In a Forest, Under a Tree Where Many Plans Were Made

Chapter Eleven

🌲Warnings and Dismissal🌲

The next day, Summer woke up early, and asked Sharell if she could explore the town.

"Didn't you do that yesterday?" She asked suspiciously. Anything could be a sign. But Summer lied smoothly:

"I was caught up talking with Roux. She's really nice."

Summer knew that this lie was going to come back to haunt her, but she couldn't worry about that now.

She had to get to Ivy.

For she had had another thought last night: why would Ivy lie? She didn't seem the jealous type, or seemed to care about popularity. She seemed desperate for someone to listen.

Summer asked Jack if he would come. He agreed right away, seeming to think that if Summer went anywhere without him she would run off on him.

The seed of doubt was stuck.

Summer really needed Jack to hear Ivy himself, but she didn't think it would be easy convincing him. He was quite stubborn by nature, and wasn't easily swayed. If Sharell had worked her charm on him, it would be quite hard to wedge out.

But she had to try.

She took his hand and feigned interest in all the shops, but really, she was scanning the crowds for some familiar square glasses which magnified brown eyes.

Eventually, she did.

She tried not to run over to her, but the temptation was hard. She let herself walk slowly, but making sure Ivy knew she was there. Ivy understood that she must want to talk to her again, with Jack, and stayed where she was, pretending to be peering around the door of the Radnok Shop. Summer finally reached her, after what seemed to be an age.

"Ivy. I need your help." Summer whispered. Jack didn't notice, he had already strolled into the Radnok Shop and was looking around, interested.

Ivy tilted her head slightly to where Jack was, to show she wanted to go inside. Summer nodded and followed her.

"Jack?" Summer called. "Jack, there's someone I'd like you to meet."

"Is that Roux? The one you said you were talking to yesterday?"

Ivy stiffened. Her eyes drained of all emotion. For one flash of a second, they saw a ghost of a smile on her face, as if she was reminiscing a happier time, but then it was gone as quickly as it came.

"No." Said Ivy, her scratchy yet musical voice rang across the room, even though she had spoken quietly.

"I'm Ivy. I'm here to warn you."

"Ivy...?"

Jack was struggling to remember: a briefly mentioned name at dinner, but what was it associated with? A happy story, or a neutral tone?

"Oh! Ivy! So you WERE talking to Ivy yesterday! Was she the woman that said Sharell was evil?"

Jack pretended to be scolding, but he was slightly relieved Summer hadn't been with another man all day, and here was proof.

"Yes, Jack is it? A pleasure to meet you. Now, I have something very important to tell you..."

Ivy pretty much repeated what she had said to Summer yesterday, but she still listened, interested, in case she had missed something.

When Ivy had finished, Jack nodded slowly.

"Please, Ivy, take no offence at this, but I can't help but think you are lying. Sharell wouldn't do this, I think you're just jealous."

Ivy sighed. It seemed she had heard these words many times before.

She turned to Summer.

"I tried. Now leave me alone."

And with that, she turned and walked out the door.

But Jack wondered about whether or not he should believe Sharell's every word anymore.

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AUTHORS NOTE

Sorry for a super short chapter! I had a little writers block: thanks to appsapps for helping with ideas! Those ideas will come more into play in later chapters.

:)

-L