I watched four more videos.

The letter from Brown University came on a typical hump day.

I was making breakfast for Jett and Nora before school. Their aunt and uncle had already left for work, so the house was quiet. I could hear their alarm clocks going off from upstairs. The noise from the doorbell was shockingly loud.

Peering out the window, I was surprised to see Mrs. Kennedy standing there. She got home a few days before. It had been over a week since Elliott broke up with me, and I hadn't seen any of the other kids since. I had seen Mrs. Kennedy, who came over to thank me for all I did.

"Hi, Mrs. Kennedy," I said as I opened the door. "How are you?"

"I'm good, dear." She stuck out a white envelope. "This came in our mail for you. I think the mailman still thinks you're living at our house!"

I smiles and took the letter. "I'm sorry about that. I'll try to make some calls to fix that. Thank you for bringing this over."

"No problem," she said. "You know, while I'm here, I should invite you to dinner. We invited Flynn's family over and Nora is coming too. It's a goodbye for Flynn before he goes to college tomorrow. The kids really miss you."

I opened my mouth, trying to think of any excuse to tell her. "Uh.."

"Oh! Don't feel pressured! I just wanted to throw that out there. Stop by if you want. Don't stop by if you don't want to. Just know the invitation is there."

"Okay," I said and smiled. "Thank you."

"Sure, sure. Have a nice day, Ivy."

"Bye, Mrs. Kennedy."

Brown University gave me financial aid for my four years at the college. It's enough where I'd still be in some debt after college, but not nearly as much as before. It's enough to make me want to enroll. I'd be able to start next semester.

This all came out of the blue after the long silent treatment I had been getting from Brown. I bet the email where I desperately told my life story made them change their minds. It's really the only explanation for them to be this generous.

As for the dinner, I didn't go. I stayed home with Jett. We watched YouTube tutorials on how to train a turtle for hours. Myrtle is now a very obedient tortoise thanks to us.

I still said goodbye to Flynn when he came back over with Nora. They said Elliott wasn't even at dinner, so I should've came. But I said training Myrtle was more important to me, an obvious lie - no offense to Myrtle or anything. I really do miss the Kennedy's.

And of course I realize I can just go across the street and see them anytime I'd like to. I just have this horrible feeling that Elliott might open the door. I'm not ready to face him.

I'm not even close to being over him. How could I be? I spent three months slowly falling in love with him. Once all of my walls had been broken down, he left me shaking cold in an unprotected emptiness. I fully believed he'd be there to protect me. I wasn't expecting heartbreak, at least not at the exact moment I told him how I felt. I guess I waited too long.

It has been really hard dealing with all of this. I'm alone most of the day while Jett and Nora are at school. I don't have any friends to keep me company now that they're all at college.

I've been so desperate to hang out with someone that I even called Jake. He went to college at University of Washington. I guess Harvard never accepted him...poor Mrs. Acker. I haven't heard if he and Carter are still together or not. I hope not.

"Hi. Table for three."

I look up from the podium, smiling at the customers. "Right this way." I take three menus and walk to a table in the corner of the restaurant. "Enjoy, guys."

"Thanks," one of the guests says and takes his seat.

I walk back to the podium and scribble in a mark for that table. I got a job at the Sushi & Noodles House last week. Because I've been so bored recently, I decided it would be best to busy myself with making money. It's actually a very nice, simple job. I'm the hostess, so I don't have too many responsibilities. I've gotten pretty close to the other workers as well.

"Hey, Ivy, who does that man look like?" Levi, one of the waiters, asks, nudging me with his elbow.

"Uh," I pause and debate it for a minute, "I'm not sure."

"What?" He laughs. "He's an exact replica of Ice-T!"

I squint my eyes. "I don't know about that."

"Are you kidding me? Ivy, I'm starting to think that's actually him."

"There's no way Ice-T is going to come to Sushi & Noodles House, Levi," I mutter and cross my arms over my chest. "You're just trying to embarrass me because you know I want to go and ask him for a photo."

Levi smiles. "I'm one-hundred percent not joking when I say that I am seventy-nine percent certain that is Ice-T."

I raise an eyebrow and stare at the man once again. Now that I think about it, he does look a lot like Ice-T. "Stop me before I go over there."

"Wait," Levi pulls on my elbow gently. "Let's ask Clarissa what she thinks first."

