in the distance.
Dark clouds were building up in the horizon.
"So much rain is unusual for this place…" Quinn thought out loud. He turned from the window, and tied back his hair with a ribbon. He walked out of the room, bumping into Emma in the doorway.
Emma gave him a disapproving look, and inched past him.
Quinn dismissed the look she gave and headed downstairs. As he entered the dining room, he saw Solomond stand.
"I better head out to Dad’s store…" Solomond said.
"Do you ever live with your family anymore?" Ivy leaned on the table.
"Are you kidding? With just Dad and Casey, meals are scarce!" Solomond grinned, "They’re glad to have me out of the house!"
"I understand why…" Ivy massaged her temples. She looked up to see Quinn, and she smiled. "You’re up! Where’s Jono?"
"Didn’t we already tell you?!" Adonis picked at his now-cold breakfast.
"I don’t trust you." Ivy glared at him. "For all I know, you might have him hanging from the upstairs balcony."
Adonis let out a "pfft!" and began laughing. "I like that idea!!"
"You’re so mean to him!" Ivy stuck out her tongue.
"He’s still sleeping, I think." Quinn answered.
"See?" Adonis glared back to Ivy.
Ivy ignored Adonis, and skipped half-heartedly to the stairwell. "I’m going out!" She quickly hopped up the stairs, and bumped into Jonothan at the top.
Ivy felt her face turn a bit pink, and she smiled. "Oop! Sorry!"
Jonothan adjusted his glasses, "Morning."
"Afternoon, actually." Ivy smiled.
The two kept trying to slip past eachother, but kept blocking eachother. They both stopped, and nervously laughed.
"After you." Jono stepped back, smiling.
"Yeah…" Ivy smiled back nervously, and slipped past him.
Jonothan inhaled a faint essence of perfume as she swiftly flew by. Perfume…? He looked behind him as Ivy closed the door to her room. What’s she planning to do…? He turned back around, and walked downstairs.
"Look who’s come back from the dead!" was Adonis’s greeting.
"What kept you up so late?" Randoruun asked as he popped a grape in his mouth.
"Huh?" Jonothan looked to Randoruun, who looked straight back at him. "Just cleaning my instruments. I need to get rid of some stuff."
"How dull. Couldn’t you think up a better story?" Adonis muttered.
"Grow up." Randoruun hit him gently on the head with a fist.
"SINCE WHEN DID YOU START HITTING ME?!!" Adonis growled, rubbing his head.
Randoruun warmly smiled. "Are you saying only girls can hit you?"
"Not unless you wanna get hit back!" Adonis threatened with a fist.
"Come now, Adonis…I didn’t hit you that hard." Randoruun sipped the last of his orange juice.
Emma walked back into the dining room, and took some of the dishes. She looked up. "Where’s Ivy?"
"Left." Quinn answered. "Solomond, too."
"Oh…" Emma looked disappointed.
"What’s wrong?" Hiko innocently asked.
Emma looked to Hiko, and then away. "I wanted them to pick up some things for me…"
"I’ll help you, Miss Emma!!!" Hiko tugged on her apron.
"Don’t be ridiculous." Adonis stood, and put a hand on Hiko’s head.
Emma blinked, a bit startled by the loud Adonis.
Adonis grinned at Emma, "You wouldn’t seriously consider letting a tiny kid go into town alone, would you?! I’ll go."
Hiko sent Adonis a dirty glare. You play dirty…
"Well…" Emma faded off, giving Adonis a worried look.
"I’ll go if you want me to." Jonothan politely offered.
Emma frowned, and looked back to Adonis. She smiled sweetly. "You can go, Adonis! Let me make a list…" she led him into the kitchen.
After the two left, Hiko called to the door, "You’re a creep, Adonis!"
Jonothan blinked, trying to figure out Emma’s behavior. He sat next to Quinn, and kept his voice low. "What’s wrong with her?"
"Who knows?" Quinn shrugged, and took a glass and poured some milk into it. "You know how girls can be…"
Jonothan’s brow furrowed. "I guess…"
Ivy hadn’t left yet. She was neatening up her room. Emma always skipped her room, since Ivy technically should be the one doing the housework. (She doesn’t anymore because she isn’t engaged. Her parents concluded that she should get in the habit of earning her own living, just in case she didn’t get married.)
Ivy walked over to her vanity, and picked up her money pouch. She fastened it to her belt, and picked up the sword. Unsheathing it, Ivy inhaled deeply as she saw her reflection in the blade. The blade was clean, with no scratches on it. She never used it. The image of a bloody blade flashed in her head. Her grip loosened on the handle, and she snapped back to attention when the sword fell at her feet.
She yelped, and jumped away from the sword. She knelt down, and picked it up.
