𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐄 - 𝐓𝐎𝐌 𝐊𝐀𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐙

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞

Tom POV:

As we made our way to the living room to welcome our guests, I thought about how I could give Ivy this ring. That wasn't so hard, was it?

We finally joined the others in the living room, discovering Alex and Molly sitting on the sofa talking with Bill and Gustav.

As soon as they saw us, Molly rushed into Ivy's arms, while I shook hands with Alex. Then it was Alex's turn to hug Ivy.

I couldn't help feeling jealous of him. I mean, surely he knew her better than I did, had spent more time with her, maybe even meant more to her than I did?

"Don't tell me you're jealous?" whispered Molly with a half smile.

"I can't help it... You're not jealous of their relationship?" I asked her in return.

She moved a little closer to me to make sure no one could hear her.

"I trust Alex, because I love him and Ivy's one of my oldest friends, I know she'd never do that to me."

I nodded. She was right, I was really worrying about nothing. But he could let her rest a bit, couldn't he? I bet she's running out of air, now.

"It feels like forever since we've seen each other." Alex tells her, placing a kiss on her forehead.

I felt my jaw tighten. Don't you think he's exaggerating a bit? I mean, he's probably seen her every day since elementary school, he can leave her for a while, can't he?

"I know, but don't worry, with rehearsals for the concert, we'll practically be seeing each other all the time." Ivy says, resting her head on his shoulder as he wraps an arm around her waist.

I glared at his arm. He just wants to piss me off at this point.

"Well, come on, how about we settle down and talk a bit more about this famous concert?" says Bill, seeing my facial expression.

I took Gustav aside and led him away from the living room to talk to him in private.

"What's the matter with you?" asked Gustav, confused.

"Listen to me, I want to give Ivy a promise ring tonight, in front of Chloe, but I need the perfect moment..." I said, making eyes at him for help.

He grunted and sighed loudly.

"Okay I'll help you...." he said which made me jump for joy to the point of hugging him.

"Hey calm down, Ivy really changed you since you've been together." he said as he tried to pull away from my embrace.

"Just shut up and listen to me."

Ivy POV:

We were all in the living room discussing the release of our new song during the concert when I finally noticed that two people were missing: Gustav and my Tom.

Yes, you're going to say I'm a bad girlfriend because I hadn't noticed earlier that my boyfriend wasn't there, but I was so excited to see my friends again.

It's true I haven't seen him that often since I've been with Tom. I'm not used to it, we've never been separated like this. We used to see each other every day.

Suddenly, Gustav reappeared, still without Tom. He looked slightly excited and had a huge grin on his face. This did not bode well.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would ask you to follow me outside. Especially this young lady." he said these last words, pointing at me.

We all looked at each other in confusion, but followed him anyway. It was dark outside, so repairing ourselves was a bit of a mission impossible.

"Well, Gustav, what's this bullshit?" said Georg impatiently, to which Christina responded by slapping him on the shoulder.

"Shut up, Georg, you're ruining everything," replied Gustav.

I rolled my eyes. What the hell were we doing in the middle of their garden, waiting around like buffoons? And where was my fucking boyfriend?!

"Where's Tom?" finally asked Bill.

FINALLY someone with a little common sense here.

"...I'd like to bum a cigarette off him." he continued.

I take it back.

Suddenly the lights, usually illuminating the garden, all come on, revealing a Tom, with a bouquet of roses, on one knee on the ground and a box in the other hand.

No, I don't believe it. I just can't.
He's not going to propose now?

"Oh heeeeell nah" I heard Chloe mumble.

"Ivy, my love." he said and I felt my legs give out on me. I loved Tom, but to marry him so young? I needed a little more time.

I was cut off by Chloe who screamed and threw herself at Tom.

Oh. My. God.

"YOU WILL NOT TAKE MY SISTER AWAY LIKE THAT." she screamed.

Everyone rushed to separate them, she'd messed up Tom's face pretty good with her fake nails.

His face was full of scratches, the bouquet was lying with petals all over the side and the box was still in Tom's hand.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM, CHLOE?" I shouted, enraged.

That was the last straw. She had to go away, far away.

"He's trying to take you away from me!" she cried tearfully.

She really did sound crazy. Crazy obsessive.

"Chloe you can't do that to my boyfriend for fuck's sake you don't even know what he was going to offer me!" I said as the others rushed to Tom.

"That's because Dad's gone, you date any guy who gives you even a little attention and you don't see the problem." she spat.

"My problem right now is you. Go away. I don't want to see your face anymore." I said, turning to Tom.

She turned to Bill, who shook his head, showing that she couldn't count on him.

"You're all a bunch of idiots who only see what you want to see. Good luck Ivy with your future husband, just don't invite me to the wedding." she shouted as I moved closer and closer to Tom.

"I wouldn't have invited you anyway," I replied.

She clicked her heels on the floor before slamming the door.

Crap.