While every eyes were on Ivy, hers was wandering in the room. In share of one particular face. As soon as their gaze met, a smile grew on her face. It widen seeing the person standing next to him. Her eyes glowing of a special light, she gave him a light nod before focusing back on her father waiting for her at the end of the stairs.
When she reached him, he took her hands in his. She only had one urge, to go to her friends but she knew better. The reason of this grand party was for her to get in contact with big names of the country. Karl wanted her to come in touch with all of them.
She understood that and followed him all through the night as he introduced her to influent people who would soon because her partners. It took her hours to finally be able to let go of her father side and wander to her friends.
She spotted them still in group. Andy's back was facing her. With a mischievous smile on, she discreetly walked to them, unnoticed by the boys. She grabbed her arms around his waist, startling the poor man who jumped in fear.
She giggled behind him, not letting go of him. Face pressed on his back, she tighten her grip when he tried to make her let go.
"Really funny-" he forced out a laugh, "-now let go of me. We aren't children anymore. You should start to behave like the lady you are," he said spreading her arms around him. Trying his best to not to carry a smile on his face. He wanted to look serious, not showing his happiness at the fact she didn't change.
"As if I care." she pouted folding her arms above her chest
Andy shook his head, amused by her silly behavior.
"Here I thought you would be happy to see me. I shouldn't have overworked myself if it's just to be welcome with a scowl," he complained.
Ivy ignored his words and looked everywhere but him. He was the one who refused her sign of affection, not the other way around.
"Come here," he said opening his arms.
She rolled her eyes with no intention to obligate. Finally, he couldn't restraint himself anymore. A smile formed on his face as he walked to her. Engulfed her in his big arms.
"I missed you so much," he said, hugging her as if his life depended on it.
"I miss you too," Ivy said, reciprocating to his hug.
"I thought you won't be able to make it," she said breaking the hug. It was huge surprise when she saw him standing next to Liam.
"How can I not when you wanted me to be here?" her desire was his command. He also wanted to be by her side today.
"You never change," joy filling her heart. Touched by all the work and sleepless nights he went through to be able to make it tonight for her.
"You on contrary, you change," he said.
"Right?" she totally agreed. She changed and loved it. It wasn't only physical. She knew she changed in so many aspects and loved everything about it. She loved the person she became.
"How do I look?" she asked turning around.
"Gorgeous," both men answered in a heart bit. She laughed happily at the compliment.
"If I didn't know better, I would start to doubt you guys relation. Who compliment another girl like that in front of his woman?" the girl who accompanied Andy said. Arms folded, she held her head high, staring at Ivy.
Confusion watch over Ivy face. The face was familiar but she was unable to point out whom she was and most importantly how she dare to come in their conversation and their space.
She shifted her focus on her friends, wishing for them to answer her interrogation before she realized,
"Bella?" she asked astonished. She was the last person she would thought of been here and that too next to her friends.
"You remember of me?" Bella asked surprise. Never would she have thought, Ivy would recognized her at first glance. It has been more than five years when they were last together.
"Of course," Ivy smirked, " we share an important souvenir, how could I forget about you?"
A souvenir only known by them. The boys knew none of what Ivy made Bella go through by the end of high school. It was a secret she never shared with them.
Bella face fell. For a second, she whiten but was face to cover it up with a smile.
"What are you doing here?" Ivy asked. Her presence made no sense to her.
Bella smile widen and became more confident. While her built straight up, those of the two men went lower. The news they drained to tell her would soon be revealed.
"I was invited of course," Bella answered.
"Sure but by whom? As far as I know, we aren't friends." Her father won't have sent her an invitation.
"It's help to be in couple with your best friend," she said, intertwining her fingers with that of Andy standing by her side.
Ivy watched her action in confusion. Her words sounding like non sense. Worst was Andy inaction, which confirmed Bella's words.
"For real!? You are in a relationship with this woman?" she asked Andy, pointing Bella way. Andy nodded.
"How could you?" in the past, Bella was obsessed with Liam. It was the reason of her enmity with her. How could he be with someone who once was obsessed with his friend?
"Worst, without telling me? I mean nothing to you?" since went were they together? How did it go? She knew nothing of that and had to learn this way he was seeing someone. Has her place in Andy heart also shifted? Worst, coming to such a state he doesn't care to tell her about such things?
The spark in her eyes fade. The change went unnoticed by none. She wasn't try to. She was hurt, it was a fact, no need to hide it. Maybe it was time to accept the fact, she lost them. Both of them.
"Eh!" Andy grabbed her side as soon as he noticed the change in her.
"Look at me" he pleaded, guilty. He didn't to hurt her. He hated the fact she was hurt because of him.
"I didn't told you because I knew you won't approved not because of lack of trust or anything. I know your feelings towards her. Wanted to tell you once back, nothing else," he explained.
Ivy looked up at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes, embarrassed watched over her. She now realized, she over reacted.
"How cute," Shirley giggled. Standing by Liam's side, her words head everyone attention on her.
"What's funny?" Ivy asked in a cold tone.
With no care of her seriousness, Shirley kept her smile on, "Seeing you so distress, it's refreshing" she explained. Ivy was same with Liam and Andy, they always seems to be in total control. Seeing them without their always confidence was a pleasure in the eyes. It reminds you, they were also human.
"It's that so? I on the underhand didn't see you. Didn't take notice of you if you didn't speak," Ivy replied.
Shirley face fell, "Twice in a day? Isn't it a little too much?" Shirley eyebrow furrowed.
'What can I say? You have so little presence and standing beside someone like Liam, you become invisible,' Ivy said internally.
Her friends really had their way to get into relationship with people she hated. Are they truly her friends? She wondered.
Her eyes shifted from the two couple without knowing what to say.
"You could have told me during our countless times you came to visit me?" she question Andy, ignoring Shirley. She wasn't in the mood to play friends with her.
"I wanted to tell you once I was sure of my decision," he wrapped his arms around Bella waist, pulling her to his side, "- now I am," he said with proud.
Andy who brings a particular girl to such an event. It was the sign her took their relationship seriously. Seeing her always playboy of friends being committed made her earlier displeasure change in to happiness.
"But you mister still have many things to tell me," she would let it slide for the moment. It wasn't the time nor place for it.
Andy nodded. Happy she understood him and wasn't mad.
"and you" she said to Liam, "you also got some explanation to do. Why didn't you tell me about all of this?" she gestured to the couple.
"I believed it was Andy story to tell. He was the one dating someone you don't like," Liam explained.
'As if you were better', she cried in her heart. His hands around Shirley small waist was a reminder of how much she hated the girl.
She had an urge. To get with someone they couldn't stand, so they got the test of their own medicine. Neither of their pairing are please to her eyes. She already had gave up on Liam, but hoped with Andy it would be different. Hoped she could find a sister in his woman but the reality seems to be something else.