Ivy

2| The Line

"Don't forget!" Clarisse yells as she got into her dad's Lamborghini. I grimace as she leaves, and patiently wait for my mom to come. As I sway slightly in my spot, my phone vibrates in my coat pocket.

I balance my books in one hand as I fish out my phone, sliding the lock to see the message. I groan when I read it.

'Hey honey! I'm really, really sorry! I can't pick you up because I'm in a meeting and your dad's busy. You know Jeremy has those afternoon classes too. You're going to have to walk. I am really sorry baby. I'll make it up to you!'

"Just fantastic. Absolutely fantastic!" I exclaim as I glance up at the ever-darkening sky. Rain Is inevitable, and I am going to have to hot foot it to get home only slightly soaked. Needless to say, I'm not very good at hot-footing it, and I am dripping wet when I get home.

Dripping wet and pissed off.

I fumble in my bag for the keys, mentally cheering when the familiar, cold metal hit my palm. I shove it in the lock and dash inside. I run to my room and dump my bag on the bed, mentally tacking on to my to do list the homework I had gotten today.

The one good thing about being me, was that I'm not very socialized, aside from the occasional dinner party or function. I know it sounds weird. I have absolutely no social connections to the outside world, and hence, no distractions.

I peel my wet clothes off. A hot shower was in order, and while I was at it, might as well just wash my hair too. When I am done, I wage war on my tangles and put the iron to the strands to get them pin-straight.

My mother had asked that I wear the peach dress she had bought a few weeks ago. Yeah, it was cute, just not on me. It was strapless, and I had a fear of it falling off, however pointless that fear was. The hem reached just above my knees, and a thick ribbon wrapped around my stomach, emphasizing how big it was. I clipped my hair up, and jumped when the door slammed.

"Abby?" I hear my brother call, "You got the welcome mat wet! Mom's going to kill you!"

"Yeah, well, the mat wouldn't be wet if she picked me up," I reply, stepping down the stairs, "I've got news for you."

"What?" he asks warily, heading to the kitchen.

"You know Clarisse? Right?" I ask, taking a seat on one of the stools.

"Yeah? What about her?" Jeremy asks, guzzling orange juice straight from the carton.

"Ew, gross," I say, making a face, "Anyway, she wants me to set you up with her tonight."

"And she thinks you will and can do this why? I don't even like her." He says, putting the carton back in the fridge.

"I know. Listen, just pretend that you're interested, then say that you aren't available. Let her down easy." I say, getting up and following him to the kitchen.

"Taken? With whom, might I ask?" He asks.

"I don't know! Make up a name! Use one of your conquests! Geez," I say.

"Fine, fine. Don't get your undies in a twist. Calm down," he says, "Now leave me so I can change. Go watch your Arrow or some s***."

"'Kay!" I say brightly. And that is exactly what I do until my parents come home. We wait for mom to finish before we get into the Subaru and head off.

The Fundraiser was held in one of the more upstate locations, in a converted warehouse. It had been abandoned years ago, and the restoration committee had brought the best people to bring a glory to the skeleton. Now, instead of zinc roofs and steel frames, it had shingles, and wide concrete columns with decorative vines climbing up it. It had flower to ceiling, hurricane-proof reflective windows, that shone in the moonlight.

Inside, they had knocked out a portion of the upper floors, leaving a small area for a VIP section. The ceiling was decorated with several chandeliers with chains of diamonds dripping from them. The light reflected of the jewels in a kaleidoscope of colours. The floor was tiled in a cream tile with gold swirls, matching the elegant cream walls. Tables were arranged around a dance floor, clothed in white with a floral arrangement of fragrant carnations and white roses at the centre.

Jeremy and I took a seat while our parents gave the doormen the entrance fee. I surreptitiously scanned the floor for Clarisse and her family, but there was no sign of them. Moments later, however, after mom and dad decided to dance, the Jacobs family strutted in.

Peter Jacobs was, you could say, the perfect husband. Tall and muscular, with tanned skin and golden hair, he looked akin to a Greek God. His wife, Anessa, was the perfect trophy wife. Model thin and Colgate smile, her brunette hair was wrapped in a perfect braid, and she wore a salmon pink cocktail dress. In her arms, she held baby Angel Jacobs, the newest addition to the family. Behind her, linked arm in arm, were the devils sisters, Clarisse and Jenine.

They both played off their flawlessness in emerald and sapphire dresses that clung to them, before hitting the floor in a fish tail style. I nodded to Jeremy.

"You're up, player," I said, toying with my glass. He shot me an indecipherable look before slowly getting up and heading to them with a casual yet graceful gait. I almost puked in my mouth when I as the giggle my mess Clarisse turned into. Jenine immediately disappeared to leave the apparent couple to themselves. I watched Jeremy lead Clarisse out to the dance floor, and I sat back, satisfied.

I scan the dance floor once more, when my gaze hits Jace's. Immediately, I tense, this morning's events still fresh in my head. I move to get up when I see him make his way towards me, but I paused when he called out.

"Wait!"

"What?" I snapped, irritated, "Here to tease me more?"

"No. I'm here to apologise for this morning." He said.

"Yeah, it was a d¡ck move and you knew it," I said, starting to move away. He grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

"At least let me have one dance?" he asked. As If on cue, a slow song started. I saw a somewhat smug look on his face, and my cursed hormones started to act up.

"Fine!" I said, "Just one dance."

He smiled and led me out to the floor, before pulling me closer. We started to waltz around the room in time to the music, and I had to admit it, I was having the time of my life.

That was, until he decided to be a d¡ck again.

Jace spins me out and around, making me slightly dizzy, and before I know it, his foot is between mine and I'm falling to the floor. I hit the ground hard, and look up into Jace's smug face, the same time Clarisse's outraged cry rang out from beside me.

I'm guessing Jeremy let her down, and it wasn't easy.

Good timing, brother. Superb timing.

Furious, Clarisse stomps over, nearly mashing several of my fingers off as she did so. I could almost see the steam shooting out of her ears as her face grew red.

"You'll pay for that, you b****!" She screams at me. She goes to kick me, but I spring out of the way, and before I know it, I'm out of the door and into the cold night.