Clarissa hates Levi. That's a known fact. She's forty-three and should be home taking care of her children, but instead she has to work part time here and deal with Levi all day. At least she likes me.

"Riss, tell me that is not Ice-T."

"Uh, I'm pretty sure that's just water," she says, squinting her eyes at the glass in front of the celebrity.

Levi slaps his forehead. "No, Clarissa, I meant the man! I think it's Ice-T, the rapper and actor."

"From Law & Order? I love that show!" she gasps. "Oh my gosh... Do you think that's really him?"

"Yes! Well...I don't know! I just-"

"Excuse me."

We all stop talking, surprised to see a family waiting to be seated. I clear my throat and quickly rush over to help them. Levi and Clarissa run back to the kitchen, whispering about Ice-T.

"I'm sorry. How many?"

"Four. The fourth is parking the car now," the girl says with a smile.

I nod. "Okay. Right this way." I take them over to an empty table and hand out the menus. "Your server will be here soon. Enjoy."

"Thanks."

Levi rushes out of the kitchen to start taking their order. I head back to the podium, my eyes constantly looking over to Ice-T, or the guy who just looks a lot like Ice-T.

Mikey loves Ice-T. We watched the show Ice Loves Coco together religiously. He would die if he knew Ice-T was here and I didn't even get a picture with him or talk to him. I just have to say something!

"Riss, I'm going in," I say dramatically, moving out from behind the podium and walking towards Ice-T.

Levi looks at me with wide eyes when he sees me walking towards him. I give him a sly underhand high-five.

"Hi!" I say when I get to the table.

Ice-T and his friend stop eating, looking up at me in confusion. I realize how dumb I seem right now and form my mouth into an 'O'.

"Hi?" Ice-T says, setting down his chopsticks.

"Hi...can I get a photo with you?"

He looks at his friend before looking back at me. "Uh...sure."

I hand his friend my phone and crouch down to be at the same level as Ice-T. Once the picture is taken, I smile even wider.

"Thank you so much! I'm a huge fan," I blurt, taking my phone back. "I love your music. And your acting. And your show on E!."

"Wait," Ice-T holds his hands up, "who do you think I am?"

That's when I realize I just took a photo with a guy who just kind of looks like Ice-T. Dammit, Levi.

"Um..." I look around the restaurant in a panic. "Let me move these plates out of your way!"

I spin around quickly with the ceramic plates, mortified that I actually did that. I run into someone, and the plates break into multiple pieces on the floor. This is why I'm just a hostess.

"Are you okay?" I ask the man I hit, touching his suit coat with my hand.

"Are you?" he asks sweetly, lifting his head up and meeting my gaze.

My heart leaps to my throat.

He's about to say something when Levi comes running over with a broom in one hand and a mop in the other.

"Ivy, this is why you're just a hostess," he laughs and hands me the mop while he sweeps up the shattered plate remains.

I stay frozen with a dumb look on my face and a mop in my hand.

"I didn't know you worked here," Elliott says, stepping to the side so Levi could sweep where his feet were.

I nod. "I just started."

"Well, I'm sorry for running into you."

"No, I ran into you," I say. "I-I just took a photo with that guy because I thought he was Ice-T, but he wasn't. So, I tried to run away and then I ran into you and broke plates on your body. I'm sorry."

Elliott smiles, surely trying to break my heart even more. "No damage has been done."

I nod. "Good. I have to help Levi mop now."

"Yeah, yeah." He turns to go to his table of work friends, stopping and taking a step closer to me. "Not to make you feel any worse, but that guy looks nothing like Ice-T." Then he walks away.

I start mopping once Levi finishes getting all the pieces of the plates. He comes back with another mop, probably wanting to talk to me more than work.

"So, was that him?"

"Ice-T? No! It was some stranger," I mutter. "Good job being seventy-nine percent incorrect."

"Okay, to be clear, I knew that wasn't Ice-T."

"What?" I gasp, whacking his arm. "You jerk!"

"Sorry. I'm bored and you're gullible." He laughs. "But what I meant was that the guy? Your ex? The reason you wouldn't go on a date with me?"

"Oh. Yeah. That was Elliott," I say.

"Is that the first time you've seen him since you two broke up?"

I nod. "Couldn't you tell by how awkward I was being?"

"I don't know. You're usually just pretty awkward in general," he pauses, "but I guess that would be classified as extreme awkwardness."

