CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ivy and Finn walked shoulder-to-shoulder, having bonded a lot more since the prank. Finn had almost growled when they came within a few metres of Brent. Of course, Ivy didn't need a constant guard dog, but she was glad that she had her friend back. And it meant that she could get him to do whatever she wanted using the excuse, "Brent could be there/do something."
The lead-up to the Family Legacy Day was hanging over their heads and so everyone in their "group" was preparing for the day. Notably, the after-party that awaited them.

"I don't think I'm allowed to do another prank." Finn pondered. "I should wait until December, right?"
"Sure." Ivy shrugged. "I don't think my parents will let me go..."
"Your mum loves me." Finn pointed out. "I can persuade her to let you do anything."
Ivy paused. "Even drugs?"
"No, Stars, no." Finn shook his head quickly. "If you ever do that, I will personally strangle you."
"Thanks a lot." Ivy rolled her eyes. "But good call. Do that if I go crazy."

"Got it." Finn winked and as they turned a corner, Dana and Hazel appeared. He ducked his head. "Tell them I'm not here."
"Why?" Ivy stared at him.
Finn scratched his head. "Me and Hazel had an argument after the disco. She wanted me to do date-things. You know, dancing?"
"Oh." Ivy glanced between him and Hazel. "Maybe I should talk to her? You're Finn, of course you don't want to date."
"I love how my excuses always go a little something like, 'well, he's Finn'." Finn laughed. "And, sure."

Ivy nodded and when she turned back around, Finn had disappeared. "I didn't think a girl would be enough to scare him off." She mused.
Dana and Hazel both waved her over, and she jogged towards them. Dana patted a Legacy Day poster. "I forgot to say thank-you for putting these up."
"No problem." Ivy waved a hand.
"So, we've got things to prepare." Dana hummed. "Like outfits."
Ivy smiled nervously. "I know we're getting along now and everything, but not well enough to get me to go clothes shopping again."
"Oh..." Dana pleaded. "Come on!"

"No." Ivy shook her head, smiling. "Sorry."
Hazel glanced around. "Hey, where's your personal bodyguard?"
"Finn?" Ivy shrugged. "He disappeared-"
"When he saw me coming?" Hazel said bitterly. "Figures."

"This is Finn we're talking about." Ivy pointed out. "You can't expect him to do all that dancing stuff."
Hazel nodded. "I know, but he hardly pays attention to me."
"He's never had a girlfriend or anything." Ivy explained. "He doesn't even know what a crush is. Unless you count that one time he was in love with whipped cream because he liked putting it on people when they slept-"
"So, he doesn't actually even like me?" Hazel's voice went slightly high-pitched. "Gee, thanks."
The girl turned and stormed away.

"What was I meant to say?" Ivy flapped her arms. "That Finn was head-over-heels in love with her?"
Dana pushed a strand of hair behind an ear. "Maybe he should have told her himself."
"Well," Ivy bit her lip. "He's Finn. He's not good with women."

The History class was incredibly boring. Finn's eyelids had started to droop. The clock was almost hypnotising. Tick, tock, tick, tock.
The end of class was only five minutes away but it felt like forever, as the teacher droned on about family legacy this and family legacy that. Hardly anyone wanted to listen and he could just make out the sound of Lionel snoring in the back of the classroom (he had got bagged the Sleepy Seat - known by that name because the teacher never looked in that corner of the room and it was right next to the radiator, so it was warm and very easy to drift into sleep).

The clock rang and Finn automatically stood and grabbed his bag, leaving the classroom. The students filed in different directions - some going to the Common Room, others going to the cafeteria and others heading to their lockers. Finn was part of the latter population. He put some of his books back in his locker (the Legacy ones, that is - he didn't care about those books). A noise grabbed his attention.

Brent had Jace backed up against a set of lockers. The black haired boy was almost snarling, eyes narrowed. "Watch where you're going." He laughed at the irony.
Finn puffed his chest out. No one hurts his friends! With that thought ringing in his head, Finn stormed forward and came up close to Brent. "Get away from him and don't you dare speak like that to Jace."
"Or what?" Brent turned his attention to Finn. "What will you do, Ginger?"
Finn felt his face go hot. "Don't... you... dare.. call me..."
"GINGER." He swung his fist out at Brent.

His fist connected with the other boy's face. His hand cried out in pain.
Brent's eyes were now glowering. The boy leapt at Finn and knocked him to the ground. They tussled and wrestled for a good few minutes, with a roar of an excited crowd urging them on.
Mr Stellar appeared from a classroom and trudged towards them, picking Brent up and holding him back. "UP. STOP."
The crowd's cries resigned to a murmur.
"TO MR HEAVERNS OFFICE RIGHT THIS INSTANT."

Thank you for reading!
Ps. I don't condone violence.
And I feel really bad about both Jace and Finn.
And Hazel too because seriously Finn?

Anyway, thanks for all the reviews!
(:;) (:;) (:;)