After the last bell,Ivy hurriedly stuffed her books into her bag and waved goodbye to Emily.The afternoon sun was dipping lower,casting an orange hoe in Emberwood.She decided to take her usual shortcut home,a narrow path that cut through the woods.

The woods had always been a peaceful place for Ivy-a quiet escape from the bustle of school.The crunch of leaves underfoot and the distant chirping of birds creating a calming symphony.

As she navigated the familiar trial,something caught her attention.A faint rusting sound came from ahead,just beyond the thick oak trees.Ivy froze.

"Who's there?",she called out,her voice steady despite the sudden unease creeping into her chest.

From the shadows of the woods emerged Logan Hayes.

His dark hair was tousled and his piercing gray eyes locked into her green ones,unreadable.He wasn't wearing his usual confident smirk,instead,he looked ......unsettled.

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"What are you doing here?"Ivy blurted out,clutching her bag strap tightly.

"I could ask you the same thing,"Logan replied,his tone calm yet tinged with something she couldn't place.

"This is my shortcut,"she said defensively, gesturing the trail.

Lohan stepped closer,his movements deliberate."Then we're both trespassers."

Ivy’s brow frowned,"Trespassers ?What are you talking about?"Logan didn't answer immediately. He glanced over his shoulder as if checking to see if they were alone,then he looked back at her.

"You should be careful walking through here alone."he said,his voice low."It's not always safe ."

Ivy crossed her arms,"Thanks for the warning,but I can handle myself. "

Logan's lips twitched ,almost forming a smile."Stubborn as ever."Even though it was formed,Ivy couldn’t help herself but thought it was breathtaking but she took that thought away as she wasn't that kind of a girl.WELL SHE THOUGHT?

Still lost in her mind,before Ivy could respond ,Logan turned and began walking away smiling to himself, disappearing back into the shadows of the woods.

She stood there for a moment,her mind racing.Logan Hayes was an enigma wrapped in secrets and tonight he'd only deepened the mystery.