Ink and Ivy
Page 18
Footsteps approached.
“Ivy?”
The voice startled me. Priscilla hadn’t come to check up on me as I’d thought. It was Julian.
31
My heart hammered in my chest. I stood up and faced Julian. He was dressed smartly as if he had just been out somewhere nice. Had he been out on a date? With Charlotte, perhaps. I could smell the faintest trace of alcohol on him.
He stared at me searchingly with his green eyes. Those large, intense, dreamy eyes.
“Priscilla told me you were up here.”
“Did she tell you what happened?”
“No. Just that you were upset and you’re gonna stay here for a while.”
“Oh! I think I ate your food.”
Julian grinned. “That’s okay. I’ve already eaten.”
“Have you just been out somewhere?”
He nodded. “Farewell drinks with my art class.”
“That’s nice.”
“Are you all right?”
“I just had a big fight with my mum. I’m feeling better now, but I really don’t want to go home.”
“You could stay the night at my place.” Julian blushed, probably just realising what he had said. “Or Priscilla’s. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I’d better not. I have school tomorrow and I can’t just show up in these clothes. My uniform is at home.”
“I suppose it’s for the best. You can’t avoid your parents forever. It’s better to resolve it now.”
I nodded.
“Well, if there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know.”
Tell him. Tell him how you feel. The voice in my head urged me to take action. The words were on the tip of my tongue. My heart raced.
“I guess I’ll see you around.” He turned and headed back towards the door.
The words escaped my mouth. “Please don’t go.”
He stopped in his tracks and turned around, looking at me inquisitively.
“This could be the last time we see each other.”
“It could?” Julian asked softly. “I hope not.”
His sincerity made my heart melt. Words escaped me. I gathered myself and tried again.
“I like you.” There. I nervously awaited his reaction.
He did not speak. I couldn’t read his expression. My hopes diminished by the second. I was in agony before he took one step towards me and then another. His intention was now clearly written on his face. Eyes trained upon my lips, he approached. In one swift movement, he lifted my chin and pressed his lips to mine.
He pulled away suddenly. “I’m sorry.”
“What for?”
“I couldn’t resist.”
“I didn’t want you to.”
“Ivy, I can’t be with you.”
“Is it Charlotte?”
“What?”
“She told me there was something going on between you two.”
“She did?” Julian looked genuinely flummoxed.
“Yes. She did.”
“Well, now I’m pissed off at myself for giving her that impression.” He rubbed his temples. “I have only ever been interested in you.”
“Then why can’t you be with me?”
“I don’t want to hurt you. I’m moving away. And not for the short-term.”
“I know that.”
“I don’t want to start something with you just to have it cut short.”
“But, surely, being together for a short while is better than not being together at all? We don’t even have to be boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“Then what are we?”
“Just two people who like each other and who want to make the most of the time they have left together.” I could tell I was wearing his resistance down.
“Are you sure you know what you’re asking for?”
“Yes. I’m sure.”
“Okay, then.” He pulled me tightly against him. “I’m not going to hold back,” he murmured against the crook of my neck.
His breath made my skin prickle. He kissed my neck, my cheek and my lips. With shaking breath, he made out with me.
When he finally pulled away, his voice sounded ragged. “My offer still stands. Stay the night with me.”
His forwardness took me by surprise. Apart from a few awkward kisses, I was not very experienced with guys. Luckily there was no need to think it over. I couldn’t with school the next day.
“I can’t.”
“Oh, that’s right. Sorry.”
“I should probably go home now. I’ve been out for hours.” Nothing could spoil my mood now, not even having to face Mum.
“I’m sure Priscilla would give you a lift. I need one too.”
We went downstairs. Priscilla looked up from her work. She smiled knowingly but didn’t say anything.
I crept in through the front door. My parents were in the living room, watching television. They didn’t look in my direction. I tiptoed to my room. Closing the door behind me, I sighed with relief. My thoughts immediately turned to Julian and the scene that had just unfolded.
Julian. I hugged my pillow tight against me.
A firm knock on my door snapped me from my fantasies. I ignored it, hoping to be left alone. The door opened anyway. Dad stood there, the vein on his forehead throbbing. He looked angrier than I had ever seen him.
32
Dad’s eyes blazed. I gulped.
“Don’t you ever leave the house at night without telling us where you’re going,” he yelled.
“I’m sorry,” I whimpered, holding up the duvet like a shield.
Dad’s breathing slowed. He softened. “Do you have any idea how worried we were about you?”
I didn’t reply.
“If anything happened to you…”
“I’m fine.”
“We know you’ve been feeling down lately.”
“I was upset.”
“I don’t like seeing you like this.”
“Everything’s okay now,” I assured him.
Dad hugged me. “Would you tell me if anything’s bothering you?”