I laugh and stick the mop in the bucket. "How late are you working today?"

"Uh, I think I get off at like five. Why?"

"Oh, well, there's this movie I wanted to see playing in town tonight. You know the theater about a block away?"

He nods. "Ah, yeah! I worked there in high school. What movie are they showing?"

"I Love You, Beth Cooper."

Levi's eyes widen. "Ivy, are you joking? That's the movie you want to see? I've never seen a worse movie!"

I sigh and place my hands on my hips. "Look, I never got to see it in theaters because I had to babysit when all my friends went. It's one of my favorite movies. I heard it was playing tonight and I want to see it. And I kind of don't want to go alone."

"Alright," Levi breathes out. "I'll go with you."

"Yeah?"

"You know I love you, Ivy Lynch."

I laugh, cringing at the same time because of the use of my full name. Jake Acker sort of overused that one.

We ask Clarissa if she wants to go with us tonight. She turns down the offer. The chefs also reject us. We eventually get two other workers to promise to go with though, Amy and Mo. They're in college like Levi. All three of them attend the community college in town.

Elliott leaves without any type of goodbye. It could've been because I was hiding in the girls' bathroom, but who knows. I just didn't feel like dealing with it. I already broke plates on him.

"See you, guys!" I say after clocking out. "Amy, Mo, I'm counting on you two. If you don't show up, Levi is going to start thinking we're on a date."

Levi rolls his eyes, making a face. "You wish!"

I laugh and walk out of the restaurant to head to my car. Driving home, I'm unable to stop thinking about Elliott. He looked very handsome and official in his work clothes. It was a little odd seeing him that professionalish and talking all businessy with those fancy adults.

He also had those beautiful, soft eyes that I missed so much. The look he gave me was comforting in one of the weirdest ways. Obviously I miss him. I shouldn't. But getting over him seems impossible right now.

The radio plays an REO Speedwagon song, and I'm quick to shut it off. It feels like he follows me everywhere.

At home, Jett is back from school. He's at the table doing homework. Nora should be home any minute, unless she stays later after school.

"How was work?"

"Fun. I sort of almost met Ice-T." I sit down next to him at the table. "But then it ended up not being him."

Jett shakes his head. "I bet it looked nothing like him. Did you ask for a photo with him?"

"Might've." I pull my phone out to show him the photo.

"Ivy," Jett says slowly, "that man looks nothing like Ice-T. I mean, maybe I see a little Ice Cube."

I sigh and put my phone back in my pocket. "Yeah, well. We all make mistakes. So, did you see Jonas today?"

"Yes, Ivy. I see him everyday. We've been over this. He didn't mention you."

"Right." I drum my fingers on his oversized textbook. "I was just wondering how he's doing, you know? I mean, I wonder how they're all doing."

"Why don't you just go over there and talk to them then?" Jett asks sassily, waving his pencil around.

I shrug and stand up from the table. "Well, I'm going to the movies tonight and I probably won't wake up to make you breakfast tomorrow. So, in case this is our last goodbye," I crouch down to squeeze him tightly, "bye, bye, J."

"Okay."

I laugh and go upstairs to change out of my uniform. I throw my hair into a messy bun and put on a comfy, oversized sweater with leggings. Sitting on my bed, I open my laptop and helplessly start Facebook stalking Elliott.

He doesn't post much. Actually, he hasn't posted since July. But he has added some new friends. They seem older, and I guess they're from his work. He's been recently tagged in work party photos, photos from the cliff, and photos from Flynn's dorm room. Not even two weeks since Flynn left passed and the two had to see each other. Pretty sure I just don't understand how best friends work.

Except Elliott was my best friend. And thinking about that hurts. A lot.

I find myself going through Flynn's posts from the Fourth of July. There's photos of the three of us later at night after everyone else left. We all look so happy. And I was genuinely happy.

"Ivy, this is the last thing you should be doing right now," Nora says when she walks into my room, pointing at my screen that happens to be lit up with Elliott's face. "You need to stop holding on to him."

"I'm not," I mutter. "I was just looking at Flynn's profile because I noticed he changed his cover photo from the three of us to just the two of you, which honestly hurts my feelings."

Nora shakes her head, seeing through my lie. "Jett told me you had a date tonight. You don't go on a date right after staring at a photo of your ex!"

"I'm not going on a date."

