Ivy's Diary

Life Continues

Noah’s call woke me up the next morning.

I stared at his name on my screen, still wrapped in sleep, and answered.

“Hello?”

“Good morning, sleepyhead.”

I smiled.

“Good morning.”

“You just woke up?”

“Yes.”

“I knew it.”

“How?”

“Because your voice always sounds like that when you just wake up.”

I laughed softly and pulled my blanket closer.

It was normal.

Noah called me almost every morning. Sometimes just to say good morning, sometimes to annoy me, and sometimes because he claimed he was bored.

But this morning felt different.

We talked.

Then we talked some more.

Usually, our morning calls didn't last very long. Noah would ask how I slept, tease me about something, and we'd eventually go about our day.

But today, he wasn't letting me go.

“So, what are you doing today?” he asked.

“I don't know yet.”

“What do you mean you don't know?”

“I just woke up, Noah.”

“Okay. What are you doing after you get ready?”

“I don't know.”

“And after that?”

I laughed.

“Are you planning my entire day?”

“Maybe.”

“You're strange.”

“I know.”

I got out of bed and started gathering my things.

“I'll call you later.”

“No.”

I stopped.

“No?”

“Stay on the phone.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

“Because I want to talk to you.”

“We've been talking since I woke up.”

“And?”

I laughed.

“You're becoming too much.”

“I'm your best friend. I'm allowed.”

I rolled my eyes.

Still, I stayed.

I carried my phone with me as I went to shower, and somehow, we kept talking.

At one point, I found myself smiling at absolutely nothing.

But there was a thought that kept crossing my mind.

Was this because of Ethan?

Ever since Ethan's call the previous night, Noah had suddenly become even more attached to me.

He already knew everything because I had called him immediately after Ethan and I ended our conversation.

He knew Ethan wanted me back.

He knew Ethan wasn't ready to give up.

And now, Noah was here.

Calling me.

Staying on the phone.

Finding every possible reason to keep the conversation going.

I couldn't help wondering if he was scared Ethan would somehow find his way back into my life.

Maybe he didn't want to give Ethan another opportunity.

Maybe he simply wanted to make sure he was always there before Ethan could call again.

The thought made me smile.

But I didn't say anything.

I didn't want to embarrass him.

I had always been that way with Noah.

I noticed things.

I understood things.

But sometimes, I choose not to say them.

Especially when saying them might hurt someone I cared about.

And Noah was someone I cared about. Of course, he is my best friend.

At least, that was what we called ourselves.

And somehow, that was enough.

For now.

Later that afternoon, I went to the café to get something to eat.

I was hungry enough to forget about everything else.

I had barely walked a few steps when someone spoke behind me.

“Excuse me.”

I turned.

A guy I had never really noticed before was standing there.

He smiled.

“Hi.”

“Hi.”

“You look like you're in a hurry.”

I glanced toward the café.

“I am.”

He chuckled.

“That's obvious.”

I smiled awkwardly.

“I'm hungry.”

“That explains it.”

He looked amused.

“I've seen you around, though.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You're new here, right?”

I nodded.

“I knew it.”

He introduced himself.

“I'm Jack.”

“Ivy.”

“Ivy,” he repeated. “Nice name.”

“Thank you.”

As we spoke, I discovered he was a senior colleague, a 400-level student who was already getting close to graduation.

He asked how I was settling into school.

I told him I was still trying to figure everything out.

He laughed.

“Don't worry. You'll get used to it.”

We talked for a few more minutes.

It wasn't anything serious.

Just a simple conversation.

Until he asked, “Can I have your number?”

I hesitated.

For some reason, I suddenly became very aware of myself.

But eventually, I gave it to him.

He saved my number.

“I'll text you.”

“Okay.”

“And next time, don't look like you're running away from me.”

I laughed.

“I was hungry.”

“Fair enough.”

I smiled and continued toward the café.

But as I walked away, I couldn't stop the tiny smile that appeared on my face.

Jack was... attractive.

Very attractive, actually.

But I pushed the thought aside.

I had food to worry about.

By the time I returned to my room, Noah was calling again.

I stared at the screen.

“Again?”

I answered.

“Hello.”

“Where have you been?”