“Yes, Dad.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He stood up, arms crossed. “Tomorrow night, let’s have a family meeting. We need to clear the air.”
I nodded.
“Oh, and your mother wants a word with you.”
I groaned, but decided it was better to get it over with. “Bring her in.”
Dad left. I waited tensely as Mum’s footsteps approached, wondering what she had in store for me. I braced myself as she entered the room.
Her posture was crumpled, and her eyes were bloodshot. Something in her had changed. My tension drained.
“Ivy, I want to apologise.” Her voice cracked. “What I said before… I crossed the line.”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
“It’s just hard for me to accept that you want something different than what I want. We were on the same page for so long…”
I swallowed, my throat dry. “I know, but I can’t change the way I feel.”
Mum sat on the bed and cradled me in her arms like she used to do when I was a child. “It’s all right,” she said softly. “I don’t blame you. You’ve done nothing wrong. It’s me who has been at fault. In the end, I just want you to be happy. That’s the main thing. Somewhere along the line, I lost sight of that.”
I sniffled, my bottom lip trembling.
Mum pulled an envelope from her pocket and handed it to me. The acceptance form to Law School. “I think you should keep this. It’s your decision whether or not it should be sent, not mine.”
The next morning, Dad called a family meeting. We sat around the dining room table.
“Ivy, we want to know what’s going on. Have you made a decision about next year yet?” Dad asked.
I took a deep breath before letting the words I had rehearsed fall out. “I don’t want to accept my place at law s
chool. It’s not the life for me. If you send me there, it will be a waste of your money.”
My parents didn’t make any attempt to argue. Dad listened calmly, and Mum sat in silence, arms crossed.
“So, it’s settled,” Dad said. “Law school is off the table.”
I felt relieved.
“What will you do instead?” Mum asked. “It’s too late to apply anywhere else for next semester.”
“I won’t go to university,” I replied coolly.
“Then what will you do? Bumming around at home isn’t an option.”
“I know that! I’ll get a job.”
“Without any qualifications you won’t be able to get anything better than minimum wage.”
“I’ll find something.”
“There’s one more thing. We’ve decided you can’t stay here. In the real world, people pay rent and bills. You need to learn what that’s like.”
I looked to Dad.
“Sorry, Ivy. I know it’s harsh, but we think it’s for the best. We want you to figure out how to support yourself instead of relying on us. You can stay here until the end of February. That’s when you would have left for university.”
“Fine. I can look after myself.”
“Good. So, it’s agreed. If Ivy turns down her place at law school, she must sort out a job, and leave home by the end of February.”
A harsh blow, but not exactly unexpected. I was never going to be able to live by my own rules while living under the same roof anyway. It was better this way. Finally, I would have my freedom.
Lana shrieked with utter glee when I told her the news.
“I can’t believe it! He’s liked you this whole time? What about Charlotte? Was he a good kisser?”
“He didn’t like Charlotte. He liked me. And, yes, he is an amazing kisser.”
My cell phone vibrated in my skirt pocket. Who would be calling me at a time like this? I got a shock when I saw it was Julian.
“He’s calling you!” Lana said. “What are you waiting for? Answer it!”
I accepted the call. Lana listened over my shoulder.
“Hey, it’s me,” Julian said, his voice all raspy and sexy.
“Hey,” I squeaked.
“I just wanted to say sorry about last night.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was a bit drunk. I don’t know if you could tell.”
Had he really been that drunk? What if it was all just a drunken mistake, then? My mind rushed to all sorts of conclusions.
Please no.
“Do you regret what happened?”
“No. Not at all.”
Whew.
“Except when I asked you back to my place. I shouldn’t have put you on the spot like that. I just got a bit over excited.”
“Excited?”
“Well…”
“Oh!” I couldn’t help but let out a giggle.
Lana managed to bite her tongue.
“So, uh, what are you doing Saturday night?”
“No plans.”
“Do you want to go out with me?”
“A date?”
“Yes. A date.”
“I would love to. Did you have something in mind?”
“Yes. The symphony orchestra is in town. I booked tickets ages ago. I was going to take Priscilla, but I don’t think she’d mind if I invited you instead.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay, then. Let’s go.”
“All right. I’ll pick you up on Saturday.”
33
Every few minutes, I found myself glancing at the clock, but it seemed as if time stood still. The anticipation of the evening’s date was killing me. I tried to study, but I couldn’t concentrate. I tried to watch a movie, but I couldn’t follow the plot. My mind kept wandering, daydreaming about what might happen on the date with Julian.
Will he kiss me again? Will he try to hold my hand? My thoughts continued like that until it was time to start getting ready.
