“Well, I’ll have to check my diary…I know that my other two boyfriends were enquiring about this weekend too.” Zach rolled his eyes, and Imogen poked her tongue out at him. “Did you have something in mind?”
“I was thinking you could stay over.” Imogen smiled, and nodded. Sounded like a perfect weekend. There was just one problem.
“I can’t imagine Eve will be too pleased about that.”
“Well, I’ve got that sorted too. Did you not notice what date it was yesterday?” Imogen racked her brains, but what with worrying about Jack and wishing Zach would be better, her mind had been busy. She hadn’t a clue what date it had been. She shook her head.
“February the fourteenth, silly.” They entered the school gates, and headed towards their first lessons, keeping an eye out for teachers – assembly was still in progress. “Also known as Valentine’s Day. I had something planned for last weekend, but I was feeling so ill, I thought it best we left it. Valentine’s day is a perfectly good excuse to kick Evangeline out of the house. She’s staying with Carrie – all organised.” He grinned, obviously pleased with himself, and Imogen grinned involuntarily back. It was like a reflex – he smiled at her, and her lips could do nothing but smile back.
Imogen wondered if Eve really was staying with Carrie, or if she was planning on going to Daryl’s; she doubted that Eve and Carrie would be spending the weekend after Valentine’s Day – which she had totally forgotten – together. No, she was pretty sure Eve would be off with Daryl, and Carrie with James (although, supposedly, they still weren’t dating!). Still, she didn’t voice her thoughts.
“Sounds perfect.” She smiled, kissing him briefly and heading to biology – a lesson she unfortunately didn’t have with him. “See you later!”
***
As the bell rang for break, most of the students streamed out into the sunshine. Rare for mid-February, it was unseasonably warm, and the students were all happy to spend as much of their free time as possible lapping up the Vitamin D.
Her hand linked with Zach’s, as was customary, and flanked by Evangeline and Violet, Imogen laughed as she spied Carrie leant against a wall, with none other than her non-boyfriend James. The others chuckled along with her: with a hand wrapped firmly around his neck, and his around her waist, there was no doubting that the two were dating – and that was having missed seeing them with their lips locked together, as they had been only moments previously! However, somehow they still denied that they were technically dating, although the second someone said ‘Carrie’, the name ‘James’ was linked in their mind.
Imogen had been told that they had dated so many times in the past, and then broken up again, that there was no doubting they’d be back together soon. Until that time, the little group pretended the two weren’t dating…well, sometimes they did. The rest of the time they would wind her up about it, and how stupid she was being about it! As the whole group sauntered over to where the ‘couple’ stood, it was impossible to resist the temptation to tease her.
“So, is that the way you treat all the guys you’re not dating then?”
“I thought they just liked you for the short skirt, but if they’re all getting that treatment, I can understand – I mean, if there’s nothing between you and James, then I assume you’re kissing other guys like that.”
“If that’s you two not dating, I‘d hate to see what you’re like when you are dating!”
Carrie and James did not laugh, but they were suppressing smiles; everyone else was roaring with laughter – Violet even had tears running down her cheeks. Why the two didn’t just admit they were dating, Imogen didn’t know!
Their teasing lasted most of break time, until the bell for the next lesson interrupted. French was next – an hour that would theoretically be hell, but was improved for Imogen by Zach’s presence in the seat next to her. As it was, this particular French lesson was a lot better than usual: Mrs Morgan had been struck with the flu that was going around, which meant they had an hour with only a little cover work – and no teacher! Instead of doing the cover work, the majority of the students used the lesson as an extension of their break, planning on doing the cover work as homework. Zach and Imogen were no exception.
“So. Valentine’s Day,” Imogen began. “As was shown earlier, I am completely useless and don’t remember dates – which means I haven’t bought you anything for it. Are we doing presents?” Zach laughed.
“I don’t believe in women giving Valentine’s Day presents,” he said, and Imogen laughed too, but was secretly relieved at his stance; she’d had a hard enough time thinking what to get him for Christmas, let alone having to think about Valentine’s Day too!
They started discussing the Killers concert they’d be attending the next month – just two weeks before Imogen’s sixteenth birthday, in fact – when Sara interrupted them from Imogen’s other side, chucking a piece of paper down onto her desk. She turned around to face her, instead of Zach, and was surprised to see her smiling in a manner which could only have been described as friendly.
“The answers,” she informed Imogen, who still looked confused. “You don’t wanna end up with even more homework – copy them down now, then you won’t have to do it tonight.” Imogen was stunned: sure, sometimes she and Sara would get on, but it wasn’t a regular thing. Still, she wasn’t one to turn down help, and so she smiled back – just a little.
“Cheers, Sara.” She turned back to Zach, picking up the answers, and raised an eyebrow. He looked just as surprised as she was as they both copied the answers down.
***
Imogen spent the rest of the day looking forward to the weekend coming, a small grin coming to her face every time she thought about – which meant she was practically smiling all afternoon! Zach walked her to her door and kissed her goodbye, before leaving for his own home: since she was spending the weekend there, she had decided to stay in all evening, spending some time with Abby and persuading Ella to let her stay at Evangeline’s for the weekend.
