Kidnap My Heart - Chapter Nine

As she entered she took note of the gold and blue balloons before looking at the people. The loud voices of her old classmates died out and all eyes were on her. She heard whispers of people who didn't believe that she was here. She felt herself become self-conscious and noticed a group of people rush toward her. It was Evelyn, Sunny, Julia and Lila followed by Mason, Chris and Nate. God it really had been so long. They all looked so different in the best way possible. "IVY!!!" Sunny said while running as fast as her feet could take her. Before she knew it, Sunny practically tackled her with a vicious hug. All of them took their turns with a hug and they smiled at her. She thought their smiles would wear out but they hadn't. Ivy felt all her insecurities die down as did so. Nate was the last to hug her and he held on tightly.

She looked up at his blue eyes and felt her cheeks redden. She thought he was beyond gorgeous but he hadn't sparked that fire she desperately needed to feel again. He had always looked boyish and he still did but with a manly twist. "You look great Ives." He said in a low whisper. Ivy laughed and replied, "Flattery must have gotten you everywhere." All of them laughed and Evelyn decided to speak up. "I can't believe you're here!! When did you get here? Where do you live now? What do you do? Come on Ives, spill all you got! You have 10 years' worth of things to tell us about!!" Evelyn said with a big smile. "I live in LA and drove up here yesterday and I work for a big law firm. It's really adventurous over there." She said grinning from ear to ear. It was time for Chris to talk and he said, "No kidding. It's better than this boring old place! You still play sports?" Ivy couldn't help but keep smiling. "I can't live without sports! I'm guess you're still showing people your unique abilities?" she said with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah I tend to shock people still not to brag or anything.

I'm the head coach of this high school's basketball, football and baseball team. Enough about me, tell us about your life! Find that dream guy you used to tell me about?" he said grinning. Ivy laughed loudly. "No I haven't but I was close. I just couldn't keep up with his reputation as the city's prince. I bet you guys read that in the paper somewhere in the entertainment section." She said thinking back to Ryan Laney. "Yes!! I did oh my god that was a really big thing!!" Lila piped up happily. "Really, I thought people didn't care that much for him." Ivy said shocked. "Actually it was quite big here and also about your engagement to him. Real or a rumor?" Mason said with a devilish grin. "It was actually real but I can't keep up with the commitment crap yet. I'm still young and I'm not in a rush to get married." Ivy said while all of them looked at her outraged. "You were about to get married to Ryan Laney and you didn't tell any of us anything???

What the hell were you thinking?" Julia said with a smirk. "I don't think I was thinking!! It was so fast but we went out for 6 months before he asked." Ivy said loudly. "So that means at the moment you're single?" Nate said lastly. "Yeah I am and I'm planning to stay so for now." She said firmly. She looked at them and their smiles looked as if they were plastered onto their faces. "What about you guys? Any of you married yet?" Ivy said curiously. Julia blushed and looked over at Mason who did the same. "Actually uh Julia and I are getting married next month." Mason said while rubbing his head. "Really? That's great you guys!!! You can fill me in on all the details later!" Ivy said happily. Mason was perfect for Julia and vice versa. Who knew Julia wanted a guy to romance the socks off her? That was exactly what Mason did. "Thanks Ives." Julia said with a shy smile. "Anymore of you getting married? Or dating anyone I should know about?" Ivy said in a motherly tone.

Evelyn blushed and turned to Nate as he did the same. "We're dating." They said together while pointing at each other. Ivy laughed at the display and congratulated them. Before anyone else was able to say any more Avery walked up to them. Everyone greeted him and turned to Ivy to see if the tension was thick between them. "Hello Avery." Ivy said smiling. He leaned in for a hug and she gave him one back. He smelled so good it was almost sinful. To Ivy he was amazingly handsome that moment. He wore a button down shirt under his tuxedo jacket. His jeans made him look interesting as it came in contrast with his top. He was yummy and he knew it. "Hey Ivy, how's it going?" he said smoothly. Ivy looked up to his eyes and they glittered furiously. "Amazing. How about you?" she said dragging their conversation longer. "Great." He smirked suspiciously.

Everyone around them stared with suspicious looks but dropped it knowing they had not been entirely anxious around each other. And so the day drew on. They finally sat at a table since they had been so tired. The gym was where they had their school dances and she thought back on how people danced on that same dance floor back then. Before she knew it, her friends had been pulled out to the dance floor with smiles. Ivy sat at the table alone and within minutes a familiar guy walked up to her. "Would you like to dance with me?" he asked. Ivy looked up at him and watched as his blue eyes glittered. "Only if you tell me your name first." Ivy flirted slightly. "I'm Teddy. We had some classes together I think." He said with a faraway look. "Teddy Johnson. I remember you." She said with a really big smile. Teddy had been her lab partner for a long time in chemistry. He was cute, she had to admit but it was just looks and she had seen better ones. "I'm honored." He said while grabbing her hand to pull her up. She stumbled slightly and he caught her without a problem. "Careful there sweetheart. Don't fall for me too quickly." He said teasingly.

She laughed without trying to stop herself. It was a cheesy line and truthfully she loved it. He pulled her onto the dance floor and they danced slowly to the gentle music. When the song ended he departed from her and Ivy was left yet again at a table. She viewed the happy faces of everyone and smiled thinking of their happiness. Suddenly she felt a hand touch her bare arm from behind and she turned around. It was Avery. She motioned to a seat and he took it. For him it was one of the hardest times ever. Watching her dance in that dress with Teddy annoyed him to no end but he knew he couldn't do anything about it. If he did, it would cause a big scene and ruin everything he was building up. The dress was practically made for her and yet also made for his enjoyment. The green fabric used for the dress matched her eyes and went well with her auburn hair. It clung to her body like a glove and his eyes scanned her unconsciously.

C'mon Avery. Get it together. You're 28 not 16 anymore, he thought firmly. He noticed he had been staring at her involuntarily and she looked at him with a flushed face. Ivy was shocked as he stared at her. He made her feel as if she was a specimen under a microscope. He used to do that a lot. His eyes penetrated into her heart and seemed to see what all her secrets were. It made her feel fuzzy inside and yet she couldn't let it get to her. She couldn't and yet it already had gotten to her. Her mind was telling her that she should have gone for it and forget everything that happened between her and Avery but her heart recalled the pain that he caused and ached feverously. What she wanted was to forgive and forget but it was impossible. Avery could tell she had been in deep thought so he sat back watching the couples sway to the sweet music. He eyed Julia and Mason somewhat jealous and caught them smiling at each other.

They had gone out during their 2nd year of college that all of them except Ivy and Avery had gone to. Now years later they were getting married and always looked as if they were in a blissful dream that they wished never ended. If things hadn't turned the way they had, he and Ivy would have been as such. It was his fault and he knew it, but she was also to blame. Before all of them noticed, the reunion had ended and it was time to head home. Everyone said their goodbyes to each other but knew they would have seen each other around the town. Ivy didn't want the night to end. This had been the first time in a while that she was with the people she had always been close to and the first time in forever that she just relaxed. All of her friends agreed to have a get together sometime during her stay. Ivy was overjoyed and they all said their goodbye. Ivy walked to her car swiftly and heard rustling behind her. She didn't know who it was and she really didn't care before turning around.