Cliché Short Story The colorful leaves danced in the brisk air as the 16 year old girl walked to her bus stop. The breeze blew her light brown hair slightly and her bright green eyes gleamed into the horizon. Ivy loved fall because of the beautiful autumn colors. When the bus finally arrived; Ivy stepped onto the bus smiling at the sweet, old bus driver. She sat next to her best friend, Jay. People thought it was strange that she wasn't best friends with a girl. It always was the same old stereotype that boys and girls couldn't just be friends. But Jay was hysterical and knew how to make anyone laugh. Ivy and Jay were best friends since elementary in second grade. In second grade, there was a bully who was always insulting Jay. Jay cried and had no friends. Everyone laughed at Jay and avoided him until Ivy came to Jay's class. The bully insulted Jay but Ivy stood up against the terrible bully and they were friends ever since. They always had each other's backs and they were inseparable. Their friendship grew stronger as time passed by and they could always count on each other. The wheels of the bus screeched as they slowly stopped. Jay and Ivy hopped off the bus laughing about some cheesy jokes they were exchanging. As they entered into the school, warmth surrounded them including the irritating buzz of students gossiping, laughing and whispering. Ivy threw her coat in her locker and grabbed her textbooks. Jay's locker was two lockers away from Ivy's. Jay shoved his backpack into his locker, took his textbooks and headed to class along with Ivy. They sat in their desks which were beside each other and they chatted about goofy, random things. Drake, the most popular yet egotistical guy in school, walked up to Ivy's desk. He completely ignored Jay who was clearly talking to Ivy. "So Ivy, there's that school dance coming up, want to ask me something?" Drake smirked flipping his blonde hair. Jay glared at Drake and a feeling of jealousy boiled up inside of him. Ivy raised one of her eyebrows and laughed lightly. "Um...no?" she muttered and glanced at Jay biting her lip nervously. Jay was sitting and shook his head. "Are you sure?" Drake insisted winking at Ivy with his deep blue eyes. "Well...” Ivy started. “She said no.” Jay interrupted sternly. Drake and Ivy looked at Jay puzzled because of his sudden outburst, Jay’s face reddened. “Just saying.” He quietly mumbled as he shrugged. The final bell rang and the feeling of freedom roamed the air. On Wednesdays, Jay and Ivy usually went to each other’s house. Today it was Ivy’s turn to bring Jay to her house. When they arrived, no one was home. Her mom was working and probably would be at work until late at night. Ivy’s dad had passed away two months after her brother had been born and she was only 6 years old. Her mom was always supportive of them and had been working day and night. Ivy threw her backpack and coat onto the floor. “Want something?” asked Ivy as she walked towards the kitchen. Jay shook his head, slumped onto the couch and flipped on the television. Ivy sat beside him holding a bowl of chips and apple juice. They watched cartoons in silence, munching the chips and sipping the apple juice. Finally, Jay broke the silence. “I love fall…don’t you?” he marvelled looking out the window. “That was a bit random considering we are watching a show about dancing hippos but yeah, I love the autumn season.” Ivy agreed. “Ha-ha silly hippos…” Jay smiled watching the program again. “You’re so goofy Jay!” proclaimed Ivy as she threw a couch pillow at him. Jay caught it with ease not tearing his eyes from the tv. “Isn’t that why you love me? Plus my undeniable good looks, charm and great sense of humour of course! ” Jay joked. “Ha-ha of course. Not to mention your undeniable humbleness. ” Ivy teased. Jay laughed and they continued talking about random things. Ivy and Jay always knew what to say and were comfortable chatting about any subject, until the topic of Jay’s outburst that morning crept into their conversation. “So Jay, what was with the sudden outburst this morning?” Ivy asked. "I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Jay gulped rubbing the back of his neck. "You know, when Drake tried to make me ask him to the dance.” Ivy explained. “Oh, that. Well, I just don’t trust that guy. You should probably stay away from him. He’s trouble, I can tell.” Jay replied trying to act nonchalant. "Aha...about that...Drake might have asked me to the dance at lunch. And I may have said yes...” Ivy laughed nervously. "Please tell me you're kidding." He whined. "Well it's true, no biggie." Ivy shrugged. Jay was shocked, he looked at Ivy incredulously, he simply sat there in silence. "Trust me Jay; I'll keep my eye out. I'll be super cautious." Ivy continued. "Trust you? You should trust me, he's an idiotic jerk! It's not enough to be cautious!" Jay began to yell. Feeling insulted, Ivy stood up and shouted at him "Look Jay, you are not the boss of me! You don't know Drake and you should give him a chance! I can make my own decisions; I wasn't asking your permission in the first place! You can't control my #life." "I'm not controlling your #life! I'm protecting you from making stupid decisions!" Jay stood up screaming. "Stupid decisions? Like the decision to be your friend?" Ivy hollered. Jay looked at Ivy, obviously hurt. He closed his eyes, sighed and shook his head. Jay began to take his stuff. Ivy noticed and her face softened. She let out a sigh and slowly walked towards Jay. "Jay wait, I didn't mean it!” Ivy apologized. "Just don't go to the dance with Drake okay? Listen, I know his type. He'll hurt you!" Jay exclaimed. " It's really none of your business! I’m going with Drake to the dance and that’s final! Why do you care so much anyways!?" Suddenly Jay became quiet. "Because...” Jay stammered finally. "Because what!?" Ivy shouted. "Listen Ivy, I care about you. Okay?" he starts, his face completely serious. Ivy just stared at him and he got even more angered. "I've always liked you but you are just so clueless! Do you know how frustrating it is to like someone forever and you say nothing? I'm jealous obviously, but that doesn't