Family Portrait (Kingsley Family Trilogy Book 1)

by Rebecca Paulinyi

  “None of your damn business,” she snapped back, now fed up of Sara, who in turn gave her a glare.

  “Zach hasn’t got a particularly good reputation you know,” Sara added spitefully. Imogen smiled; that only made him more attractive in her mind.

  ***

  The rest of the evening was uneventful. Dinner was quiet as Millie and William had gone out to eat, taking Dana and Sara. Imogen took Abby upstairs relatively early on, and the two sisters sat looking out of the window together, chatting about their new family, and how their days at school and playgroup had been.

  Abby seemed to have settled into her new playgroup without any hiccups: perhaps being so much younger than Imogen, the constant changes in friends and families and homes didn’t bother her. This time round, the school wasn’t too much of an issue – but that was a first for Imogen. She smiled wryly as, whilst Abby chattered on, she remembered one school where she’d already been expelled by the end of the first day. That had been just after they had moved – after her father had… No. She cut the thought off midway, and her smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

  ***

  School did not seem such a trial the next day. While she never woke up early, Imogen was definitely on time today and had paid more attention to her attire: skirt a little shorter, lips a little glossier. Hopefully not enough that she would be told to remove it at school, but enough that it would be noticed.

  Would she admit the reason for the extra effort? Probably not even to herself - but she did acknowledge that she’d actually had a good day yesterday. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d thought that about school. Was it just sitting next to a cute guy and flirting? She’d flirted before, of course - even had a ‘boyfriend’ for a little while in one of the homes. That had really boiled down to a few make-out sessions behind the trees in the large garden, and several arguments about why Imogen was ‘so cold’ and ‘so obsessed with your sister’.

  It hadn’t lasted long. While Imogen had somewhat enjoyed the thrill of kissing someone and keeping it all secret, she just couldn’t open up to anyone enough to make them stick around.

  No, even if she had been willing to admit it to herself, she would have known that the cute guy was only part of the appeal of school. Spending lunch time having a chat and a laugh with people her own age was a new experience, and one she definitely liked. They just seemed to be on the same wavelength; and while she wasn’t necessarily looking forward to school, she wasn’t dreading it.

  “Morning Imogen!” Ella said cheerfully as Imogen grabbed a cup of coffee from pot on the side, a full two minutes early. Sara was, of course, already ready, and Daisy was pulling her shoes on.

  “Immy!” Abby reached her chubby little arms up from where she was sat and Imogen leaned over her to give her a squeeze. “I’ll see you tonight love, okay? Have a good day at playgroup.”

  The three girls followed the same route as the previous day to school with little conversation. After they dropped Daisy off, the conversation petered out to nothing, and they went their separate ways at the front door with only a muttered goodbye. There was a relationship that Imogen was sure would never be easy - not that she was particularly bothered by that.

  Having not been to her tutor group the day before, Imogen had to double check her timetable and then her map to figure out where she was meant to be. It was a classroom down in the drama department, and despite being on time to school she was running a few minutes late by the time she found the right room. She tried to sneak in but the old door creaked as it opened and she found every pair of eyes in the room on her for a few seconds, before they returned to their previous conversations; it seemed the teacher hadn’t arrive yet.

  One pair of eyes, however, remained on her, and as her eyes swept the room for an empty seat, her gaze landed upon the dark brown eyes belonging to one Zachary Monroe.

  She felt a tingle go through her as their eyes met, and a smile swept the corners of his lips upwards. He pulled the chair next to him slightly towards his own and motioned to it; Imogen didn’t have to think before taking him up on the invitation.

  “Morning,” he said.

  “Morning.” She tried not to stare at him, but could feel his eyes on her. She wanted to look - wanted to commit that dark hair that fell slightly into his eyes, the rough stubble on his face, that smile to memory because she wasn’t sure any man had ever affected her like he was.

  In the cramped space at the back of the room where Imogen had sat down next to Zach, she struggled not to bump into him as a fellow latecomer passed by to reach a seat, just seconds before the teacher arrived.

  “Sorry,” she murmured as her knee bumped his, moving it quickly back to its original position.

  The teacher began the register, not even seeming to notice the new addition until she answered her name in the register. He blinked twice behind thick glasses frames, said hello and continued with the register.

  “Zachary Monroe?”

  “Here,” Zach replied in a smooth, deep voice. The teacher looked up, a little surprised, then turned back to the register. Zach waited until he’d continued to lean over close to Imogen’s ear.

  “What’s your first lesson?” His knees dropped apart slightly as he leaned over until one was touching Imogen’s. He didn’t apologise, or move it back, but left it leant against hers, seemingly oblivious to the affect it was having.

  Imogen was surprised by that very affect. Her heart beat increased and she felt her palms getting a little damp as she tried to focus enough to answer his question. That tingle she had felt when he’d looked at her was back, and it was so tempting to put her hand on his knee, wrapped as it was in black non-regulation jeans.

