Always

23 : I missed you.

"I'll miss you, my baby, and you better come back soon, or I'll drag your ass here," Meemaw says, smiling sadly, hugging me. "No, I'll be back real soon, don't worry," she nods and smiles. Grace and Meemaw say their goodbyes, and we sit in the car to leave back to NY.

"So, Phoenix?" I smirk, looking at her. "So, Lucas?" she smirks back, wiping mine in the process. "Aye, no, no Lucas, no one. He's just a friend," she crosses her hands across her chest. "So you don't like him?" "No, neither does he, so please just shut up." "Yeah, that's where you're wrong. He so likes you; that special announcement was so cute," she gushes. "Grace, that wasn't for me," I say in all seriousness. "What rubbish, who else could it be for?" "His ex." "What? No." "Yes, he told me that he saw his ex right before he made the special announcement." "Shit, I'm sorry. But then again, what about his jacket? And he left everyone to be with his 'Storm,'" she says, wiggling her eyebrows, smiling again. "Grace, what did he say that day?" I ask, feeling scared. "He said that he was really tired and that he wanted to sleep at home.

But then Celeste asked if it was because you weren't there, so he blushed so furiously, he panicked and said, 'Oh no, Storm's got nothing to do with this; I'm just tired.' We made so much fun of him when he called you that. That poor guy was blushing from your name, Ivy. It was so cute." I roll my eyes at that.

"Also, you know Felix asked about the jacket, and he said that he was just sharing his clothes. So then Felix asked for a sweatshirt that's always in his car, and he told him that he'd have it over his dead body," she giggles again. "You guys are idiots, and there is seriously nothing going on between us, and I'm just gonna stay away from him because I think he still isn't over his ex. So I'm just gonna create a fine line between us. But there is a lot going on with you both, I think, and why didn't you tell me that Phoenix was the one you were talking about?" she smiles harder, hearing his name.

"I didn't think you knew him, first of all, so that's why I didn't tell you. I only realized you knew him when he said that he's good friends with Lucas. But so far, it's been going so well, you know? Two days before we came here, I was not feeling very well, so he left his own shoot to bring me medicines and soup, you know?" "Grace, your whole face is red. And it's good that he's treating you so well, but if he does something shady, I want to immediately know. If he breaks your heart, I'll nail gun his." She smiles at that. "Okay, Wednesday Addams, also you gotta meet Maddie. She said, and I quote, 'I miss my adopted baby so much, I haven't met her in a year. She no longer has time for me.'" I visibly cringe at that. "I met her two weeks ago, but she just has to be the drama queen. Never mind, I'll meet her." "That is if you're alive," she says, making me confused. "Huh?" "You haven't slept in a week, Ivy. You look like a zombie." "Fair enough."

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"Oh, you're back," Abuela says, smiling, giving me a glass of water which I take, muttering a 'thank you.' She waves her hand in dismissal. "Did you eat something? Are you hungry? Should I make you something?" "Just coffee, please," she nods. I stand up to leave. "Oh, and before I forget, Lucas came to meet you. He didn't know that you'd be here by noon." "Uh, huh, don't worry, I'll go meet him after an hour or so."