Actually, I’m glad I didn’t use it…Ivy touched the clean blade. I can’t think of a time where I should’ve used it…she thought of Gray, and winced as she pictured a blade going into warm flesh. I don’t know how I’d be able to live with it…someone dying under my hand…Ivy stood, and clutched onto the handle tightly. I don’t know how he could live with it…she saw her knuckles go while. She saw the reflection in the blade again. Her eyebrows were angrily arched, and her lower lip trembled. How can he possibly live without giving it a second thought?! She abruptly sheathed the sword, and dropped it on her bed. She furiously walked over to her chest of drawers, and got out a long shawl. She began wrapping the sword in it, and her head began to ache. She ground her teeth as she thought more of Gray.
If he stayed…would I have used it? If he wasn’t sorry…would I have killed him? Should I have killed him? Ivy tucked in the loose piece of cloth. He could kill others…will he be stopped somehow? Is there someone out there to stop him? She picked up the sword, and held it close to her, Why aren’t I stopping him?—IDIOT! Her thoughts raced as she quietly slipped downstairs. You saw how he caught you off guard all those times…in front of six other men, nonetheless! You can’t think about taking him on by yourself!
Ivy made sure the coast was clear before sneaking out. She didn’t want anyone following her this time. This time, she wanted to go alone.
The way I’m acting, it’s like I’m running away…Ivy thought to herself before closing the door. "I’m going out!" she called at the top of her lungs before slamming the door.
Ivy jogged a few meters from the house, and slowed down to a lively walk after a few seconds.
She smiled as she let the warm afternoon sun kiss her cheeks. I’m definitely not running away…she hugged the sword tightly, More like…running into…she closed her eyes, and inhaled the frigid air. The scent of a nearby coffee shop’s cinnamon cake tickled her nostrils, and she sneezed.
Rubbing her nose, she looked to the coffee shop’s display window, and smiled. What a beautiful cake…
The cake she eyed was a dark-brown pound cake, garnished with decadent candied apricots and mint leaves.
Apricots!!! Ivy smiled wider at the sight of one of her favorite fruits. I should buy this for Em--! She paused, and her smile faded. Oh…she’ll be with Cal tonight, won’t she…? She turned from the window. Stupid…trying to distract yourself…
The brisk and frigid wind stung Ivy’s eyelids, and she blinked repeatedly to soothe them.
I’m in no rush…she told herself. And I am alone…she slowed down her walking speed, What harm is there in browsing? She lifted her head to look at window displays.
Every store was getting ready for the winter season. Ivy stopped in front of a dress store, and took in the sight of the dress on display.
It was a deep forest green. Ivy could tell it was velvet. The clean white fur trim made her sigh.
It must be a fortune…Ivy rested a few fingers on the pane of glass. What a great dress…she angrily glared at the ground. If I still had my job, I could at least consider getting it…she began walking again, shoving her cold hands in her skirt pockets. Then again, I’d have to ask Mr. Jacobson for a raise…she looked ahead of her, And the likeliness of that actually happening is—ACK!!! Her eyes widened, and she leapt into the nearest open store.
She stood at the doorway, and watched an elderly man stalk past.
Omigosh, Mr. Jacobson almost saw me!! I completely forgot about him when we came back! Ivy’s breathing was a bit heavy, and her cheeks and nose were red. Does he know I’m home?! Does he know I’m alive, even?! Ivy turned around, and rubbed her hands together. Might as well look around…
"Come in and warm up, dear!" a thin young woman smiled behind a desk.
Ivy smiled back, and gave a polite "thank you" and a nod. She suddenly felt the humidity hit her face, and she broke into a sweat. I’m melting…! She wiped off her forehead, and looked ahead.
Displays of floral arrangements crowded the walls. Droplets of water clung to the glass windows, and dripped off of the ceiling.
Ivy flinched, and shivered a bit as a droplet kit her neck, but she took in the breathtaking sight of the ornate and fragrant flowers.
"Smells yummy, right?" the blonde young woman stepped out from behind the counter, and cradled a blossom in her fingers. "These won’t be lasting much longer, with the frost coming."
Ivy blinked, and looked on the soft, deep violet petals of the exotic blossom. The color…reminded her of Kei, for some reason. "What is it?"
"I don’t really know. My mom picked it out, and she’s out running errands right now." The girl picked one up, and tucked it behind her ear, "She said it’s the same color as my eyes!" the blonde merchant smiled, and went back to the counter.
Eyes…Ivy gazed at the flower. It looks like Kei. Kei’s eyes were blue…like this…
The young woman was shocked to see Ivy carry a bunch of the azure flowers over to the counter.
"What’s the occasion?" the woman smiled nervously.
A burial…thought Ivy. She smiled. "No occasion, really. They’re just kinda nostalgic."
"They probably won’t last for more than a week, so I’ll charge at half-price." The woman wrote down a recording of the purchase.
