Sweet Revenge

Chapter 12

    "So Ivy, tell us how you're liking our school." Kelsey says to me, taking a sip of her vanilla cold brew. We are at Burton's Coffee Shop, the one my mom and I visited the previous day. I am fighting the urge to look behind me at the infamous white wall with Poppy's name scrawled across it.

So far, this trip has been better than I had anticipated and to be honest, I actually feel normal. Ashley, Kelsey, and Samara have been peppering me with questions for the past ten minutes, trying to get to know me better.

    "Honestly, it's a lot to take in after not being in public school for such a long time." I admit, silently hoping they won't ask the reason why I left public school. Though my new friends seemed extremely kind, I was not quite ready to let them unlock the memory of Poppy yet.

    "What school did you used to go to?" Ashley asks me and I sigh in relief. So close to the question I want to avoid, but not quite.

    "Denver High School on the opposite side of town," I reply. "Now tell me more about yourselves!" I change the subject so Poppy will not have to be brought up.

    "Well, I'm sure Kelsey has a lot to tell you. Right, Kels?" Samara says. We all turn to Kelsey and wait expectantly for her answer. However, she is not paying any attention to us and instead focusing on the wall of names.

    "Hellooo? Earth to Kelsey." Ashley says, reaching across the table to wave her hand in front of Kelsey's pale face.

    "Oh, sorry," She blinks back into reality. "I was zoning out again while looking at that cool wall."

    All four of us burst into laughter at Kelsey's disoriented face, breaking the quiet atmosphere of the place and causing some heads to turn in our direction.

    "Just so you know, this happens on a daily basis. It's because of her ADHD." Ashley explains, chuckling.

    "Yeah, she's a little bit of a dumbass." Samara adds teasingly.

    "Hey! No, I'm not," Kelsey protests, frowning in a joking manner. "Only slightly."

    My stomach bubbles up with laughter yet again. I am loving everyone's personality, especially Kelsey's. Part of me wants to admit to her that she reminds me of a girl I once knew, that girl obviously being Poppy. Though, I decide it's better to not dig up the memory of her since I'm not trying to bawl my eyes out in front of people I just met.

    "Ooh, I have a good question for you, Ivy," Ashley says, her eyes twinkling. "Do you have a crush on anyone in your classes?"

    I pause and my cheeks immediately flush when the boy I met yesterday, Jesse, comes to mind.

    "What kind of question is that, Ash? She just got here, give her a break." Kelsey tells Ashley.

    "No, it's okay. I don't have any crushes." I inform them. I notice Ashley's face fall slightly at my response.

    "Makes sense. Most of the guys in our school are pretty ugly anyway." Kelsey says, provoking a disapproving glare from Samara.

    "That's just you, girl." She replies. Kelsey just rolls her eyes in response.

    "Have you at least met any guys from the school yet? Other than Brandon, obviously. Ew." Ashley asks me, a look of interest on her face. It is clear now that she is an extremely boy-crazy person.

    I hesitate, not really wanting to tell them about Ryan and our dark history. After a few seconds, I finally answer.

    "Well, yesterday I met this boy Jesse in my English class."