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Ivy

"Put me the hell down, Ralph! People are looking." I strained out.

The more struggle I made to get free of his grip, the more my stomach twisted.

"Nope." His voice reached my ear as he walked down the hallway, almost too confident with my poor stomach against his iron shoulder.

"For God's sake, Daltimore, the last thing I want is a freaking viral rumor that I'm cheating on Ethan with his friend!" I groaned, trying to wriggle out of his grip.

Not like the first rumor had died down.

"Babe, you complained about having an aching back, and your legs feeling like jello. Any bro would do this, stay still." Ralph said, his grip tightening on my leg, my face just at the end of his back.

I groaned. "This isn't any better, you stupid person! You're hurting my poor stomach, do you have an iron for a shoulder."

"Thanks Fisher, I know I have a good physic." I could hear the smug in his voice.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, get off your high horse, bozo."

"What's it with you and these insults?"

"Put me down or they're gonna keep coming."

He chuckled. "You have no idea how much this is gonna rile your boyfriend up... It's only a matter of time before the rumor spreads."

"I'm sure you'll be happy. It feels so nice to be used for attention. I'm really enjoying it." I sounded bored.

"I love your enthusiasm, Fisher." He chuckled. "Oh hey, Ethan just spotted us, he looks mad-- wait, he looked mad before he spotted us but now he looks madder."

My eyes widened. "What? Put me down please, Ethan's-"

I was on my own two feet in an instant. I blinked, holding my stomach and glaring at Ralph's grin. "You will pay for that, I will make you-"

"Oh I know you enjoyed it too, no need to prete-"

I hit him on the shoulder, wincing back at the pain that shot through my fist. "Ow, you really do have an iron for a shoulder."

My eyes wandered about to see the stares from almost everyone around.

They really don't mind their business.

My eyes found Ethan. I gulped down as his eyes moved from Ralph to me, then from me to Ralph. Without another glance my way, he faced his locker, talking out his Tcom and giving it his full attention.

Ralph chuckled. "My new favourite thing is to rile him up." He smirked.

"You're an idiot. Clearly that didn't affect him. You're just igniting unnecessary rumors." I muttered, making sure my stomach was settled. "Never carry me like that again, it makes me feel sick."

"Oh, would you prefer I carried you bridal style?" He wiggled his brows at me, his shoulder connecting with mine with a small bump.

I rolled my eyes. "See you later, Ralph." I muttered, turning around and making my way over to Ethan, smiling when his warmth encased me. "Murray."

He raised his gaze from the Tcom, his emerald stare almost turning my feet to jello, and sending my heart wild. It was certain, I'd never get used to those beautiful eyes, whichever color they take on.

"Hey." He answered, looking back at the Tcom, his brows furrowing in a frown.

Ugh! This boy, so handsome it hurt to even look away from that face. That frown.

"Having trouble with the device?" I asked, wanting nothing more than to replace the device with my body.

"No."

"It's been months since being here, and I still don't get how the device truly works. It's unlike tablets from the outside. Till this day I wonder why Glory is still in association with those mobile phone companies from the outside, when she could as well, make something better." I scoffed. "Do they even know what the large supply of mobile phones is been used for? Cause surely, Glory won't tell them about the Inc dimension, would she?"

His gaze met mine again, no form of expression as he replied. "I don't know."  He tossed the Tcom back into the locker, slamming it shut.

I swallowed, did something happen?

"Um... When are we going to see Malcolm? Now or after school?" I asked.

We had to check out the results from the test we'd taken a few days ago.  Malcolm had sent for us since last night.

"When do you have in mind?" He asked.

"I was thinking maybe after school so we co-"

"Cool, I'll see you after school." He cut me off, before turning and making his way down the hallway.

What?

My heart slumped against my chest, my mood going from a hundred to a five in an instant.

I blinked, my senses slapping me back to reality as I rushed to catch up with him.

"Ethan wait!" I grabbed his jacket, going around so I was face to face with him. All I could see in his eyes was frustration and- irritation? Was he irritated by me? But-- "Did something happen?" I couldn't help but ask, my heart going unsteady.

"No." He answered.

"Well in that case, is it me? Did I do something wrong?"

"No."

I was confused, and I was sure the look was written all over my face. "So why are you being like-"

"Like what?" He snapped, his hand coming to encircle around my wrist untangling my fingers from his jacket, and letting my hand fall back at my side. "I'll see you after school." With that, he was out of my sight. I stood there, dumbfounded, and trying to be calm, but the aching in my chest was already sending several stings to my eyes as I tried to swallow the huge lump in my throat.

Just like that, my day was ruined. I didn't even see him during school hours, he was absent in the cafeteria, and also in the class we shared together.

Fiona had said he ghosted her too, when she saw him earlier, although she didn't bother because she had presumed he was in a really bad mood.

But still... He was so cold.

It was like time took its time ticking, until the school hours finally ended.

Seeing as I took a ride from Ralph today, I had expected to walk back to the RTR with Ethan, but seeing as he had been MIA in school today, I guess I was going to have to walk alone.

Reaching outside of the school grounds, I ignored the stares I got as rumors flew by about me and Ralph. Apparently I was the girl who came in between two friends. I honestly wonder how they just come to a false conclusion about a situation they knew absolutely nothing about.

Suddenly, I spotted him leaning against what looked like an extremely expensive motorcycle. All black, smooth, solid full tires, a clean as hell body and a perfect stance that made him and it look like they were meant for each other.

My feet carried me towards his direction, my jaw dropped in awe and my eyes wide in surprise. "Oh my God! Ethan when did you get this, it's so pretty!" I asked, not caring how high my voice had suddenly gone as I stared wide eyed at him.

He shot me a look. "Pretty?" He asked.

