Leaving the Belmont Boys

"You want to volunteer for wildlife conservation in Arca? Ivy, are you out of your mind?"

Oliver pulled me into his office and slammed the door behind him.

"That place doesn't even have decent medical care. You could run into armed poachers at any moment, not to mention the wild animals. Once you sign that contract, you won't be able to back out for a whole year."

He narrowed his eyes at me, his gaze sharp.

"And you, the sister I have always protected with my life, are actually volunteering to suffer like that?"

I lowered my head, my hands gripping the hem of my cheer skirt so tightly my knuckles turned white.

The reserve was completely cut off from the rest of the world.

Once the project started, all volunteers were required to sign a one-year commitment.

There was absolutely no room for regret.

It was dangerous, tedious, and the conditions were extremely harsh. Once you got on the plane, you were stuck there for a year.

No girl used to a comfortable life would willingly go to a dangerous savanna.

My brother's face suddenly darkened.

"Did those three hurt you again? Brooks, Carter, and Harrison?"

The temperature in the room seemed to drop. His presence grew so intimidating it felt like it sucked the air out of the room.

He pulled off his tie and took large strides toward the door.

I lunged forward and grabbed his arm desperately.

"No! Oliver, please, don't go!"

By the time I finished my sentence, my voice was already trembling.

What was the point of going anyway?

When Brooks and Carter first started giving me the cold shoulder, I had run to him crying and complaining, too.

Nova had been at our school for less than a month at that time.

Those two boys who used to cater to my every whim were already following her around like lost puppies.

I still clearly remembered the look Carter gave me that night.

It was a coldness I had never seen before, mixed with pure disgust.

"Ivy, can you stop acting like the whole world revolves around you 24/7?"

Brooks stood next to him with his arms crossed.

"Nova did nothing wrong. Just because you can't stand someone stealing your thunder, you use your position as cheer captain to ice her out."

"If your brother wasn't throwing money at the school board to back you up, what would you even be?"

"I can't believe I ever had feelings for a girl like you."

Those words hammered into my heart like nails.

That night, I cried myself to sleep in Harrison's arms, the only one who had stayed.

But now, even he didn't want me anymore.

A long silence stretched between my brother and me.

Finally, he sighed.

"You are my only sister, Ivy." His voice softened. "The thought of sending you so far away breaks my heart."

He reached out and cupped my face.

"But I can't bear to watch you keep suffering here, either."

If I submitted the application, the wildlife organization's plane would take me away from this city in exactly three days.

"Think this through carefully over the next three days," he murmured. "Once you decide, come find me anytime."

I nodded, fighting hard to keep my tears from falling.

The next day back at school, just as I walked past the corner, I saw Harrison standing at the end of the hallway.

My chest instantly tightened.

He leaned against the wall, bathed in the golden evening sun. In his hand, he held a record with a faded vintage sleeve.

I recognized it instantly.

Just last week at the music festival, Nova had pointed at this rare, out-of-print record and casually mentioned she liked it.

At the time, he had looked at Nova like she was his entire world.

He noticed me, and that familiar, gentle smile surfaced on his face once again.

"Ivy?"

I quickly looked away, hastily wiped the corner of my eyes, and walked straight past him.

"Wait." He caught up to me. "Ivy, where are you going?"

I didn't stop and kept walking.

A burning lump rose in my throat, making it impossible for me to make a sound.

A few seconds later, his footsteps stopped.

I slowed my pace and turned around.

Harrison stood at the other end of the hallway, the evening breeze lifting his hair.

He reached out a hand, carefully shielding the record, afraid the wind might blow dust onto it.

Something inside me broke.

"Harrison!" My trembling voice echoed down the empty corridor. "Did you call out to me just to show me this?"

A few students passing by looked over at the sound. But he just stood there quietly.

An inexplicable panic surged inside me.

I should just go to him. Fine, I would give in and make the first move.

I bit my lip hard and took a step toward him.

But his voice drifted over before I could.

His tone was gentle, but it carried an absolute finality that left no room for negotiation.

"No, Ivy."

"I just wanted to let you know that I probably won't be sitting with you at lunch anymore."

I hadn't even uttered a single word.

He turned around and walked toward Nova's locker.