Ivy Grows

Incense and Peppermint.

Being home felt so good. Not seeing Sam every second of every day has been so refreshing. It helps me figure out how I want to proceed without him clouding my judgement with his beautiful face and soft touches.

He hadn't called or texted since they dropped me off Monday. It's currently Thursday. I haven't even seen him at school. I don't know if that's him avoiding me or if he genuinely has been absent. I'm on the floor of my bedroom sorting through the many pages of my essay that's due tomorrow. I forgot to number the pages and they all fell out of my backpack when I got home.

Just as I'm putting together the last few pages, something hits the window to my left. My head snaps up and I listen closely just to see if I imagined it. When it happens again a few moments later, I stand up to look out my window. I'm confused to see Sam standing down on the lawn below holding a handful of pebbles from my mom's garden.

He waved his hand in a signal for me to come down. I definitely don't want a replay of the night before we left to go camping so I start getting dressed. It's really cold and all I'm wearing is grey sweatpants and a t-shirt so I throw on a black hoodie and slide my feet into some vans before heading downstairs.

I take the backdoor this time so it's not as close to my parents room. The door squeaks slightly as I slowly open it but I'm able to make it outside undetected. I suck in a sharp breath at the freezing temperature, already wrapping my arms around myself for some kind of warmth.

When I go around the corner Sam is still standing below my window just looking up at it. He probably thinks I was ignoring him. I take this opportunity to just look at him for a minute. His brown downturned eyes look up, making him look so innocent. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he was a sweet boy. His lips pouted and pink. How he wasn't cold was beyond me. He was only wearing a pair of jeans, and a flannel. Not even any shoes on his feet. He didn't even have his hair to warm his neck because it was tied up into a messy bun, strands of hair falling down around his face.

I lean down taking a few pebbles in my hand, tossing one at him and then quickly hiding behind the wall.

"Ow! What the hell," I hear his boyish voice say loudly. I snicker to myself before peeking around the corner and throwing another one.

"Ivy? Is that you?" he creeps up to the corner of the house. Seemingly a bit nervous to make the final step to reveal whoever is throwing rocks at him. I test my luck and throw one more around the side of the house, not even bothering to look at him.

He comes running around the corner, not even hiding the smile on his face when he sees it's me.

"That was not funny," he chuckles lowly.

"Then why are you laughing?" I raise an eyebrow at him. He stalks closer to me causing me to back into the house behind me.

"Because I'm thinking about all the ways I'm going to get you back," he says, a dark look in his eyes. Nerves creep into my mind and body, making me cower away. I'm not near as flirtatious or outgoing as he is so I feel myself distancing again.

"Well, that's too bad. You'll never get the chance," I quip, pushing him away slightly at the shoulders, creating more distance between than he'd like, I'm sure.

"Why? You leaving town?" He laughs. I look up at him through my eyelashes, just enjoying being with him again. As much I told myself I wouldn't let this happen anymore.

"No, I'm just not going to talk to you anymore.." I shrug, brushing past him and walking over to the swing in the back garden. He follows me closely just like I knew he would.

"Why is that?" he sits down before I can even reach the swing, positioning himself in the middle so I have to be close to him regardless. I take my spot next to him and turn to face him, one leg perched on the swing between us.