Ivy sat at the small café table, absently stirring her coffee as Sophie chatted excitedly about life in Montclair. It had only been a few days since Ivy's return, but already the weight of the town felt all too familiar, as if she never really left.
"Remember that time we skipped first period just to hang out by the fountain?" Sophie laughed, the sound light and carefree. Ivy's lips twitched into a faint smile, and her mind instantly flashed back to that day—the same fountain she had visited the day before when she ran into Michael. The encounter had stuck with her, leaving an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Yeah, I remember," Ivy replied quietly.
Sophie leaned forward, sensing something on her friend's mind. "I noticed the look you had when you saw Michael yesterday." She grinned. "You two were always close back in school. Does he still have that weird way of looking at people like he's about to solve some mystery?"
Ivy hesitated, taking another sip of her coffee before meeting Sophie's eyes. "Yeah, I guess he does. It was... kind of strange running into him again after so long. We've both changed."
"Changed? Or just grown up?" Sophie teased, a playful glint in her eyes. "I mean, he was always a bit of an enigma. Remember when he disappeared for a few years? Everyone assumed he'd be some hotshot detective or something."
"Yeah, he did disappear," Ivy said softly, leaning back in her chair. "He's back now, though. And he's... different. Still Michael, but more intense. Like he's carrying something, you know?"
Sophie raised an eyebrow, her tone shifting. "That sounds kind of deep. What's going on there, Ivy? What's really going on?"
Ivy shrugged, trying to act casual, though she could feel the weight of Sophie's probing. "I don't know. It just feels strange, that's all."
Sophie studied her for a moment, then grinned. "Well, you never did like talking about your feelings. You and Michael, though, it's like you never really lost that connection."
Ivy's gaze drifted, remembering the brief, charged moment they shared at the fountain. She had felt something there, something deeper and more unsettling than she expected. But she wasn't sure if it was just the familiarity of old ties or something more.
Sophie shifted in her seat, tilting her head as if suddenly struck by an idea. "Do you know what happened to Rachel though? I saw her name in the paper the other day. She's back in town too."
Ivy's eyes widened slightly. "Rachel?" The name hit her like a jolt of electricity. "I thought she... I thought she was still in Europe."
"Apparently not," Sophie said, a smirk on her face. "She's married now. To some rich guy, too. Her wedding was last year, in June, right after she came back from her 'soul-searching trip.' Her voice took on a hint of sarcasm. And get this—she married Thomas Cartwright, of all people." Sophie's voice took on a hint of sarcasm. "Remember him? The guy she used to pester all the time because he was a total nerd? She hated him back then, couldn't stand his shy, bookish ways. Now look at her—married to him."
Ivy blinked in surprise. Rachel and Thomas? That was unexpected. "Wow, that's... a complete 180 for her."
Sophie shrugged. "Guess we all change, huh?" She took a sip of her own coffee before glancing at her phone. "Oh, speaking of changes, I gotta go grab a few things for dinner. Want to come with me?"
Ivy glanced at the time on her phone and sighed. "Nah, I'm good here. I'll just finish my coffee."
"Alright, I'll be quick," Sophie said, standing up. "I'll be back in a few."
Ivy watched as Sophie walked out of the café, the bell above the door ringing softly behind her. She was left alone with her thoughts, the quiet hum of the café filling the silence around her. Ivy didn't feel like going home just yet, so she decided to take a walk through town, maybe clear her head a bit.
As she walked, her mind kept drifting back to Michael. The way his eyes had locked with hers like there was some unspoken question between them. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to their encounter than just an old friend passing through.
When she reached her car, she paused for a moment, the cool air brushing against her skin. Something caught her eye—there, tucked under her windshield wiper, a small piece of paper. She frowned, wondering if it was just another advertisement or a flyer for some event. But as she unfolded it, her heart skipped a beat.
The note simply read: "Welcome back."
Ivy's pulse quickened as she looked around the parking lot. It was mostly empty, the few cars parked nearby belonging to people she didn't recognize. She glanced up and down the street, but there was no sign of anyone who could have left the note.
The words on the paper felt oddly familiar, and yet they sent a chill down her spine. Who would leave something like that? And why?
She tucked the note into her jacket pocket quickly, looking around once more, but there was no sign of anyone nearby. Her heart still racing, Ivy got into her car and started the engine, the sound of the car rumbling to life filling the space around her. As she drove away, the unsettling feeling lingered. Someone had been watching her. She was sure of it.
And for the first time since she'd come back to Montclair, Ivy felt like the past wasn't as far behind her as she thought.
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