wild and running || a.b. (series on hold)

Andy and I arrive at Marie's new house to see cars parked everywhere. Music is blaring and there are people everywhere. "Wow." I say as my eyes widen. Andy eventually finds a place to fit the car and we get out. I didn't know Marie was capable of this. As I walk to the house, I see a few familiar faces in the front yard, but I quickly walk past to enter the house. I wonder if William is here? I doubt it; he wouldn't come to anything like this. Andy stays behind me as I open up the front door.

As I tried to open the front door.

As soon as it opened, it hit a man in the back. "Watch it, bitch." He spits, and I flinch at his unexpected rudeness. "I'm so sorry." I say while putting my hand out apologetically. He grunts and turns back to whatever he was doing. There were people crowded in there as far as I could see. I understand while people were in the front yard. "Go in." Andy says while pushing me in. "Are you insane?" I replied while looking at him over my shoulder. "I used to go to these things all the time. Just go." He pushes me inside and I give him a small eye roll. I lift my chin up and walk through groups of people. Hot, sweaty skin brushes against me and I cringe.

I just need to find Marie.

I walk into the living area and spot her dress. "Marie!" I scream over the music. She doesn't turn so I squeeze between more dancing people to get to her. "What is this? Is your house now a club?" I ask her and she turns to me. She gasps and wraps her arms around me. "Thank goodness you're here. I don't even know what happened, Ivory. You give people an inch and they take a mile." I raise my eyebrows, "Tell me about it." I grunt in response. My focus changed to the group behind her. Grace, Ried, Ben, Trevor, and a few other people I knew were all chatting amongst themselves.

"You know parties aren't my thing." I whisper to her as anxiety floods through my body. "I know, but you need to get used to it. Let lose, have fu-" She freezes as she looks at someone behind me. Her eyes glimmer with panic. "Okay, well... Someone showed up that wasn't supposed to be here. Stay calm. Breathe. It's okay. You're gonna be okay. I can ask him to leave, but get ready because he's right there-" She blurts quickly, and before I could process anything she said she smiles brightly at the person behind me. "Hey!" She opens her arms and I freeze, afraid of the numerous people it could be. A shoulder brushed against me and my head snaps to the back of a tall, well built man with brown-black hair. He was dressed in a tight dry-fit navy blue shirt and s pair of khakis. "Hey, Marie. How are you?" The deep voice rings.

I know that voice.

The voice that's haunted my dreams for so many years.

The voice I could never forget, no matter how hard o

No.

No. Please. No. Please, no.

She looks at me over his shoulder, only possible because he was bending over, and her eyes widen and mine do also. My whole body tenses and my heart drops to my stomach. My blood runs cold throughout my body in a matter of a second. "I'm good, you?" She asks him, her eyes flash to me and back to his face as he talked to her. I couldn't even hear what he was saying. The blood rushing through my body and my heart was all I could hear. My hands began to sweat and my legs started to get weak. This is the first time I've seen him in years, ever since he left me.

I need to get away, but I can't.

I'm paralyzed.

"Oh, Clay," the name stings my heart as it comes off her lips, "do you remember Ivory?" I pulled myself together as he stood up straight and turned to me. His ocean blue eyes swept over me like a tide as I stood frozen.

Come on, I'm stronger than this.

His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at my face, "Ivory?" He questioned. His eyes glistened and a a needle went through my heart. I nodded. A smile spread across his lips.