Chapter 10
(Ivy's P.O.V.)
Belly flops and Dances
I stumbled into my dorm room alone, making sure to keep my balance so I didn't fall again. I heard a tiny gasp, and then I was tackled to the ground. "Where have you been! I was worried sick. You didn't leave any messages saying where you went. I-I didn't know if you were jogging or-"
"Lauren I'm fine! I just went for a walk. I didn't feel like jogging today." I interrupted Lauren. She was acting hysterical! Was she that worried about me?
Lauren eye'd me, as if she could guess I was lying. "Why have you been skipping meals Ivy? Why do you keep jogging? This isn't like you. I know somethings wrong." Lauren insisted. "What are you keeping from me? You know you can always confide in me."
"Lauren... Okay. First, get off me." I demanded. Lauren sighed and got off me, offering me a hand when she got back up. I gratefully took it and we both sat down on her bed together. I leaned against her head board and crossed my legs, how would I explain this? Tsar Lunar specifically told me not to tell anyone, even Pitch! What was i supposed to do? Lauren is basically my sister, I can't keep lying to her...
"Ivy, what is going on! Stop hiding things from me." Lauren pleaded. Her eyes looked almost swollen now... Has she been crying? Oh great, now I feel worse.
"Okay, you want to know the truth? I have been going to the Guardians for counseling... You remember my story right? Well... I can't sleep because of it, I can't eat, I can't focus! It's driving me nuts! The Guardians offered to help me, so I accepted and that's why I have been gone. I have been running though, it takes my mind off things." I explained the best i could. Not a bad lie, right? Believable enough.
Lauren looked confused for a moment and eyed me like she always does. Not convincing enough aye? I forced myself to shed a few tears and put my head in my hands and actually began to sob. Not too hard to do, I was in drama once or twice in school. I became rather good at fake crying.
"Ivy... I'm so sorry. Why didn't you tell me? I would have helped you the best I could!" Lauren exclaimed as she threw her arms around me. I wrapped my arms around her and cried into her shoulder, creating fake sniffles the best i could.
"I didn't want you to take on that kind of burden." I sobbed. Lauren pulled me back so that she was looking me ion the eye and gave me a stern look.
"Ivy, you are my best friend. There is no such thing as a burden when it comes to you! So don't you dare ever say that again, okay?" Lauren demanded as she pushed a piece of hair out of my eyes. I nodded and smiled. Lauren hugged me again and I garbled a quick thank you. "Now! Go get cleaned up and put some makeup on! Your not skipping lunch today!" Lauren insisted as she drug me out of the bed and threw me her makeup bag.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Alright mom!" I laughed as I grabbed up some fresher cloths. "I'm going to get a quick shower! Be right back." I grabbed up my towel and rushed out the door. I wiped my eyes dry so no one stopped me to ask what was wrong and made my way to the bathrooms. Lunch actually sounded good right now, I didn't get a chance to eat this morning. Pitch always liked to rush me for some reason. It's not like it takes an hour to shadow travel.
I walked into the bathroom and found the showers were free again. Oh thank the moon! Peace and quiet for once. Sadly I had to rush as fast as I could since Lauren was waiting for me. So I got my shower as fast as I could and made my way back to the room, thankfully where no professor's were waiting. Lauren forced me to wear something better than just jeans and a tank top. She insisted I wear a pink frilly top with a skirt, but I refused. Absolutely in no way would I ever wear something like that! So instead I got out a black laced skirt that came up mid length on my thighs and a white top that reminded me of hippies. Comfortable and girly enough for Lauren.
I wonder if my light could create cloths? Hrm... I would have to try it out some time soon. But not now, instead I let Lauren drag me out of hiding and we met up with Bert in the dinning hall. "Ermf!" Alberto exclaimed. He swallowed a mouth full of food and pulled me down to the seat beside him. "Where have you been? We were all worried sick!"
I laughed and shook my head. "None of your business Burt, but I am here now!" I mused as I started to pile up some food on my plate. The Yeti's had made spaghetti with garlic bread, some meatballs, and even a salad on the side. Perfect! i wasn't even listening to what Bert was saying at this point, if I didn't eat something now I was going to pass out from hunger. So I started with a salad and chowed down.
"Hey Ivy! How is your arm?" Alex asked from across the table. What? Oh! I forgot my arm was injured... funny. I don't even think it's there anymore. I looked at my arm and shrugged.
