Ivy

I found him in the kitchen the next morning, typing away on his phone. My hair was pulled up in a ponytail, I was on my school uniform, but I had a sweater on. "Hey." I called his attention.

Immediately, his eyes detached from his phone and when they met mine, he smiled. "Morning PT."

I raised a brow at him. "PT?" I asked with a small smile grazing my lips.

His eyes moved to my hair. "You love pulling up your hair in a ponytail, so... I think the nickname suites you."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. You ready?"

"I didn't think you'd want to go to school today." He said, pocketing his phone.

I furrowed my brows. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, yesterday you looked really sick... I thought you'd skip school and stuff." He said, his eyes dead set on mine.

"Oh... I'm getting better and- I don't really feel like skipping school." I said. His lips turned up in a knowing smile.

Good Lord, does he even know how good he looked when he smiled? I mean, he looked equally good with a frown, but his smile was super cute, and honestly contagious.

But that wasn't the thing in this case. Why the hell is he smiling at me like that?

"I was thinking of getting you that pill from my Inc, um... It can help prevent any kind of headache, it works like magic." He said in the most casual way possible, but the way his eyes looked so determined was one thing I couldn't get my mind off.

But honestly, this was an opportunity I didn't want to miss. "Oh, actually, I might just need them." I said.

He raised a brow. "Okay, I'll get some for you."

I smiled.

If I'd known they'd come so easily like this, I wouldn't have searched through his things last night. I would have just asked.

"Oh, and uh... Before I forget, your parents called... They're going to be returning tomorrow so- I guess you should check with Roman for the surprise anniversary thing you were planning?"

"Wait- why would they call you and not me?"

He shrugged.

"That's weird." I voiced out.

He gave a side grin, coming to stand right in front of me. I sucked in a deep breath. "They might just start to love me more than they love you." He whispered.

There was just something I felt deep in my stomach, whenever he was near, I don't know maybe it was the fact that my brain couldn't comprehend his beauty from up close or maybe it was because of the way his eyes stared hotly in mine, or maybe I was just acting towards his sex appeal.

I really don't know.

His closeness made me feel so many things and I just get so confused and warm all over.

I knew it was safe to have feelings for him, cause he was human and all- but the scariest part was a really big question. Will he ever reciprocate the feeling? I mean, there's that Lacy girl, who was probably his girlfriend or ex and for him to still keep pictures of her, it only meant he still had feelings for her.

The best thing to do Ivy is to stop yourself from getting too attached... It's bound not to end well.

I mean, look at him. He's so good looking and I'm definitely not the kind of girl he'd date. Lacy is- I mean, she's all that. And I'm just that pretty girl nobody noticed.

Stop thinking Ivy! I mentally screamed at my rambling thoughts.

"You look different today." He said, tilting his head to study me.

"H-how?"

"You look brighter... Your face is sorta glowing, it's a sight to kill for."

My stomach flipped. I couldn't even deny the heat that rushed right straight to my cheek.

"That's a compliment." He added.

All I could do was nod. My words had been kicked right out of me.

He surely didn't mean that, did he? I mean, he's only complimenting me because he has to- that's his job right? Cause if he truly meant that, I might just faint from the amount of blood my heart pumped to my veins.

"T-Thank you." I let out in a light tone.

He smiled, his eyes never leaving mine for a split second. He actually looked like he wasn't even cautious of his surroundings.

"Um-" I tried to catch my breath. "Can we go now?"

"My bike's not available at the moment, so I guess we should use your car." He said, his eyes still on mine.

"Oh, that's fine, I'll just grab my keys." I said, about to walk away but he caught hold of my wrist.

I looked up at him. "What?" I asked.

"Can I count on you?" He asked. "Can I really trust you Ivy? I take this trust thing really serious and I- I don't want to be disappointed. I want to know I can count on you. I need to know."

I swallowed, taking a short breath. I felt so guilty, but still, I nodded. "You know you can. You can trust me."

"Do I have your word?" He asked, looking so sincere that I felt like digging a ground for my sinful soul to drop in.

"You have my word, Ethan."

He nodded, digging his hands into his pocket, then he brought out a white sachet of the Grey pill... It contained a total of four pills.

I took in a deep breath, feeling my heart thump harder and faster.

He brought my palms up, handing the pill over to me.

I gulped. "All this for a pill?"

"Not just any pill Ivy. This is a property of my Inc. I don't even know why I'm giving you this. But I trust you to use it whenever the headaches come or any other thing. They work for anything, so- use them well and don't tell anyone about them."

I nodded.

"I'm being serious Ivy. You can't tell anyone, people would kill for it." He said.

"You trust me, don't you?" I asked.

"Yeah... And I've only trusted a total of two people in my life, so this is kinda weird to me... There's just something about you that- that reminds me of someone. I'm giving you this pill cause I don't want you to get sick, I'd worry, and I don't like to worry, it messes me up."

My God, he's so blunt.

I rolled my eyes. "We both know you're saying this because you have to."

He shook his head. "I'm saying this because I seem to care about you, more than I ever imagined I could. And I'm still trying to figure out why."

I gave a small smile. "Okay, I won't tell anyone about it. I promise."

My heart squeezed at the promise I just made, knowing I wouldn't fulfill them.

