Cole's POV

Flashback

" You both would make the perfect match" Brad tipsily said showing me a picture on his phone , he thought he did, actually he just lit up the screen and showed me his wallpaper , a picture of his beloved Beyonce.

" And you're drunk !"

" I'm not" He said in defense closing off his eyes for a while and shaking his head

" Yes you so are! Brad come on look at yourself, you will not be able to walk after this" I said pointing to the glass of whisky he held with his other hand.

" Okay, I am not... I mean I am !" He stated a hiccup in between, I simply chuckled at the statement.

" I'm serious though " He added

" You were supposed to talk me out of drinking remember ? Now you're the one getting drunk."

"Yeah you're right , but I am dead serious man ! At least Ivy will treat you better, unlike Sarah's never ending drama"

" Yeah you're right I should take you home now"

" You should take Ivy as a wife I tell ya !" He alleged proudly raising his glass of whiskey in the air.

"Okay let's go now"

I tipped off the bartender before dragging Brad out that night. It was a day after his birthday and I had just broke up things with Sarah . We were supposed to spend a boys' night out but he ended up drunk and I ended up carrying him around .

****

Back to the present day

I dialed the number .

"Hey, where are you man ?" Brad's sober voice greeted me on the other end of the line

"Something came up with the parents, I won't be able to join you unfortunately"

" Oh fine, call me when you're done okay ?"

"Okay, have fun without me"

"Sure as hell we will" Brad chuckled before I hang up on my end.

He invited me over for ice cream as well . Not that the invitation wasn't compelling but honestly after what just happened with Ivy, I guess I couldn't well behave any longer when she was around. And it seems as if she keeps falling into my arms and I just don't know how to react anymore. My body responds to hers and last time I checked my body is on fire. I'm afraid that next time I won't be able to hold myself. Certainly not to my apprehension. But now I needed fresh air, so as to sooth my tensed muscles. And by that , you know what I mean.

Can't go out around Brad like this . And Ivy all evening under my eyes is not going to make things any easier for me. God she does get to me. The way she bit on her lip, her flowery fragranced perfume and the softness of her skin under my palms...

Ok I need air !

***

At Jackson's Coffee place...

Ivy's POV

The coffee shop was crowded although there reigned an appealing ambiance around the place. We liked it there, the chairs were of wood and the booths of a dark brown all decorated with mini lamps and jasmine decks on the tables.

Brad arrived first as usual and Anna before my arriving. I made a straight line to where they were seated.

Jackson's coffee shop was not far from campus either so we usually hang out there with the girls, meaning, Emily and Anna. Although as its name indicated it was a coffee shop but we went there for ice cream. He served amazing flavors, plus the coziness of the place made it even delightful. We went there for coffee as well; mind you . But the ice cream was awesome.

My appreciation for the gathering soon faded as I heard Brad saying that Cole had bailed on him, I couldn't say that I run into him like few minutes ago but then I wondered why he cancelled at the last minute. Knowing I was coming maybe ? Nah irrelevant Ivy ! The thought evaded my mind as soon as Brad explained that something came up with his parents and so I understood why he said what he said earlier.

"It's okay, I'll call them back." ...

The gathering couldn't go worse when dad called and said I needed to go home earlier so we could have a talk .

My adoptive parents were never strict or hard on me but this time I should have expected nothing less from my little step monsisters.

As I went home I was chocked at hearing my adoptive father saying I wasn't welcomed any longer at their house. Well –friendly speaking of course– he never said those exact words; that was my own interpretation of the facts. Anyway he never meant to say or hurt me in any way but then as he stated that the girls were getting older and that the house would not suffice

As soon as I heard that I got it that it was the girl's doings. Cassie was the oldest and friendliest she always considered me as a true sister and she was the best sister ever and then there was Audrey.

Audrey was the youngest but oh that young creature sure had a lot on her plate ! I always felt as if she hated me for no rational reason , she flashed me two days ago with a phrase like

" The room seems smaller when us three gather and I have a lot of stuff , don't they give you dorm rooms at university ? Oh I wish I had my own room ! I think you better take advantage of that and take all you stuff there as you are adult and now free of living with the parents".

Anyway we agreed that I should take the rest of my stuff to my dorm room at North high CU and after graduation I should consider finding a job so I could have my own place.

That matter didn't press enough for them to stir the knife in the wound but honestly I thought that my life was soon about to change and I should have known better than to count on anyone else other than my own self . Life's never been fair to me anyway but being put under the microscope like that was frustrating.

After the talk , I made my way out to my dorm room , we agreed that at the weekends they would help me pack the few things I had left at the house . So I went to my dorm room empty handed. Once inside I changed into my night PJ's and laid effortlessly on my bed. Feeling all warm and comfy I soon fell into sleep.

***

Cole's POV

Ivy kept popping into my head, she scared me to death when she almost fell over the stairs earlier but now I'm afraid of what she might do to me.. That resulted in losing sleep.

I laid in my bed after coming home earlier and all I've done was tossing left and right. Then I just stood, walked my way to the window and lit up a cigarette.

Tonight was going to be a long, long night...