My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 23

Aidan, back then...

There was this thing about Ivy, the way she moved through the halls like some kind of silent force that knows just where to hit you. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t mess with my head.

Whenever I saw her in class or down by her locker, something in my chest tightened. I could feel the pull, that dangerous tug toward her, and every bit of me screamed to push back.

I was no stranger to pain. It had been a constant companion throughout my life. But Ivy—she was a different sort of agony. It was the kind that came with the fear of letting someone in, the kind that made you worry not just about your own heart but theirs, too.

Funny how someone so soft-spoken, with a knack for kindness, could stir up such chaos inside a guy like me.

How fucking annoying.

After I accidentally helped her yesterday, I decided to avoid her today. So when I saw her standing by my locker, irritation flared inside me. Was she attempting to be my friend again? Not a chance in hell I’d let her.

"Hi Aiden," she said, all smiles. "I got something for you." she held out what looked like one of those hot boxes in front of me.

"What’s this? Your way of saying sorry for existing?" The words slipped out, venomous and sharp, a defense mechanism I couldn’t seem to shut off.

"Please, just try it," Ivy murmured, her voice laced with hope and something that sounded suspiciously like worry.

I took the box from her hand and opened the lid. My mouth started to water immediately as I looked at the contents inside. There sat a juicy-looking piece of meat surrounded by potatoes and carrots, and it was still steaming and smelled delicious.

She brought me food?

"What’s this?" I asked dumbly.

"My mom made some pot roast, so I brought you some," she said shyly.

"Right, because I’m some charity case that needs feeding." My laugh was hollow, bouncing off the lockers. I wanted to push her away, to keep the distance between us that felt safe and familiar. Accepting her meal felt like accepting a part of her, and that was territory I wasn’t ready to tread.

She blinked rapidly, and I watched as a single tear betrayed her, escaping down her cheek. "It’s not like that, Aidan. I just thought you’d appreciate a home-cooked meal."

"Appreciate?" I scoffed. "You think I need your pity meals?" My hostility was a shield, and I wielded it clumsily, knowing even as I said the words that they would cut deep.

Ivy’s shoulders slumped, the hurt clear in her eyes.

"Sorry, I... I’ll just go," she stammered, turning on her heel.

Her effort had been genuine, a gesture from her big-hearted nature, but all I could do was throw it back in her face.

I hated myself in that moment, hated the fear that kept me from reaching out and stopping her. But more than that, I hated that I cared enough to want to.

I looked down at the container again and my stomach growled. I picked up the fork inside the box and took a bite of the roast.

Holy shit, this was delicious!

Before I knew it, I had devoured the entire container. My stomach felt warm and satisfied, but there was still an ache inside of me.

I couldn’t believe how cruel I had been to Ivy. She had only been trying to do something nice for me, and I had thrown it back in her face without a second thought.

What kind of person did that make me?

But even as guilt gnawed at me, fear still held me back from apologizing. Fear of letting someone get too close, fear of opening up and being vulnerable. It was easier to push people away with harsh words and cold actions than risk getting hurt again.

When I saw her in class, I slammed the container on her desk, startling her.

"It’s empty," I simply said and went back to my desk.

She smiled at me. "I’m glad you liked it," she said sweetly.

Damn her and her infuriating kindness!

"Alright, everyone. It’s time for another group project," Mr. Carter announced.

I stopped thinking about Ivy’s smile and turned my attention back to the teacher. What kind of loser was he going to pair me with this time?

"Aiden and Ivy. You two pair up for this too," Mr. Carter declared.

What the fuck? Again?

My hand balled into a fist beneath the desk, nails biting into my palm as if I could squeeze out the frustration like juice from a lemon, so much for avoiding her.

"Great," I muttered under my breath, flashing a fake smile across the room where she sat, her blue eyes briefly meeting mine before skittering away like startled deer. The corners of her mouth twitched upward in a hesitant grin, and she tucked a wave of chestnut hair behind her ear, the gesture so timid it was almost invisible.

Why did she look pleased by this? She should be horrified!

I dragged my gaze back to my notebook, scribbling meaningless lines on the paper.

"Seriously?" snorted Jason, leaning back on his stool with a grin that stretched too wide for his face. "It seems that you two are meant to be together. Forever," he commented.

"Knock it off," I said sharply.

Mia nudged me with her elbow. "Yo, you could always ask Mr. Carter to switch partners. Tell him you don’t want her nerdiness to rub off on you," she joked.

True. I should do that, I thought to myself.

I raised my hand. "Mr. Carter?"

Mr. Carter glanced up from his desk, his brows furrowing slightly at the interruption. "Yes, Aiden? Is there a problem?"

I hesitated for a moment, the words catching in my throat. How could I explain that the thought of working with Ivy filled me with a strange mix of dread and longing? That every time I looked at her, I felt something stirring deep inside me, something I couldn’t quite name?

"I was wondering if it would be possible to switch partners for the project," I said finally, my voice sounding more confident than I felt.

Mr. Carter raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my request. "Is there a particular reason why you’d like to switch, Aiden?"

I glanced over at Ivy, who was watching me with a curious expression, her eyes filled with a mixture of hurt and confusion.

"Just a personal preference," I replied vaguely, avoiding Mr. Carter’s gaze.

"The last project you did together was excellent, so I believe you two work well together. If you don’t have a good reason, then I suggest you continue to work with Miss Williams," Mr. Carter said.

Ivy’s hand shot up, making the teacher turn to her this time. "Yes?"

"I...if Aidan doesn’t want to work with me, I don’t want to force him," she said timidly. "I am okay with switching partners," she said.

Mr. Carter nodded. "Very well. If that’s what you both want, then I’ll make the necessary arrangements."

Of course, the teacher changed his mind because Princess Ivy asked for it.

"I changed my mind. I don’t want to switch partners," I announced.

Ivy’s eyes widened in surprise as she turned to look at me. Mr. Carter regarded me with a raised eyebrow, clearly taken aback by my sudden change of heart.

"Are you sure, Aiden?" he asked, his tone cautious.

I met his gaze head-on, my jaw set in determination. "Yeah, I’m sure. Ivy and I make a good team. I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t continue working together."

"Very well, then. It’s settled. You two will be partners for the project," he declared, turning back to his desk to make a note of the arrangement.

"What are you doing?" Mia whispered.

I shrugged and turned to my notebook. I didn’t feel like I owed anyone any explanation. I liked to do whatever the fuck I pleased.

~-~

Ivy approached me at my locker after class.

"Hey. So I was thinking. We should meet up after class to work on this," Ivy said.

I raised my eyebrows. "And how do you suggest we do that?"

"Well...you could come to my house? My parents won’t mind," she said.

I snorted. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined being invited to Ivy Williams’s house. "You got some balls asking me to come over to your house."

"Do you prefer to study at your house then?" she asked naively.

I imagined the state of my so-called home and felt a chill run down my spine. I wouldn’t even let my closest friends step inside, let alone this wealthy girl who had no concept of what it meant to live in poverty. The idea of her inspecting every corner and sneering at the sight of it made me feel sick to my stomach.

"No. Your place is fine," I huffed.

"Great." A smile lit up her face, and she rattled off her address before scurrying away.

Despite my disdain toward her lifestyle, there was a part of me that couldn’t shake the curiosity, the desire to see where Ivy came from, to understand the world she inhabited. I wondered what her parents were like. Would they turn their nose at me?

Yeah, probably.