Sapphire, Sapphire

<Coffee - Ivy>

Waking up on the second day of college should have been no problem for Ivy. It should have gone just the same, if not better than the previous day. The day should have gone like any other day with little to no issue. And it would have, If she didn't wake up sick.

Almost the very minute that Ivy woke up, she rushed into the bathroom and threw up. Not discouraged, she tried to get ready for class anyway but could not. She had no strength and decided it would be best to drink some water, brush her teeth, and go back to bed. Once she fell asleep she slept for most of the day, until the sun was setting. She ate a few cookies, drank a good amount of water and went back to bed.

Fire, burning everything people are screaming for help.

When Ivy woke up she felt much, much better than she did the previous morning and was able to get around for class. Clay caught up with her on her way over there and asked if she wanted to eat lunch with them. Gracious for the offer, she accepted. Yet again she saw the girl dressed in all black, with the most beautiful hair and perfect eyeliner.

Ivy really did want to say something to her. To ask her what her name was, to coffee. But she was too nervous. This woman was definitely out of her league. The way she dressed, carried herself, and even the way she sat... It was all perfect. Ivy was heading over heels and she's never even heard the woman's voice before.

The class went by slowly and her again ubt caught herself staring on more than once occasion. After her second class if the day let out, she met up with Clay and they went to the cafeteria. Clay bought themselves lunch, but Ivy brought her own sandwich and a handful of grapes.

"So who is that girl who sits next to me in sculpting?" Ivy asks, trying to cound casual but not knowing if she fooled Clay.

"Oh, that's Delta. She's a sophomore. One of my closer friends."

"She's really pretty, isn't she?" Ivy asks, resting her head in her hand as she pops a grape into her mouth and chews it slowly.

"Oh most definitely. One of the prettiest girls I've had the pleasure to meet," Clay responds, with that crooked smile of theirs. Their accent has a southern edge to it, Ivy notices. "Why do you ask?"

Ivy pauses for a moment, almost unable to think. "Oh- I was just wondering since she sits next to me and we've never talked."

"So talk to her tomorrow," Clay teases, "there's really no reason not to, she's as nice as they get."

"Maybe I will then," Ivy decides, knowing it's going to be the hardest thing she's done all week. When they finish eating they throw away their garbage and high five before heading to their respective classes. Business class goes as slowly as it did the first day for Ivy, and her English glass even slower. When she finally meets Clay back at the dorm, she doesn't say much and just collapses into her bed, groaning. Clay chuckles a bit and Ivy responds my groaning louder.

"What's wrong, Ivy?" Clay asks, amused.

"I'm so tired, and I need tomorrow to hurry up and come around so I can get it over with," she replies, burrowing under the covers of her small bed and covering her eyes with her arm to block out the light coming from Clay's desk lamp.

"Well, I'll shut my lamp off for you and you can make sure to get a good night's sleep," Clay offers while pulling the switch to shut it off with a click. It doesn't take long for Ivy to fall asleep but it feels like forever for her.

When Ivy wakes up she rolls out of bed, and mumbles all the way to the small bathroom to brush her hair and teeth, and take a shower. Clay was already gone, and Ivy had noticed they were prone to waking early. Maybe they went for a run, or to the gym on campus to stay in shape? She'd have to ask about it later, and if that was the case maybe Ivy could accompany them.

Picking an obscure band shirt and ripped jeans, Ivy slips into her Doc Martins and makes her way to class, bag slung over her shoulder. When she reaches the building where her sculpting class is, a rather large group of seven or eight people walk out, most of them being boys and two or three girls hanging onto the arm of their respective boy. Whether they were dating or not, Ivy couldn't say. She waited for them to clear the doorway and walked to her class, yawning as she entered the door.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the stranger sitting one seat closer to her own seat than before, writing or sketching in a journal. Making her way to the rear of the room, ivy nearly trips over the leg of a table and tumbles to her knees. Face turning red and warm, she makes her way to her feet slowly and tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, nervously chuckling. The stranger looks up from her notebook at Ivy and smiles, no doubt amused. Ivy had lost all her nerve and decided that she couldn't talk to them. She's too embarrassed. Sitting down at her chair, Ivy lays out her tools and puts her apron on, face still hot from the fall.

"So, that was quite the fall. Lost in your head are you?" The stranger speaks up, turning their entire body to face Ivy as they talk. They're even more gorgeous from a clear angle and Ivy is at a loss for words. "want to get coffee and lunch with me today? I'll take you to my favorite diner in the city," they continue. They use their hands to talk much like Clay does.

"Oh, uh--"

"It's a date then, yeah? My name's Chris," they extend their hand with slim fingers painted black on the nails, rather messily. Ivy shakes her hand and smiles.

"Ivy. My name's Ivy," she responds. Then her eyes widen for a second and she continues talking. "What are your pronouns?"

"She, and her, and yours?"

"Same here. It's a pleasure to meet you and yes, I'll go with you to coffee today," Ivy says sheepishly, grabbing the hem of her shirt tightly and fidgeting.

"Good. Meet me outside the cafeteria building today, then we'll go."

"The sounds like a plan, then... Chris," Ivy offers a smile and turns back to her project. A smile remains on her face for the rest of the class, working on her project.