"You’re very kind…" Ivy looked up, and saw her nametag, which read "Hope". She blushed, and she looked the young woman over again.
She does remind me of Joy…she thought as she paid for the flowers and walked away with the bunch, the sword slung over her back. Odd…why does my stomach tighten when I think of her? It’s as though…I’m hurting for Jonothan…she smiled. It’s good that you’re caring for others, Ivy. She slowed down next to a cart with a display of silky kerchiefs. If anything, other people’s problems will take your mind off of your own…
She saw a lavender handkerchief with a red ladybug stitched on the corner. Next to it was a yellow kerchief with a light green grasshopper etched on it. Ivy smiled, and took them both, Emma would like this…
"These have become really popular with your age group." The elderly woman at the cart said when she looked up. Her eyes suddenly widened, "Oh my---Ivy?!"
"Mrs. McEnery!" Ivy laughed, "I didn’t notice you!"
"You were taken for dead!" the woman’s eyes watered, "Mercy me! Do your parents have any idea?!"
Ivy handed Mrs. McEnery the money, "For a few days now."
Mrs. McEnery put the kerchiefs in a bad, and before handing it over to Ivy, she hit the girl upside the head with it.
"Ow!" Ivy peeped, and rubbed her head.
"Well, shame on you! Giving your loved ones a scare like that!" the elderly woman handed Ivy the bag. "Probably having some jollies with friends…shame on you."
Ivy took the bag, and bowed. "Yeah. My parents have really gotten on my case about it." Not a good idea telling the truth…she began to back away.
"I hope you’ve learned your lesson, young lady." The woman called, "But I’m glad you’re safe!"
"Thank you! Me, too!" Ivy called, and began walking more briskly. Getting things for people always lifts a person’s spirit…she noticed people passing by her. Ageis was a large town; so many faces were still unfamiliar to her…
She passed by a jewelry shop, and saw the light blonde head of Cal Chandler. She froze in her tracks, and walked in.
Ivy gasped when she saw him holding a gold ring with a diamond. She took a step back, straight into a display of pocket watches.
"Crap!" she spun around, and caught the display.
Cal looked up and saw Ivy. His mature features made Ivy blush. She prayed that he didn’t hear her sweet little outburst just now…
"Do you think your sister would like this one?" Cal held the ring in front of Ivy.
Ivy gasped, and jumped back. "Th-th-that’s for EMMA?!"
Cal laughed. "No, your mom’s expecting. Of course for Emma."
Ivy squealed, and let out a shriek as she leapt onto Cal and hugged him tightly, "No waaaaaayyy!"
Cal wobbled as he tried to stay standing. "I..Ivy…"
"Sorry!" Ivy gasped, and let go.
"I guess I should get this one…" Cal set the ring down on the counter, and sighed.
Emma, you brat! Ivy made a triumphant fist. You’ll be married within a year! How cruel…! Her thoughts ceased. Waitasec… "How did you know I was back?"
"Of course, Emma told me." Cal said, waiting for a merchant to come to his aid. "She was so happy…she cried for a long time."
Ivy’s face went serious. "R…really?"
Cal nodded. His eyes were fixed on the ring. "Your sister’s embrace is very warm."
Ivy’s face suddenly looked dumbfounded. "E…excuse me?"
Cal looked up to Ivy, his face beaming.
Ivy’s face went blank, but it then grew warm. "Yeah. Yeah, it is."
Cal looked back down to the counter, "I’m so anxious…and I don’t know why…it’s crazy."
Ivy smiled wider, "It’s because you’re in love with her, isn’t it?"
Cal gave a quick nod, and paused, and nodded again. "I’m sure of it. I’m sure of it."
Ivy walked up next to him. Cal was about three years older than she was, but his composure was gentler than hers by far. She gave him a hard, encouraging slap on the back, which almost knocked him over the counter, "Then go for it! You have nothing to lose!"
Cal pushed himself back up, nervously smiling. "Yeah…"
"She’s totally bonkers for you! Piece o’ cake, Cal! It’s meant to be!" Ivy pumped her fist in the air, "I won’t tell Emma, so don’t worry about her." She marched out of the store, and paused.
She spun around, "You can count on me, Cal! I’ve seen this coming for months!"
Cal smiled as Ivy winked, and gave him a thumbs-up before running off.
Ivy’s footing quickly became lighter as she hugged her flowers tightly. What news! What a wedding it’ll be! I wonder if I’ll be the maid of honor…Ivy smiled, and nodded, Of course I will be! Emma already said so! How cool it will be to have a brother!
Ivy’s zealous thoughts faded as she passed by a clock store. "Already four? Geez…" she slowed her pace. "I wonder…is Emma worrying about me?"