“Getting food.”

“You've been gone for too long.”

I laughed.

“It's not even that long.”

“It is.”

“You're dramatic.”

“Maybe.”

I sat on my bed with my food.

We talked while I ate.

And then I remembered Jack.

“Oh, I met someone today.”

There was a pause.

“Someone?”

I could almost hear the change in his voice.

I smiled.

“A senior colleague.”

“What's his name?”

“Jack.”

“And?”

I told him what happened.

How Jack approached me.

How we talked.

How he asked for my number.

Noah was quiet for a moment.

Then he sighed.

“Ivy.”

“What?”

“Be careful.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Here we go.”

“No, I'm serious.”

“I know.”

“You're new here. You don't know these guys.”

“He seemed nice.”

“That's the problem.”

“What problem?”

“Everybody seems nice at first.”

I laughed.

“You sound like an overprotective brother.”

“Maybe I am.”

“Noah.”

“I'm just saying, don't be too trusting.”

I became quiet.

Because deep down, I knew what he meant.

I had grown up sheltered.

There were so many things I hadn't experienced.

So many things I was still learning.

And although I didn't like admitting that I could be naive, Noah knew.

He knew me.

“Just take your time,” he continued. “You don't have to accept every person's attention just because they're being nice.”

“I know.”

“Good.”

I smiled.

“Anything else, Dad?”

He laughed.

“I'm serious.”

“I know.”

There was another pause.

Then he said, “And don't let any guy distract you.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Any guy?”

“Yes.”

“Even you?”

He went silent.

I laughed.

“I knew it.”

“Don't start.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“You were about to.”

“Maybe.”

Before he could respond, the door opened.

Isabella walked in, practically glowing with excitement.

“Guess what, Ivy!”

I looked at her.

“What?”

She dropped her bag on her bed.

“There’s going to be a fresher's party!”

I blinked.

“A what?”

“A fresher's party!”

I sat up.

“A party?”

“Yes!”

She looked so excited that I couldn't help laughing.

I had never been to a party in my entire life.

Not once.

My parents had always been strict.

Very strict.

Leaving the house required permission.

Coming home late was almost impossible.

And now I was in college, far away from home, with nobody standing over me asking where I was going.

It felt strange.

But also...

free.

Isabella suddenly noticed my phone.

“Oh, you're on a call?”

“Yeah.”

She lowered her voice.

“Okay, we'll talk about it later.”

But Noah had already heard.

“A party?”

I sighed.

“Yes.”

“You're not going.”

I laughed.

“Why are you saying it like you own me?”

“Ivy.”

“Noah.”

“I'm serious.”

“So am I.”

“You've never even been to a party.”

“Exactly.”

“So why do you want to start now?”

“Because I'm in college.”

He went quiet.

I looked at Isabella, who was already nodding enthusiastically.

“I want to experience things,” I said.

“You can experience things without going to a party.”

“Maybe.”

“Ivy—”

“Relax.”

He sighed.

“I just don't want anything happening to you.”

“I'll be fine.”

“Promise?”

I smiled.

“Promise.”

We eventually ended the call.

The moment I put my phone down, Isabella rushed over.

“So we're going?”

I laughed.

“I guess.”

She screamed.

I covered my ears.

“Why are you shouting?”

“Because we are finally going to your first party!”

She immediately started opening her wardrobe.

“This dress?”

She held one up.

I shook my head.

“No.”

“This one?”

“Maybe.”

“You're impossible.”

I laughed.

Isabella was naturally shy.

But when it came to parties, she became a completely different person.

She loved music.

She loved dancing.

I watched her excitedly search through her clothes.

And something inside me changed.

Maybe I wanted that too.

Maybe I wanted to know what it felt like to live without constantly worrying about what my parents would say.

Maybe I wanted to meet people.

Make memories.

Experience things.

Be young.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

Westbridge had only been my home for a short while.

Yet already, I could feel myself changing.

Ethan wanted me back.

Noah was suddenly holding on tighter.

Jack had just walked into my life.

And now there was a party waiting for me.

I had no idea what was coming.

But for the first time since I arrived at Westbridge...

I was curious.

And maybe, just maybe, curiosity was exactly how everything was about to begin.