2 II

I let out sigh as I walked out, noticing Gray walking back up to Felix's den. As I walked down, I looked back up at his window, not paying attention to where I was walking and I tripped on a lone root that was on the path and let out a gasp as I fell off it. I closed my eyes before I hit the ground and felt someone catch me. "Maybe you should watch what you're doing," I heard a very familiar voice and looked to see Ash. I felt my face heat up as I stared at him once he put me down. He watched me as I stood there for a moment before remembering what Felix told me. "Hey uhm.. Ash, I-I uh.. I'm sorry that I worried you.. I didn't mean to cause any unnecessary stress for anyone.." I apologized and he studied at me. "It's alright but do you realize how worried I was?" He queried and I shook my head.

"No.. I don't... but that's exactly why I am apologizing to you." I voiced and he was silent before sighing. "I accept your apology Ivy but honestly, you should tell someone, anyone for Stars sake, if you plan on going into the forest by yourself for any reason. If I couldn't find you, I would've sent a search party or looking for you. You're important.." He said and I noticed his face turn a shade of pink. 𝑊ℎ𝑦 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡? 𝑊ℎ𝑦? I thought to myself and wanted to ask but restrained myself. "I-I'm going to find my mother and apologize because I know she must've been worried as well.." I voiced and he nodded. I then turned and walked away from him to look for my Warrior friend, Scarlett. "Where are you?" I called out as I looked for her. After I had been looking for what felt like hours, she popped down from a tree.

"You called?" She said with a smile as she looked at me. "Uh, where have you been?" I asked her and she rolled her eyes. "In the trees, duh." She said and it was my turn to roll my eyes. "Now, what do you want?" "I-I have something to discuss with you.." I said and suddenly felt reluctant. She reached her arms down and motioned for me to grab them, in which I did only for her to swing and I was soon sitting in the tree next to her. "Alright, begin." She said and gave me her attention. "So, I'm pretty sure you heard about me being by myself in the forest already," "Yes and how you got an earful out of my Father, yes I heard. How was it?" She asked, tilting her head. "He is forcing me to apologize to those who were stressed and worried.." I sighed. "Which means you're going to see your mother and siblings right?"

"That's the worse part. But I already apologized to Ash because he was the one I had to see first anyways." I said and she looked at me with a look on her face. "Really? And what did he say? What was his reaction?" She queried, putting her hands under her chin. "W-well after I had apologized, he accepted it but told me something that I still can't wrap my head around.." "What is it?" I hesitated a little before speaking. "Well, h-he said that if you wasn't able to find me t-that he would've sent a search party looking for me.." I said and she raised a brow. "Why would he say that?" Scarlett asked and I shrugged. "That's what I'm wondering! But that's not all, after he said that, he told me that I'm important." I told her and she looked at me with confusion and surprise.

"He actually said that?" She asked and I nodded vigorously. She was silent for a moment before looking back at me with a serious look. "Do you think, perhaps, that Ash might like you in a sense?" She asked and I thought about what she meant before looking at her incredulously. "W-what? Wait.. maybe he could?" I thought to myself for a moment and she was silent before I looked at her to see a smile on her face before she began to laugh and I felt my face grow hot. "That's not funny.." I said as she kept laughing. "I-I know, I know.. I'm sorry." She said in between laughter. "B-but you should tell Brandon this!" She continued to laugh and I shook my head before climbing down the tree and looking for Brandon, only for him to find me instead.

"There you are, I've been-" He covered my mouth, grabbed me and hid behind a wall. I was about to make a noise as protest but he put a finger over his lips indicating to be quiet and listen. My ears perked when I heard someone. I suppressed the groan that threatened to come out once I heard who it was. 𝑈𝑔ℎ 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒, 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠, 𝑛𝑜𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑚. I thought as I kept listening before I eventually heard his voice fade away from the area. Once he was gone I let out a sigh before looking at Brandon. "What was all that about?" I asked. "Well, apparently Bennett and his ear hustling friends heard you and Scarlett talking about something." He said. "Ugh, he must've heard the part where she thinks Ash might like me a bit or something.." I said and Brandon looked at me, arms crossed.

"Really? Hm, why don't you enlighten me a bit on that conversation then?" I looked at him with a shocked look and he raised a brow. "Well uh.." I hesitated. "I'm your friend, remember? You can tell me anything, I won't laugh like Scarlett probably did." He voiced and I let out a groan before speaking. "Okay, so you know how Ash is recently worrying about me a bit more than he usually does?" I queried and he thought for a second. "Yeah, I've actually just noticed it. What about it?" "Well, Scarlett thinks that he might like me a bit..." I trailed off as I looked at him and studied his expression but couldn't read him. He was silent for a while before looking to where Ash was. "Do you think you'd be able to ask him about that? Just to see if she's right and to calm whatever thoughts you might have?" He asked.

"U-uhh sure, sure. But I think I'll do it later." I said. 𝐼 𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑑𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡.