"Amusement park! Here we are!" Ivy beamed getting out of the car. Her unusual excitement was a ray of light for the men, who was finally seeing a glimpse of their friend. Her true self. Ivy was a lively person. Her serious stance was for those she wasn't close to and them haven met serious Ivy often was a sign of trouble to them.
On the contrary, the girls, used to Ivy cold and distant nature stared at the excited Ivy in awe. For them, Ivy was cold, not warm. In their defense, it was the only face Ivy showed them. In reality, she was anything but a distant person.
"For someone who didn't want to come, you seem overly excited," Andy said opening the door for bell. Ivy, this time didn't wait for him to open her the door.
"Never said I didn't want to come," Ivy argued.
When Liam and Shirley joined them, they walked in. The group of five attracted much look, having five breathtaking people at once couldn't go unnoticed. The air around them made everyone curious keep their distance. It was clear, they didn't come from the same world.
Walking in two groups, one group of three, walking ahead, with Liam and Shirley following in the back. While Shirley was more than please to have Liam all for herself, it was clear the latter didn't feel the same. The strong stares he was giving to Ivy back was all she needed to see to know what was going through his head.
For this once, she couldn't be jealous. Herself wondered what was going on with Ivy. On normal bases, she would have been glued on Liam but today, it was a miracle if she even looked his way.
"It's too cute!" Ivy exclaimed seeing a big Teddy Bear by a booth. She grabbed Andy arm and dragged him to the booth held by an elderly man.
"I will win it for you," she informed him while paying to play. The older man gave her a warm smile at her excitement. Ivy replied with an even wider one.
"Shouldn't it be to the man to win for the woman?" Bella asked standing beside her man as she watched the excited Ivy getting ready to shoot.
"Why?"
A question she had no answer to. Why should it be the man? No idea! Social norms perhaps?
"You know how to play?" Bella asked instead.
It was a shooting game. One had to reach the center to have the opportunity to choose from the biggest set of gifts.
"Watch me," Ivy said confidently and concentrated.
"She know and is a pro," Liam said, watching her with full attention. He joined them after deciding it was of no use to keep distance and be mad, he was better out enjoying himself.
He tried his best, though his mood was down, mostly for Shirley sake. It was obvious his sore mood was affecting her.
Three shoots, all at the center. The girls watched in wonder while the boys had a proud look on their face. Never doubted her skills. She picked out the teddy bear which first picked her interest with two more. She took the biggest and give one to Andy.
"Is it written in somewhere you have to get me a teddy bear every time we go to the amusement park?" He complained taking it. His lips lifted up.
"Was she the one who gave you the four teddy bear at home?" Bella asked, finally getting an explanation on to why a grown man was having four teddy bear and Andy on all people. Andy nodded, answering her.
"I guess it's same with you?" Shirley asked Liam, who nodded.
She always won three, each heading back with one. With time it felt like a tradition. Going to the amusement park meant returning with a teddy bear won by Ivy. Reason why what followed next was a heart break.
For the third time today, thing didn't go to his sense. To no one sense as Ivy handed the third teddy bear not to Liam as they all thought but to Bella.
Heart broken. His face scowled and darken. Betrayed. He felt betrayed at the worst possible level. Ivy on the other hand still held her calm and happy face. As if nothing happened. The other three watched her in consternation, was she out of her mind?
Bella stared at the teddy bear in her hands as if it did her wrong. Liam dark look her way gave her urge to return it, yet, a selfish part of her wanted to keep it. Ivy gave it her after all.
"Why are you giving me this?" she still asked.
"I can take it back if you don't want it," Ivy said making a move to take it but Bella was fast to hide it behind her.
"You already gave it to me, you can't take it back."
"Whatever." Ivy rolled her eyes.
Her actions, her expression, her playfulness with Bella, everything disturbed them. What was she on with?
"Next time, you guys should bring us to play paintball. It would be fun, I'm sure the ladies would love it, right?" Ivy said out of no way, ignoring the tense atmosphere that settled between them at her unexpected action.
Bella and Shirley shared a look, "Sure." They went along with her. Not knowing how to act with her. Distance, she has always been with them but now, having her speak to them first, it took them a second to comprehend.
"Suggesting because you are good at it, aren't you?" Bella added. Seeing how she won the teddy bear with ease, it was the normal conclusion.
"Of course not! I suck at it."
"But." Bella paused, and looked down at the bear in her arms, "You won with such an ease."
She brushed it off, "It's because they weren't moving target. Or else I would have won none. I only love how the boys literally run on my shoots for me not to feel bad for losing," she explained.
"Liam try the hardest, it's so funny," she laughed before her smile died down in an instance, under the eyes of the other.
It didn't take a genius to know what was the cause of the drop in her mood. Liam. For once, he was the reason she wasn't smiling.
The three sent him a look, but his gloomy face was all it took for them to look everywhere but him.
"Cotton candy!!" She shouted dragging Andy along with her, walking straight to it. Andy didn't struggle and let himself been dragged away, not without sending a comfort look to Liam. Been at the receiving end of all Ivy attention was great but the guilt and unease he felt won't go away.
The day went on in the same dynamic. She spent her day dragging Andy along with her, never spearing a glance to Liam, not more than necessary. If Andy was busy with Bella, she roamed around on her own, never going to Liam. Not going to Shirley could be explained and understood but Liam? Why?
Like presently, Bella took Andy with her to make some photos, leaving Ivy by herself. Sitting alone on a bench, she silently ate her apple candy.
Liam walked to her, with Shirley trailing behind.
"You ate way too much sugar," he said, trying to break the ice he didn't know how it was formed.
All day long, she did her best never to be alone with him, glued on either Andy and Bella, to everyone surprise. Seeing her alone, he seized the opportunity.
"I'm a sweet tooth, not a big deal." She replied.
Silence. They remained silent, with no one having something to say. When was the last time the silence between them was uncomfortable? Liam couldn't even remember. He never felt like he didn't know what to say to her. While he was trying his best, Ivy appeared completely unbothered. As soon as Andy came into her view, she ran to him. Leaving Liam completely dumbfounded.