I was appalled at the behavior my parents were displaying.

Watching Ivy go hurt my heart more than it should've. I couldn't believe there were people that had the decency to say harmful things like that—especially mine who would act this way.

This was exactly why I didn't want to come here.

I should've expected they weren't gonna change. Not even a bit. No matter how hard I worked or tried to make a name for myself. To make them proud. I would never be good enough for them. 

They could hate me all they wanted. They can tell me how much I'm wasting my time. Though to disrespect the only woman who truly understood me inside and out—even more than Heather...I wouldn't stand for it.

As soon as I heard the door slam, Ivy was gone. Matter of fact, I should leave too. If she wasn't wanted here, then I don't want to be here either. But not before a rush of emotions overcame me and made my mouth do something I never thought I had the guts to.

Spinning back toward them as they stared coldly at me, I smirked glaring. "How dare ya speak to her like that?"

"Excuse me?!" My Dad snapped, crossing his arms.

"Ya heard me!" I fired back, feeling the adrenaline racing in.

"Levi, remember who you're talking to..." My Mom added.

"Well, I want to say you're my parents who raised and used to love me—even if I've done something they thought was wrong unconditionally! But I swear I don't even know who both of ya are anymore, if this is behavior ya think is acceptable!" I charged.

"Now wait a moment, you don't-" My Dad tried to utter out.

I didn't care what more he had to say anymore. They had their chance to make things right, and I was officially done with them if they didn't want that.

"No, no this is the part where ya stop talking for once in ya life, if nothing but trash is gonna come out of your mouths!" They stared at me speechless. Finally. That would do them some good. "To answer the big question that ya may have on ya mind, yes! I'm still writing and playing music! I bring in an audience, me and my partner—Ivy, who sings like an angel which matches her kind heart. We're about to be discovered! This was her idea to even let me give ya a second chance, and this is how you're gonna treat someone ya don't even know?! Come at me! Blame me for your miserable lives! But don't ya even think about attacking a gorgeous young woman who's my friend! Ya may have your beliefs, but I have mine! And if ya want me to be ever back into your lives, then ya better get your act together and change! Ya might learn something from her while you're at it!"

"Oh come on son look at her, what can that girl teach us?" My Dad then asked.

I wasn't a son to him if all they were speaking of was just the color of her skin. I loved that skin. It made her who she was...and that was beautiful.

"How to not be so ignorant."

I stared them down as they didn't let out another sound as I rolled my eyes, rushing out of the house myself. I didn't need them to be rooting for me. I had a good thing going friendship wise with her and I'd be a fool to ever give that up over whatever cultural differences we had.

Music never saw color and neither did I.

Hoping to be there to comfort the sweet and innocent soul in any way I could, I peered into the car.

Yet...she wasn't there.

God, if only she knew how much I cared for her.

            IVY 

After taking one of the longest bus rides of my life, I was back at home.

Though I wanted to cry my eyes out in my room at how small I truly had still felt, but I had other things I needed to do as the poor woman people hated apparently. I couldn't let my siblings think something was wrong and worry about me.

I just hoped Levi could mend what was broken now without me in his way.

It was all I wanted for him.

In his amazing eyes, I could tell that fixing everything would really make him feel more brave and sure in himself. To be validated by knowing the ones he loved were proud of him for once.

"Ivy! Jordan ain't sharing the football with me again!" Diana exclaimed, entering the kitchen from our tiny yet manageable backyard.

I was in the kitchen fixing everyone some lunch as Mama was taking a nap. "Don't worry D, I'll come out in a few and straighten him all out." I told her.

"How? Did ya play before in school?"

"Nope! But I can sit on his head until he decides to include us girls too." I assured. She laughed. Hey, I could really be strong when provoked. "Now y'all better keep it down, ya hear? We don't wanna wake Mama up, do we?" She shook her head vigorously in a silly but adorable way, assisting me by drying the dishes I had just begun to wash too.

"Ivy?!" Joy then rushed into the room, stretching her body out from sitting too long.

"Yes Joy, I know. But no, we ain't getting a new radio just yet with our new money because I'm going to buy y'all some new clothes instead. It's about time we get out of some of these hand-me-downs." I answered, knowing it was surely long overdue if my attires were all 'raggedy'.

She groaned and shrugged rather quickly, shaking her head. "Whatever ya say. Though I was really wondering why there's a white man heading to our front lawn right now." She casually spoke.

My eyes widened as I dropped a plate I was cleaning on the floor. Quickly the shattered pieces of it couldn't even mask the sound of my heart beating rapidly in my head, as to what that meant.

"What?!" I could only make out, racing up to the window and slightly peeking out.

Diana followed suit, being less subtle about it—opening the entire blinds whole.

Oh my god. It wasn't just any man. It was Levi!

He looked like a little lost puppy compared to everyone else who was walking about out there now, giving him the looks I'd grown accustomed to over in his neck of the woods.

This ain't good. This really ain't good. He was gonna scare all our neighbors.

"He sure looks pretty cute though..." Joy then sighed happily next to us now, leaning her head against her hand. She should join the club.

If he was off painfully off limits for me, he definitely ain't no match for her.

"Joy!" Diana then shouted, shocked at her behavior.

"What? My eyes see cute in every color." She defended.

If only the world thought that way too. But I had to get him out there and in here quickly before more people would think the same.

Then who knows what will happen after?

🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

We had a double POV in this one! And my oh my, Mr. Levi surely by now has my heart! lol

I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

See ya next time! ;)