Ella didn’t need to know that Evangeline wouldn’t actually be there!
To soften her up a little – it was always so much easier if she actually had Ella’s permission, rather than having to sneak out, and then sneak back in again – she offered to cook dinner. A surprised Ella took her up on the offer, revealing that she actually had a date, and so was very grateful to have the extra time to get ready.
“Is it serious then, between you and Braden?” Imogen asked, surprising herself by being genuinely interested. It did affect her future, after all, she mused. Ella blushed.
“Well, I, I mean,” she stuttered for a few moments, unable to form a coherent sentence, before smiling and nodding. “I think so. We haven’t exactly said it in so many words, but it feels like it’s serious…” Imogen smirked at her guardian’s inability to get her words out, but felt some very odd emotions inside of her. Well, it wasn’t the emotions that were odd, more the context. She felt…happy, happy for Ella, that she had this Braden. This wasn’t her normal reaction to the Kingsleys!
She scowled for a moment, but then remembered she was meant to be asking a favour; she stirred her carbonara sauce and checked the water was boiling for the tagliatelle before she broached the subject.
“Ella?” she asked, only a tad apprehensive; she was pretty sure Ella would say yes, and if she didn’t – well, there was always the window!
“Uh-huh?” Ella responded, experimenting with her hair up, then down, in the mirror.
“Is it all right if I stay at Eve’s this weekend?” She was banking on the fact that Ella would not be making small talk with Eve, Carrie or Violet’s parents any time soon, and therefore would not find out about the lie.
“Sure.” Her response was accompanied by a smile – it really was a good thing she had a group of friends; if only she’d spend a little less time with Zach, Ella would be completely happy. As it was, at least Imogen seemed content, and whilst she wasn’t unhappy or causing any problems, Ella would be
happy. She’d read enough about Imogen’s previous homes and guardians to know she was lucky to see her like this. Imogen grinned, and tested the tagliatelle to make sure it was ready.
“Dinner’s ready!” she shouted, knowing that the only other member of the family downstairs was Ella, and that the others would need her to shout if they hoped to hear her. Sure enough, footsteps rained onto the landing, and she knew she’d been heard. Ella grinned.
“Thanks, Imogen. That smells delicious.”
“Where are you going on this date then?” Imogen enquired, dishing out the helpings onto different sized plates: smaller for the youngsters, larger for the adults.
“Well, I told him I needed to eat at home, so we’re going to the cinema.” She giggled and, for a moment, before the rabble descended on the kitchen, Imogen wondered what Ella had been like at her age. Sometimes, she saw a glimmer of a girl who was very unlike Sara, and yet sometimes it was so clear that they were related. Studious, dull, suck-up? Or flirty, sweet, but with a mischievous side? Imogen just couldn’t tell.
“Up or down?” Ella asked Imogen and Sara, who’d just appeared in the doorway, as she experimented with her hair.
“Up,” they both agreed.
“Let me-” Sara offered, deftly clipping loose tendrils up, until, just a few minutes later, all her auburn curls were pinned up – a little messily, but purposefully so.
“There. Perfect balance between not trying too hard, and looking good.” Ella nodded in approval at Sara’s comment.
“Date?” Sara asked, and Ella merely nodded – the three girls were already tucking in to their carbonara, but she didn’t really want to discuss it in front of them. If she chose to date, that was fine: if it brought any instability into their lives, it wasn’t.
“You’re all right to babysit, aren’t you?” she asked Sara, suddenly looking worried; she hadn’t thought to check if Sara was definitely free.
“Sure. You go out and enjoy yourself!” It had been years since Sara had seen her hard-working aunt going out and enjoying herself. She was always happy: according to her, her family made her happy, and Sara didn’t doubt that – the only thing was that, in being made happy by her family, she was usually doing something for them.
Nothing was purely selfish indulgence for Ella. The amount she had taken on in the past, it was amazing she wasn’t worn out by thirty! No task was too big for Ella Kingsley: not taking on the potentially difficult Imogen Meyer, nor bringing up her brother’s daughter whilst he wasn’t capable.
Sara admired her.
***
Saturday evening, when Imogen would be spending the evening at Zach’s (‘Eve’s’, to those believing the charade) couldn’t come soon enough for Imogen, and yet she forced herself to spend Saturday day-time doing homework. If she didn’t, she knew she’d regret it the next day – she wanted nothing to spoil her time with Zach. Still, it was certainly a drag – the sun, still prevalent outside, despite the month, didn’t help – and she wished she were already at Zach’s. Her overnight bag was packed, ready for when she simply could not stand doing homework anymore. She only planned on continuing for another hour.
The phone rang inside, and she ignored it. She knew everyone else was out – William was doing overtime, and Ella had treated all the younger kids (plus Sara: she needed some help to keep the three entertained!) to a day out at some theme park or other that was in the vicinity – but didn’t care. The reasons for her apathetic attitude were two-fold: firstly, she was afraid it would be Jack, and she did not want her good mood ruined; secondly, if it was anyone else, she didn’t really care – she knew if it were her friends or Zach they’d try her mobile, which she had with her.
