ISLA'S SISTER DRIVES ME HOME as the first traces of darkness engulf the daytime, trapping it behind chains until morning comes. The lights of the motorway ghost against the car's fogged windows, but the blurred translucency is suffocating; my fingers curl around the hem of my school skirt, bunching it in sweat-skidded hands.
When the car journey finally ends, I thank Isla and her sister with breathless gratitude, my heart hammering in my chest as I climb up the stairs to my apartment. My fingers shake as I run them through my hair, smoothing out the bone-deep cracks in my dishevelled appearance as if that will hide what happened to me. As if covering the truth will allow me to pretend nothing ever happened.
The thought makes me sick. A storm settles into my bone marrow as I climb the last few steps.
Laughter sounds behind the door. The clinking of glasses sparkles in the air. Then the sound of a voice; a voice that doesn't belong to anyone I know. Did Mum invite someone over for dinner? My stomach churns, regurgitating the same old fears written in my blood―please don't be Mr Rose, please don't be Mr Rose. I open the door.
The dining-room is bright and alive when I enter, feet pressing against the cool, polished wood of the hallway. Steam rises from the table, laced with the mouthwatering scents of some of my mother's most famous home recipes, locked away since her touring days; since my father disappeared. Ebony is sat there, my mother too. There's an unfamiliar man next to her, and his flawless grin reaches from ear to ear.
The only spare seat is next to Ebony. I don't know if he's an ally, but right now, he's all I have. It's eviscerating, but I make no complaint in washing my hands and sliding into the seat next to him.
"Sorry I'm late," I say. The sound of my voice seems to break the jovial mood.
"It's fine," my mother replies, waving a hand in dismissal. She doesn't even deign to look at me, as her gaze seems to be fixed on the man next to her. He has all her attention, always. "Ivory, this is Callum Everett. Callum Everett, this is my daughter and my eldest, Ivory."
"Hi," I say, forcing a smile onto my lips. Even without a mirror, I can tell it won't reach my eyes, which are set in distaste.
My mind is still stuck in an eternal cycle of is he a good man or isn't he? And I grip onto the hem of my school skirt for support. Everyone else seems to have had time to get dressed up for dinner.
"Long time no see," Callum replies, a twinkle in his eye. He rises from the table to hug me, and no one seems to catch my panicked gaze―or even care at all―when he wraps his arms around me.
I have had a lot of uncertainties in the past few days, but I'm sure of one thing―I've never met this man before in my life.
"Yeah," I murmur regardless, furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. If he realises this, he ignores it, stooping back into his seat. I'm glad for the breathing room. "I didn't know he was coming today," I say, turning my attention to my mother.
She at least has the shame to squirm in her seat. "It was meant to be a surprise."
"For Ivory or for Callum?" Ebony quips from beside me. I turn to him, but his gaze is flat on my mother's, almost like a challenge. "I think some warning would be appreciated."
"Right." This time, Mum's smile is tight. She turns her attention, from my little brother, to me. "Don't you want to eat something, Ivory?"
"Hm?" I stare down at my plate. Coq au vin. I lift my knife and fork and cut a forkful of chicken. Raise it to my mouth. "Yeah. I could eat."
The sounds of cutlery scraping ceramics fill the air as conversation resumes, mainly between my mother and Callum. In my peripheral, I see his hand graze hers, and their laughter synchronise, as if their hearts are beating in time.
This must be him. The guy my Mum's been seeing.
I shoot glances at him all through dinner, gauging him, and after dinner, I politely tolerate his hand squeezing my shoulder as he follows my mother upstairs while she shows him to his room.
Ebony and I remain to clear the table in silence. All interaction between us is subtly avoided until my mother returns downstairs.
"Ivory." She beckons me into the living-room by a waggle of her finger, and Ebony follows closely behind. In an instant, my mother's cheerful, calm demeanour converts to one of suppressed anger. "I don't care where you've been, and I don't want to hear any excuses. What I do want to know is; why weren't you in school this morning?"
I shove my hands in my blazer pockets. In the confines of my pocket, my fingers curl as a shudder runs through my blood. "I didn't want to see Mr Rose, Maman."
My mother rolls her eyes. "And why is that?"
Something clutches my chest, and suddenly the memory of him is worming its way into my brain, demanding attention no matter how hard I've been trying to push him away over the course of the evening. The way I wish I had in real life, while I'd felt his every breath graze my flesh; while I'd felt his presence domineer mine.
"Well―," I begin, threading my fingers together. My skin begins to prickle. "I...just…"
"He freaks her out." Ebony comes up beside me, resting his elbow on my shoulder. "Ever since she joined KCA, he's been hitting on her, and it's done nothing but make her uncomfortable." I stare at him, but he seems oblivious to my gaze. "She just didn't want to be alone with someone who makes it his personal mission to be a creep."
"What?" She tuts, and I swear my heart goes cold. "That's no way to be talking about my dear friend and a man who has known you since you were children. Don't be silly, you two," she snaps irritably, before turning and disappearing back up the stairs.
Ebony turns to me in her absence. His shock is as apparent to me as my own. "I'm sorry for this morning."
I twist my necklace between quivering fingers, thumbnail catching on the latch as though about to pull it open. There's nothing inside, but it's soothing all the same. "Yeah, me too."
"No, I'm really sorry," he repeats, his gaze intense as it pierces into mine. "I was supposed to support you, and I didn't. Am I forgiven?"
I bite my lip. "Yeah," I say. "You're forgiven."
"Thanks, Ivory." He smiles, glancing down at his phone. In a single moment, his expression melts into one of horror. "Ivory...I just got a text from Isla Everdeen. Why is she asking if you're okay after what happened with Mr Rose? What happened? Why didn't you come home from school on time?"
Inadvertently, I let out a gasp. My knees buckle, and I sink down onto the seat and pull Eb down with me. From there, I tell him everything.
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