First Day (Part 3)
1193 Words
Chapter 5
First Day (Part 3)
(Ivy's POV)
“Well, at least the day is half over!” April exclaimed, leading me toward the cafeteria.
I nodded, though I wasn’t really looking forward to it. I secretly hoped Jayce wouldn’t find me during lunch. The last thing I wanted was to be caught in the middle of whatever drama was brewing between him and Lilliana. I didn’t want her to see me as a threat—I wasn’t one.
Truth be told, I was confused. Today felt surreal, like a dream I couldn’t wake up from. I longed to return to Switzerland, to be surrounded by my friends at Bergmont, where life felt normal and my parents were still alive.
“Ivy?” April's voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I glanced over at her. She was incredibly friendly, and having someone to guide me through this first day was easing my anxiety, but it also made me miss my friends back home even more.
“We should go grab some food and then find seats. You know, if you want, we can sit with Jayce?” she suggested softly.
“NO,” I said a bit too quickly, immediately seeing the surprised look on her face.
April smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Okay, understood—avoiding him going forward?”
We moved through the lunch line, gathering our meals.
“Yes, please.”
“Is it because of Lilliana?” April asked, leading me to an empty table tucked away in a corner of the cafeteria.
I decided to be honest with her; she had been so kind, trying hard to be my friend. I couldn’t pour out my entire heart, but I could share some of what I felt.
“Yes. I also don’t want any extra drama here. I want to keep my head down and just get through the days. I don’t want to make an enemy on my first day, nor am I interested in anyone,” I explained, forcing a smile at the end.
“Jayce seems interested in you, though,” April said honestly.
“But I can see someone else is more interested in him,” I replied, glancing away.
“Lilliana was an interest of his, but that faded quickly,” April said, her voice lightening the mood.
For some reason, that knowledge made me feel a little happier than it should have. I had just given myself a mental lecture about Jayce. “It doesn’t matter. I cannot deal with this right now. I have so much to do—figuring out this new city, the workload, university applications, and helping my sister. I can’t have this on my plate as well.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
I looked around the bustling cafeteria and then back at April. “You’ve been so sweet to me since this morning—helping me and showing me around. But the reason I moved here… it’s not a happy one…” I trailed off, struggling to articulate the heaviness in my heart.
April nodded, understanding that I wasn’t ready to dive into my past. “Okay, I’ll help you the best I can. I can’t promise anything, though. Jayce is kind of everywhere. With his father on the board, he ends up doing a lot at the school.” April glanced behind me. “Speaking of the devil…”
I turned to see Jayce walking toward us with a genuine smile.
“April—”
“I won’t say anything!” April replied quickly, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Hey, ladies. Talking about me?” he asked as he pulled out a chair and sat down.
April gave me a casual shrug.
“What? Were you actually talking about me?” Jayce laughed. “Should I leave and come back in a few minutes?”
I shook my head vigorously, not wanting him to know what we were discussing.
“Okay, okay, no need to hurt your head. I won’t leave!”
His laughter was contagious, and I couldn’t help but chuckle as well.
“Wow, so you do laugh! I was starting to think I wasn’t as funny as I thought,” Jayce smiled at me.
“Sorry to break it to you, but you aren’t funny at all,” April interrupted, smirking.
“That’s why I don’t joke with you,” Jayce shot back, sticking his tongue out playfully.
They seemed to share a comfortable connection, one I couldn’t quite decipher. They were clearly friends, but there didn’t seem to be anything romantic between them.
I was about to reach for a cookie on my tray when Jayce swiped it right from under me.
I looked at him in shock.
He took a huge bite.
I watched him, speechless, as he savored the cookie.
“You stole my cookie,” I said, my tone more accusatory than I intended.
Jayce met my gaze, an innocent look on his face. “Want the rest?” he asked, gesturing to the small piece left.
I shook my head, not wanting to engage further.
“Sorry, cookies are my weakness,” he said, finishing the last bite.
I nodded. “Mine too.”
“Oh, something in common!” Jayce exclaimed, tossing the last piece into his mouth. “I’m going to get you another one!”
“No, you don’t need to!” I protested, placing my hand on his arm to stop him.
“If I don’t replace the cookie I stole, how can I keep my title of gentleman?” he replied, standing up with a grin.
I watched him walk away, feeling a mixture of gratitude and confusion.
April smiled at me knowingly.
I shook my head at her, not wanting to discuss it further. I was already overwhelmed by how the day had unfolded.
“Hey!”
April and I looked up to see Liliana standing there, arms crossed and her expression icy.
“What do you want, Lily?” April asked, her voice sharp.
“I want your new friend here to leave my boyfriend alone,” Liliana said, leaning in closer. “I don’t share.”
“I wasn’t—”
“I don’t care what you WERE doing. I’m telling you what you will be doing. Stop talking to Jayce. Better yet, don’t even look at him. Or it’ll end badly for you,” she warned, venom dripping from her voice.
“Who the hell do you think—”
“April,” I said, cutting her off. I could feel the tension mounting. “Let’s just go.”
Without waiting for a response, I stood up and left the cafeteria, April following closely behind.
This was not how I had envisioned my first day. Lilliana genuinely thought I was a threat, when I had no interest in Jayce whatsoever.
Imagine what she would do if I showed any interest at all.
All I wanted was to go home and pull the covers over my head, maybe drift off into a dream where everything was as it once was.
- Writer