No-one else really mattered.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Imogen didn’t hear the message on the answer-phone. She didn’t pay attention to the flashing red light when she came in, and Ella didn’t notice it until Imogen had gone to Zach’s. Unsurprisingly, it was from Jack: it was the message that he left which was surprising.
“Imogen. It’s Jack. Again. If you’re going to be so childish, I’ll have to talk to you in person. I can’t believe you’re being so bloody pathetic. Can you not just pick up? I’m sure you’re there. We need to sort this out, Imogen: I need some answers. You cannot hide from the questions, no matter how much you try to. I’ll be there Sunday night Imogen. You’d better be in.”
Ella froze in horror when she finally got round to listening to the message. She didn’t know Jack, didn’t know exactly what there was to be so afraid of, but she had seen the way Imogen had looked when he called, and that was enough. The right course of action, though, that was hard to fathom: ring her, and spoil her weekend? Go round there, and warn her? Or wait until she returned, and hope she had enough time to fill her in before he got there? She wasn’t sure how he knew where to find his sister, but he seemed to be sure, and she doubted there would be any way to stop him now.
Wanting Imogen to have a good weekend with her friends won over the need to warn her; she reasoned that she could warn her the following day, without leaving her to worry about his arrival all weekend.
Besides, there was nothing to be worried about: whatever Jack was like, whatever he tried to do, Ella would be damned if she was going to let him anywhere near Imogen. If he wanted to get to her, he’d need to get past all the Kingsleys – something he wouldn’t be doing in a hurry.
***
At Monroe Manor, the atmosphere was completely different: Zach had gone all out, even preparing a romantic meal – although not without warning her beforehand how out-of-character it was for him.
They sat and ate in candlelight, laughing about school, and the fact that Imogen had in fact been asked out by a (brave) member of their English class that afternoon. Zach hadn’t got angry like the previous time he’d witnessed someone being interested in Imogen, probably because this guy clearly had no chance (not that any guy had a chance: Imogen knew who she wanted, and she was with him). Imogen wasn’t sure whether it was bravery, or pure ignorance: she thought that everyone would know that she and Zach were together. They certainly didn’t keep it a secret in school, in which case it was an extremely brave move – she wouldn’t have thought anyone would have dared to cross Zach, they all seemed so wary of him!
Whilst her and Zach had been the hot gossip of their year for a few days, that had been it – something new had come along, and they’d become old news. People were used to seeing the two together, so much that their names seemed entwined, never one heard without the other: Zach and Imogen.
Forgetting all her worries and commitments, Imogen had one of the best nights she’d had in a long time, and the smile remained on her face for the entire night. Unlike the last time she’d stayed at Zach’s, there were no hideous revelations, no fear that the relationship was about to end, no negative emotions; no, there was love, there was lust, there was happiness.
“So, when’s Eve back?” Imogen asked as they finished the chocolate brownies with cream that Zach had prepared for dessert.
“Tomorrow evening,” Zach replied, with a glint in his eye. “So no excuses about having to leave because she’ll be back, you’re mine for the weekend.” Imogen grinned, not telling him that she was his for as long as he put up with her – longer, if she had her way. She loved him; it was that simple.
“I wasn’t planning on making any excuses to get away,” she said, a smile playing on her lips.
“Can I give you your Valentine’s Day present now?” he asked, with an eager smile. Imogen looked disapproving.
“I thought you said we weren’t doing presents!” she said, but Zach merely laughed.
“If you remember correctly,” he informed her, “I said I don’t believe in women buying men Valentine’s Day gifts. I never said anything about me not buying you one.” Imogen laughed, and conceded to allow him to present her with a gift – she wasn’t going to complain about him buying her things, and she was curious as to what he could h
ave come up with.
He handed her a small package, inexpertly wrapped in red tissue paper, across the table. Beginning to carefully unwrap it, she soon got frustrated and ripped the tissue off, leaving scraps scattered along the white tablecloth, causing Zach to laugh. As a silver chain clinked to the table, Imogen caught the locket at the end and examined it between her thumb and forefinger.
The locket was silver, but not shiny: it had that antiquated look, and was simple and heart-shaped. Imogen was hit by how beautiful it was and by the fact that, despite how rarely she wore jewellery, it was so…her! If she’d been searching out a necklace, this would have been exactly what she would have chosen.
She glanced up at him, a grin adorning her face, and he was smiling back, reaching out for the locket.
“It’s beautiful, Zach. Thank you.” Zach took it from her fingers, and carefully opened it up, revealing two photos inside. He smiled wider, handing it back, and Imogen examined them closely.
Both were black and white, in keeping with the old look of the locket, and yet both had only been taken within the previous two weeks. On the left hand side was a picture of Abby, being held in the air by Zach, on the lawns of Monroe Manor. Imogen remembered Eve taking the photo, just three days earlier. On the other side was a photo of her and Zach sat on a bench at school, hand-in-hand, grinning with such obvious happiness that Imogen felt she would have been jealous of the couple if she wasn’t one of them.
Family Portrait (Kingsley Family Trilogy Book 1) Page 20