  She took a breath to steady herself (hoping it wasn’t too obvious) and leant towards his ear so the teacher wouldn’t hear her talking over the notices he was now handing out. “History.”

  “Shame. I’ve got geography.”

  The teacher - Mr Mead - took that moment to glare at the two talking, and although Imogen rolled her eyes, she decided not to respond. His knee remained against hers, however, until the bell went for the first lesson and the chairs clattered to one side as everyone streamed out into the courtyard.

  “History’s right next to geography - I’ll show you the way if you like?” Zach offered, and Imogen smiled and thanked him. Not only did it save her from getting out that bloody map again, it also meant she could try to get to know this mysterious man a little better.

  He swung his rucksack over on shoulder and led the way. Imogen followed, glancing around to see if she knew anyone else in the tutor.

  “How’s the new digs then?” Zach asked, and Imogen’s head snapped back round. “With the Kingsleys?”

  She shrugged. “It’s okay. They’re… well, more like Sara than they are like me, let’s put it that way.” Zach laughed.

  “I can imagine that.”

  “So it’s a little bit stifling. But the house is nice, and my sister’s happy.” Imogen was surprised as the words tripped off her tongue; this was the most she’d shared about her family life since…well, ever. Normally conversations about wherever she was living were too likely to lead to the questions about why she was living there, and those were questions she always evaded. Today, however, the information seemed to be spilling out.

  “You’ve got a sister?”

  Imogen nodded. “Abigail. She’s four.”

  “Big age gap! Not like me and Eve. Although she acts about five sometimes…”

  They started up the stairs to the second floor of the main building and had to shift to one side to let a group of other students pass. Imogen stood on one step and Zach on the one below; she could feel his breath on the back of his neck and swore she could feel the heat from his chest just millimetres behind her. Get a grip, she told herself as her breathing quickened slightly.

  “She seemed like a laugh at lunch,” Imogen said when she could think straight. They began to move up the stairs aga
in.

  “I guess she’s okay, as sisters go,” he said with a wide grin. “You’ll be in one of these,” he said, gesturing to three blue doors together.

  “Thanks,” Imogen replied, feeling a blush she didn’t quite understand come to her cheeks.

  “See you at lunch…”

  He was gone before she got a chance to reply; turning round to see Sara waiting for the same class wasn’t even enough to destroy her good mood. There was a lot to be said for a little flirtation before classes…

  ***

  Second period was English, and while Zach was nowhere to be seen in the line, Imogen was pleased to see Eve near the front. “Imogen! Come and join us,” she shouted, and despite the annoyed looks of the rest of the queue, Imogen squished through until she was with Eve and Violet.

  “Hey,” Imogen said. “It’s nice to know someone in here!”

  “What have you just had?”

  “History - only Sara in there.” Imogen rolled her eyes and the other girls laughed. Truth be told, they had sat at opposite ends of the classroom in history and not spoken; Imogen wondered without much guilt whether her comments yesterday had offended her well-behaved new cousin.

  “We’ll find you a seat next to us,” Eve said. “How’s it all going so far?”

  Imogen shrugged. “Can’t complain. Not been expelled yet, which is a bonus…”

  Violet looked a little shocked; Eve just laughed. “The things Zachary has done and not been expelled… I think you’ll struggle here, if that’s your aim!”

  Imogen shook her head. “Nah, I think I might go for the quiet, easy life. Well, quiet-ish,” she said with a grin.

  English was a long, quiet lesson, but one Imogen had always found fairly easy, and so in spite of regular whispered conversations with Eve, she still managed to produce a decent piece of work by the end of it - although groaned along with the rest when they were set a follow up essay for homework. When she had not cared about school - or actively tried to skive it, or be thrown out - she had never had the bother of homework. It seemed like staying in school and staying on Ella’s good side (or as close to it as possible) would probably require some homework hours being put in.

  The bell rang for break and Eve linked arms with both Violet and Imogen, steering them in the direction of the tuck shop at the back of the school.

  “Is that Carrie?” Violet said, squinting into the sunlight at a blonde figure behind the science building. They all looked, although Imogen was the least able to comment on whether the distant girl was indeed Carrie. Then a skinny male with tousled blond hair came out of the building, took the girl’s hand and led her off to beyond where the girls could see.

  “Definitely Carrie,” Eve said with a giggle. “And most certainly James! If I wasn’t so hungry I would follow them, just to wind them up - but I need sugar. You coming?” Not that they had much choice, with her arms still hooked in theirs, but they followed happily towards a table near the tuck shop where their large crowd was gathered.

  Zach and Daryl were already in the queue, and Eve marched straight up to join them, despite the grumbles from the queuers behind them. They didn’t grumble too loudly, however, and no-one came up to say anything; Imogen felt as thought the Monroe siblings were capable of getting away with an awful lot.

