Kidnap My Heart - Chapter Thirty

As the sun rose, the world was still. No sound plagued the house and Ivy rolled onto her back and blinked up at the ceiling. It was still that bleak color and she remembered when she was staring at it with dread more than a month ago. Not much has changed. Her heart was still rebellious and on-fire most of the time. Maybe that was the part of her that couldn't be quenched. Was it stubbornness? It felt like it but she had too much faith in herself. She had woken up many times in the night and each time her thoughts came to the outcome of the next day. She was scared when her dreams had sent the wrong messages and felt optimistic when they showed happiness and the things she wanted. Dreams were so powerful to her that she didn't know if any of it would be true.

She tried to believe that it was all easier than it seemed but she psyched herself more when she did. Now as the sun was barely peeping through the horizon she felt more worried than before. While at this moment Julia was probably curled up next to her soon-to-be husband and dreaming of her most awaited day, Ivy wasn't so excited. She knew it was a big day for it was her best friends' wedding but she just couldn't understand her feelings. She was being so selfish and yet nothing was able to change her personal views. She jumped out of the bed and walked to the curtains. She pulled them open and watched as the sun climbed its way into the sky. The deep blue ocean was barely lit from afar as dawn approached. A new day was beginning and Ivy wished to God it was going to end as it had begun.

As soon as 9 o'clock struck, Ivy was out the door and heading to Julia's house. She sped her way through the small town and knew she was beating the speed limit. She didn't care. The cops knew her and they were all suckers for tears. All it took was one emotional woman to go overboard on her feelings and break down. It could have also been fake but the more realistic ones prevailed. She drove her way to Mason and Julia's house and flew up inside the house. Inside was a mess. She heard some yelling and clattering all over the house. She saw dresses lying on the couch and make up everywhere. "Thank god you're here!! I thought you'd never show up. I was worried sick!" she heard Julia say as she walked into the same room as Ivy. Ivy smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "It sounds like a certain bride missed me?" she said with a grin. Julia nodded and hugged Ivy tightly. "It wouldn't have been the same without you. You complete the whole thing!" Julia said as she pulled Ivy into her room.

She saw Sunny, Lila and Evelyn sitting on the bed and fussing about something. She was surprised to see Crystal also. They all hugged Ivy tightly when they saw her and they got ready. Julia handed Ivy a maroon and black dress full of hand stitched designs. Ivy thought it was beautiful but it came in contrast to her auburn hair. She watched as her friends slipped into their matching dresses and look as dazzling as they intended to be. Ivy felt as if she would have been the sore thumb in the crowd but decided not to care. She slipped into the dress and viewed her figure in the mirror. Not too shabby, she thought to herself. Her friends fixed her hair into their identical updos and talked about the day to come. Ivy felt a sense uneasiness inside her since she had never told any of them how she felt about Avery.

She trusted them more than she wanted to admit but there was a mysterious tug at her heart telling her not to. "So Ivy, tell us more about your little departure. It reminded me of your first disappearance." Evelyn said with a glint of mischief in her green eyes. Ivy shuddered and thought of a good explanation. Now that she thought about it there was none. "I had a client requesting me to be back in LA. Nothing else." Ivy said coldly. Her friends stared as she looked away from them and they snickered in an unladylike manner. Ivy gazed at each of them sharply and opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Sunny. "Sweetheart, we know it was because of Avery. You could've just said it." Sunny said as she twirled a stray hair. Ivy shook her head and faced away from them. "I had a client too. Avery was another reason, but not the main one. I have a life besides worrying about him." Ivy said formally. Julia shook her head and reached out to hold Ivy's hand.

"How are you going to face him today? You two do have a history of running away from you want." Lila said as she eyed Ivy dramatically. Ivy frowned deeper and shrugged. "What do you mean?" Ivy said with a scowl. She didn't run away from anything. She went at everything at full speed. Didn't she? "It's just that the both of you can't just get to the point about anything. You've been like this for more than 10 years. Why not give it a break?" Julia said lightly. "All I know is I'm gonna sat the record straight. I don't want to run away from it anymore and I don't think I ever have. Even if I do have feelings for him I'm stubborn. I won't admit loving him as much as I tend to. He hurt me once and I'm still getting over the first time around." Ivy said with a blush creeping slowly onto her face. Her four friends giggled and Ivy couldn't help but groan. This was why she didn't tell her feelings to people too much. Especially those loves struck ones who believed in fairy tale endings. "Well sweetheart you can't keep running from him. You don't know how long he's willing to hang around." Sunny said nonchalantly. Ivy soaked in the words and nodded. Now she had to think of a way to let it happen.

