Always

25 : I lost track of time.

**Call incoming**

"Hi Luca."
"Hello there, Celeste."
"Listen, today we're going for brunch, like everyone."
"Wow, you're telling me so early."
"Actually, it was mine and Grace's idea. Ivy has been feeling down lately. She's been working the whole month, and today Grace had to force her to take a leave, so we thought it might be a good idea to cheer her up."

Her fragile form immediately flashes before my eyes. People might not be able to make out the difference, but those who are close definitely would. The glow that she usually has on her face was missing, the bags under her eyes, prominent. I don't think that she has slept a wink. She felt so different, so lost. The way she flinched as I was about to touch her, she felt exhausted. Her usual storm-like, bossy self wasn't there.

"Lucas, you there?"
"Uh, yes, let's go today. What time? And where?"
"12 o'clock and the casual place we usually hang out at."
"Okay, I'll see you there."

I exit the gym and enter my room to take a shower and get ready for the day, since I'll just have to go directly for the recording of my new song. I lay down in the bed since there is still a lot of time, the harsh sun rays falling straight to my eyes. I close the blinds. Although it is none of my business, I couldn't help but notice that her blinds are closed, which is weird considering she never closes her blinds. Her room is pitch black. Maybe she's just sleeping the exhaustion away.

I close my blinds and scroll mindlessly on my phone until it's time to leave, since the place is only 5 minutes away. I enter the restaurant and immediately spot Celeste, Felix, Phoenix, and Grace. "Hi guys." They all mutter 'hellos' when Grace's phone rings.
"Hi Maddie."
"What, force her, please."
She leaves the table looking worried.
"I'm scared for Ivy," Celeste says with a sigh.
"Actually, same. Grace has been worried sick about her. She's constantly fainting and everything. Grace told me that she always does this when something happens; she buries herself in work until she can't breathe anymore," Phoenix says.
"Weird coming from your mouth, I haven't seen you worrying about someone before," Felix says.
"I have mad respect for her. You know, two weeks before I was missing Grace so badly. She didn't want to join me on a date since the work was too hectic, so she said no, but Ivy snatched her phone and forcefully sent her. The next morning, she woke up early to answer the mails and fix her schedule, but Ivy sat the whole night and answered more than 700 mails because Grace panics when she is not caught up with her work. She treats her like her sister."
"She is just the sweetest, you know, even though she tries to act all tough."
"She's here," Phoenix says, and Ivy gasps.
"Good Lord, she really did go weak."

We all conceal our shock with smiles. "Hi, Ivy." She looks in front of Celeste.