As Ivy’s thoughts drifted to her sister’s concern, Emma pulled back a curtain at the front window, and searched the sidewalk.
"Are you looking again?" Randoruun called from the living room sofa.
Emma quickly moved away from the window, and walked back to the living room quietly. She seated herself back on a small cushioned chair, and began to sew a button on one of her father’s shirts.
"Isn’t she old enough to go out alone?" Randoruun looked up from his book with a warm smiled on his face.
Emma looked up for a moment, but quickly went back to her sewing. "Tell me, how can you stay so calm in such worrisome situations?"
"Years of practice, Miss."
Emma paused, and watched Randoruun go back to his book. Emma frowned, Why did Ivy have to has such illusive friends?!
Randoruun paused and looked back up to Emma.
Emma’s eyes widened, "Did I say that out loud?"
"Say what?" Randoruun rose his eyebrows.
"What?" Emma peeped.
"Huh?" Randoruun replied, and pointed at the door. "There’s someone at the door, didn’t you hear it?"
"Oh!" Emma stood up abruptly, and rushed to the door to open it. Her worried expression melted into one of disappointment when she did.
Adonis noticed the change, and frowned, insulted. "Gee, thanks."
"Please come in…" Emma rushed him in, and took the groceries. She rushed into the kitchen, and Adonis followed her.
"Hey, what’s the deal, huh?" Adonis asked as Emma set the bags down, and began emptying them.
"Ivy’s been gone all this time." Emma put away a jar of salt into a cabinet.
"So? It’s only four. Maybe she need to go shopping." Adonis shrugged off Emma’s paranoia.
"She should be done by now." Emma’s brow furrowed, "And I sense something."
"Psh!" Adonis smirked, "What, are you a mind reader now?!"
"I’m serious!" Emma rose her voice a bit, but soon silenced herself. "Ivy and I…we have some strange bond. We can’t read each other’s minds or anything…but…I can sense her spiritual conflicts."
"Spooky…" Adonis droned.
"You ARE annoying!" Emma spat her words and folded her arms. "Obviously I’m talking to the wrong person!"
"Geez! Don’t get so sensitive!" Adonis sighed. Man, this family’s emotional…
"If you don’t start taking things seriously, you’ll find yourself ending up in heaps of trouble." Emma preached with an index finger in the air.
"I grew out of being mothered about three years ago." Adonis grumbled, looking askance at Ivy’s younger sister. Once again noticing Emma’s worried look, he sighed. "Looks, let’s wait one more hour, and if she doesn’t show, I’ll go out and look for her, alright?"
Emma’s eyes lit up. "You…really?! You will?!"
Adonis grinned and said matter-of-factly, "Of course."
"Ah! Thank you so much!" Emma clasped her hands together. "Yes, yes…an hour is fine!"
"…hmm?" Ivy paused in her tracks as she glanced at the clock tower. "Six o’ clock already?" Wow, time flies…she sighed, a cloud of breath coming from her mouth.
She looked at the sword on her back. I guess I should stop procrastinating and do it already…She felt her heart speed up. She smiled, and sighed at herself. "Just what are you afraid of, now?"
She tightly hugged the stems of her flowers, and began to chart out her course. No more distractions.
Clouds were beginning to form in the clear blue skies. Ivy used that as another reason to hurry—she didn’t want to get caught in the rain that was being predicted.
She soon reached the general store she visited with Jonothan and Quinn yesterday. Once again, she reached inside through the window and let herself in.
She looked at the countertop, and saw her money still there. She looked above the door behind it, where the hooks to hold the sword were still firmly in place. She set down the flowers, and unwrapped the sword she carried underneath them.
Staring at the fine weapon in her hands, she looked to the hooks finally, and placed it back in its original position.
She took the flowers in her arms once she was finished, and stood there for a long time.
"It…" she spoke, as though to someone, "It seems that this chapter of my life is closed…" she paused. "But is it really? It can’t end this way!" She set the flowers against the opening of the doorway. "It wouldn’t be right."
Thunder was the only response to Ivy’s pondering. Her lowered eyes lifted, and she turned around. "It couldn’t be…" she took a few steps towards the front door, "…already?"
She cracked the front door open and looked outside.
The street lanterns were lit, and the blue afternoon sky had turned into night.
The streets were empty, and the rain came down heavily. The wind blew fiercely, so much so that the rain fell horizontally.
Ivy opened the door just wide enough to slip through.
The raindrops stung like needles pricking her face. The cold wind blew her hair back, and caused her to squint so her eyes wouldn’t dry out.
The rain didn’t let up as she reached the end of the road. She still had a good twenty minutes before she reached her house. She trudged further, not letting the cold weather slow her down.