  “Get me a cookie would you Daryl?” Eve said with a smile. Daryl seemed to turn red and mumble something, facing the other direction, but duly ordered the cookie and handed it to Eve.

  “Want anything?” Zach asked Imogen after he’d ordered his own drink.

  “Oh,” Imogen said, surprised by the offer. “Yeah, a Diet Coke please.”

  Zach paid and handed it to her, refusing to take the money she offered him from her lunch money. Imogen wasn’t used to anyone buying anything for her - she wasn’t quite sure how to take it, but the moment passed and soon they were all sat down and chatting about two teachers who were supposedly having an affair.

  Imogen watched on quietly, not having anything to add. This was all new for her; at previous schools she had snuck away at break and lunchtime or, if they had particularly solid ways of keeping her there, had sat on her own in a cloud of anger and misery. This was definitely different - but she thought she could get used to it.

  On the small wooden benches surround the circular picnic table, they were all rather squashed in. Imogen had ended up between Zach and Eve, and as the chatter about people and places she did not know continued around her, she felt Zach’s leg press against hers. Her breath hitched slightly as she was glad she hadn’t been talking, for she would surely have been distracted by this proximity. This was the second time today she’d felt the rough, black jeans against her almost bare legs; their thighs were touching and Imogen was sure she felt him press in slightly closer to her. She willed her face not to turn red but was sure she wasn’t successful. It had been so long since she had been physically close to anyone apart from her sister, that even without the sparks she felt flying between them, the contact was strange and unfamiliar. But definitely not unpleasant. Feeling a little bolder by the fact that she wasn’t looking at his face and therefore could not see his reaction, Imogen pressed her leg slightly harder into his. Moments later his hand moved below the table and he scratched his leg; Imogen’s eyes widened slightly as she felt his fingers move along the point where their legs were touching. Just briefly, as his hand made its way back above the table, but Imogen was certain it was on purpose. And that had to mean something, right?

  All too soon the bell went for the next lesson, and Imogen was left wondering what this world wind of emotions she was feeling was really leading to.

  The next morning, the Kingsleys left for school in much the same way as they had done the previous morning. Imogen had woken up a little earlier again to make sure she was happy with her appearance in the school uniform, and had made a decision during the night after Zach had invaded her thoughts more times than she would admit. Imogen, Daisy and Sara left the house together once more, but as soon as they were a few steps away from the house Imogen stopped.

  “I’m walking to school on my own today.” She ignored Sara’s attempts at interrupting. “You two walk wherever, I’m taking a detour. I know the way, I’ll be fine,” she said, and with that she started off round the corner, cut across the Kingsley grounds and onto a footpath that went right around the grounds of the nearby Manors and Mansions of Wiltshire. If her idea went as planned, she wouldn’t actually end up walking alone.

  “Skiving, no doubt,” Sara said, as she and Daisy continued on their normal route to school. As they approached the gates of Daisy’s school, Sara gave her a quick hug, before making sure she got safely in the gates and leaving for her own college day.

  Unusually for Imogen, she actually wasn’t skiving. No, she was walking the long way in the hope of bumping into Zach, leaving his house. As she wandered past, she didn’t see anyone leaving the sprawling manor, and knew that there were two possibilities; Zach had already left, or he was late. She hoped the latter was true, because there was no doubting that she wanted to see him again. She ignored the fact that, after meeting him only two days previously, she was going out of her way to see him – yes, perhaps it was a little odd, but him living so close seemed like an opportunity she couldn’t allow to pass her by. Besides, she was quite happy to find someone who could make living with the Kingsleys more exciting. And these last two days of school had been filled with more excitement and electricity than Imogen had ever felt.

  She dawdled along, and smiled to herself as the door opened. However, her heart dropped slightly when she saw him exiting with a girl.

  “Shit,” she muttered to herself. It was definitely too late to turn back, and she wished she had thought that he would have a girlfriend. Obviously he would; how on earth could a guy that hot be single? And what with the reputation that he supposedly had, according to Sara – a reputation that made him even more fanciable in Imogen’s eyes – him leaving his house with a girl in tow w
as perhaps not all that surprising. She walked past the house fast, hoping that he wouldn’t spot her.

  “Hey…hey!” She heard Zach calling her, and turned slowly

  “Imogen?” he asked, walking alongside her, and it was then, to her relief, she noticed that the girl wasn’t some girlfriend, but his sister – Evangeline, who she had chatted to a lot the previous day. Her hair was up in a high pony tail, which Imogen thought might have been the reason she hadn’t immediately recognised her - that or she was just assuming there would be some obstacle to her flirtation with Zach. She nodded, both in answer to his greeting and to greet Eve.

  “What are you doing walking this way?” He laughed. “Not stalking me, are you?” he asked, as if he’d be perfectly happy to hear that she was.

  “Don’t flatter yourself. I live over there,” she answered, pointing in the vague direction of the Kingsleys’.