Avery was excited for the wedding. He had only been to one wedding when he was 15 which he hadn't been able to remember well. He wasn't a romantic guy but the romantic air in a wedding was hard to resist. As he got ready with his friends, he listened as they talked about their lovey dovey things. They were sharing notes on their girlfriends or fiancées. Avery felt left out but still wanted to be filled in on their lives. Mason was as calm as he always was but Avery noticed a sense of distress from him. Mason tied his tie with shaky hands and tried to listen to Chris talk about Crystal, but Avery knew his mind was elsewhere. Chris had stopped talking they were left in a comfortable silence. "How are you feeling lover boy?" Avery asked as he stared at Mason with a smile. Mason smiled back and his eye twitched with annoyance. "Good enough to realize I'm getting married in about two hours." Mason said monotonously.

Avery shook his head and pulled at his tie. "Listen mate, are you going to be the one to back out? Julia is the worrier, not you. Sunny has texted me about 20 times telling me about how Julia keeps worrying her hair is too limp or her makeup is too much. I guess that comes with being a woman." Avery said with a shrug. Mason's face blanched and he sat in a chair with his head hung down. "I'm not going to back out. I love her Avery, you know that. I wouldn't back out when I already promised her something. It's just hitting me now that I'm getting married. I feel so old." Mason said with a groan. Mason buried his face into his hands and his friends stared with big smiles plastered on their faces. "Aw how cute. The groom is acting like a blushing bride." Nate said with a cheerful voice. Mason looked up and eyed him spitefully. "Watch it Nate. You'll understand how I feel soon." Mason said with a harsh tone. Nate held his hands up in surrender but a smile crept onto his face quickly. "Just relax man.

Think about it. You're marrying the girl you love and have loved since freshmen year in high school. Not all people marry the one they truly love." Avery said with a small smile. Mason's eyes brightened and he smirked. "What a Casanova thing to say. Way to go Avery." Mason said as he stood from his seat. He pulled his tuxedo jacket from its hanger and pulled it over his shoulders. Avery grinned widely and shook his head. "Yeah, if only I didn't have to clam up when Ivy talks to me." Avery said with a mini groan. The boys looked at him with devilish grins and Avery smacked his forehead. "What is up with you two? It's always been like this and you don't wanna fix it? The both of you don't deserve this chase. Especially Ivy. The poor girl is such an icy person now. She used to be so happy and fun loving. She still is but she has that hesitation when she's happy as if she doesn't think she deserves it. I'm not blaming you for that but you were obviously a big part in that."

Chris said as he tied on his shoe. Avery pondered on that and heard a knock on Nate's room door. Nate walked over and opened the door to display a wheezing Derek. "Sorry. I'm. Late." He said with labored breaths. The men pulled him inside the room and he plopped on to the bed unceremoniously. "Why are you late man? This is my wedding day and I'm already freaking out!!" Mason said in a deathly whisper. Derek looked up at Mason and smiled. "I went to go check on the girls. I gotta admit all of them look hot." Derek said with an impish grin. Each of the men's heads turned at Derek and eyed him with dismal, dark looks.

Derek smiled and sat up. "I only speak the truth. But don't worry. At the end of the day I'm not the one going home with them. Well, maybe besides Ivy." Derek said as he shot his brother a sweet smile. Derek delved his brother's look more and winked at him. Avery tried all he could to not strangle his mother's baby, so he shot him a dirty look instead. Nate observed Avery and grinned. "Calm down buddy. We all know you're gonna romance the socks off her today. I mean, who can resist a little romance in a wedding?" Nate said as he patted Avery on the back. Avery rolled his eyes and stared out the window. He was ready for all of it. This was the biggest challenge in his life and he decided to wing it.