Chapter 7
“Shhh.” Harley’s voice could clearly be heard on the other side of the door. “She’s gettin’ here any minute.”
“I’m not the one talking,” Selina pointed out dryly.
Ivy paused, her hand hovering over the door knob. She had known Harley was planning something for her birthday. The blonde wasn’t subtle in the slightest, always moving through life like an over-earnest puppy. Ivy had told her she didn’t want to celebrate her birthday. Obviously, Quinn hadn’t listened.
They had been living together for the past three weeks, Harley sleeping either on Ivy’s couch or in Ivy’s bed. Which, if Ivy was being honest, it was more often than not her bed.
Harley had been noticeably anxious to return to her dorm after breaking it off with Joker and Ivy couldn’t stand to see her hurt again. She had thought living with Harley would be awful— like having the sun condensed into her small apartment— but it… wasn’t.
Harley sang loudly while she vacuumed. She left clothes everywhere. She talked to every single one of Ivy’s plants like they were people, and snored softly in her sleep.
But she also woke up before Ivy every morning and always had a cup of coffee ready for her grumpy bestie. And she watched nature documentaries with Ivy, clapping excitedly whenever one of her favorite animals appeared. She gave her smiles freely, like it was easy, and asked Ivy about her day. When Ivy needed alone time, Harley vacated into the living room for introvert hour and did arts and crafts.
It wasn’t bad at all, actually.
Except when her best friend didn’t listen when Ivy explicitly said she didn’t want to celebrate her birthday.
Ivy turned the door open with a sigh.
“SURPRISE!”
The cheer was mostly from Harley, with Selina noticeably less enthused. Ivy raised her eyebrows.
“Well, darn,” Harley pouted. “You ain’t surprised at all.”
“I could hear you through the door.”
Harley shot Selina a look. “I told you to be quiet.”
Selina looked chagrined, much to Ivy’s amusement. Her friend’s sharp claws always seemed to disappear around Harley, which was hilarious. Or it would be, if Ivy was pretty sure Harley didn’t also have the same effect on Ivy and her barbs.
“Happy birthday, Pammy!” Harley clapped her hands. “It’s party time!”
“What happened to promising me you wouldn’t throw a party, Quinn?”
Harley bit her lip. “Well… it ain’t a real party. Besides, just wait till ya see what I have planned.”
Ivy huffed, because she was weak, and Harley let out another cheer. She dragged Ivy over to the dining room table, Selina following close behind, and waved her hands.
“Ta-da— dessert. Oh— and Jefferson. He’s been real excited.”
Harley’s succulent was wearing a tiny party hat. In fact… Ivy glanced around her apartment. All of her plants either had a party hat on them or a feather boa. Ivy couldn’t stop the smile that spread across her face.
“I knew you’d love it,” Harley said smugly. “And just wait— cause later on, we’re gonna play plant trivia. You miss a question— you drink!”
“What the hell,” Selina groaned. “We’re gonna be shitfaced, Harley, and Ivy is going to be dead sober.”
“Don’t worry,” Harley whispered. Loudly. “I put in some made up ones to trick her.”
Ivy rolled her eyes.
It was the best birthday she had in years. Normally, if she felt like celebrating, she would just go out to a bar with Selina and pick someone up. When she was a child, her birthdays were always big events— for her parents. A chance to throw a giant party with all their business associates and once again ignore their only daughter. Not that Ivy really minded. She usually snuck out to the rooftop garden and played in the dirt, much to her mother’s chagrin.
The best thing about this one, though, was watching Harley.
She had been burning brighter, these past couple of weeks. She had connected with the resource on campus and was now going to group sessions once a week and therapy. Have ya heard of the honeymoon period, Harley would ask, or wanna learn about love bombing, I got a pamphlet. Harley’s accent was becoming looser, her smiles losing the shadows that had been dragging the corners down.
There were bad moments, too.
“He was the only one who loves me, Ives,” Harley sobbed into her chest after a session. “I don’t wanna be alone. I don’t.”
Ivy wanted to say I’m here. I won’t leave you alone.
But she didn’t want to position herself like Joker had, making Harley think no one would ever love the blonde except them. So instead, Ivy brushed her fingers through Harley’s hair, mind spinning, searching for the right thing to say.
In the end, Ivy hadn’t needed to say a thing. By the time Ivy was internally yelling at herself to get it the fuck together and support her friend, Harley was straightening up and swiping the tears out of her eyes.
“He ain’t the only one,” Harley said. “I’ve got you. And Selina. And Jefferson. And even if he was the only one… I…” She tipped up her chin. “I don’t think I want it like that. Not anymore.”
Ivy had squeezed her tight.
She watched, now, as Harley tipped back another shot for getting a question wrong. Jefferson was in her lap, and Harley periodically straightened the tiny party hat on top of the succulent. Her pale hair was loose around her shoulders, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol.
Harley caught Ivy looking and grinned.
Ivy couldn’t help but smile back.