change the fact that Drake is a jerk! I don't want a heartless idiot to hurt you!" Jay spat as a rush of anger and frustration overcame him. Jay's face was red from the combination of embarrassment and anger. Ivy, unable to speak, stood motionless and shocked. Jay grabbed his stuff, left and slammed the door. The words Jay said were still wandering Ivy's mind. Ivy was overwhelmed and she felt so idiotic. How could she be so oblivious? Ivy sat on her bed thinking, she began to ask herself questions. "How long has Jay been feeling this way? I feel so stupid! Should I still go with Drake to the dance? Do I like Jay? No! I don't know, maybe...this can't ruin our friendship!" she thought to herself. The next day, Ivy wasn’t on the bus but Jay was relieved because he wasn’t ready to face her just yet. Revealing all his feelings he bundled up for seven years took weight off his chest. He was afraid that all the words he had said ruined their friendship. He felt guilty yet relieved, the mixed emotions confused him. Jay entered the school and saw Ivy quietly getting her books. She had a sullen look on her face, she looked unapproachable. She noticed him when he passed by her locker. Ivy suddenly began to pick her stuff faster, panic was in her eyes and Jay just sighed opening his locker. Ivy continued to pick up her stuff quicker and quicker, she felt like she had to leave as fast as she could. As a result, she tripped and dropped her stuff. Jay walked up to her, picked up her stuff and helped her up. He smiled weakly giving her pencil case back and focused closely on the pencil case to avoid eye contact. She nodded and quickly walked away. Jay groaned of frustration and went back to his locker. He ran his hands through his hair, feeling stressed. Then he overheard Drake talking to some girl behind him. He heard Drake ask the anonymous girl to the fall dance. “I knew it.” Jay mumbled to himself. He kept listening to their conversation, nonchalantly staring in his locker acting as if he wasn’t listening. Jay considered standing up to Drake but he felt like it would only lead to a fight. Then again, there weren’t any teachers around, plus the security cameras were busted. Even hearing Drake talk angered Jay, but he calmed himself down eventually to prevent from starting a fight. Well, that was until Drake said something he shouldn’t have said. “Ivy? Oh no, she’s ugly and super annoying. She practically begged me to go with her!” Drake bellowed. That triggered Jay like a lightning bolt. Swiftly, Jay turned around and shoved Drake. "You don't deserve someone like Ivy! You are an, uneducated, egotistical idiot!" Drake stumbled backwards and stood up maintaining his balance. “You shouldn’t have done that!” Drake laughed evilly. Drake punched Jay in the gut. Taking the blow, Jay whacked Drake in the head with whatever was in his hand. It was Ivy’s textbook! He realized that he forgot to give it back because he was so concentrated on her pencil case he gave back. Drake regained his strength and punched Jay in the face; the fight began to draw a crowd. The punch made Jay very dizzy and he could see flashing lights. People were taking pictures and videos. Drake grabbed Jay’s shirt and lifted him, slamming him against the lockers. Jay dropped Ivy’s textbook and his head was pounding like a drum. Drake leaned into Jay’s ear and whispered a threat that Jay could barely make out. Drake extended his arm ready to punch him and Jay squeezed his eyes shut preparing for pain. “Put him down!”Ivy screamed in an angry tone. Jay opened his eyes and saw Ivy shouting at Drake, he saw everything but the headache he was experiencing was drowning the sound. The scene was familiar, almost like in second grade when Ivy was standing up to a bully. Drake let go of Jay, threatened him and walked away like a winner. The crowd began to flee and Jay sat on the floor looking defeated. Ivy ran up to him, crouched down and looked at Jay. Her eyes began to tear up. “Don’t cry Ivy, I’m the one who got their butt kicked.” Jay uttered putting his hand on her shoulder trying to smile. Ivy chuckled lightly. “I’m sorry; I should’ve listened to you. Thanks for sticking up for me! You’re a true friend and I will always trust you from now on.” Ivy apologized. Jay picked up Ivy’s textbook from the ground and motioned it towards her. “Here’s your textbook.” Jay whispered. Ivy giggled and wrapped her arms around Jay giving him a suffocating hug. “Ouch.” Jay said smiling. The fall dance finally arrived and Ivy was especially nervous. Obviously, she wasn’t going to the dance with Drake. Drake got expelled, although Jay started the fight, Drake had some history with troublemaking. In fact, Drake was actually in a juvenile correctional facility and they had specifically ordered him not to cause any trouble. Jay did receive a punishment when the teachers found out; they gave him three weeks of detention. The punishment wasn’t so bad because many had fallen victim to Drake’s tomfoolery. Ivy wore a beautiful, silky green dress that complimented her light brown hair and green eyes. The doorbell rang, Jay stood there smiling ear to ear. One glance at Ivy, Jay already let out a “Wow.” He complimented her, like a date should, and they headed off to the dance. The school was decorated beautifully, with big colourful paper leaves plastered on the walls and lights hanging from the ceiling. Before they entered the gym, which was the dance floor, Jay grabbed Ivy’s hand. Ivy glanced at Jay, she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “What’s wrong Jay?” Ivy questioned. “Oh, I may have forgotten something.” Jay smirks. Before she could ask what, Jay leaned in and softly kissed her. It was sweet and short because teachers aren't really find of PDA. Ivy blushed and giggled nervously. Jay was goofily smiling ear to ear. There were some girls going “Aww…” in the background. Jay and Ivy walked into the gym holding hands and ready to experience an amazing night. Although she was practically living a cliché, she didn't care. Ivy was glad to know that the person she loved was not only her best friend, but someone who she could always trust and count on.