"Looks like it healed up pretty quick." I replied more to myself than to Alex. Suddenly my arm was jerked away from me and Lauren and Burt were both examining it.
"How is that possible?! It's only been a day or two, and it was a deep cut to! How did you get it to heal soo quickly Ivy?" Lauren asked as she looked up at me bewildered. I rolled my eyes and shrugged.
"I don't know! Can I please eat now?" I asked as i tried to wrench my arm away. But Burt held on now and was examining it for himself. I groaned and slammed my head down on the table. I could just cry at this point. Would anyone leave me alone for like two seconds?
I looked up to see if the Guardians were at the table, and they were. A fight seemed to have broken out between Jack and Bunnymund for they were both glaring at each together while Toothina pushed herself in between them. North and Sandy were giving each other amused looks, so it must have been a petty fight. If it was serious than North would defiantly intervene.
I looked over to where Pitch was sitting, and found he was smirking right at me. I hurriedly suppressed a blush by turning back to Lauren and Burt who were still examining my arm. "Would you guys cut it out and let me eat?" I asked as I yanked my arm away. Lauren and Burt both mumbled an apology and I returned to my salad, trying to put Pitch in the back of my mind for the moment.
"So guys! Are you going to the dance tomorrow?" Lauren asked excitedly. I began to choke on my salad. There is a dance!? Since when was there a dance?
"Wh- What dance!?" I managed to ask as I choked down the salad that was lodged in my throat. I grabbed up my glass of water and looked at them expectantly.
"You don't know?" Burt asked. "It was announced the other day, did you not hear? The whole academy has been talking about it!" No, if the whole academy was talking about it then I would have surly known about it. I'm surprised none of the Guardians were talking about it! I shook my head.
"Yes, well now you know. And your going to, Ivy! There is absolutely no backing out of it." Lauren stated. I snorted.
"I'd like to see you make me." I laughed. Lauren turned to me and glared. "What? It's just a dance! I went to the lot of them at my high school, they are nothing special. Besides, where would I even get a dress?"
"Oh stop making excuses!" Burt exclaimed. "Ivy, you need to stop avoiding everyone. You can't hide in the shadows forever. Besides I heard Eric Brook was going to ask you to go at dinner tonight."
I would have argued that I in fact could hide in the shadows forever if I chose to. But the mention of Eric Brook caught my attention. The school's sexiest guy! He is at least two years older than me and has been here way longer as well. He was chosen by Tsar Lunar because he saved his entire family from a fire, but died due to the smoke. A sad story I have heard almost a million times, yet I almost never talked to him. Why would he ask me, of all people me, to the dance? It makes no since... Probably too make some other girl jealous surly.
Lauren seemed to perk up right away. "Wait... Eric. The Eric Brook want's to ask Ivy to the dance?" Lauren nearly shrieked at this point. "Now you have to go Ivy! You lucky little bit-"
"Hey! Feeling the love over here." Alex interrupted Lauren. Lauren blushed and apologized, which earned them a confused stare by me. "I asked Lauren to the dance and she agreed." Alex explained.
"You two? But you two hate each other!" I laughed. "What on earth prompted you two to do that?" They glanced at each other and grinned. Lauren shrugged and turned back to me.
"I like a challenge every now and then." Lauren said casually. "Now stop avoiding the subject! You are going and that is that!" Burt and Alex nodded their head in agreement. Ugh, okay so I guess I can't get out of this one. I guess I could easily get a dress... Maybe one of the Guardians will have something i can use, or maybe I can even make one with my magic. It would be worth a try I guess.
"Okay! So what are we going to do today?! We only have a few more days of freedom until we have to go back to doing school work." Burt asked as he let out a sigh. I wanted to sigh as well. School work plus training... Oh good gog it makes me want to cry just thinking about it. Maybe the Guardians will go easy on me? He-he, yea not likely.
"Why don't we just go down to the little lake by the forest or something? I haven't been there in... well not since I arrived here. They have some kayaks we could play on!" I suggested. I actually wouldn't mind that. Not many people hang out there, only because Pitch played a great prank one year and released a monster in the lake that dragged the kids underwater and they would reappear in a scary cavern. Of course the kids weren't hurt, just scared beyond belief. However the monster is gone, it only turns up during Halloween now.
"But what about the monster?" Alex asked with a slightly worried expression. I rolled my eyes and explained how it was just a joke, I thought everyone knew it was a joke of Pitch's... Maybe he only told me that. Oops!
