Natalie had taken to pulling Ivy around everywhere. It turned out they were in all the same classes, and in each and every one of them Natalie would turn around in her seat and spend the hour talking to Ivy. When all Ivy wanted to do was sleep. Sleep sleep sleep. Sleep forever.

Natalie would talk about parties and boys and Seth Clearwater. God, she could spend hours talking about Seth without even stopping to breathe. How tall he was, how gorgeous he was, and how he was so totally into Ivy. And, if Ivy was being honest, she was pretty sure that Natalie was right. Seth had been looking at her and smiling and trying his hardest to start a conversation. The problem was, Ivy only needed one friend to put up and front for her parents and she had absolutely no need for a boyfriend.

"I don't get it Bambi. You've been here less than a week and already you've got the hottest boy in school begging to just talk to you. And what do you do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

They were in the cafeteria surrounded by Natalie's 'besties' Zara and Kellie. Both girls were dressed up in fishnets and leather corsets, their hair dyed a hundred different colors. Ivy shrugged. Most of the time, Natalie would talk and Ivy would listen. It was a nice arrangement.

"Well, I think you're just being shy," Ivy rolled her eyes, but Natalie didn't catch it, "All you need is a little push in the right direction."

And before Ivy could stop her, Natalie was standing up and waving Seth over to their table, "Yes you! Come on Sethy darling, Ives wants to speak with you!"

It took him all of three seconds to appear at the table. Zara and Kellie giggled as Natalie pulled him down next to Ivy. "You two talk. C'mon girls...see you in Biology, Ives."

And then there were two. Ivy's head was pounding as she avoided looking Seth in the eye. She did like him, just a little bit. Her heart seemed to beat ten times harder whenever he was around and he seemed to know it. Olivia would have been siting next to her, grinning her head off. She would have leaned over and whispered in her ear-

"Don't be so scared! Talk to him. Go on."

Then, Olivia would have got up from the table and disappeared, but like Natalie had done. Ivy blinked.

"Seth, do you have a crush on me?" Ivy asked.

Seth smiled a little, "Yeah. You could say that."

"Well, I'm not going to date you. So you can give up on that." She took a sip of milk as she said it, looking straight into his puppy dog eyes.

His smile faltered, but it was back up in seconds, "Alright."

Ivy nodded. Alright. That was good. "We can be friends, though. If you want."

His smile grew wider, "I do. That'd be cool."

**
Seth walked her home. They talked the whole way there, and it wasn't like it was with Natalie. This time Ivy actually participated in the talking. He asked her what she liked to do and what her favorite things were. He was sweet, and Ivy felt comfortable with him. For the first time in months she felt comfortable around someone. He walked her all the way up to her front door and then said goodbye. He didn't try to do anything else.

But the second he was gone all her emotions came tumbling back. She suddenly remembered that she was never going to see Olivia again. That she was gone, rotting in a hole in the ground because some drunk idiot didn't think to stop a red light. Olivia. Olivia. Olivia. She was there, in the back of her mind, always haunting her. Never leaving. And some boy walking her home from school wasn't going to change that. Nothing was. Ivy felt empty. Empty and alone.

"Hey pumpkin! How was school?" her mom had appeared around the corner, taking her bag off of the ground, where Ivy couldn't remember putting it, and placing it on a next to the door.

"It was good."

"Just good? Sweetie, unless I was mistaken, I believe a boy just walked you home!"

Ivy smiled, even though she didn't want to. "He did. His name is Seth."

"Seth? That's the boy I was telling you about! The woman up the street, Sue, I believe, her son. Him and his friends came and helped unpack all the furniture while you were out with Natalie."

"Wow. Awesome."

"I know! He's the boy next door, when you think about it. A cliché, but it would still be adorable, don't you think?"

Ivy nodded and grabbed her bag off the hook, "Sure mom. Listen, I've got homework I've got to finish."

"Oh. Okay. Well, dinner will be ready in about an hour."

"Got it. Thanks."

Ivy thundered up the stairs and threw herself onto her bed. Finally, she thought, sleep. And then her phone began to buzz.

She groaned and fished her cell phone out of her pocket. On the screen, in a bright green bubble, were the words.

Natalie- hey gurl wanna hang out w/ me zana and kellie

She sighed and began to type a reply.

I don't know. I'm kind of busy.

