International Love

Chapter 3

Flashback

“Mrs. Johnson, have my parents called you?” I asked.

“Oh yes dear, they told me that you are a walker today. They picked up your sisters already for a doctors appointment.” She smiled.

“Oh, okay. Thank you. Goodbye then.” I smiled.

It was weird that my parents didn’t tell me I was to be walking home from school today. They usually just sent me a text message or called me at lunch. I pulled out my phone to check and see if they texted or called and they didn’t.

I dialed my moms number and instead of the call going through I got a recorded message.

“I’m sorry, this action cannot be completed due to no active plan to this number. Please try again later or call 1-800.767.8989. Goodbye.”

I felt tears well up in my eyes as I realize my phone was shut off. I have no active service.

I walked home and when I walked in our blue house there was nothing left. No furniture. No parents. No sisters. I looked out into the front yard and saw a for sale sign staked in the yard. A sign I must have missed.

Tears spilled over as I realized my family abandoned me. What was I going to do now? How was I going to live? I didn’t want to go into the foster care system. I knew I was going to have to fend for myself. I was 13 years old. How do I live a life at 13?

End flashback

“Ivy?” I heard, “Are you okay?”

“Huh?” I responded looking at Derek, “Oh yes, I’m okay.”

“Are you sure? You’re crying.” He whispered wiping away the tears that fell from my eyes.

“Derek, I haven’t seen my parents since I was 13. The morning they abandoned me was the last time I saw them. They took my sisters out of school and left me behind.” I said as I felt tears continue falling from my eyes, “I never did anything wrong. I was a good child. I got straight A’s. I helped take care of my baby sisters. I don’t know why they left me.”

By now I’ve realized that I was hyperventilating. I don’t ever talk about my family. This was why I chose to not talk about them. They got me worked up.

“Shhh.” Derek said as he wrapped me in his arms, “I’m so sorry for asking.”

I inhaled his scent as tears continued falling out of my eyes. Oddly enough, the smell of Dereks cologne calmed me down.

“You’re safe now. I will never abandon you.” He whispered as he held me.

“Ms. Andersen, Mr. Greene, I apologize for interrupting, but we must get the others.” Ronald said.

I pulled away from Derek and looked up at him and smiled, “Thank you for being here for me.”

“I’m here all the time.” He smiled tucking a piece of hair behind my ear and wiping away my tears, “I guess it’s a good thing Samantha always uses waterproof makeup.”

I laughed at the thought of a male knowing what type of makeup is used for me. Derek helped me into the SUV and Ronald pulled out of the garage and we were on our way.

When we pulled up to the movie premiere there were thousands of people lining the streets. Fans, paparazzi, and other celebrities walked the red carpet leading into the theater. Steven, Lacey, Derek and I all posed together like usual. We rarely ever posed separately. Lacey and I were always in the middle with Derek and Steven on either side of us.

“So Lacey, please tell me,” the news reporter said, “Are there any love triangles or love interests within Harmony Dreams?”

“Oh that’s so funny you ask that Alex,” She began, “Derek and I have actually been hanging out a lot more.”

“Oh really? Do tell.” Alex the reporter continued looking into his camera.

“Oh you know the usual movies and dinner at his place or mine.” She giggled, “Right Derek?”

“Uhm.” He began. I knew he wasn’t going to deny it, because it was true. I should know. We were all there. I also knew he wasn’t going to embarrass her. “Uhm, yeah we do dinner and movies all four of us pretty often.” He finally answered. Nice save.

After we finished posing and interviews we were finally in the theater and I thought i could feel the steam coming from Derek. He’s mad. He’s mad at Lacey for putting him on the spot.

We walked into the theater and found our seats that had our pictures on them and I saw that Lacey and Derek were assigned next to each other.

“I refuse to sit next to her.” Derek said.

“What? Why?” She snapped, “You and I are supposed to be together.”

“But we’re not Lacey. Not even a little bit. You took those movie nights that we have as a band and flipped it into date nights for us and that’s just not true.” He snapped almost yelling at her, “Why would you do something like this? It’s going to mess everything up!”

At this point there were people starting to look at us and I knew that I needed to step in.

“Okay,” I began, “Stop you two. Derek you can sit next to me and Lacey you sit down on the other side of Steven. You two are not going to make this band look like idiots because you can’t figure out what your relationship status is.”

“We don’t have a relationship.” Derek snapped.

“Derek,” I sighed, “Shut up and sit down. Lacey don’t even respond. Sit down.”

Derek looked at me with a shocked look on his face and sat down. I know I just upset him and I know I pissed Lacey off even more, but they were not going to destroy something good for all four of us.

I sighed and sat down next to Derek with Steven on the other side of me and Lacey on the other side of him.

“Seems like we’re the only normal people in this group.” Steven whispered in my ear.

“I’m not going to let these two idiots ruin something good. I refuse. Not when it’s the only thing worth living for.” I said angrily.

The whole encounter between Derek and Lacey angered me. But what angered me even more was not knowing what Derek meant by it messing everything up. What was getting messed up? And why was he so concerned about it getting messed up?