Magnetism

12 - everything was normal

There was Ivy at my door her large chocolate eyes scanning me up and down. I don't think I could help the smile that appeared on my face as I opened my door and she was standing right in front of me. Awkwardly I muttered something about grabbing the bag from my kitchen that I stupidly left behind. Ivy followed closely behind as I scuttled back into the kitchen. It was just as messy as I had left it minus one child, Sebastian, and Ella had managed to get herself on the counter.

"Nope we don't go on here" I told her as held her waist and gently put her down

A pout made her way to her face as she glared up at me, my focus was drawn away from her as I heard a stifled chuckle from the doorway of the kitchen. Turning to look at Ivy I rolled my eyes at her before I returned my focus to the determined Ella.

Bending down I half whispered  "I just need you to be an example to Jack" sparing him a glance "unlike you he's just too small"

Almost instantly a smile replaced the pout on Ella's face and I heard her whisper back "okay"

I watched as she slid back into her seat on the table and look at Jack with a sense of superiority. Suddenly I remembered Ivy and whipped around to see her watching, not creepily but curiously almost as if she couldn't quite register what she had just seen. Ivy wasn't focused on me but instead my siblings, that were chatting animatedly together. In that moment if dawned on me that as far as I was aware Ivy was an only child and such a busy house hold was perhaps quite a contrast to her own childhood. Just as I was about to tell her we could leave the creaking of the stairs began, then stopped.

Sebastian was at the bottom and mind about to turn the corner and walk straight into the kitchen when he stopped and cocked his eyebrow. At this Ivy was brought from her thoughts and faced him, whilst I just waited for him to say something

"Who's this?" he asked as he briskly walked past Ivy

He was now in the kitchen, a bundle of books maybe four or five in his arms and he just eyed her. Up and down, up and down.

"This is Ivy" I began "she's..." I paused

What was she? We were friends definitely but we bunked off school - well sixth form - together and had made out several time, twice I had slept in her bed - in her arms. It didn't feel like we were just friends but how much more?

"We go to school together" I added, hoping it was enough to settle Sebs curiosity.

Thankfully it did appease the blonde boy and he nodded with ease at my response. No longer interested he started stuffing his books into his backpack not even sparing Ivy a glance. My bag was right next to him and picked it up quickly and grabbed my phone on the side and shoved it into my jean pocket

"Ready?" Ivy asked

"Just one second"

From the bottom of the stairs I yelled up to my dad "IM LEAVING NOW". The movement of him getting out of bed was enough to finally let me out the door, Ivy closet following behind.

Once we were in her car and Ivy had started driving I found myself anxiously looking around,

"I'm so sorry about that" I splutter out

I felt her look at me but a large part of me didn't want to meet her gaze. Embarrassment ran through my veins and I wasn't sure if I could ever meet her eyes again. All the things she could have imagined of my house, my siblings an everyday morning for me. Then there was that small hidden laugh she gave when I was talking with Ella. The sting of what I thought she must thing or me was enough to make me want to slap myself

A confused voice from beside me did, however, make me turn"Why are you apologising?"

"I um...my sister and my brother as well actually"