𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕟

Chapter 23 : God and Gays

As much as Ivy's tears break him, Alex knows she needs some tough love right now.

When he reaches Ivy his covered feet bump into her Vans.

Despite the flinch, Ivy doesn't bother to look up.

Alex has dealt with difficult people in his life, but Ivy is at the top of his list. She can be more stubborn than the old, bald, rich men he deals with daily at work.

Still. He's doing it for Mason.

"Get up."

This prompts Ivy's head to snap up.

"Excuse me ?"

Alex waves a hand around in a disinterested manner, "I'm over your pity party. How you can sit here while Mason is in there is beyond me. Get up."

"Fuck off Alex," Ivy snickers then looks back down at her feet.

"You're going to check on your friend because he's been asking for you through coughs and heaves while you're here making this about you. Get. Up."

"I can't. I can't be in that room. Not again."

Ivy doesn't look up but Alex can see fresh tears forming in her eyes from where he's standing, so he bends down to her level and puts one hand on her knee.

Ivy doesn't move away this time.

"Yes, you can, and you will because this isn't about you. You're not selfish, and there is no way I'm letting Tristan turn you into something you're not. Fucking move, Ivy. Go be there for your friend."

"You think it's easy ?" Ivy laughs bitterly, "even if I wanted to see him, it's too late. He won't want to see me." 

Alex smirks. He knows he just won this battle.

"I never said it was easy, I'm saying you're stronger than your fears. Stop letting Tristan win. Your friend wants to see you. Go."

He ends his plea with a smile then goes to wipe Ivy's tears with his thumb.

Ivy looks at Alex with a hint of gratitude he did not expect to see there.

"Okay."

When she utters the word Alex stands up, smiles like a proud parent and offers his hand to help Ivy to her feet.

Ivy shrugs, "he probably hates me, there's no use going in there if he's going to be pissed."

"Stop looking for excuses. He asked for you, he wants to see you, and even if he didn't you'd still have to go in, so move it."

And she does, with a quick spin and a stomp in her feet.

When Alex walks back to Tyler he receives a hug and an 'I don't understand how you do it, but thank you'.

"She might come back in 3 seconds, let's not celebrate yet."

"You got her to walk through the door, she's going to see him. Trust me."

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Ivy knocks once, twice, then a third time before she hears a faint 'come in.'

God, how she missed his voice.

When she goes in Mason's eyes are closed and they don't open until Ivy shuts the door and leans back on it.

"Alex is really fucking good," Mason laughs.

Ivy stays quiet, mostly out of guilt, but also out of shame.

"My bed is more comfortable than hardwood, you should try sitting here."

Ivy takes a deep breath in as she moves away from the door and walks on wobbly knees towards Mason.