Ivy The Certified Stalker

7. Ice-creams and Pesky Alices

Ivy slouched on the love seat drowning what the bored news anchor was saying as she stared at her phone waiting for the explosion to happen. It was already two in the afternoon and she didn't know what Tony was planning to do with the pictures. She doubted he would take her cowardly method and post pictures of Sandy and her dad in school and would most likely post the pictures on the school's website and other social medias with his name plastered on each picture. She knew her brother and his need for attention.

Her parents were in town doing some charity work and Tony had barely looked her way that morning during breakfast, probably regretting what he did the previous night. He had openly shown affection to her and that meant a lot, making her feel wanted for the first time in a long time. Her attention was diverted to the den's mahogany door as her brother's tall frame emerged, a serious determined look on his face as he approached her. She quickly straightened her posture wondering if she had done anything to anger him.

'Come.' He ordered taking her hand roughly.

'W-Where are we going?' She asked on noticing they were heading towards the exit of the house.

'Somewhere.' He shrugged not looking back as she tried to keep up with his long strides. She was in just shorts and a crop top, not the kind of attire she ever left the house in.

'I have to c-change.' She felt exposed as Tony pulled her out of the house and into their shared car.

'You look fine.' He commented after giving her a once over. 'You should really get some tan. You look like a ghost.' He added on seeing how pale her hands and legs looked under the blazing sun.

'I need to c-change.' She insisted but it was too late. Tony had already started the engine and was pulling out of their drive way. She panicked closing her eyes and praying this was a bad nightmare. Tony never took her out during the weekends and the last time he did, he had ditched her at the mall without a penny or phone and had to walk to Dominic's place which was luckily near the mall in order to get a ride home.

Ivy turned to look at her brother who was gripping the steering wheel tightly his previously serious face turned into a scowl. She couldn't tell what he was planning and sadly she had no time to grab money as she left the house but was relieved to know her phone was in her pocket in case he decided to dump her somewhere.

After a fifteen minute drive that would have been twenty-five if a normal person was driving, Ivy was swayed sideways as Tony came to a stop in a partly full parking lot. She noticed they were outside Harmony's Ice-cream shop and gave her brother a confused look but he was intensely staring at the entrance of the shop.

'I hope you still like vanilla Ice-cream like when we were kids.' His voice came out calm despite his hard look much to Ivy's surprise. She didn't know he still remembered her favourite ice-cream since they hadn't been to this place together in years but the realisation that her brother took her out for ice-cream brought a big smile to her face.

She followed him out, hesitating at the door not knowing if she should wait out there or following him in. As if sensing her hesitation he stopped midway and turned to her. 'Find a seat. I'll get the ice-cream.' She nodded watching him enter and stand behind the line of five people before she sharply turned to look for an empty seat which ended up being clumsy of her as she unknowingly hit a hard wall or as she thought before a familiar voice started apologizing.

Ivy looked up her, breath coming out short as she met Henry's blue eyes who smiled warmly at her.

'Ivy.' His smile seemed to widen and she wished she had her hoodie to cover her blush as she faced the floor. 'Never seen you here.' He continued when she didn't look up. Her hand twitched nervously as she became self-conscious knowing he was staring at her. She wanted to look up and maybe smile back at him or say a polite hi to avoid the awkwardness but she felt frozen and cursed her shyness.