Young Writers Society

~1057 words

Ivy

Nikki and Ivy sat on the rug, being warmed by the flames that matched Nikki’s fiery hair. Ivy felt her clothes drying in the comfortable heat. In the next room, she could hear Nikki’s mother bustling around the kitchen and Nikki’s little brothers and sisters running around.

“So why’re you here?” Nikki asked. “Not that you need a reason to come. Like I keep telling you, you’re welcome any time! But it’s been so long, I figured you must have a reason.”

“Yeah,” said Ivy, stroking Ghost’s black fur. He too was sitting as close to the fire as he dared. His yellow eyes sparkled in the firelight, looking like lit embers among coal. “I was just a little lonely.”

“That’s it? That’s a mighty questionable story from someone who seems to love spending all their time alone.”

“Well, I guess Grey got me a little creeped-out,” Ivy admitted.

“Why?” Nikki looked genuinely confused. “What did he do? I thought he was a pretty great guy. A little on the eccentric side but…” she trailed off, gesturing inarticulately.

“Well, for starters, I wasn’t going to go to the society yesterday night. Then he shows up at my store and scares the living daylights out of me. Didn’t even knock.”

“Well, that’s boorish, but not really creepy, isn’t it?”

“Then he convinces me to go with him, and starts treating me all like a princess or something. Like I’m some delicate daisy.”

“That just seems like he was trying to be polite to make up for his rudeness to me.”

“I guess. But he’s never treated me that way before. And he… kissed my hand.”

“What!?” Nikki squealed. “My theory was right! He does like you!”

“Ew what no please stop he does not.”

“Oh come on. It’s so obvious too!”

“Stop,” Ivy whined. “And even if he did that doesn’t make me okay with that!”

“He’s kinda cute, though, hey Ivy?” Nikki elbowed her in the ribs. “Got that rugged sort of look.”

“I think you mean dirty sort of look.” But Ivy did have to admit he wasn’t bad looking.

“Oh I can see that look in your eye! You’re thinking about it,” Nikki teased.

“Even if he is cute, he still weirded me out. I don’t even know him yet. How much do you even know about him?”

“Enough to know he’s got your name engraved on his heart.”

“Nikki! You’re unbelievable!”

Just then, the boy who had answered the door poke his head into the room. “Mum wants to know if you need thumthing,” he lisped.

“Not right now, thank you,” said Ivy.

The boy looked at Nikki.

“Nah, Todd. I’m good.”

“How about the kitty?” He asked, eying Ghost.

“Actually, yeah. A bowl of milk for my cat,” said Ivy.

“Yeth ma’am.” He walked out of the room.

Ivy listened to the comforting sounds of fire crackling, rain pattering, and people chatting through the house. Ivy though she heard the sound of a flute drifting from some distant room in the house. “Todd’s a lot bigger now. It seems like he was just a baby the last time I saw him.”

“Yeah,” Nikki mused. “He’s a good kid.”

Soon he came back through the door, holding a saucer of milk very carefully in both hands. Ghost eyed him as he approached.

“I got your milky-milky, kitty! Are you a friendly kitty?” Todd held out his hand. Ghost sniffed it, and then rubbed his cheeks on it. Todd giggled. “What’s it’s name?” He looked at Ivy.

“His name is Ghost,” she supplied with a smile.

“Ooh, did he haunt you?”

“No.” She laughed. “He’s too sweet for that.”

“This is a thmart kitty cat,” Todd observed. He pet Ghost a little longer before springing up and announcing, “I’m going out!”

“In this rain?” asked Nikki.

“Yeah. I’m gonna go look for thnailth!”

“Don’t bring any inside with you! I don’t want to find a single snail in your drawer this time!” Nikki called after him, but he was already out the door.

“Grey saw something in Ghost too. Said he could read his mind or something,” said Ivy.

“Maybe there’s more to him than meets the eye,” suggested Nikki.

Ivy snorted. “Or maybe he’s just an extra nosy cat who’s more troublesome than he has a right to be.” Ghost flicked his tail at that as he lapped up the milk.

“I just think you should give Grey another chance. Like you said, we hardly know him, but that’s no reason to keep us from getting to know him better. Give love a chance, Ivy!”

“Love? That’s another thing. He’s known us just as long. If you think he… loves me, that was awfully quick.”

“Maybe he just falls in love easily. And when he does, he falls hard. No punches pulled.”

“I just don’t feel comfortable around him. But,” she went on, after seeing Nikki’s expression, “I suppose I’d be willing to give him another chance.”

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking about everything and nothing. Ivy’s clothes finally dried. She and Nikki climbed up to Nikki’s attic bedroom, while Ghost was left to stalk around the main floor. In the attic, the rain pattered even louder against the roof, to the point where they had to raise their voices if they wanted to hear each other. For the most part, they stayed quiet, wrapped up in heavy quilts and watching rain drip down the tiny attic windows. It was cozy, so cozy in fact that Ivy fell asleep.

She only woke up when Nikki shook her awake. “It’s time for dinner sleepyhead! Mum made your favorite soup from last year’s pumpkins that we canned! Get up get up!”

Ivy stretched out of the tight ball she’d been sleeping in, rubbed her eyes, and yawned. Then she followed Nikki down the ladder and joined the boisterous family sitting at a long wooden table.

The dinner was excellent, as Nikki’s mother’s cooking always was. It warmed Ivy to the bone. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this happy. Maybe Nikki was right when she said Ivy was lonely in her flower shop alone. When Ivy and Nikki went to bed for the night, Ivy stayed awake, imagining her own family. She wasn’t sure when her thoughts merged into her dreams.