“Ivy.”
I turned around. “What?”
“Sorry,” he shrugged, looking uncomfortable.
“For what?” I frowned. What was he apologizing for? He hadn’t done anything.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you,” he replied, still looking uncomfortable.
“It’s okay,” I shrugged and then went upstairs to my room.
When I got to my room, I flopped onto my bed and closed my eyes. I didn’t know what was going on, and it was really starting to bother me. I wished my brother had told me what was up instead of leaving me to guess. And why was our mother acting so strangely too? She hadn’t acted like this before, and it seemed like she knew something that she didn’t want me to.
I opened my eyes and then turned around to look at the clock on my wall. It was already eleven. I had slept away most of the evening.
I stood up and then went to change into comfortable clothes. Then I lay down on the bed again and pulled out a book to read. I really needed something to take my mind off things.
I had just started reading when I heard a sound outside my room. It sounded like someone was in the hallway. I frowned and then put down the book to listen to the sound. But it had disappeared.
I shrugged and then picked up my book again. I was probably just being paranoid, and no one was in the hallway. But as I started reading, I felt a chill run down my back.
Someone was definitely in the house. I could feel it.
I started feeling really panicked all of a sudden. What if someone was really in the house with me? What if they wanted to do me harm? What if...
I swallowed, trying to calm myself down. I needed to think more logically here. No one would want to harm me. And I was pretty sure no one had broken into my house to hurt me either. It was probably just my brother or mother coming up to see me.
I closed my eyes and tried to focus on my breathing. Then slowly but surely, I started feeling calm again. It wasn’t someone dangerous outside my room, and I was perfectly safe here. I just needed to forget about all this anxiety and go on with my life.
But then I heard the sound again and sat up with a gasp.
Someone was in the house for sure. And they were coming towards my room.
I started to sweat with panic all of a sudden. If it was someone dangerous, what was I supposed to do? Scream? Call for help? Just sit here and hope for the best?
I stood up to go to my door, hoping that it wasn’t locked. But as soon as I got there, it started opening on its own. I froze and then stood watching silently as Brandon Jameson walked inside my room.
“What are you doing here?” I asked him, trying to ignore the fact that my heart was beating wildly with his nearness. Why did he have to be so close to me?
“I was in the neighborhood,” he shrugged.
“At eleven o’ clock?” I scowled. No way was he just in the neighborhood.
“Yeah,” he shrugged again. “I thought maybe you would want to study together. You’re not going to forget our plan because I’m a bad teacher, are you?”
I narrowed my eyes at him, but said nothing. I couldn’t really be angry at him for what had happened between us. It was just my fault for expecting anything different.
He didn’t wait for a reply, just sitting down on my bed. “So what do you say? Want to study some more tonight?”
“No,” I shook my head.
“Why not?” he frowned.
“I’m tired,” I lied.
“Oh,” he looked disappointed. “Then maybe we could just hang out.”
“No, Brandon,” I said firmly. “I need to sleep.”
“Okay,” he said reluctantly. “But can I kiss you goodbye first?”
“No, you can’t.”
“Why not?” he asked again.
“I don’t want you to,” I said. “Go, Brandon. Just go.”
He shrugged. “Okay, goodnight then.”
He got up and then walked towards my door. But he stopped when he reached it and turned to look back at me. “Hey... Ivy?”
“What?” I said shortly.
“Can I sleep on your bed tonight?”
“What?” I exclaimed. “No way.”
“Come on,” he smiled back at me. “Don’t be shy.”
I scowled, trying to figure out what was going on in his head. Why did he want to sleep on my bed all of a sudden? It didn’t make sense. He wasn’t even my boyfriend.
“I said no,” I repeated firmly.
“Come on, Ivy,” he pouted.
“I said no,” I glared at him. And I was sure he got the message this time. If I wanted him gone, there was no reason he wouldn’t go.
But he still didn’t leave. He came back to the bed and then sat down next to me.
“I said get out,” I exclaimed, looking at him angrily.
“Don’t get mad,” he frowned.
“I am mad,” I said with fury. “Why won’t you just listen to me and leave?”
“I will leave,” he sighed, “but just let me sleep here for the night.”
“Brandon Jameson,” I growled at him. “Get out.”
“Fine,” he stood up with a huff, then started walking towards the door. But he turned around when he got there. “You really shouldn’t get so angry, Ivy. It’s not good for your health.”
I opened my mouth to scowl at him again, but he just waved a hand at me before leaving my room.
I let out a long breath. That had been a close call. But now that he was gone, I could finally relax and get some sleep.
I flopped back down on my bed, then closed my eyes again. But then I felt my bed dip like someone had sat down on it.
I opened my eyes to see Brandon lying on my bed.