"Well, is attractive Levi going?" she asks.

"My friend Levi is going," I say. "And he's not even that attractive. Also, we're going with two other people."

She nods. "Okay, well, you should look cute on this double date. You should curl your hair! Can I do it?"

"Nora," I pause, "I'm not dressing up for the movies."

She groans and leaves my room. "You're the worst!"

"Aw, thank you so much, Nor."

~~

"I can't believe we were the only ones in the theater!" I exclaim, throwing my purse over my shoulder.

"I can. That movie sucks," Levi says.

"Amy, you liked it, right?"

Amy smiles kindly. "Not really."

"I liked it," Mo admits. "Beth Cooper was hot. I was able to distract myself from the terrible dialogue by just looking at her."

I shake my head in disbelief. "You know what... I'm never suggesting a movie for movie night ever again!"

"Good," Levi laughs.

"Oh my gosh. Can we make movie night a thing?" Amy asks hopefully. "I've always wanted to do movie nights! Let's go see a movie together every Thursday! It can be like fight club, but movie club."

Mo raises his eyebrow suspiciously. "I guess that would be fun. Kind of weird. But fun."

Amy jumps up and down excitedly. "Ivy? Levi? You guys in?"

"Sure," Levi says. "What do you say worst-movie-picker-ever?"

I cross my arms over my chest. "I say no."

"What?"

"I won't join until you guys say that you enjoyed watching I Love You, Beth Cooper," I decide stubbornly.

"We'll just replace you with Clarissa," Mo threatens.

For a minute, I almost cracked.

"Fine, fine," Levi sighs. "I absolutely loved watching I Love You, Beth Cooper."

I smile and turn to Mo and Amy. Mo mumbles his response. Amy nearly shouts it in excitement, eager to officiate the movie club.

"I hear by declare the start to Thursday Night Movie Club. The Founders, myself, Levi Webster, Harriet Morrison, and Ivy Lynch, agree to respect and prioritize movie night every Thursday. Shall it go down in history!"

"To Movie Club!"

~~

When I got home, Elliott was waiting at the front porch in the dark. I debated going around the back and ignoring him, but we already made eye contact.

"Hey," he stands up from the doorstep.

I nod, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Uh," he pauses, "Flynn told me today that Brown contacted you. I-I just wanted to say congratulations. That's so awesome."

"Yeah. Thanks."

"Sure, sure. Are you excited?" He laughs. "Dumb question. Of course you are."

I force a smile.

"Hey," he sways his arms back and forth, "you're wearing your movie outfit. What'd you go see?"

I look down at my clothes, as if I didn't dress myself. "Oh, uh, I Love You, Beth Cooper."

"No way! They were showing that in theaters?" he asks in surprise.

"Yeah. I had to go."

"Yeah, you did. How was it? Did you go to that old theater?"

I nod. "It was actually super cool. Everything was so old-fashioned and adorable."

"Ah, I'm so jealous!" he exclaims, his laughter warming my heart in the ugliest of ways.

I don't say anything, probably because I get a thrill out of all the awkwardness and pain I'm feeling right now.

"Well, congrats again, Ivy," he says softly. "You really deserve this."

"Thank you. Night."

He nods and stands there for awhile, even though that was supposed to be his cue to leave. "I'm sorry."

"Okay," I say curtly.

"I wish I could've explained myself better. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings like that."

"Well, you dumped me. I don't know how you could've avoid hurting my feelings, so don't worry about it too much."

He sighs. "Ivy, you don't get it."

"What? What is it that I don't understand, Elliott?" I ask in annoyance. "I'm sorry I don't want to be your friend, but I don't! I don't want to talk to you. I don't like this. I don't want to be around you because it hurts me, alright? You hurt me."

He looks down at the wet grass, his shoes worn and dirty from all those nights at the cliff. "I know that. You don't have to keep reminding me."

"I think I do because somewhere in that head of yours you think that I can just accept what you did to me and happily move on," I say angrily.

"I don't want to lose you!" he yells, his voice strained.

I shake my head, letting out a scoff. "It's a little late for that."

"I know!" He paces back and forth. "Just because I don't want a girlfriend doesn't mean I couldn't use you as a friend."

"Funny choice of words there, Li," I say. "Use you."

"I didn't mean it like that," he mutters. "You're important to me, Ivy."

"Then why'd you break my heart? Why'd you