I picked a dress and did my makeup. Satisfied with my appearance, I waited in the living room, idly flicking through a magazine. I almost jumped out of my skin when there was a knock at the door. Julian stood on the doorstep, looking utterly handsome and dreamy in black jeans and a button-up shirt.
“H-hey,” I stuttered.
Julian surveyed me, his mouth dropping. “You look…”
“Nice?”
He shook his head. “Exquisite.”
“Thanks.” I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “That’s the first time I’ve been described that way, but I could get used to it.”
Julian laughed. “Good. You’ll be hearing that a lot.”
I smiled sheepishly.
A fine mist of rain in the air dusted Julian’s hair with tiny droplets. He brushed them away. “Come on, let’s go,” he said.
I followed him to the car he had borrowed from Priscilla for the night.
“What symphony are they playing?” I asked, getting into the car.
“Tchaikovsky’s symphony number six. The Passionate Symphony.”
“I’m not familiar with it. I don’t know much about classical music.”
Julian grinned. “You’re in for a treat.”
We drove to the theatre in town—a grand and magnificent but run-down building in major need of renovation. I liked it, though. It had character. The interior looked like an Arabic palace with arched doorways and intricate geometric patterns on the walls.
We passed the crowd in the foyer and headed straight up the stairs. Julian led me to our seats, which were located in the front row of the circle.
“Wow. We have a perfect view,” I said in awe, looking out over the stage.
“Yeah. These seats are the best,” Julian said.
I made myself comfortable on the worn, red velvet seat. The theatre was still mostly empty.
“Looking forward to the concert?” Julian asked.
“Yes. I’ve never been to see an orchestra play before.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Do you come often?”
Julian shook his head. “Not anymore. My parents used to take me a lot, though. They wanted to make my brothers and me form an appreciation for the arts. We were always going to the ballet, the opera, the orchestra, plays… I was really into it. My brothers, not so much, but they didn’t mind it either.”
“You were lucky to have parents like that.”
“Yeah. I have to keep reminding myself that my upbringing wasn’t exactly normal.”
“Do you think their influence made you decide to be an artist?”
“No. I like to think I would’ve been an artist no matter what. My parents just helped me get to where I am.”
“That’s a good way to look at it.”
The theatre was filling up and the orchestra and conductor took their place on stage. A deep hush fell over the audience. Barely audible above a low rumble, the music began, led by the bassoon. Slowly, strings joined in and then clarinets. The music built and built. I was enthralled.
Next to me, it looked like Julian was in a trance. Completely immersed in the music, a serious expression on his face. His eyebrows were animated with emotion. I grinned, enamoured with his cuteness.
My attention returned to the orchestra, and I felt myself fall into that same trance-like state.
Powerful strings opened the heart-rending fourth movement. The music grew darker, sadder. Drums pounded, leading into the finale. On a note of hopelessness, the music faded. Silence all around. The conductor bowed in a grand sweep and applause broke out.
“That was incredible!” I exclaimed as we left the theatre.
Julian nodded. “It was. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“I wished it would never end.”
“What time are your parents expecting you back?”
“I have to be home by ten.”
Julian checked his watch. “We’ve still got plenty of time. There’
s a park not too far from here. Let’s go for a walk.”
“Good idea.”
Julian guided the way to the nearby park. Dense blossoming trees and lush foliage surrounded us. Silver moonlight rippled on a stream.
“It’s beautiful. I’ve never come here at night before.” I examined our surroundings in wonder.
“It’s nice, isn’t it? There’s no one else here.”
We came to a large fountain illuminated in sapphire-blue light.
“So pretty!” I took a closer look. Coins littered the bottom. “Have you ever made a wish at a fountain?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Let’s try it.” I searched my purse for change. “You first.” I gave him a coin.
“Okay.” Julian stepped up to the fountain. “I wish—”
“Don’t say it aloud! It should be a secret.”
Julian closed his eyes. He tossed the twenty-cent coin and it landed with a plop.
“So, what did you wish for?”
“I thought it was supposed to be a secret?”
“I know, but now I want to know!”
“Well, I’m not telling you.”
I pouted.
My turn next. I stepped up, coin tight in my grip. Of all the things I could have wished for, that night, the only thing on my mind was Julian.
I wish we will end up together.
The coin left my grip, plunging to the bottom of the fountain. The night felt so magical, I let myself believe it would come true.
We continued deeper into the park.
Julian took in a breath.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked.
“My regrets.”
“How can you think about that on a night like this?”
Julian frowned. “I told Charlotte you and I are together…”
“Oh. How did she take it?”
“She was surprised.” He rubbed his forehead. “I can’t blame her for thinking I liked her. I let her in. I let her lean on me while I pushed you away. No wonder you were both confused. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I assured him. “I forgive you.”
“I just want to make it up to you.”
“This night has more than made up for it.”
Julian eased. “That’s good.”