Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Batman.
"Great," Ivy smiled, my cheeks warming at the sight.
"When should I come over?" I asked nervously scratching the back of my neck. The redhead was quiet as she thought,
"As soon as you can. My parents shouldn't mind you coming over and hanging out with me. But, they have never let anyone spend the night, even if they were girls." She took a step closer and whispered happily in my ear, "So this can be our little secret." I swallowed the lump in my throat,
"Alright, I'll be back in a few."
Back in my room I was filling my backpack with a change of pajamas and other things when I stopped halfway through, my heartbeat deafening.
"What am I so nervous about?" I murmured to myself, "It's only a sleepover." The thing was it wasn't that simple, I was going to spend the night with the girl I liked. The fact Ivy was doing it behind her parents back had me turning into a jumble of nerves. It's not like I wasn't excited, I was. Tonight I just didn't want to do anything stupid that could end our early friendship. My fingers itched to dial someone for advice when I realized I only had guy friends. They would all have the same resolution, I could already imagine it. 'Just jump her,' they would say.
We might both be girls, but that fact won't make me less of a creep. Ivy deserves common decency, she's still a person. Deciding to not call anyone I finished packing and headed down the stairs to the front door. My mother's solid gray eyes met mine before I could turn back up the stairs, crap. When did she get home?
"What's the bag for?" she asked coolly. I shook my head slightly, not falling for my mom's intimidation tactics.
"I'm going out," I said simply, shrugging a shoulder indifferently.
"Did you plan on telling me?"
"Nope." My mother huffed in response,
"You know the rules, get back by midnight."
"I'm spending the night at someone's house," I said shifting the single strap on my shoulder. Her eyes widened,
"At a boy's?" she became rigid her arms crossed over her chest, voice threatening to ground me if I was going over to a boy's house. That of course wouldn't stop me from sneaking out. A frown pulled at my lips,
"A girl's."
That last statement stole away her finesse; she blinked her gray eyes full of confusion.
"Girl?" my mom thought to herself out loud, everyone knew all my friends were boys. Thankfully my dad appeared a knowing look in his black eyes. He understood that I was going to Ivy's; he was a bit less paranoid than my mom.
"I'll be back tomorrow," I said as I slipped out of the house, a warm breeze crossing me as I closed the front door behind me. It would be too obvious to simply cross the lawn and walk directly to her house. Instead I walked in the opposite direction, planning to loop around the neighborhood.
Though it felt strange I knew I didn't want my parents knowing exactly where I was. An intrinsic part of me needed every inch of freedom I could get. I don't hate my parents; I simply didn't want to constantly be under their surveillance. That's why I never asked them to give me a ride anywhere.
Golden sun low in the sky a few minutes later I had lapped the block and stood on Ivy's doorstep. Ringing the bell I stepped back my heart fluttering deep in my chest, then the light scent of flowers and cinnamon enveloped me when she opened her door.
A smile curled on my lips at the sight of the frazzled looking Ivy,
"Cute apron." Too late to take back the thought I simply came inside. Closing the door behind me Ivy grumbled,
"I don't think I know how to make cookies." By the delicious smell in the air however, I strongly disagreed with her. Following the teen into the homey kitchen I leaned against the counter, curiously watching the redhead hard at work.
"Do you need help?" Ivy sighed and stood next to me, wiping her flour covered hands onto the apron.
"I don't think I got all the ingredients," she pouted.
"It smells fantastic if my opinion matters at all," she smiled at this, "What did you use?"
"I used eggs; flour, sugar, butter and the mix that came in the package."
"Sounds about right," I nodded.
"I hope they come out edible, I don't want to give my dad a crappy present," Ivy sighed.
Oh. The slight blanket of disappointment that had been thrown over me vanished in an instant. She isn't baking for her boyfriend. A hint of amusement lit her brown eyes, "Who did you think I was making these for?"
"A boyfriend maybe?" blush stole her cheeks, shit; I hadn't meant to say that out loud.
"I don't have one," she said softly eyes focused on watching the cookies bake. Why did the fact she was single make my heart beat faster? Just because she's available doesn't mean she'll suddenly consider me. The other girl took off her dirtied apron and washed her hands, "You should put your stuff upstairs." So I did as she said but before I could leave her room the redhead had closed the door behind her.
"My parents are the eat-at-the-table types, so if I say I'm not feeling well I can eat up here with you."
"What happened to them knowing I hang out with you?" I asked curiously.
"Well," Ivy breathed, "it's not you. Their just very," she paused looking for the right word, "conservative." Though she said this calmly her chocolate eyes were clearly broadcasting 'they'll eat you alive.' She cared enough to warn me? Though I had already pegged her parents for being the stiff kind, always thinking they knew what was best for their daughter. They're probably keeping her trapped in a bird cage with little room to move. I faked a gasp,
"I'm happy I covered my tattoos," I said with a laugh, the redhead's eyes widened.
"That was a joke Ivy."