I remember…Ivy looked up to the gray clouds above her. The small amount of light from the crescent moon just barely illuminated the edges of the rain clouds. She looked down to the pavement. The spattering raindrops seemed to glisten in the lamplight. The road before her seemed to have a faint mist looming just over it. I remember you, Kei…as though it wasn’t just a dream…it wasn’t a dream…she balked, and stared up at one of the street lamps hovering over her. The raindrops pounded on her flushed face, and she squinted as the light stung her eyes. "It wasn’t a dream!" she shouted desperately, and fell to her knees, hugging onto the post she stared at. She rested her cheek on the cold metal post, and closed her eyes, her face and body trembling.
"But you were just a boy…" Ivy quietly murmured. "My memories are just dreams…" she let go of the post, and wiped her eyes with her drenched sleeve.
She stood, and continued to walk. The cold meant nothing now. She wasn’t shivering. In fact, her face felt like it was on fire.
"My life can’t be controlled by dreams…" Ivy feebly muttered. But what significance will Kei have…would it all be for nothing? Was all this for nothing?! "That can’t be!"
"Why’d you have to drag me along?!"
"Because I didn’t have a choice, squirt!"
Ivy looked up from the pavement, snapping out of her trance-like thought process. She noticed the rain had lightened up a little bit, and the wind had calmed.
In the middle of the sidewalk, just meters ahead of her, Adonis and Hiko were walking, drenched.
"Hiko. A…Adonis!" Ivy peeped.
"Ivy?" Adonis looked up from Hiko.
"Ivy!" Hiko ran ahead. "Where have you been?!"
"At the market." Ivy replied, watching Hiko take her hands.
"All day?" Adonis walked up to Ivy, and his eyes widened a bit. "Hey, you feelin’ okay?"
"Yeah." Ivy smiled meekly. "Just a bit tired, I’m ready to call it a day."
Adonis turned around, and got on one knee. "Hop on."
"Can I?" Ivy gratefully said.
"I’m offering, aren’t I?" Adonis smiled, "Say it’s for old-time’s sake."
Hiko nodded, and led Ivy onto Adonis’s back.
Adonis held onto Ivy, and stood up, "Yup, I remember how I used to envy my buddies for having little sisters they could carry like this."
"Really?" Ivy quietly queried, closing her eyes.
"Yeah." Adonis paused, "Never imagined I would be doing it to a girl so close to my age, though."
Adonis waited for an answer, but assumed Ivy had fallen asleep. He felt Ivy heave a sigh then.
"Ne, Adonis…" Ivy murmured, "Has there ever been a time in your life you could just freeze forever?"
Adonis blushed, and got nervous at such a personal question. "N-now Solomond was saying I would be trying to make advances on
Adonis blushed, and got nervous at such a personal question. "N-now Solomond was saying I would be trying to make advances on YOU--!"
"Dummy. I’m not talking about now." Ivy groggily replied.
"Actually, I haven’t had very many instances that I’ve been perfectly happy." Adonis calmly answered.
"Mmm…someday." Ivy ended.
Adonis sighed, and straightened up a bit as Ivy rested her forehead on his left shoulder.
He felt warm tears seep through his shirt. He turned his head a bit, "Hey." He quietly said. He stopped on the sidewalk.
Hiko stopped next to them, and rested a hand on Ivy’s foot.
"It was all a dream…" Ivy barely whispered. "Where do I go from here?"
Adonis let out a quiet sigh. He began walking again, trudging through the cold winter winds. He couldn’t think of anything to say to her.
Hiko looked up to Ivy, whose empty eyes stared back down to his.
Ivy didn’t even sigh as she closed her eyes. Her fretful face soon relaxed, and her grip on the front of Adonis’s shirt released.
Adonis’s eyes moved from the road to over his shoulder. "Is she asleep?" his now hoarse voice whispered.
"Yes." Hiko replied.
Adonis’s eyes went back to the road, "Good. Sounds like she needed it."
"Emma was right." Hiko said.
Adonis frowned a bit harder.
"She knew something was wrong with Ivy. We should’ve listened and left sooner." Hiko sounded remorseful.
"Stupid!" Adonis hotly said, "Her sister probably had no idea! She was just worrying her head off." He quieted down, "Whatever Ivy was doing, she seemed to finish and is at peace."
"What makes you so sure?" Hiko replied.
"Gut instinct, that’s all." Adonis replied, and coughed. "Damn, I’m getting a relapse."
"We gotta get out of this rain before we all get sick!" Hiko shivered.
"Right." Adonis’s brow furrowed.
The next morning, Jonothan came to treat Ivy.
"My, my…what happened to you?" Jonothan stood at Ivy’s bedside.
Ivy’s eyes opened a bit, and she looked to Jonothan, "Rainstorm." She peeped.
"I knew it! I just knew it!" Emma paced downstairs, tears in her eyes. "I knew Ivy would do something like this!"
