I know this kind of took me a while, but here you go, chapter 9! Hope you like it!

"Hey, where were you today at lunch?". Ivy's voice startled me so much, I actually dropped the heavy text book I was skimming, and it landed on the floor with a sickening BOOM.

Everyone in the other-wise silent library turned to look as Ivy took the seat next to mine, and I could feel my face prickle with heat. I came here after classes to do some studying, but shocker of all shockers, I've gotten pretty much zero work since I've been here. Hey, it's not my fault my brain has been occupied with more important matters lately. Like avoiding Ivy, for one.

"I, um, didn't feel so good," I lied, trying my best not to let my terrible acting skills surface. To be honest, I hid out in the infirmory, feining sickness so I could avoid eating lunch with Ivy. I know, I know. I pathetic, I'm a wuss, yeah I've told myself all of this. But as long as I didn't have to see Reed, and have everyone thinking me and Ivy were together, I would hide out as long as I could. And it's been working up until now.

Ivy eyed me dubiously and I wondered if she was going to press the subject further. I mean it was painfully obvious the sick story was fiction. "Josh, you don't have to lie to me," she started, looking at me knowingly. Okay, so I guess that answers my question. "I know you've been avoiding me, and I know why."

I glanced down at my blank notebook, which was supposed to be filled with notes on my biology lesson, and sighed. I really didn't want to talk about this, about why I wasn't willing to be with her. Because not only do I not wanna through the whole Reed territory, I also didn't want to confront Ivy on what she already knew, like if she knew Reed cheated on me or not. Since, not only is that humilating, for her to know that the only girl I've ever loved can't even be faithful to me, but also I'm pretty sure I'll start crying if I talk about this stuff out loud. Also severely humilating.

"You're not over Reed yet, I get it. But it might help to know Reed's moving on just fine," she said in a tone that wasn't cruel, but the words were almost condesending.

"What do you mean?" I whispered, jerking my head up so fast I almost gave myself whip lash. She couldn't mean that Reed was already dating someone already. She just couldn't. There's no way Reed would do that the day after she cheated on me.

"Yeah, I saw Hunter Branden talking to her, and she was totally flirting back," Ivy informed me, adding an eye roll.

Hunter Branden? Bleh. As if that guy was even remotely good enough for Reed. In the few times I've actually tried to have a conversation with him, he wouldn't let me finish a sentence. Seriously. And if that wasn't annoying enough, it was always interrupted with some stupid thing about himself. It's all me, me, me with that guy. So what could Reed possibly see in him?

"Are you sure?" I questioned, not willing to believe Hunter Branden was her next choice. Even thinking about the possibility of Reed with some one else was enough to make me want to barf, or punch something, or start rocking back and forth.

"I'm positive. Don't get it, Josh? She doesn't give a crap about anyone but herself," Ivy said, resting her elbows on the wooden table and leaning over towards me. No, you're wrong. She's caring and nice and understanding... But then I stopped myself as I thought of this morning, of what she asked me to do. I hate to admit it, but Ivy might have a point there. "Unlike me. I actually care about you."

She placed her fingertips lightly on my arm, and it was all I could do not to scoff. If there was one thing I was certain of, it was Ivy Slade did not care about me. All she cared about was using me to tortue Reed, because for some reason she had a vendetta against all the Billings girls. I didn't know enough about her to say why, but since Ivy's taking so much of her time trying to mess with them, it must be personal. But then I looked up at her, at her sincere dark eyes, and felt instantly guilty. Maybe Ivy was just trying to help me out here. She's obviously noted how upset and depressed I am, maybe she feels sorry for me, and is trying to help me get over Reed. Not that I needed her pity, but hey, it was better than having no one.

"Thanks," I said, running my fingers through my curls, which I observed felt kind of greasy. Yeesh, when was the last time I showered? "I'll make it up to you. How about we eat lunch together tomorrow?". I tried to throw in a smile, to show her how enthusiastic and totally fine I was with all of this. Which I wasn't, but it wasn't like the infirmary would be a more fun way to spend lunch time.

"Yeah, that sounds perfect," she replied, grinning like she was genuinely pleased I was coming around. I still wondered what her angle on all of this was. Was she really just manipulating me into a relationship because she knew how much Reed would hate that, or did she actually like me? All I knew is I didn't trust Ivy yet, and I'm not sure I ever will. I also couldn't help wondering if these newly developed trust issues came from the fact the last time I had trusted someone they decided to mercilessly pummel my heart to a pulp.

God, I really had to stop with all these thoughts, it's not like they were doing me any good. I wonder if I should try that rubber band technique, where you wear a rubber band around your wrist, and everytime you think about a certain person, you'd flick yourself with it. It sounded paniful, yet effective. I wonder if-

"Want me to help you with your homework?" Ivy asked suddenly, drawing me out of my thoughts. Wow, these days I really was in my own little world. I had to snap out of it soon, or I'll be in a padded cell before I know it.

"Sure," I answered, and as me and Ivy reviewed molecules, and cells, and all the other stuff AP Biology forces me to learn, I mentally flicked myself with a rubber band over and over since my thoughts frequently wondered over to Reed.

Ya, so it's a little on the shorter side, I'm aware. And I don't want to turn into one of those authors who begs for reveiws, but honestly it'll only take a minute of your time, and they're super helpful to me. So pretty please, just click the button down there and write something. I don't care if it's a "This story is terrible!" or "You suck!", just write anything, seriously. Thanks.