I gave a nervous laugh. "Oh... No, I meant to say, badass, cool... Manly?"

He stood upright, ignoring my silliness as he asked. "You ready?"

"Yes yes, and excited!"

His expression didn't change. "Where's your car?" He asked.

My eyes still in awe at the cool motorcycle, I answered distractedly. "I didn't bring it today."

"How'd you get to school then?"

At this, I blinked up at him, not sure I wanted to divulge that information to him. But we'd promised each other no lies so I answered truthfully.

"Ralph brought me."

He just stared at me for a long moment, making me wish I could read what exactly was on his mind.

"Why?" He asked after a while.

"He insisted, and I didn't really feel like driving today." I answered in the most casual way possible.

"I see." He muttered. "Just like you didn't feel like walking today."

I backed up, watching him closely. "So all of this thing you're doing is because of the scene with Ralph today?"

He didn't respond to that, all he did was pick up the second helmet, and placed it on my head, clipping it safely together. "We should get going."

I watched as he got on without a second glance towards me.

I stared at him for a few seconds, before deciding to leave him be.

For now.

* * *

"Great thing you guys are here." Malcolm said as we both walked in. I spotted Edith sitting across from Roman who had several barrier stones scattered on the table where he worked with a lab coat on.

He had just the frames of what used to be his glasses on, but they were without any lens.

He looked up. "Oh hey guys!" He cheered.

Edith turned towards us, her eyes moving away from her phone. "Hey bro, Ivy." She greeted with an easy smile.

"Hey." I answered, walking over to the table to see what Roman was doing, seeing as Ethan had totally ignored everyone and went to meet Malcolm who was working through some holograms.

"What are you doing with the barrier stones?"

"He's trying to see what they're made of, I told him there was no point, seeing as my dad had spent the time when he was supposed to read me bedtime stories, trying to find out."

Roman rolled his eyes. "Your Dad isn't me. Besides, he's old." Roman countered as if it was meant to mean something.

"He's 40." Edith deadpanned.

I chuckled. "When you find out, let me know."

"Ivy, over here." Ethan's voice was barely even raised, as he demanded my presence.

Edith raised a brow. "What's up with him?"

I sighed. "Trust me, I've been trying to figure that out since this morning." I said, making my way over to them. "What's up? The results come out okay?"

"Yeah." He replied. "Just the same thing we've managed to figure out on our own. When I'm near, you take loads of energy from me, it'd happen to any of the others like us also."

"Does it have any effect on you?"

"No." Malcolm answered this time. "Ethan's more stronger than he ever was with the chip. Now the amount of energy in him, is well enough to supply electricity to the whole of this dimension. I don't know how Glory did it, but she gave him everything."

Ethan scoffed. "You say it like it's a good thing."

"Obviously depends on how you see it." Malcolm said, looking at him cautiously.

Ethan's jaw clenched. He looked like he wanted to seriously punch something. "Does it have any effect on her?" He gestured to me.

Malcolm looked between the both of us before answering. "Not at all."

Ethan nodded, looking over at Roman. "Any news about the other 10? Do you have their names yet?"

Roman nodded. "Yeah. But uh-- sometime last week, they disappeared."

I furrowed my brows. "What do you mean they disappeared?"

"These said ten people, all went missing. My sources from the Outside couldn't get a hold of any of them as at last week."

"That can't be a mere coincidence." Edith spoke up.

"Yeah, my biggest bet is Glory has them." Roman said.

I shook my head. "That doesn't make any sense, why now?"

"A new dimension is in the making, maybe there's a new sector too. Now that Glory knows her project wasn't a complete failure, I think she's going to create another sector, and continue this project." Malcolm said.

"You mean to test it on more humans?" Edith asked, sounding horrified.

"Yes."

"We can't let that happen." I said.

Ethan's eyes met mine. "And what exactly do you plan to do about it?" He asked, sounding pissed as he looked around the four of us. "Seriously when are you guys going to realize that there's absolutely nothing we can do to stop Glory from planning whatever the fuck she's planning? If a new dimension is to be built, then it is going to be fucking built, if there's going to be a new sector, and if she's going to drag more humans into her stupid project, then that is also going to happen, no matter what we think to do... She's always one step ahead, and she probably knows we're talking about this right now, and she's waiting to hear what we have planned to stop her."

Everything went silent.

"All this... All of this is bullshit, our plans, our mission to bring this place to the ground, it's all bullshit, Glory's going to win this at the end, and I don't know why I'm the only one who fucking sees it." He let out, before shaking his head and walking out of the test room without another word to us, or glance our way.

We all remained silent.

I personally didn't know what else to do. It felt like he just shoved reality right back at our faces.

"You should go after him." Malcolm said, sounding worried. "Just to make sure he's okay."

I sighed. "Of course." I said, already making my way after him.

"Ivy." Malcolm stopped me.

I turned to look back at him. "Yeah?"

"He's definitely gonna push you away, don't let him."

I nodded. "Got it."

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Vote and Comment:-)

What do you guys think of this chapter?

Yes, we're jumping right back into the drama! Guys it's been so difficult drafting the last chapters. Like I always say, I hate endings, especially ones I don't personally like, seeing as I'm not just a writer of this book, but a reader too {yes, I read my own book... And I'm extremely jealous of Ivy cause she has everything I want... (っ˘̩╭╮˘̩)っ }

What do you think of Ethan's behaviour?

Do you think Ivy would be able to get through to him?

Ethan got a new bike! Ahhh! Idk why I'm so excited, probably because I could never buy one but-- meh, as long as Ethan has one, I'm okay!

Also, the "10" are missing. Any idea on what Glory could be really up to?

Tell me how bad you want the next chapter, who knows, you might just see one late tomorrow...No promises๑乛◡乛๑

See you guys in the next chapter, hopefully soon! Bye!