Chasing Ivy (Oak Hill 1)

Pulling my phone out, I gave Eric an incredulous glare.

I saw Mia’s name on my screen and my heart fell. I looked at the small numbers at the top of my phone, noting that it was just after three.

She had class at this time.

I swiped my finger over, evening out my voice. “Hello?”

She screeched. “Where the hell are you!?”

My voice wavered with panic. “At the bank. Why?”

“Uh… have you talked to Dawson? I’m really, really confused right now.”

Just the sound of his name had my heart blasting up to space. “Why?”

Mia breathed loudly into the phone. I took my other hand and rubbed it anxiously over my face, glancing once at Eric, who was looking at me with apprehension. Eric and I may have broken up and ended on bad terms, but I knew he still cared about me. Obviously.

“So, I was just called into the dean’s office.”

My throat began to close as my hands started to shake.

I had to get the tape, and I had to get it now. What if it’s too late?!

Mia’s voice trembled, “Why didn’t you tell me you were paying for half of my college, Ivy?” I was about to answer, but she kept going. “The dean told me everything. About you paying for the rest of my college and how Mrs. Connors threatened you and tried to con you into breaking up with Dawson… which I don’t even understand that part but I was informed of how she was going to get my scholarship taken away, leaving you to foot the rest of the bill. What were you thinking?! Why didn’t you say something?!”

My mind was currently spiraling all over the place.

“Wait, what? How did the dean know all that?”

“DAWSON!” she yelled. “He came in and told the dean everything, and then we all had a meeting and he asked if I knew anything about the situation. Which I didn’t, so thanks for keeping me in the dark. I’m so mad at you right now… but I can’t really be since you’re so damn selfless. GAH.”

My eyes were wide and my heart was frantically trying to escape my chest to win a race I didn’t sign up for. “Where’s Dawson?” I asked, out of breath.

I ignored Eric who said, “Dawson? The old best friend, Dawson? Is that why you’ve been ignoring me? Are you with him now?”

“He’s probably headed to you. He left before me because the dean wanted to talk with me a li

ttle longer about the situation. Did you not tell Dawson, either? I’m so damn confused.”

Breath escaped my body. Dawson. I had to go get Dawson.

“I’ll explain later!” I said, hanging up the phone.

I took one more look at Eric and said, “I’m sorry. I’m in love with my old best friend!”

And then I took off running to my car like I was back on the track team, trying to win our school finals.

Dawson, I’m coming for you.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Dawson

Becca used to be the one person I hated. I mean, after she yelled at me and slapped me when Ivy left six years ago and then wouldn’t tell me where she was, I loathed her.

I held a grudge so deep that I didn’t think I’d ever fully be on “okay” terms with her, but now, I was going to get a statue made of her and put it in my front lawn. She’d called me late Wednesday night, only a few hours after I’d left Ivy standing on the porch of her house, and told me everything.

Shortly after I’d left Ivy, I’d headed straight to Breanna’s because honestly, she was the only person I knew who had that much beef with Ivy – well, other than her mother.