The day after my birthday I went back to school. The week passed fairly normally, and so many people were talking about the upcoming tournament.
But then, on Wednesday, a staff member came into my maths class and asked for me to collect my things and go to the principal's office. Any student with half a brain knows that it is rarely good to have to get your things and go to the principal's office, and I was dreading why I was being called up today.
When I got into the office, the principal, Mr Wordsworth, was at his desk, one hand against his forehead. "Sit down please, Ivy." His voice was pleasant as always, he was a good principal, one who cared for the students and their education.
"What is it, sir?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"It's your mother. She was killed in a car crash." He struggled with the words at first, and then they spilled out, like water struggling over a barrier before the pressure got too great and the water crashed through it.
The world seemed to spin and a bolt raced through my heart. Mother…dead…it can't be. "That isn't an amusing joke." My voice was cold.
He nodded. "That's why it isn't. A car suddenly shot out in front of her, causing her to swerve and crash into a lamp post. Her neck was snapped on impact. A spark also hit the fuel tank, she was burnt but thankfully after death."
I know I should have been in tears then, wailing out my angst at losing my mother, but in truth I just felt hollow, empty. I'm not sure how long I just sat there in silence. But I was roused from my daze by knocking on the door.
"Come in." Mr Wordsworth said softly. I was surprised to see Uncle Mokuba come in. "Who are you?"
"I am Mokuba Kaiba, Ivy's uncle. I trust you know a bit of her heritage. I heard the news and came instantly; I will be taking care of her." He said in a voice that left no room for discussion before turning to me. "Come on, Ivy. I doubt you'll be able to do much here so you'll come with me. I need to help you fend off the carrion-bird relatives of Helen's."
I stood and followed Mokuba out, when we got out of the office; he swept me up in a hug. "What happens now, uncle? Where do I live?" I asked sadly.
We started walking outside while he spoke. "Well one option is that you live with someone on your mother's side." He chuckled at the face I pulled. "Another option is that we tell your father you are his daughter which I doubt you want to do. So the best option left is that you live with me. Or at least in my house, I don't actually spend much time there, but I can promise you I will look after you."
"I'd love that!" I grinned.
He ruffled my hair. "Thought so, junior. So I'll take you to your old home now so you can get anything you need and then bring you home."
I smiled; he always was able to lift my spirits. His limousine was waiting outside so we got in and let the chauffer take us to my old house. When we got to the house, we went inside to find a gathering of my relatives, from aunts and uncles to my grandparents.
"What are you doing in my mother's home?" I asked; my voice low and cold.
"I could ask Mokuba the same!" My grandmother spat.
"He's accompanying me because he is going to be my guardian from now on. We're seeing his lawyer this afternoon. Now as the heir to everything of my mother's, answer my question before I kick you out." I glared at all of them, money-grubbing sods.
"We were just making plans for where your mother's assets should go—"
I cut her off. "Don't bother, her lawyer contacted my uncle and passed the information to me that everything of hers goes to me. I am going to sell what I don't keep, and save up money for my education. Get out of here, now! You will get an invitation to the funeral."
They slowly left under my steely gaze. When the last person was out I ordered the door to shut before hurrying to my room to pack what I wanted and needed into a duffel-bag. Before we left, I made sure the house was securely locked. The limo-ride through the city was long due to the busy roads.
"Would you like something to drink, Ivy? I have your favourite: vanilla coke." Mokuba smiled.
I shook my head, I wasn't thirsty. When the limo stopped I couldn't help but gawk at the modest splendour of my uncle's house. He led me through it to a large bedroom which looked un-lived in.
"I'm afraid I have business to attend to and I hate to leave you, but it shouldn't take long. I'll be back by the time you've unpacked if that's what you choose to do." He smiled and hugged me.
I nodded and got started unpacking, putting my few items of clothing into a huge wardrobe which was visibly too big for my scant belongings. My laptop, bought with my own money, went on what looked like a study desk. I added my books to those that were already in the bookshelf, noticing they were all my favourite genres.
I felt bad that I wasn't really mourning my mother, but to be honest I was still in shock. And I had no idea what to do, so I just went on doing what I could.
Uncle Mokuba was right in his promise to be back when I finished unpacking. I'd just folded and put away the bag when he came in. We sat down and organized mother's funeral. We sadly wouldn't have her body, since a spark from the crash had hit the petrol and her body had been burnt, but luckily for her she was already dead.
The funeral would happen the next day at a good graveyard Mokuba knew of. We even invited my mother's family, despite their dislike of us. But that was their problem, not ours. When I finally got to sleep in my new king sized bed, it was amazing. Never before had I slept in such comfort with sheets smelling of a vanilla scented soap.