Everyone sighed in relief and agreed to go to the lake today. It was a nice day for it anyhow. So after we finished eating we went to our rooms and changed. I only had one bathing suit, so I went with that despite Lauren's protests. She insisted I wear one of her bright pink and flowery two pieces. But I refused, i actually liked mine to say the least. It was a two piece that is completely white with some black and green lacing on the top of it. It was somewhat flattering to me, and hopefully not very girly.
After I put my bathing suit on I put on a dress that sort of matched the bathing suit over it, along with some barefoot sandals, and followed Lauren out the door again. "You didn't need to go to... Umm, well therapy again today did you?" Lauren asked as we shot out of our dorms and began to walk to the lake. It takes a little bit to get to the lake, but its always a nice view once you get their. I think wood nymphs used to frolic there, or so I was told.
"No, thankfully. But I will some time tomorrow maybe. I don't know yet." I replied as I shrugged my shoulders. Lauren nodded, though she still seemed to be worried.
"Hey! Wait up!" Alberto called as him and Alex came racing toward us. They were both just wearing their swimming trunks and carried a basket with them. Hopefully it was some food for all of us and not just for Alberto.
"You did bring everything right?" Lauren asked as she snatched the basket away from Alberto and began to rummage through it. She nodded to herself and gave a happy smile as she trusted the basket back at him. "Good! You actually remembered to bring everything"
"Hey it wasn't easy you know! We had to have professor Jack help us out. To say the least he didn't mind at all stealing some food for us but it took him two trips. Plus we have to write him a paper over the importance of fun. Not a horrible payment, but still." Alberto sighed as he looked glumly at Alex.
"Hey, you know I already wrote a paper over that. I can lend it to you if you just change up the wording a bit, or at least use it as an example." I said as I turned around and gave the boys a smirk. Their eyes lit up and Alex nearly knocked me down as he hugged me soo hard I swore I would pop."If you don't let go I will burn it." I gasped through his hug.
"Oh, sorry!" Alex exclaimed as he let go of me and returned to Alberto's side. "So! How far away is the lake again? I haven't been in forever!"
"It shouldn't be far away, I can see the forest's edge." Lauren replied as she pointed ahead of her. I looked to where she was pointing and saw the familiar dark forest that held all types of exotic creatures. I actually loved the forest sometimes. If I got annoyed of Lauren I would come out here and sit at the base of a tree and do my studying there as I watched the little forest animals clamber around chasing each other. I still remember a time when I had a tiny brown bunny come hop into my lap. I was a little amused since bunny's were always soo scared of people, but not this one. He slept in my lap all day until I had no choice but to put him aside and head back to my dorm. I later named him Peter just for the fun of it since he looked like the old drawings of Peter Cottontail.
"Well then what are we waiting for, come on!" Alberto cheered as he began to race Alex to the waters edge ahead. Lauren laughed, glanced at me, and we were both full speed ahead. I had to admit she was pretty fast, but not fast enough. I made it right to the edge of the water a few seconds before she did. Somehow we had actually passed the boys running, and instead of stopping at the waters edge they both dove right into the water.
"Is it cold?" Lauren asked once they breached the surface of the water.
"Not really, feels good! Come get in already, or are you scared?" Alberto asked with a mocking smile. Lauren snorted and threw off her dress as she mumbled something under her breath. She ran up to the point where a rope swing hung from an old oak tree, grabbed it, and swung as far out as she could almost landing right on top of Alberto.
After a few moments Lauren still hadn't come up from the water which made me begin to worry. Alberto and Alex were both looking around frantically until Alberto suddenly disappeared under the water with a cry. Alex called out for Alberto a few times and looked at me with absolute panic in his eyes. "I thought you said the monster wa-"
Before Alex could finish his sentence he disappeared under the water as well. I gasped and nearly dove in after him, but right as my foot touched the water Alberto and Alex came screaming out of the water. They raced for the shore as fast as they could and I helped them out. I heard a distant laughing and looked. Lauren was in the water laughing her butt off. "Whose scared now?" Lauren smirked as she swam back to shore.
I could see both of the guys go visibly red and I snorted at them. "Scared of a little girl, ay?"
They glared at me and I laughed as I high fived Lauren once she was out of the water and laughed with me. "Have you been taking lesson's from Pitch or something?" Alberto asked as he glared at Lauren. Lauren shook her head and grinned.
"Please, more like he needs lesson's from me!"Lauren boasted. I snorted at this and shook my head.
