16

                                    

                                          
We're silent for a few seconds as I continue to eat the delicious cake. Honestly, I want to come here every day.

                          
I have a mouthful when I feel Jackson tense. His eyes trained on something behind me. Slowly I turn around and watch as Max and Luca walk into the shop, and the girls I saw earlier quickly waved them over. 
                          
Max and Luca sat opposite Grace and her friend and started to laugh about something. But then I see that cow's head nod over in the direction of Jackson and me. 
                          
God this is going to be fun. 
                          
The boys follow the direction she pointed at and they both stares confused in our direction. 
                          
"Oh god." I breath
                          
"It's fine. They won't say anything." He mutters back at me.
                          
"Jackson they're literally coming over."
                          
I watch as the two boys make their way over towards us. My legs underneath the table are bouncing frantically but I am trying to compose my face. My carefree, cake-loving mood was having to morph back into bitchy mean girl mode. 
                          
"Richardson" Max says as he slaps Jackson's hand in hello. 
                          
"Hey man." Luca says greeting Jackson as well. 
                          
"Hi." Jackson says back, his voice laced with hesitance. I wonder if they can notice that too.
                          
"What are you doing here?" Max says and looks at me. My face is straight. Not giving anything away. 
                          
"Not much, just getting some food." Jack gestures to our table. That's littered with two pretty empty cake plates. 
                          
"But why?" Luca asks. And I cringe. That's pretty rude. But I get it, it's still pretty random to me that I'm spending time with Jackson. Let alone for others. 
                          
I can't just sit here and let them have a conversation over me. I may not like confrontation anymore but I also don't like to be ignored, or spoken over. And I also don't want to show, that that is not me anymore. 
                          
It feels protective. The bitchy shell I have. 
                          
"Um, excuse me?" I say.

                          
Both Max and Luca flick their eyes over to me. 
                          
"We're just trying to have a conversation with our friend," Luca says condescendingly, it's as if these kids think I'm stupid. 
                          
"Well, I am just trying to eat cake with your friend so leave." I nod back towards Grace and her friend. To which I find them staring. Lifting my nose up I wave, belittling them. And I smirk as they both look away. That's how people are supposed to act around me, not like this.
                          
"Mind yourself Ivy, don't pretend you're bigger than you are." Max says he's grinning at me. It's not unfriendly or necessarily threatening but it certainly is amused. Which is infuriating and and slightly unnerving. 
                          
"Is that a threat Max because- "
                          
"Ivy calm down" Jackson snaps at me, probably pissed that I was speaking up.  I hate how it immediately makes me simmer down. 
                          
"I'll talk to you later Max." Jackson says to them indicating that this conversation is over. The boys have other ideas though.
                          
"Jack, don't get drawled in by her, I get that she's." Max looks at me. "Ivy. But do you not remember what she did to Jayden? or to Layton?" He looks a little guilty telling his mate to stay away from someone straight in front of said person. 
                          
I get it they're just looking out for Jackson. But who do they think I am? I don't bewitch people. They think I'm after Jackson in the same way they thought I was after Jayden and Layton. How fucked up is that. That people think you were the one after your own rapist.