Randoruun Adonis, and Hiko all watched Emma wring her hands fretfully.
"Why do I always give her the benefit of the doubt?!" Emma threw herself in her father’s chair.
"Serves her right to get sick then, huh?" Adonis droned.
Emma shot up, "Never! My sister doesn’t deserve to get sick!"
"Jonothan’s treating her, so she’ll be fine, I’m sure." Randoruun replied.
Emma sat down with a sigh. "Perhaps."
"How typical, he treats his favorites first." Adonis sneezed, as thought to prove his point.
"How will I explain this to Mama and Papa when they get home?!" Emma once again began to worry. Why must everything go wrong once they leave?!
"Should someone go check to see if Jonothan needs anything?" Hiko looked to Randoruun.
"Good idea." Randoruun warmly smiled. "I’ll check on them."
Jonothan had no idea Ivy was awake, but he tried not to show it. He rested his bag by Ivy’s thighs, and opened it. He noticed the cold sheets were damp. He ran his hand over the mattress-sleeve, and looked to Ivy, who sighed before closing her eyes again.
"Tell me, what was going through your head when you took the liberty of freezing yourself to death?" Jonothan tone was soft, and showed no signs of sarcasm.
"Nothing." Ivy replied, to which Jonothan nodded.
The doctor stood, and pulled off the sheets stuck to the cold, soaked Ivy. Her clothes were drenched and wrinkled, and clung close to her skin.
He took hold of one of her wrists, and unbuttoned her shirtsleeve. "You need to get out of these clothes."
"Mmh…" Ivy replied simply, her body limp and her eyes closed.
Jonothan reached over to her other sleeve, and unbuttoned that one. He turned his head to look at Ivy’s face. It was relaxed and pale. Her chest began to rise slowly.
Jonothan remembered the conversation he had with Adonis the day before:
"She was coming from the store, it seems." He said.
Jonothan’s eyes widened at that. "What for?"
"Take a guess. She’s refusing to let go of this entire Matheson thing." Adonis leaned against the closed door.
Jonothan’s eyes lowered to the floor.
"This is crazy." Adonis sighed, and shoved his hands into his pockets. "No one can talk any sense into her. I’m afraid that she’ll do something drastic…"
"W…what do you mean?" Jonothan looked back up.
Adonis turned to the doctor, and spoke with an uncharacteristically straight face. "Maybe she thinks Gray could talk some sense into her."
Jonothan smiled nervously. "N-no way. Revenge isn’t like Ivy."
"You sure?"
"Surely…" Jonothan reached to Ivy’s collar. He glanced up to her face, which was moist with sweat. He whispered a phrase of self-assurance to himself. "Surely it’ll pass." He unbuttoned her collar and undid her shirt. He pulled Ivy’s arms out of the sleeves, and dropped the shirt to the ground. He undid Ivy’s skirt, and pulled it off.
After dropping it to the floor, Jonothan pushed Ivy’s hair out of her face, "I’m sorry."
He turned the sleeping Ivy onto her stomach, and unlatched the girl’s bra. He slid off her straps and reached below her ribs and lifted her up just enough to take the bra from under her. He turned her onto her back once again, and pulled up some dry blankets over her.
Jono sat back down, and watched her, contemplating the best remedy for her condition.
I suppose all I can treat right now is the fever. Jonothan thought, and wrote on a pad "Treated Fever. Wait for symptoms." He looked up to Ivy, who was sleeping soundly. Color was beginning to return to her face.
"What do you dream of now?" Jonothan quietly asked, "What is it you want?"
Ivy stirred in her sleep, and turned on her side.
Jonothan stood again, and walked to her bedside. He turned Ivy onto her back, and brushed a few strands of hair away from her face, and stared at her. He managed to swallow a huge knot in his throat, and just stood there, his left hand centimeters from Ivy’s face, holding back some stray tendrils. His chest never ached like this before. Surely…surely…!
He rested his hand on her forehead, and felt her fever. He then rested it on his forehead to compare. He then touched his cool hand on her burning cheek.
Ivy timidly raised her hand, and held Jonothan’s to her face. Gently squeezing it, her lips pressed to a thin, delicate smile, "…Kei…" her whisper was so quiet, Jonothan could only determine her words by her mouth movements.
This was almost too much for the doctor. He fought back tears with all he had in him, but they just wouldn’t stay back. Quietly, he let out a cough and wept. He didn’t take his hand from hers, he just crouched down and buried his face in the bedding next to her body, and cried. He was always more emotional than most, and he was ashamed for that. He showed signs of weakness so often. He clutched onto the sheets of the bed, and silently wept into them.
Solomond watched through a crack in the door in a very stealth-like manner. His face was very still, and his lips tugged into a straight line. His knuckles turned white from clutching onto the door so desperately. "It does no good to cry." He muttered curtly under his breath.