"Says the one who always cowers away from him during class." I pointed out. Lauren was the one who turned red this time and muttered something under her breath. "Now, are you jokers done or are we going to swim?" I asked as I threw off my own dress and headed for the rope swing.
I could feel the life flowing from the tree's roots as my bare feet gently padded over them with ease. The dirt was fresh and cool, and the plants glowed a brilliant green. It took all of me not to just throw myself down and just fall asleep against a tree. Instead I grabbed the molded rope, wrapped it tightly around my head and jumped off the little cliff. I screamed as I did a back flip into the warm water and let myself stay submerged for a time. The water felt soo amazing wrapped around me, but sadly I didn't poses the power to breath underwater so I shot back to the surface right as Lauren plunged in beside me. This time she shot straight back up and whooped as Alberto flew from the rope swing.
Alex gave a Tarzan yell as he belly flopped into the lake with a loud smack that made me cringe. "Ow that had to hurt." Lauren frowned. "But it was pretty damn epic!"
We all cheered once Alex surfaced and saw how red the entire front of his body was. I remembered just how badly those things could hurt since one time I did that off a diving board on accident. I was trying to dive, but my body decided I was going to look a fool instead. It left tiny bruises here and there, but it seemed rather epic now that I look back on it.
"Oh please that was weak! I could do better than that." Alberto snorted as he swam back to shore and raced to the rope. "Be prepared to be amazed!" he cried out as he swung from the rope and belly flopped even harder than Alex had. Even Alex cringed at that, but we all started laughing once Alberto came up almost as read as a beet.
"Okay I want to try now." Lauren said as she swam for shore and got up to the rope swing. For a moment she hesitated and I could see the slight fear in her eyes, but it was gone almost as quick as it had came. Lauren got a running start, grabbed the rope, and belly flopped almost as hard as Alberto did. Lauren came up almost instantly cringing in pain. "Why the hell would you guys do that? That bloody hurt!" Lauren exclaimed as she rubbed her chest.
"Ivy! It's your turn now." Alex exclaimed as they all turned toward me.
"Wh- What! No no no, you guys never said i had to do a belly flop. I won't do it." I protested as I crossed my arms.
"Nope! You have to, or are you scared?" Alberto chimed in as he gave me a slight smirk. I glowered at them and growled my response as I swam towards shore. This was going to hurt, oh my word it's really going to hurt. I silently prayed to Tsar as I climbed up and reached the rope swing. Okay... So I am actually scared to do this. Very scared really. However I have to face my fears... Yes! Punch fear in the face! I can do this... Maybe.
"Come on Ivy, don't be a chicken! Or has Pitch gotten to you?" Lauren prodded. I growled back at her. Okay, now I can't back down. I took a deep breath, held on tight to the rope swing, and swung out as hard as I could. I let go once I was at my maximum height and let my body fall flat on top the surface of the water with a loud smack. I felt the pain bristle in every bone as the breath was knocked out of me and my skin turned into wild fire. I heard cheering come from above the water, and as much as it hurt, I trusted myself up and surfaced.
"Woo! See I knew you could do it Ivy. Wasn't so bad was it?" Alberto asked as he patted me on the back. I gave a slight sneer and rubbed my chest the same way Lauren had.
"I hate you guys." I murmured. Lauren laughed at me and hugged me.
"I know you love us." She smiled at me. I rolled my eyes and let myself float on my back. The sky was perfectly clear and you could see the crescent moon above us. It was beautiful as always.
"I'm next!" Alex said as I watched him swim back to shore and get on the rope swing again. This time instead of a belly flop he did a triple flip and came up whooping and cheering. Alberto and Lauren tried to beat him by doing all sorts of tricks like cannon balls, dive's, flips of all sorts, and even poses. I participated in a few of the flips and cannon balls, but other than that I stayed submerged in the water until my hands became wrinkly and my stomach started to growl. By that point I think everyone was getting hungry and tired because we all swam to shore this time, set out a blanket, and began to chow down on sandwiches that the yeti's had soo kindly made for us. It was a ham sandwich with tomato, fresh lettuce, and commandants such as mayo and mustard. Even the bread had been slightly toasted and gave a nice little crunch when you bight into them. It was perfection.
"Jack even packed this for us! i think it's thawed enough by now." Alberto mused as he pulled out a thing of the yeti's home made ice cream. Lauren gasped and basically ripped the ice cream from his hands and looked at the box with happy eyes.
