CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
"Could you pass me the syrup?" Ivy asked politely, staring directly at Dana.
The girl glanced to the syrup and back to her sister. She sniffed and refused. Ivy blinked rapidly and pressed her lips together. This had been happening throughout the week since the day that Brent was excluded. Their relationship had crashed and burned, and Dana hated her for some reason.
"Please?" Ivy gestured to the syrup.

Dana rolled her eyes. "Get it yourself."
"Hey!" Ivy threw up her hands. "I always gave you the syrup. It's polite to do the same for me."
"What?" Dana snapped. "Like it's polite to talk behind other people's backs?"
Ivy tipped her head. "What in the world are you talking about?"

Dana abandoned her pancakes and stood up. "You know very well what I'm talking about, Ivy!"
"No, I don't!" Ivy shouted. "You're nutters!"
Dana glowered. "I'm nutters? I heard you talking about me. That I don't understand this or that."
Ivy went quiet. How did she hear that? What am I meant to say?
"I thought so." Dana turned on her heels and stormed away from the kitchen.

Ivy and Finn walked shoulder-to-shoulder as they headed towards the bus on a Friday afternoon. The school day had been like any other. The classes were boring, the teachers annoying and the drama plentiful. The promise of the weekend was enough to keep them happy.
"Friday, thank the stars!" Finn threw open an arm. "Just got to get through the bus ride home."
Ivy sighed. "Easier said than done, eh?"

"So, you and Dana?" Finn tilted his head. "I saw you two glaring daggers at each other from across the hallway."
Ivy groaned. "Yeah. We're not on good terms any more."
"Figures." Finn went quiet. "What is it about this time?"
"She heard me saying something about her problem with Ben and Tyler." Ivy scratched her head. "It's true, though."

Finn nodded as they clambered into the bus. "It is true. Have you tried talking it out?"
"Finn, did you not hear me?" Ivy waved a hand. "She doesn't even pass the syrup."
"Fair enough." Finn shrugged.

Everyone took their places on the bus and it rumbled into life. Unlike most days, Dana had placed herself between Hazel and Heather, far away from Ben and Tyler. Lionel was beaming from his place near Cinder, and Finn poked his shoulder.
"Our little champion." Finn placed a hand on his heart. "So proud of my little boy."
Lionel laughed. "You sound like my mother."

After that, everyone went silent. Ben shifted in his seat, uncomfortable.
"So, how was everyone's day?" He asked loudly, causing Cinder to jump.
No one answered and then Tyler sat up straight. "My day was good. How about you?"
Ben's face fell and Finn sniggered. "Uh, my day was, uh, good, too."

Tyler launched into a conversation with him. "You did quite well in Basketball the other day, though I couldn't help noticing that your footwork was a bit off, but you stayed alert and present in the game, which meant that you could catch the ball. Just a little bit more practise and maybe you'll be as good as Lionel here."
"Yes." Ben cleared his throat. "I, uh, yeah... I really need to work on my footwork."
He flashed a fake smile, laughing nervously, whilst Finn smirked from his place beside Ivy. The rest of the group shared confused glances.

Thankfully, Cinder picked up the conversation. "So, I was thinking about going shopping this weekend-"
"That sounds like a great idea." Lionel interrupted. "We could go to that new diner they just opened-"
"Sorry." Cinder picked at her fingernails. "I was hoping it could be a girl's trip, you know?"
Lionel's smile faded a little. "Oh. Okay. I hope you girls have fun."

Dana decided to speak up. "I'd love to come."
Hazel and Heather agreed along with her and then Ivy chipped in. "I'd like to come as well, if that's alright."
"Of course." Cinder nodded. "Girl's weekend, right?"
Dana narrowed her eyes at Ivy. "You don't like shopping though."
"Doesn't change the fact that I'm a team player." Ivy tried to surpass a convincing smile. "And Cinder did say that it was a girl's weekend and I'm a girl."

Finn saved the conversation this time. "Hey, Dana, I heard that there was going to be a Winter Ball?"
"Yes, actually." Dana forgot her quarrel with Ivy as she launched into a description of the event. "It's happening just before we break up for Christmas. The theme is chilly chic. We're going to have a snowflake sprinkler, decorations from the ceiling... it's going to be beautiful."

Ben imagined the event and perked up. "That really does sound amazing, Dana. Have they made you head of the organizational team?"
"Yes!" Dana beamed. "How did you know that?"
"I notice things." Ben winked. "And you're perfect for the job. Event organization seems to be your thing."
Dana smiled sweetly. "Thank you. I do love planning events..."

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please leave a review!
I can't believe we're on Chapter 32 already. I'm thinking of finishing this story at around 50 chapters (there will be sequels, don't worry!). If that's the case, then we'll be finished at around August/September time.
Time flies by, doesn't it? Here's some cookies for my amazing readers!

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