Rivals in Business, Allies in Love

Chapter 18

~Zavier~

There aren't much people that can mimic the level of beauty that Ivy has the luxury of. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of pretty girls out and about but Ivy has this charm to match. Something that puts her above everyone else.

So when a girl brushes past me, with as much power as to remind me of the dark haired, stuck up beauty, I couldn't shake the feeling that it might be the Reynolds princess herself.

It's stupid to think she'll come at a place like this though. That's one of the last places Ivy would be. The motel is still top contender. She's never getting anywhere near that.

"Ivy?" I say under my breath but Tom has ears of a wolf. The boy will hear a pin drop in this chaos.

"Ivy where?" Of course that draws the rest of the boys attention. Their eyes rake around the area to catch a glimpse of the rare sight.

"Be for real. Ivy here is like finding a drop of water in a desert during the summer." Jackson snorts. He's not wrong but I could've sworn it was her.

"It sure looked like her." I mumble, now even more unsure that it was her.

"Zavier's so obsessed that I won't be surprised if he can pick her out in the middle of a stadium of ten thousand." My face scrunches up at the obviously exaggerated statement. A very false statement too.

"I'm not obsessed." They're being dramatic. I don't see why I can't go out of my way to know what makes my rival thicc.

"He's just unhealthily curious." Christian adds in and honestly I don't see how his contribution is of any benefit. Sure, I like teasing Ivy and talking with her is nice sometimes but still, I won't go as far as saying I'm interested. She's not my type and frankly, she isn't my father's either.

"Whatever."

We decide to go get a drink shortly after and there we meet the topic of the minute. It's a miracle she's here but I can't help but be smug about being correct that she is indeed here. No one is more surprised than I am to see her here. Ivy Reynolds at a party? She looks the part but her demeanor doesn't fit in at all.

In fact, I'm a little surprised by her look. I'd be lying if I didn't say my eyes linger on her for a little too long.

Our interaction is representative of 3/4 of our time spent together. Sarcastic. Mild annoyance. Slightly tense but in a good way.

By the time we're finished going at each other in the kitchen, the boys are making these faces. The faces that mark the beginning of a very long night. A night of constant teasing and interrogation. There isn't anything to tell anyways. We're friends but not really. That's all there is to it.

Four hours into the party and honestly I'm exhausted. The music is now too loud and the crowd is now too...crowdy. Even the heat is off the charts right now and the A/C is running.

I make my way up the stairs and open the room in which I think I remember is a guest bedroom. The house is owned by a friend of mines. Piper. I've been over a couple times since her mom and my mom are practically besties. I think they're pushing for Piper and I to start something but honestly, Piper is like a sister to me. I won't go that route with her. Not even on my weakest day.

I enter the room with a sigh of relief seeing that no one decided to take up refuge here. The lights are off and I keep them off. I'm so tired that I let myself rest on the bed for a short moment. I won't stay long. Just a little rest.

It's around five minutes later that I hear movement. I'm not sure where it's coming from. There is a moment of silence again that convinces me that maybe it was in my head. But then there goes that scratching noise again. I shift in the bed to sit up. Sounds like it's coming from the roof. I make my way over and peek my head out.