So I just figured out a new thing about myself. I hated lying to Ethan Murray. But this is for the greater good. He's going to understand.

He needs to get back with his real family, and his Inc needs to go down.

I'd do everything in my power to see that happening.

Even if it meant, lying to him for a little while longer.

_

Right after P.E, I felt so freaking tired to the bone. Everyone was busy changing and getting ready for lunch break, and all I could think about was Ethan Murray.

He had been pushing his way into my thoughts since we separated earlier today. I guess I was worried about him, getting to know about my plans before I executed them.

Or maybe it was because he admitted that he cared about me.

Or maybe it was because I was trying to fight against my growing feelings for him. And why? That was a really easy question.

It was because I didn't want to start the whole one sided crush thing. I'd felt that way about Kyle Huxley for the longest time, and it ended up with him dating my ex best friend, who was currently approaching me right now.

"Hey Ivy."

"Hey, Jane." I said, standing up right.

Fiona, in turn came to stand beside me. "Hey!" She said with a wide smile.

"Hey Fi... I didn't see you-"

"We're having a party tonight at my place." Janie stopped me from talking, "You should come."

"Wow, a party? I'm so in." Fiona said.

I chuckled.

Janie looked over at Fiona with disinterest. "I don't ever recall inviting you, new girl." She said.

"Oh, my name's Fiona."

"I don't care if your last name's Shrek." She snapped at Fiona who looked taken aback by Janie's tone.

"Seriously? And you expect me to come to this so-called party of yours after this?" I asked.

"You're my best friend, you have to come... We promised we'd go to each other's parties when we finally grow the balls to throw one."

"Well, if you want me to be there, Fiona must be there too." I said. "If she's invited, I'm game too."

Janie groaned. "Fine, whatever, she can come. And Trevor's invited too. I know we all didn't get off on the right foot and I think this party's gonna build bonds. It starts by 8. Don't be late." She walked away, not before giving Fiona the dirty eye.

"That was your best friend?" Fiona asked.

I sighed. "Trust me Fi, she wasn't always like that."

_

Lunch started off nice, Ethan was seated across from me, and Fiona, was seated beside me.

Fiona was really cool, we had so much in common and it was so crazy how we never even clicked before. I just took her as that girl who you exchange numbers with but you never get to ever text back cause there was no connection, whatsoever.

But turns out we really did have so much in common. She loved donuts a lot and I did too, she loved dipping her cookies in ketchup before eating them, which was weird and sorta gross but turned out I didn't care, it actually did taste so nice.

She loved Jazz, and I did too. She hated cheerleaders and I hated cheerleaders too.

She preferred eating hot Cheetos rather than popcorn while watching horror movies, and I did too.

We listened to the same music, liked the same kinda people, and found the same reasons to laugh at people.

It was almost too good to be true.

"So, the guy went out of the bar, and my uncle gave a sigh of relief cause he wasn't really planning on getting into a bar fight. It was so hilarious cause he was just all up hitting his chest like Tarzan but he had no balls to even throw a freaking punch."

"No way!" I laughed so hard I felt my stomach ache. "That would have been a crazy thing to watch... Honestly, I can't even-" I broke out in another fit of laughter.

Ethan groaned. "Seriously I still don't find that funny, I mean? So what he walked out of the bar... What's so funny?" He asked.

Fiona chuckled. "Lighten up Trevor, get into the joke... Or better still, you give a better one?"

"Leave me out of it." He said.

"Don't be all grumpy now," I said. "Honestly that was so funny."

"I know, right?" Fiona voiced out.

We both laughed again and in response, Ethan shook his head.

"How did you guys even meet?" Fiona asked.

My eyes widened as I looked over at Ethan for help. In turn, he smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

"Uh-" I started. "We were Cyber dating. So we decided to meet up with each other and, here we are." I said.

"That's blunt... But cute... I love love stories." Fiona gushed.

"Yeah you do." Ethan muttered.

I chuckled. "What's that?"

"Nothing, so you both were talking about a party tonight?" He asked, diverting my question.

"Yeah, Janie's hosting this party at her place tonight, it's her first party and I kinda made a stupid promise to attend her first party, so- we're going."

"We?" Ethan asked.

"Yeah, we as in, me, you, Fiona." I said.

"I don't feel up for a party." He said.

"Why? I mean, I'd really want you there. We didn't spend so much time together at Kyle's party the other day... I was thinking maybe we could make up for it by attending this one." My voice came out soft and pleading.

"Ivy, parties are not my thing, you know that." He said.

Fiona nodded absentmindedly. "He doesn't look like the party kind."

"For me... Please." I begged. "I promise we'll leave early."

He sighed. "Fine."

Fiona chocked on her smoothie.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

"Yeah, yeah- I'm fine, wrong pipe."

Ethan shook his head at her.

Ethan didn't look irritated by her presence like he first did in Janie's presence. Why?

Maybe it's because he knew she wasn't a bad person and maybe deep down he liked her presence just like I did.

Or is there something else?

__

Vote and Comment:-)

Please vote and Comment guys, we're heading towards the first conflict of the book guys, from here on out... Things are gonna start heating up.

Ivy's getting suspicious of Ethan and Fiona's causality towards each other...

Ethan's catching Feelings?

Read on to find out.