"It's chocolate chip mint! Yes!" Lauren exclaimed as she began to dig out some ice cream and put it into a bowl Alex was passing out. Afterwards it was passed to me and I dug out a spoonful or two and passed it to Alberto. I had never really had the yetis ice cream before, but I swear to the man in the moon it tasted like heaven! It tasted like fresh milky mint with the best chocolate chunks you could ever have. They melted right on your tongue and just added to the whole taste. After I finished I grabbed a few more spoonfuls as did everyone else.
"You guys better write an amazing paper for Jack. He really went all out on this." I said after I had finished my ice cream. Alberto garbled something with a mouth full of ice cream, but I took it as a 'yes, I will work extra hard on the paper for professor Jack'. Alex nodded to what Alberto had said and continued to gorge themselves.
"We should really do this more often." Lauren commented as she began to clean up. I nodded in agreement as I began to help her. We both had to try and rip the ice cream box from the boys hands before they ate themselves into a comma. It wasn't easy considering Alberto almost bit Lauren on the hand. But she just smacked the both of them over the head and yanked the box away and put it back into the basket. "It's amazing you aren't the size of a sumo wrestler!" Lauren snapped at Alberto who was still licking his spoon clean. Burt shrugged and stood up along with Alex.
"Oh, we never played on the kayak's. I totally forgot about those." I mused as I looked at the multicolored kayaks that were stacked on top of each other. I saw Lauren shrug and turn to look at the kayak's.
"We will come back soon. Today was way to fun not to do again. Next time we will get on the kayaks." Lauren assured me as she rested her arm on my shoulder. I smiled at her and we both started giggling as we watched the boys fight over how to fold up a blanket. Today really had been fun... Hopefully we could do it again one day.
I had to basically be dragged to dinner I was soo exhausted. I wasn't hungry, I didn't want to move, and I defiantly didn't want to be around people. I just wanted to go to bed and sleep for a week or two. yes, that would be absolutely perfect. I wouldn't have to train or think of the up coming dance that Lauren kept yapping about as I tried to nap on our couch. No, instead I have to worry about what I am going to wear and learn new battle tactics. Ugh, all the efforts have just left my body.
"Ivy you have to eat something you know." Lauren said as she nudged my arm.
"No I don't." I yawned. "Your the one who made me come here in the first place." Lauren puffed at me and gave me a look like i'd be in trouble if I didn't eat. "feed me if you want."
"Ivy, I will keep you up all night if you don't just eat a bread roll." Lauren threatened. A serious threat now, okay. I sighed and picked up a bread roll from my plate and began to pick at it. "Thank you!"
I rolled my eyes and took an actual bite out of the roll. It was really delicious. I'm just too tired to really care though. I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder and the shuffling of shoes. I looked behind me and I saw Eric... Burt was telling the truth. "Hi." I managed to say as I quickly swallowed the piece of bread I had in my mouth.
Eric smiled down at me, a smile that could melt any women. It would have made me swoon if I wasn't half dazed from lack of sleep. "Hello Ivy! Umm... Well, I was wondering if you would like to be my date for the dance tomorrow. What do you say?" Eric asked with his charming smile. he looked a bit nervous... the most handsome guy at school is nervous that I wouldn't say yes? Well, I actually don't want to go but...
Lauren nudged my arm again and grunted at me. "Oh! Yes, I would love to go Eric. Thank you for asking." I replied with the brightest smile I could manage. Hopefully I didn't have any drool on my face from dozing off earlier. Eric beamed at me and took my hand.
"Then I will meet you outside your dorm building before it starts. Until then!" With that Eric lightly kissed my hand and walked away and out of the dinning hall, leaving me staring like an idiot.
Lauren squealed and started shaking me. "Oh my gog Ivy he asked you! He really asked you! Oh, now we can go dress shopping tomorrow and it will be soo fun. I know just what to do with you hair as well." Lauren continued to babel on but my mind was spinning. Out of instinct I looked to Pitch for help but he wasn't there. probably out reeking havoc.
"Would you stop shaking the girl Lauren your going to kill her." Burt said as he grabbed Lauren and turned her back around. Lauren apologized and went on talking about what dress I should get and what color. I honestly couldn't take much more so I grabbed up the rest of my bread roll and went back to my dorm. Thankfully Lauren didn't try to stop me, so as soon as I got to my dorm I fell on my bed and went right to sleep.