Untouchable

0.11

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Ivy’s POV

The library was thick with the scent of old books and overpriced coffee, a silent battlefield where students waged war against midterms. Our group had taken over a long oak table near the back, textbooks, notebooks, and half-empty cups scattered like casualties.

Adrian was laser-focused on his calculus book, his pen moving methodically across the page. Sebastian was next to him, flipping through his notes with unsettling precision, while Nathaniel—who had yet to even pretend to study—twirled a pencil between his fingers.

Kayla sat beside me, her laptop open, half her notes neatly color-coded, the other half an absolute mess. And then there was Alistair, slouched in his chair, arms crossed, staring blankly at the ceiling like he was about to give up entirely.

“We should just drop out,” he muttered.

Nathaniel smirked. “You say that every exam season, yet somehow, you always pass.”

“Barely,” Alistair groaned.

Kayla sighed. “One more week, guys. We just need to survive, and then we’re free.”

Sebastian set his pen down. “We should do something after exams.”

Kayla perked up. “Like a trip?”

I leaned in, intrigued. “Go on.”

Sebastian nodded. “We’ll have a whole week off before classes start again. If we’re going to do something, we should plan it now.”

Nathaniel tapped his fingers against the table. “Somewhere secluded, away from everything.”

“Okay, but no cabin,” I said. “Too cliché.”

Nathaniel raised a brow. “You got a better idea?”

I thought for a second. “A private island?”

Kayla snorted. “Oh, sure, let me just rent one real quick.”

“I’m serious,” I said. “There are places you can rent for a week—isolated beaches, little island getaways, stuff like that.”

Nathaniel actually looked interested. “That could work. I know a guy.”

“Of course, you do,” Adrian murmured without looking up.

I smirked. “What, you don’t want to go, Blackwood?”

Adrian didn’t even glance at me. “I have better things to do.”

I leaned closer, resting my chin on my hand. “Like what? Sitting in a dark room and brooding?”

Adrian finally looked up, expression unimpressed. “Yes, Ivy. That is my one and only pastime.”

I grinned. “I knew it.”

Adrian shook his head. “You’re insufferable.”

“Thank you,” I said sweetly.

Nathaniel chuckled. “You two are exhausting.”

Sebastian, ever the peacemaker, ignored us and returned to the actual topic. “A beach house on an island would be different. No tourists, no crowds. Just us.”

Kayla clapped her hands together. “That sounds amazing. And obviously, we’re inviting Lynne and Lily, right?”

“Obviously,” I said. “They’d kill us if we didn’t.”

Adrian sighed. “And how are we getting to this hypothetical island?”

“Boat,” Nathaniel said casually.

Adrian exhaled slowly, like he regretted asking.

Alistair smirked. “Come on, Adrian. You, me, on a boat? Think of the bonding experience.”

Adrian gave him a look. “I’d rather not.”

I nudged Alistair. “You in?”

He hesitated—just a flicker of something before he sighed. “Can’t.”

I frowned. “What? Why?”

He shrugged. “Stuff to handle.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Vague.”

“Deliberately so,” he said with a smirk.

I leaned back in my chair. “Then I’m not going either.”

Alistair groaned. “Ivy—”

“Nope.” I crossed my arms. “If you’re not going, I’m not going.”

Nathaniel smirked. “You two are disgustingly co-dependent.”

“Shut up,” I said.

Alistair sighed, rubbing his temples. “Ivy, go. It’s not that deep.”

I just stared at him.

Alistair exhaled, voice softening. “I want you to go.”

That threw me off.

He was still smirking, still wearing that casual, easygoing mask, but there was something else in his tone.

Something that made my chest tighten.

I sighed. “Fine. But I’m going to be annoying about it.”

Alistair grinned. “What’s new?”

I elbowed him, but I was smiling.

Nathaniel leaned back. “Alright. Beach trip is happening.”

Kayla beamed. “I’ll make a checklist!”

Adrian shook his head. “There goes any hope of studying.”

“Oh, come on, Adrian,” I teased. “Even you deserve a break.”

He shot me a look. “We’ll see if I survive midterms first.”

I smirked. “I think you’ll manage.”

Adrian raised a brow. “You sound concerned.”

I shrugged. “Maybe a little.”

His eyes flickered with something unreadable. “Why?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it. “Because if you fail, we’ll never hear the end of it.”

Adrian huffed a quiet laugh. “That’s fair.”

I leaned back, satisfied. “Glad we agree.”

Nathaniel smirked. “You two love arguing, huh?”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s a sport.”

Adrian scoffed. “It’s a waste of time.”

“Yet here you are, participating.”

He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “Unbelievable.”

Sebastian, ever the voice of reason, cleared his throat. “So, about this trip—”

And just like that, we had a plan.