"Sometimes it just feels good."
Randoruun didn’t come up to Solomond silently. His soft footsteps gave the teenage boy a start, and he released the door with a gasp.
Jonothan’s head shot up, his face tear-stained and eyes wide and bloodshot. He stood, and sniffed, rubbing away all tears with the cuff of his sleeve. "Get back to work…" he mumbled.
"This is dragging on for too long." Solomond said to Randoruun outside. He turned to have his back face the elf.
"Is this frustrating you?" Randoruun’s voice was its usual calm tone, but it seemed to show unusually little concern for the matter at hand.
"Of course it does!" Solomond turned around and rose a fist. "Here Ivy has given her heart to someone she only knew for—maybe a month?! I’ve been with her for sixteen years!"
Randoruun’s brow furrowed, and he glanced over to the bedroom door. Solomond took that notion as a signal to lower his volume and he did so.
"What right do you all have to intrude into our personal lives so suddenly, anyway?" Solomond folded his arms over his chest.
"We were invited, basically." Randoruun replied.
Solomond went silent at that, and turned his face to look away. A bit wavering now, he spoke again. "I—I just wish she’d let it go. He’s dead, and he’s not coming back. Nothing she does will change that."
"Hmm…" Randoruun sighed, and looked to the same point Solomond glanced at—a rustic family portrait of Ivy’s grandparents on the Davis side.
"Sometimes it’s not that easy."
Solomond looked to Randoruun, who continued to stare at the portrait.
"Emma needed you downstairs."
Solomond’s stature perked up. "Oh." He turned around. "Well, then, I better see what she wants."
Randoruun was silent as Solomond left. He watched the teenage boy go downstairs, and then turned back to the portrait. Ivy’s necklace was being worn by her grandmother in the portrait. It was a famous piece of jewelry, and the resemblance Ivy had to her grandmother was uncanny. Down to the way her bangs rested on her forehead, the two were practically identical.
Finally looking away, Randoruun rubbed the tip of his nose to warm it, and walked downstairs, not even stopping to check in on the doctor and Ivy.
Yamatako pinched Ivy’s nose shut, and covered her mouth.
It took a good thirty seconds for Ivy to jerk awake.
"Checking to see if you’re alive." Yamatako said calmly as Ivy gasped for air.
"I’m alive!" Ivy wailed as she fell back onto her bed from exhaustion.
"Good, then you can eat the lunch I made you!" the woman cheerfully piped, and walked over to Ivy’s dresser, where she set a tray.
"Lunch?" Ivy weakly blinked.
"It’s a bit late, but I need to put something on your stomach." Yamatako stirred a bowl of soup.
Ivy pushed herself up on the bed. The sheets fell off of her, and she turned a deep scarlet. In a hurry, she pulled up the sheets to cover her.
"Oops! Maybe I should’ve warned you about that!" Yamatako nervously smiled, carrying the tray over the Ivy’s bedside.
"How long have I been here?" Ivy asked.
"You’ve been out-of-it for a good eighteen hours or so." Yamatako answered, putting the tray on Ivy’s lap.
Ivy took the spoon, and stirred the soup. The steam wafted slowly, and warmed her cold chin. She was particularly picky on the matter of soups, so she hoped she would like this one, so as not to hurt Yamatako’s feelings. She took a spoonful and blew it.
"I know how it feels to lose someone dear, you know." Yamatako quietly said as she watched Ivy sip her first spoonful.
"Hmm?" Ivy sipped the spoon empty. The broth was a thick tomato. Perfect for cold weather.
"Not terribly long ago, my older brother was killed in a skirmish between the upper and working classes."
Ivy blinked in realization, and she remembered the scene between Arlen and Yamatako. So that’s what Arlen meant…
"My brother worked for a coal mine on the outskirts of my hometown. My brother was one of the members of a riot caused by the discovery of our drinking water being poisoned." Yamatako stared at Ivy’s bowl as she rhythmically took spoonfuls of soup. "The nobles and aristocrats argued that we had no sound evidence…"
Ivy nodded, "I remember that…my parents told me…it was all a ploy to get higher salaries…"
"Try explaining all of the dead wildlife and ill townspeople!" Yamatako snapped, "The carrion is evidence enough!"
Ivy was taken aback by Yamatako’s outburst. She blushed with embarrassment, and looked back to her soup with shame. "Oh…"
Yamatako paused, a coarse frown on her face. She then relaxed and continued. "I saw everything. My brother’s employer beat him to the ground with an axe."
Ivy looked up. "How cruel!"
Yamatako nodded, and rested the ball of her palm on her temple, as though to ease her aching head, "I forgot how old I was then…somewhere around eleven, I think…"
Ivy watched the woman stand. Yamatako turned to her with an encouraging smile.
