Page 26 of A Twist in Fate
“We can't! They don't allow it at camp. As you said, I'm leaving in three weeks, it isn’t that long. You are my best friend's brother. We can't date at all.” She moves her hands around dramatically, clearly stressing out. I hate that I have taken the one moment she was finally not freaking out about kissing me and turned it into this, but I meant what I said. I really can't fake it anymore. I can't lie to myself or her.I’d hate lying to her.
“I don't mean we date but I mean when we are alone, I can do those things like hold you or kiss you or just say you look pretty without feeling like an idiot because I mean it! I don’t get it. You’re the one who kissed me!” I'm almost yelling at this point as the cars around us start to drive away. “I want to hang out with you on our days off. I won’t take away from your time with Bailey because I know this summer is about you too, but I refuse to feel like this another second without at least being given a chance. Please.”
“Yes.”
“Look I get it, im-” my head snaps up quickly, “wait, what?”
“I said yes, Lucas. I know I might regret it when I have to leave but you're right. I don't want to ignore the way I feel about you either. I mean when you gave me this necklace, my heart nearly exploded in my chest.” I laugh at her words, and she beams up at me.
She looks down and says shyly, a blush creeping back onto her face. “So can I…”she trails off, but her eyes move towards my lips and then back to my eyes.
“What? Kiss me?” I ask and she nods. “Kiss me, Ivy. I’m all yours.”
“Even though I'm a pain in the ass?” I laugh again, remembering when she was blasting music in my truck on the way here.
“Yes.”
“I mean you said it yourself-”
“Ivy, no offence, but just shut up and kiss me.” She looks as though she's about to reply but I don't give her another second to. I hold her face in my hands, softly, and press my lips to hers. The way she feels in my arms, the way her lips feel on mine, the way she places my hand on her waist, on the one I lay on her thigh on the way home, feels like nothing I have ever experienced. It is the same warmth and light that swarms throughout my chest rightinto my heart when she smiles or laughs, only amplified.This girl will be my inevitable downfall.
CHAPTER 13
Ivy
Song 13
Weathervane – Hunter Metts
20/07
Bailey is nowhere to be seen as I slowly push open the door into my bedroom, so she is probably asleep. She sleeps in my room or me on hers most nights if we decided to stay up late talking but some days, we both just sometimes pass out and don't have the chance to. I like when we spend the evenings together or days out in the week if we both have the day off. It's really the only time we spend together when we have such tight schedules. It's only eleven but me and Lucas decided to stay out a bit while we can spend time together alone and my heart's still beating as fast as it did when we had kissed. His hair was flowing over his face as he was looking down at me, the blonde much darker but still bright in the light of the screen. He is beautiful. I know I have notthought this the entire way through because if I had, I probably would have ended it before it started. I can't explain why I said yes. I just did.It is what I wanted.
I walk into the bathroom and switch on the light. My face is completely flushed and there's a smile on my face that I didn't even realise was there until now. I quickly change out of my clothes, brush my teeth and slip into my bed. The soft cotton envelopes me and warmth spreads across my skin. I didn't know how tired I was until my head hit the pillow. My eyes instantly fall shut but as they do my mind is running with thoughts of him. It feels like the way we met. I felt a connection that day, one I was not allowed.
Nerves wrap throughout my body as fear runs through my mind. Did I make a mistake?
I only met him two months ago. He is my best friends brother. Suddenly, my heart feels as though it's trying to escape from my chest with how fast it is beating. The feeling of exhaustion completely leaves me, and my breathing becomes laboured.My eyes start blinking rapidly, tears forming and clouding my vision.
I can't do this to Lucas. I can't do this to Bailey. I most definitely can't do this to myself. I knew from the moment I decided to come here for the summer it would be hardto leave. Bailey is my best friend and leaving her after spending 8 weeks, it would hurt to be forced to leave but I was somewhat prepared for it. Bailey is the only person I had ever felt truly myself with and now there's another one. Another person I will be getting attached to this summer that I will inevitably leave behind. If I’m being honest, it is all five of them I’ve grown attached to and I am being forced to leave. I roll onto my side, curling up into a small ball trying to disperse the running thoughts.I wrap my arms around my legs, tucking them further into my chest so I can feel my pulse in my knees.
The speeding heartbeat echoes in my ears so loud that it drowns out the sound of the door opening and closing slowly. My breath stops as the bed dips and an arm wraps around my body, a large hand grabbing my waist, pulling me tight against them.
“Lucas.” I breathe out, recognising the arms around me within seconds. My heartbeat slows as he draws small patterns across my arms.
“Sunshine, it's okay,” he whispers into my hair, kissing the top of it lightly. He uses the arms around me to spin me around, to face him. I look up to meet his eyes in the dark and his hand cups my face. “I know what you are thinking. It's going to be okay. I promise. I won't everlet you regret this.” He pulls me close, and my arms wrap around him as if I had a million times before.I tuck my face into his chest.
“I'm sorry I came in here. I couldn't sleep and I didn’t want you getting anxious while you're alone." I don't feel like talking at this moment, so I pull him even closer if that is possible. I tuck my head into his neck, one my hands diving into his hair. It is my way of saying thank you. Dry tears stick to my face, and I feel warmth spread from my chest and around me. “Your friendship with Bailey led you to the camp, but a twist of fate led you right here, in my arms. Tonight, it is where you are supposed to be. Just go to sleep, Ivy. It will be okay. I am here.”
Within minutes we both fall asleep but when I wake up, it's because of him leaving.
CHAPTER 14
Ivy
Song 14
The blue – Gracie Abrams
