Ivy was having such a hard time keeping up with her schoolwork that she didn't have time for anything else. Any spare moment she did have was spent trying to work on college applications, though at this point she seriously doubted she would be able to pull off the heavier course load.
She didn't even have time to work on her languages anymore and it contributed to her overall poor mood. Speaking them in class or her rare club meetings on campus wasn't the same.
To keep from getting completely depressed, she convinced herself that once the applications were all done she would have more time to do what she wanted again. But even that wouldn't help with her focus issues.
Escaping to the foothills bundled up as much as possible so she wouldn't freeze to death had become her only refuge. She couldn't exactly do homework out there because she wouldn't be able to hold a pencil properly with her gloves but she could do reading assignments before it got too dark on the weekends.
