" To think I actually talked to the boy who nearly got you killed," Ivy mutters, shuddering with disgust. " I'm so sorry I did." " It's okay. You didn't know," I reassure her as we take a seat on some pool chairs." But you told me before what his appearance was. I should have recognized him!" " It's fine, Ivy. Even if you did your best to avoid him, he would've found way to hit on you eventually." Ivy wrinkles her nose at the unfamiliar language. " 'Hit on'? What does that mean?" " Flirting. Or, for Dunstan, more like a procedure. He's been hitting on any pretty girl he sees ever since he and Melanie broke up. I don't know if he's doing this to make her jealous or what, but it's really annoying." I look back up to see Ivy go rigid. For some reason she looks classically surprised; her hand is over her mouth, and the rosy blush is back with a vengeance," Ivy? You okay?" Ivy removes her hand, muttering something so quietly I can't hear it." Sorry?" " You called me pretty." The moment those words are said, Ivy stares down at her feet as her face gets brighter." Well, yeah," I murmur, my face hot. " You really are beautiful tonight, Ivy. "