The House Guest

                                    

                                          
Ivy:
                          
For the very first time in my life, I felt sad that summer was coming to an end. The Wood's made me feel like I was genuinely part of their family. I felt so welcomed and comfortable that I didn't even need Oliver by my side at every waking moment. 
                          
Over the couple of months I'd spent, I'd formed a personal connection with all three of his family members (four including the cat.) Allison and I played quidditch. Ewan and I could talk about what was happening in the wizarding world and the quidditch world. My most personal connection, however, was with Oliver's mom. Over the time I'd spent at their house, I realized just how similar Isla and I were. I related to her in an unusual way. 
                          
She and I could spend hours talking to one another. Sometimes we would discuss current issues, other times we would just chat about Oliver. I trusted her, not as the mother of my boyfriend, but as my friend. I really was going to miss all of them when we went back to school.
                          
One day during last week of summer, Oliver and his father went out to meet one of his dad's friends. Isla and Alli were going to a Mother-daughter summer picnic of sorts that Alli's school hosted every year. Both groups had invited me to join, however I told Oliver it would be weird for me to join in on a 'guys' thing, and I hadn't wanted to impose on a mother-daughter event either. 
                          
Instead, I was sitting on the living room couch, reading one of my new books. I absentmindedly stroked the grey cat who was curled up next to me and basking in the warm sun. 
                          
The house was peaceful. The windows were open, a soft breeze flowing in every so often. I was wearing one of Oliver's t-shirts and would get a waft of his scent every so often. Nothing could ruin the perfect atmosphere.
                          
Except that wasn't exactly true.
                          
A knock at the door mid-afternoon startled both Chip and I. The cat sprang up from his spot on the couch, leaving behind a warm imprint of his tiny body. I folded the page of my book and walked over to the door. I opened it up to find the one person I met this summer who I'd least want to be alone with.
                          
"Oh hey," Lottie's sentence faltered and she frowned as if she didn't know my name. I knew what she was doing.
                          
"Ivy," I added.
                          
"Right, Ivy, sorry," she shook her head.
                          
"It's ok, names are confusing," I offered. I tried to keep the sarcasm inside of my head, but I wasn't sure I'd been entirely successful. Before saying anything else, the girl strolled right into the house as if she owned the place and set the basket of muffins she'd been carrying on the table. Once I'd gotten over the shock of her sudden entrance, I closed the door and walked over to where she was.
                          
"Is anyone else home?" Lottie asked absentmindedly, sitting down at the table.  
                          
"Nope, just me." What the fuck is she doing? I'd hardly seen the girl besides the occasional visit to the village market where Oliver and I had quickly steered in the opposite direction. Now I didn't have him as a lookout. 
                          
"That's a shame. But, I did want to talk to you actually." She twirled a lock of her ginger hair between her fingers. 
                          
"Oh?" I asked, sitting down at the table. 
                          
"Yeah I feel like we got off on the wrong foot." No shit. "I'm sorry if I feel intimidating or anything," she smiled. "Truthfully, Oliver and I are good friends and I just want to approve of who he was dating." I wasn't entirely sure what to say. I resisted the urge to be passive aggressive and just ended up playing along.
                          
"It's ok, I get it," I replied. 
                          
"I'm happy he's finally dating someone, you know. I've known Ollie for awhile, and I would always say to him, 'I can't be the only girl in your life,'" she laughed. I faked a laugh at this. "Ollie will always be special to me, but there's room in my heart to share him."  I hated how she acted so possessive over him, as if it was her choice that he got to date someone. As if she was giving him permission to date me. Instead of voicing my anger, I just laughed.  She obviously looked somewhat surprised by my response. I could tell she wanted a reaction out of me, but I knew better. "Oh God and here I was thinking you'd be jealous of me," she laughed. I wanted to strangle her.