The Moon Goddess

Changes

Ivy said goodbye to her parents and made her way to school. She liked walking since the school wasn’t very far. Some of her friends have cars and would pick her up but Ivy loved being outside. She loved to stop and smell flowers in bloom or run her hand across a tree. She didn’t tell anyone, but she felt as though she could feel the life that ran inside the living plants and animals around her. Ivy felt a little zap from the big Oak she ran her fingers along as she got to the front of the school. Ivy stopped and looked at her fingertips. They still felt the sting from the zap. Ivy looked at the big Oak and reached out to touch it again.

“Ivy!! OOOOh Ivy!” She heard the sing song voice of her best friend. Ivy dropped her arm and spun around. She smiled as she looked at Mara. Mara was 5’6”, spunky with a rocker style hair do that exenterated her black hair, bright blue eye shadow that framed her crystal blue eyes, and a cute black gothic looking dress that had chains on either side of her. Ivy stepped to her and squeezed. “You look fantastic Mar!”

Mara stepped back and twired, giving Ivy a full view of her ensemble. Ivy clapped in appreciation. She could never pull off the emo goth vibe that Mara could. Ivy’s hair was golden blonde, and her skin was a pale cream color but her vibrant violet eyes made her stand out like a sore thumb. Ivy embraced her purple eyes with just a touch of glitter shadow and light eyeliner. “I know. I know. But girl look at you! Dayum! With a capital D I might add.” Mara said with an enthusiastic wink. Ivy laughed. If anyone could pull her out of a mood, it was Mara. She knew exactly what Ivy needed. “Let’s get to class, you goon.” Ivy pulled a laughing Mara towards their school.

Ivy made it through the day without much thought. Things came naturally for Ivy so as the teacher was going on about whatever they were learning for the day, she daydreamed. The last bell rang and it startled Ivy out of her daydream. Mara was waiting for her at the door while Ivy gathered her stuff from her desk. “You looked a little lost in there Iv. You, ok?” Mara asked with concern.

Ivy shook her head and cleared her thoughts. “Yeah, I’m good. I just got a little lost in thought thinking about Ireland next week.” Ivy explained. Mara’s eye lit up like a Christmas tree! “Girl! I know!!! We are going to another country alone and with all these hotties!!” Mara wiggled her eyebrows as the football team passed them in the hallway. Ivy let out a laugh and playfully smacked Mara’s shoulder.

Ivy felt a chill run down her spine and she stopped walking. Mara didn’t notice at first. Ivy closed her eyes as she felt a strange tug at her heart. Her heart began to beat faster, and she began to feel warm. Ivy put her hand on her heart as if she could force the heat away. The sounds of the school moving around her began to fade. Then there was only silence. “...it’s been forever since we went shopping. So how about we… Ivy?” Finally, Mara noticed that Ivy wasn’t walking with her. Mara turned to see Ivy standing in the middle of the hallway with the students moving around her as if she were in a bubble. Ivy had a soft purple glow surrounding her, she had her eyes closed, and her hand over her chest. Mara’s eyes widened and she looked around. It was like no one was noticing Ivy there. Mara sighed then started walking towards Ivy. Mara touched Ivy’s shoulder. “Ivy.”

“Ivy.” One simple word. Ivy blinked. The heat began to fade away and the noises returned to full volume. Ivy blinked again. Mara smiled at Ivy. “Hey, so I was thinking we could go shopping before Ireland. What do you think?” Mara kept her tone light as if nothing happened. Ivy tried to remember what had just happened. She rubbed her forehead. A headache was brewing. “You ok, Iv?” Mara asked with some concern in her voice now. It was then that Ivy looked at Mara. Mara’s normally light skin tone was bathed in a vibrant blue haze. Ivy blinked again. It was slowly fading away. “Actually, I think I might go home for lunch. I have a headache starting and should take some meds.” Ivy answered. Mara nodded. “Let me drive you there then. That way I know you got there ok and if you’re still not feeling well, I can let the school know.” Mara argued. Ivy was getting tired, so she agreed. The girls walked out to the student parking lot and reached Mara’s car when the tugging began again, only this time it was sharper. Ivy let out a small cry and her hand went to heart. Mara whipped around fast and caught Ivy as she was falling to the ground. “IVY!” Mara screamed.

“..heat.. Pain… heart..mo..” Ivy got out just before she passed out.

Mara opened the back door of her car and lifted Ivy inside. Just as she closed the door, Mara saw a movement. Mara turned ready to swing but stopped as she saw it was just Martin.

Mara let out a breath. “Martin. How’s it going?” Mara said blocking the window of where Ivy was laying. Mara cursed herself for not being more aware of their surroundings.

Martin tried moving to see what was going on. “What’s going on? I thought that I heard you scream. Are you alright?” Martin stepped closer. Martin was a full six inches taller than Mara. His brown eyes hit beyond a pair of goggle trimmed classes and they looked at her with concern and curiosity.

Mara put her hand up to stop him and laughed. “Oh, I got excited because Ivy and I are going shopping before our trip next week.” Mara smiled.

Martin looked like he didn’t believe her. “Are you sure?” still trying to peek through. Mara had enough and finally stepped closer to Martin. She put her hand on his shoulder and looked right in Martin’s eyes. “Everything is fine Martin. You just heard excitement. It is ok to walk back to class.” Mara let her hand sit for just a moment more then moved it off his shoulder and stepped back. Mara smiled as Martin blinked a few times. “Ok. I hope you have fun shopping. I will see you later, I have class.” Martin turned and walked away. Mara took a second and looked around. No one else seemed to be there. Mara let out a breath then got into the driver’s side. On the quick drive to Ivy’s house, she made a group call to her mom and then to Ivy’s mom. They answered the Facetime call within two rings. Both of their smiling faces filled the phone. “Hi Baby!” “Hi Mars!” They both answered. Their faces quickly changed when they saw Mara’s face. “What happened?” They both asked. Mara stopped at the stop sign and looked quickly for another car. “Ivy had an episode. Her heart.” Mara looked right at them. They both started to look worried. “Where are you bringing her?” Mary asked. Mara looked at the phone again. “I was bringing her home. Should I not?” Eddie shook her head. “No, bring her here. Straight to my shed.” Mara’s eyes widened then made a quick turn. “I will be there in a moment.”