"Everything after that was a huge blur of mistakes, but look where I am now." Yamatako bent down next to Ivy, and ended the conversation on a cheerful note. "No matter what happens in the past, there’s always a chance for things to go right."
Ivy blinked and let the words sink in as Yamatako straightened up.
"Well! Maybe I should let you eat in peace!" Yamatako entwined her fingers above her head, and arched her back to stretch. "If you need anything, feel free to holler."
"Mmh. Thank you." Ivy quietly replied, and let out a sigh as Yamatako closed the door behind her.
"You did WHAT?! WHEN?!"
Emma’s heart began to race as she gawked at Solomond. She had a just-dried frying pan in her right hand, and she seemed ready to use it on Solomond.
"Two nights ago…" Solomond peeped, extremely apprehensive of any sudden moves made by Emma.
"Did you say you love her?" Emma lowered her volume dramatically.
Solomond paused, and clutched his head, "I don’t remember!"
"Eee! Solomond, you foolish boy!!!" Emma waved her frying pan in the air. "You probably infuriated her!!!" she froze, and crouched in closer to Solomond, as though sharing a big secret. "Was…was it on the lips?"
Solomond blushed, and nodded.
Emma took in a shrill gasp, and turned red. "You DID?!" She burst into tears. "You wicked boy! You were her first kiss! You stole my sister’s first kiss!"
"I didn’t know that!!!" Solomond desperately tried to calm Emma down.
"Tell me…" Emma sniffed, "Did she kiss you back?"
"Uh, sort of…"
" ‘Sort of’? ‘Sort of’?!" Emma rose her voice, "Either she did or she didn’t!!!"
"Okay! Okay!" Solomond tried to hush her. "She did!"
Emma’s face brightened. "She did?!"
"Yeah…"
Emma squealed. "She did!!!" she lowered her frying pan. "Okay, you can go!"
Solomond let out a sigh of relief, and he turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Solomond turned around, "Yes?"
"Take this cider up to Ivy, to go with her soup." Emma gave Solomond a tiny round tray with a cup on it.
"Sure…" Solomond smoothly turned around, and left the kitchen.
Emma made a triumphant fist, "Solomond, don’t fail me now!"
Solomond knocked and opened the door. He stuck his head into Ivy’s room. "Room service!"
Ivy looked up from her soup she was almost finished with. "Solomond. What’s up?"
"Emma made you some cider." Solomond came to her bedside, "You through?"
Ivy knew he meant the soup. "Yeah."
Solomond set down the tray of cider on the bedside table, and lifted off the tray on Ivy’s lap. "All this soup and cider should warm you up in a jiffy."
Ivy giggled, closing her eyes whimsically, "It’s so comforting!"
Solomond smiled back, and handed her the cup of cider, "You’ve always liked cider."
"What’re you talking about?! I’m talking about how you’re all playing hand-servants for me!" Ivy teased, raising her eyebrows.
"You’re joking." Solomond replied.
"Of course I am."
The two laughed. Ivy sipped on her cider, and let out a sigh. "It’s nice to be home…"
Solomond sat on the bedside. Ivy used one hand to keep the sheet covering her.
"Are you finally beginning to feel at home again?" Solomond said.
Ivy shook her head slowly, "I’m sorry. Not completely."
Solomond replied silently, with a single nod.
Ivy sipped her cider again, closing her eyes. She brought away the cup, and exhaled.
Before she could open her eyes, Solomond forcefully pressed his lips on Ivy’s pushing her back into her pillow.
Ivy dropped her cup of cider onto the sheets. She was shocked for a moment, and her brain tried to adjust to the scenario.
Solomond pushed himself further onto the bed, and held Ivy’s face with both of his hands.
Ivy felt her best friend’s chest against hers, and she pulled her arms up and put both palms on his shoulders. She began to feel the scorching cider on her legs, and she pushed Solomond away, gasping for a breath and jumping out of the bed, holding a sheet to cover herself.
Solomond stood on the opposite side of the bed, catching his breath. He stared at Ivy in confusion, and Ivy stared back with a look of fear.
"I don’t understand…" Solomond began, and his voice rose in volume and tone, "You’re kissing me back!"
Ivy gasped. "What are you talking about?! You forced me into that kiss!"
"But why do you keep hesitating to push me away?" Solomond asked, walking to the edge of the bed, "Ivy, make up your mind! You can’t leave us hanging forever!"
Ivy blinked. "What do you mean?!"
Solomond paused. So she doesn’t know about the doctor…
"You need to make your next move, Ivy. The world can’t go on hold just because you’re having a tough time."
Ivy held her sheet closer.
"If you don’t want me…" Solomond walked up to Ivy, "At least make the decision."
"Make a decision…?" Ivy looked away. "…huh."
Make my next move…
End Installment Three