Too many nerves were building up in Ivy. She'd been in awkward situations with James before, but somehow this felt different.

"Sit down, Mr Wright. Yes, in your seat." The teacher continued to bark at the students, his eyes glaring at them.

Ivy's green eyes became sharper as she desperately looked for two deep blue ones. There were none.

"Miss Cooper, if you're looking for your seat, it's to the left." The teacher snapped, breaking Ivy from her search.

Scowling, she took her seat, roughly grabbing her books.

"We have a new student joining us. Benjamin Grale." The teacher's voice droned on, and Ivy began to tune out the class.

The new student had friendly brown eyes, and medium brown hair. Ivy summed him up with one sweep, then continued her watchful gaze on the door.

The teacher continued giving instructions which Ivy paid no attention to. Suddenly, a desk was being pulled up next to hers.

The new student was sitting on the opposite side to James's desk. A friendly look was in his eyes, but Ivy paid no attention to him.

The lesson slowly commenced, and Ivy quickly became bored. Suddenly, the door clicked open. James walked in, and after an apology and fake explanation that only Ivy could see, he sat down.

"James." Ivy whispered. "James?"
He didn't answer.

"Miss Cooper, would you like to share your conversation with the class?" The teacher's voice rang out.

The pen in Ivy's hand came close to snapping.

"No, that's why I was whispering." Ivy replied, drawing laughter form the class.

The teacher glared at Ivy, and she smiled back. He resumed the lesson, grumbling.

When James didn't respond, Ivy drew in a breath. Eventually, she scrawled down a note, sliding it into James's small pencil case.

She leaned back and sighed quietly, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.

"You okay?" It wasn't James who asked, but the new student, Benjamin.

Ivy looked at him, surprised at the question.

"Yeah." When he didn't look convinced, Ivy continued.

"What did he say just then?" Benjamin told her, and she nodded in pretend thanks.

"You didn't even write that down." Benjamin sounded amused. Ivy pressed her lips together.

"Yeah. Um," She trailed off. Luckily the teacher announced something.

"I'm pairing you up to work on a project." Annoyance flooded Ivy, but she appreciated the save. As the teacher called out the the pairs, Ivy glanced back at James. She was met with a blank wall, and she felt another rush of annoyance.

"James and Rebecca." A girl with chestnut waves and heavy makeup sent a flirty smile to James. Ivy's annoyance climbed higher.

"Ivy and Benjamin." Her annoyance seemed to reach new levels.

—————————————————

The tall trees up ahead swayed in the wind, seeming to not have a care in the world. The trees went out of sight as Ivy's feet carried her on.

"Ivy?" Emma asked, tapping Ivy's arm. Shaken from her daze, Ivy looked at her.

"What did you say?"

"No, you were going to say what happened in class, then you zoned out." Emma finished, her face tinged with annoyance.

"Sorry. So, James kind of ignored me in class. I wrote him a note, but I don't know... Then there was some new kid, who keeps asking me 'if I'm okay'. Which I am." Ivy finished, she face in a tight scowl.

"You have a habit of saying you're okay, when you're not." Emma mused. "Hey, wait, what did the note say? The one you wrote to James?"

"I asked him to meet me at the Cafe down the street. He probably won't even come. But there's a basketball court nearby, so I have a Plan B." Some of Ivy weariness trickled into her words.

"He'll come." Emma told her seriously. "You may not think so, but he will."

"Maybe." Ivy fiddled with a twig nearby.

"Hey, Ivy?" Emma began tentatively.

"What did you do?"

Emma looked immediately guilty. "Nothing. Well, remember your party? I have it all under control, except... there may be more than a fewpeople."

Ivy frowned slightly, "Emma I only have two friends, if James and I ever talk again." Emma bit her lip.

"Well, here's your chance to make some more? Please Ivy, I-"

"Okay. Fine." Ivy sighed. "But don't expect me to greet them at the door. Or at all."

"Of course not ." Emma grinned.

—————————————————

The sun blasted its heat down, and Ivy sorely missed the wind. She'd taken an outside seat, and was severely regretting it.

"Can I get you something?" A guy around Ivy's age asked, holding a notebook.

"Yeah, a glass of orange juice is fine. Thanks." He nodded, and Ivy went back to observing the world.

Her orange juice had come and gone, leaving her to tap her fingers on the table, as she grew agitated, hating the feeling.

Finally, she clenched her jaw and briefly paid and left. Not wanting to inform Emma, she headed straight to the basketball court.

In minutes she was on the court, and as her mother's past reproaches echoed in her mind, her shots went in faster and faster.

"Hey." The voice Ivy had been trying to hear for the last day called out awkwardly.

As she turned, her fingertips brushed the ball, spinning it towards the voice.

James caught it, leaving Ivy to stare in shock.

Her eyes narrowed. "Hi."

James cleared his throat."Sorry I'm late. Had some... stuff at home." There was a breath of pause before James continued.

"Could we go back to the Cafe?"

"Yeah, okay."

"So." James drummed his fingers on the table, uncharacteristically nervous.

Unlike him, Ivy was still as a statue. Finally she cracked.

"James, what is going on?! First you're ignoring me, then late to your chance to explain. Now, you're all..." She gestured to him. "This."

James sighed quietly. "Ivy, firstly, you haven't been making that much sense either. I know I shouldn't have pushed you, but we are friends."

He hesistated for a second, before continuing."I get why you were mad at me, but you just need to make up your mind. If we're friends, you can trust me."

James finished, and looked at Ivy. She kept his gaze for a few seconds, then like it was hot coal, she dropped it. Swallowing, she nodded, but didn't, or couldn't say a word.

She walked away, for once not knowing what to say or do.

********************************
Hi!
Firstly, Stronger Ties is ranked 4th in new-kid! 🎊  (February 2019). It's not much, but it made my day, so thanks.

Anyway, what's your favorite emoji(s)? Mine is probably 🍫. Reasons are obvious enough.

Comment what you think. 🙂
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