Seconds later it buzzed again.

Natalie- pwease..we're goin to a party

Ivy rolled her eyes, and before she could type another reply Natalie and sent her another message.

Natalie- youll have fun promise

She sighed.

Fine. Pick me up whenever. I am not dressing up.

Natalie- AWESOME

Ivy tossed her phone on the ground and curled into a ball. In seconds, she was out.

"Wake up Bambi."

Ivy blinked open her eyes. Natalie was staring down at her, her hair teased and in low pigtails. She was wearing a ruffled, pink skirt and a white, lacy bralette. Over that was an unzipped gray hoodie. Her eyes were lined with thick, black eyeliner and her lips were tinted a dark pink.

"C'mon babe. We're going out."

Ivy groaned and sat up a little. She was still so tired. Why wouldn't anyone just let her sleep? "Five more minutes."

"No. Get off your lazy ass and lets go dance!"

"I'm not-"

"Yes you are. You said you would. I've got an outfit in the car for you. Pretty sure it's your size."
"I said I wasn't-"

"I know, but you might change your mind. Now come on!"

She pulled Ivy out of bed and zipped up her hoodie. Grabbing her hand, she pulled her down the stairs. "Mom! I'm going out with Natalie!" she shouted.

"Alright! Be back by midnight."

Natalie giggled and whispered in her ear, "You are not going to be back by midnight."

Zara and Kellie were waiting in the car for them. Zara had her green hair spiked up in a mohawk and Kellie's was dyed blue and cut in a short pixie. Each of them had lipstick matching their hair and leather skirts with chains hanging from the sides.

"Get in!"

Ivy spent most of the car ride listening to Natalie beg her to put on the outfit she had brought for her. After about ten minutes of listening to it, she finally decided to put it on. It was almost identical to Natalie's- only the skirt was white and the bralette was hot pink. She felt strange wearing it, and she knew it showed off her spine that so obviously poked out of her back and her ribs that, if you wanted to , you could count. But she wore it anyway. If only to get Natalie to leave her alone.

She didn't know exactly why she had said yes to Natalie. Actually, she did know. Since she was little she had always been unable to say no. Olivia did that for her. She was her knight in shining armor...without her...well, she was already beginning to regret the saying yes.

After about ten minutes of driving they pulled into a huge field. Natalie hooked arms with Ivy and rest of the girls and led them to a warehouse that was pulsing with lights and music. Ivy caught sight of a couple of girls laughing as their friend puked in the field. Red cups were littered everywhere and random people were passed out on the ground. The other three girls didn't seem to notice so Ivy tried to ignore it.

I can't believe I'm at a rave.

Inside, the music was ten times as loud. It didn't take long for someone to hand her a glow stick necklace thing that Natalie immediately looped around her neck.

"C'mon, babe, let's go dance!"

"I really don't-" but Natalie had already pulled her to the dance floor. As they danced, or at least what passed for dancing, Ivy looked around for Zara and Kellie, "Where are the others?" she asked.

Natalie grinned, "They're getting the party favors."

Ivy cocked her head to the side, "The what?"

But Natalie just laughed and spun her around. It went on like that for the next twenty minutes, until Zara reappeared with something clutched in her hand. Kellie was close behind her.

Natalie huddled them all into a little circle and asked Zara to show what they her what they got.

"What is it?" Ivy asked in a small voice. It was a little packet of white powder. She was sure she knew it what it was, but was praying she was wrong.

Natalie laughed, "Oh Bambi, you sweet innocent little thing, you. Why don't you try some."

She shook her head, "No thanks...but what is it?"

Zara shrugged, "I dunno. Danny got it for me. C'mon Ivy, don't be a brat."

"I just don't-"

Natalie grabbed her by her shoulders, "Ivy, listen, this stuff...I know parents and whatever say it's shit but it's amazing. It makes you feel bubbly and happy and good. Don't you want to feel like that?"

Yes. She did. And maybe...maybe it could make her forget. Just for a little while.

She took the packet.

Well THAT escalated quickly. What do you think? Any opinions on Ivy taking drugs? And what do you think Seth with think about this?

And yes. I did get that "or at least what passed for dancing" from the book City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. If you haven't read it, check it out, if you have, what do you think about it being turned into a TV show?

I'll update once I get 3 reviews. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! I love to hear it!

~Cecile