Chapter 9
Nolan was practically sprinting up the stairs, and Ivy had to hustle to keep up. Her leg was screaming, worse than when the doc first slapped on the meds.
Her face was losing color fast, but Nolan? Dude wasn't slowing down. Ivy racked her brain, trying to figure out if she'd ticked him off. But right then, all she wanted was to hit pause on this stair-master from hell.
"Yo, can we take it down a notch?" Her voice was all wobbly from the pain and trying to catch her breath.
Nolan stopped dead, turning to look at her. "What's up?"
She blinked. He's gotta know...
"My leg's killing me," Ivy murmured, her eyes downcast.
"Oh." That's all he said before letting go of her arm. "Take five then."
Ivy wanted to tell him she didn't need a break, but her words were MIA. She leaned against the railing, trying to steady her breathing. A thin layer of sweat broke out on her forehead, and her ponytail was a hot mess, strands of hair sticking to her face.
She tried to smooth her hair back into place, but it was a lost cause. She was so close to the fifth floor, she didn't want to bug him anymore. She straightened up, ready to drop a thank you, but then his voice cut through, dripping with sarcasm.
"Thought you lost your voice and couldn't holler when it hurt."
Ivy froze, his words hitting her like a cold splash. He was chill as ever, eyeing the sweat on her forehead, and casually threw out, "Pain finally showing up?"
She remembered his earlier dig, and something twisted inside her. "Nah."
He dropped his hand, all nonchalant. "Must be wiped, then. You're so skinny, a couple of stairs wind you, huh? Do dudes even dig that?"
Ivy was speechless...
Then it hit her, the bet he had with his buddies. She looked up, dead serious. "One guy said only a clown would wanna date me."
He probs didn't throw down that bet with his squad for the cash. Nah, it was all about that ego boost. Once she called him out, dude's pride was on the line, and she bet he'd ghost her for good.
Whatever, let him. Dude just screamed 'trouble'.
She just needed to ghost through school two more months and change. She's got this.
"Is that right?" Nolan lounged against the railing, eyeing her like she was some cryptic meme, all cool and detached. Then he's like, "Catch you at the gates after school."
Ivy's heart did a weird flip-flop. "What for?" she asked, trying not to sound like she cared.
Nolan didn't spill. Just hit her with a "See for yourself," and ghosted down the stairs like it was NBD.
...
Post-class, Brianna Caldwell was all up in her grill, hissing like a straight-up snake, "Spill the tea, girl. What's the deal with you and Frost?"
For once, Brianna wasn't kicking her stuff around. Ivy dropped the act and whispered, "He's got me on mute."
Brianna wasn't buying it. She leaned in, all venom, "Think you snagged a protector? As if. You're just the flavor of the week. Nolan Frost's baes don't last a hot minute. You're just his current plaything."
Ivy kept her cool, eyes on her kicks, "You're barking up the wrong tree."
But Brianna lost it, ready to throw hands. Her squad held her back, whispering like they were plotting a heist, "Chill, Bri. Let's scope out her sitch with Frost first."
"Yeah, we'll ask Ethan for the deets later."
Brianna shot Ivy the evil eye but eventually bounced with her posse.
Ivy sat there, her poker face on lock, watching the drama queens exit stage left.
