𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕟

Chapter 33 : Closure

The walk back to the house is a quiet one.

Early birds are heaving through their morning jog, and others are going home after working all night.

Ivy keeps bumping into Alex on purpose, and the latter retaliates gently.

"If you keep doing that, I'm going to tackle you to the ground," Alex threatens.

"You wouldn't."

Alex moves swiftly, and he drops Ivy gently, so she's lying on the sidewalk.
People are staring at them, but they are too lost in their own laughter to notice.

"I hate you, haulten," Ivy breathes in between giggles, and Alex shakes his head.

"No, you don't."

Ivy's laughter dies down as she studies Alex's face, and she gently clears his eyes from his curls with a soft hand, "No, I don't."

Alex pokes at the tip of Ivy's nose, and she playfully pushes him off. It's useless, of course. Ivy's arms' strength is non-existent, but Alex takes pity on her and stands up, offering Ivy a helping hand.

Once they are back on their feet, they dust off and walk the rest of the way in silence.

When they reach the front door, neither one of them makes a move to go in. Ivy bites the inside of her cheek and turns around, finding a spot on the small porch steps.

Alex releases a breath before joining her.

"Tell me something, V."

Ivy huffs a laugh, "You never tell me anything."

Alex gets up and walks past Ivy so he can face her. He's uncomfortable and slightly annoyed all of a sudden.

"What else is there? I admit my feelings, you push me away again, and now we're going home. Same old thing."

Ivy blinks at him but doesn't say a word.

Alex is growing irrationally angrier by the minute, and he can't stop the words pouring out of his mouth.

"You have the worst fucking way of showing you care. What the fuck do you want from me ?"

A flicker of hurt appears in Ivy's eyes and she presses her lips together.

They stare at each other with Alex's words hanging between them. But after a stretch of silence, it becomes too much for him, so he strides towards the house.

"I would ruin us."

Alex pauses at the door once again when he hears Ivy utter the words.

He turns around and finds her picking at her nail polish, the dark color disappearing gradually.

Alex releases a breath before walking back to sit next to her and grabs her hand, saving what is left of her manicure.

Ivy sniffles, keeping her gaze on their linked fingers.

"You deserve so much more than what I can give you, Alex. I have trust issues and so much anger. I would make you miserable. If you and I turn into something more, there is a very good chance you'll want to run. And I don't think I would survive another loss. Not this time, not with you."

Alex cards his fingers through Ivy's hair, gently gripping the back of her head.

"I wish you would let me decide that on my own," Alex argues, "but I can't force you into this. I made you a promise not to give up on you. I won't. If all I get is your friendship, then I am completely okay with it."

"Completely," Ivy teases through a watery laugh.

Alex rolls his eyes, "yes. Absolutely."

Ivy moves closer and closes her eyes as they connect their forheads.