Perfect Eve

28

"Oh, hey." I was panting as I moved towards his car.

"Thank God. I thought I'd have to wait here alone." He smiled, eyes roaming around my face and then, frowned.
"Are you okay? Were you running?"

"Yeah. I'm alright." I said as I turned back to take a look at that creepy drunk.

There he came running. But the moment he saw that I was accompanied, he yelled,

"You won't be lucky every day!"

And then, that coward left.

I let out a sigh of relief and turned to meet a pair of narrowed black eyes.

"Why was he talking like that?" He raised his eyebrows, staring at the turn from where he left.

"What are you doing here, Aaron?" I asked him, surprised. I've never seen him here before.

I'm quite lucky that he ended up here! 

He narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

"I'm waiting for a friend. She asked me to wait here somewhere." He replied, pulling out his phone.

"And what are you doing here?" He looked behind me and frowned.

"Oh, I'm heading home after work." I mumbled, hoping he wouldn't ask about the man.

"Get in, I'll drop you home." He said, making me shake my head.

"No, wait for her. I'll be fine." I guess, since he left.

"She's gonna take more time. We can get you home meanwhile." He smiled beckoning me.

"You're a lifesaver." I said, every single word of it, true.

"What are friends for?" He blinked, smiling as he started the engine.

I thanked Aaron and invited him into our house, but since his friend was waiting he left after a brief chat with the boys.

When I said I didn't feel like eating today, Noel came to me with worried eyes.

"Is everything okay, Ivy?"

"Yeah, everything's fine. I just ate with Jake is all." I forced a smile, ruffling his hair.

But he knows. He always does.

Sleep didn't bless me that day. I was lying on my bed, thinking about everything that man said.

Why was she doing this? When will she stop taking money from these stupid people and spare me from all of these dramas?

After hours of spiralling these thoughts in my mind, it finally made sense.

She knew it way before, didn't she? Asking me to come home early, to be safe. Everything!

I don't know if I should be angry about the fact that she knew it was coming or be a bit relieved that she did care, even if it was only for a moment.

 And somewhere between the edge of crying and fuming over it, I closed my eyes, hoping to sleep.

~~~

"Ivy!"

"What?" I stopped running and turned back as Theo called.

He pulled me down and placed a kiss on my cheek.

Well, that's great medicine.

I smiled, ruffling his hair and continued to run.

"Say a bye from me to Noel." I called out and heard an 'okay' from him.

I can't believe the three of us slept in. Well, it's bound to happen when you don't sleep until three in the morning.