In the harsh light of day the weight of the night before is setting in. My mouth is super dry, my head is pounding and I'm having flashbacks, hot flashbacks but it's hard to concentrate on them with the pain.
I can here a conversation going on, I guess Angus finally got that FaceTime call from his sister. I can hear his end clearly but her replies come through muffled. I focus in on what he is saying and I realise they're talking about me.
"No Immie, Im not going to give you her name"
muffled reply
"you know exactly why, you'd look her up on simstergram and stalk her profile, trust me, you'll meet her when the time is right, I just don't need my big sister scaring her off"
I get up and move closer to the door, I've never been the kind who listens in on private conversation but considering Im the subject matter I can't stop.
"Look Immie, it's more than likely that she's going to wake up and pretend nothing happened again, just like she did on Thursday."
"Give her time Gus, If she's as sweet as you say she is I'm sure she's worth the effort" Imogen assure him.
Am I worth the effort?
Angus ends his call and I can now hear a blender stopping and starting. Time to venture out of the room. He's standing in his kitchen dressed only in shorts and it's freezing.
"Morning" he says in an upbeat tone, "Did I wake you?"
"No, my hangover woke me, I swear Im never drinking again" I pledge
"Famous last words Miss Green, we've all been there"
"Ah Im sure you never have Mister McKennzie, given that you don't consume carbs"
"I use to be quite a heavy drinker"
"Oh, sorry"
Change the subject Zoey
"what are you concocting in the blender?"
"The worlds best hang over cure"
And he's going to make me drink it!
"Are you not cold, it's freezing Angus"
"I went for a run earlier, sorry, is it making you uncomfortable? I'll go put a shirt on"
Don't think Zoey, just act on impulse, you can do this.
"No, don't" I plead, reaching my hand out to touch his rock hard abs and I don't know which one of us is more shocked. My fingers move slowly up his torso, sweep across his neck and make the way to his mouth, I let my thumb play with his bottom lip and he kisses it softly. He pulls me in closer and brings his lips to mine, I'm anticipating his kiss but he just opens his mouth and asks "Is there a chance that you're still drunk?"
I shake my head, no
He kisses me, lifting me up off the ground.
"Do you have to be home at a certain time today" Angus enquires.
"No but I do have homework I need to do at some stage this weekend so I will need to get our bags from your office" I reply
"You mean those bags" He asks, pointing to the corner where he's carefully placed both my school bag and Tess' too.
"What do you have planned Angus?"
"I was thinking we could drive up the coast to Sulani, I know it's winter but there some great spots to grab lunch on the Island"
"How do you get to the Island though?"
"Ferryboat from New Crest" He informs me
"Im in"
I check my phone in the car and I'm surprised to see that I only had 2 missed calls, one from home and the other from Tess. That's very unlike Tess, usually she would just keep calling until I picked up, her record was 35 calls in the space of an hour. I call home first and my mother answers.
"Hi Zoey"
"Hi Mum"
"I called before to see if you'll be home for dinner tonight and if Angus would be joining you?"
"How did you know I was with Angus?" I asked, thinking Tess must of ratted me out
"Oh, He called us last night, said you had passed out drunk on his couch and he had put you in his sisters bed. Lovely boy he is, we had a long chat too"
I shoot Angus a look and he just smiles, keeping his eyes on the road.
"So, Im not in trouble?" I ask mum
"Why would you be in trouble, we know you're safe and not lying in a ditch somewhere, plus you're our good girl, we know we don't need to worry about you, unlike Tess"
When I hang up the phone my head is filled with so many questions, like what did they chat about.
"We talked about you Zoey, how you're going to University next year and you're hoping to study medicine" Angus informs me, like he's reading my thoughts, "I didn't know you wanted to become a doctor?" he continues
"My parents want me to become a doctor and don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind studying medicine, my marks are high enough to get in too but I wouldn't mind becoming a vet either, I love animals, especially dogs" I explain
"You should do what makes you happy Zoey"
I wish it was that simple though.
The ferry ride from New Crest to Sulani takes about 40 minutes, the water is choppy and the wind is blowing a gail but Angus holds onto me tightly the whole way.
"This place is beautiful" I say when we arrive, the water is crystal clear and the sand is pure white.
"Yeah it is, I come up here a lot in Summer, we have a house on the beach and locals are so accommodating"
"I need to ask a question and I apologise is advance if it comes out rude but you're 22, how do you own so much property, it's like you hit the motherlode" I ask and he laughs
"Immie was a world renowned scientist. she invented a cloning machine, among other things, made Billions from it, retired at 32 and now travels the world, she comes home in the warmer months, helps me out with the gym but mostly she leaves me in charge of making the big decisions, I've got creative control over everything" He explains.
We walk to The Sand Bar, a small bar with a food stall out front. We put our orders in and find a wicker cane lounge to sit on.
"Ok Zoey, I think it's my turn to ask the personal question" he says, I can hear the reservation in his voice but still he pushes on, "You've talked to me non stop about your relationship with Tess and I've met your Mother and Step Father, who you also seem to be really close to but you've not once mentioned your actual father"
It was a painful subject, a wound that had never healed. I can feel the hot tears welling up in my eyes.
"Oh fuck, Zo, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up, it's none of my business, forget I've asked. Shit, I wanted to have the best first date with you and now I've ruined it and made you cry." He comforts me, wiping my tears away with a napkin
"It's ok" I assure him, "I cry when I'm angry, I'm not angry at you or that you asked, please don't think that. I'm angry because our father abandoned us, left my mother with nothing, alone to raise to two children on her own. Tess and I were only 10 and he just didn't come home, he moved to Oasis Spings with his girlfriend, Eliza Pancakes and they started a new family together, we never heard from him again"
"Im so sorry Zoey, what a prick, you're poor mother and you girls" He exclaims, shocked
"There were some pretty dark times, bills went unpaid and our power was shut off a few times but Ruth got us through it, she took a job as the hostess at Chez Llama and worked really hard to make sure we had everything we needed. That's where she met Don too, he was head chef. They married about a year later and we moved to Brindleton Bay." I explain
"Imogen tells me that Don Lothario was a bit of a playboy in his younger days at Riverview High. Your mother has done a great job taming him" He laughs and I do too
"You wouldn't even know he once had a wild side, he's so devoted to Mum and is more of father to Tess and I than our biological father ever was"
On the drive home from New Crest I receive a call from Tess.
"Where are you? Im bored and have no-one to talk to" she cries
"I'm about an hour away, I'll be there soon, I promise. I just remembered, I forgot to call you back too, I'm the worst sister in the whole world" I laugh
"You so are Zoey, You get a boyfriend and forget all about me, the real love of your life. Nah, it's all good, I called Angus, I knew you were safe" she assures me.
BOYFRIEND? What? I hadn't thought about that label, it was all too new, I hadn't even had a chance to debrief with Tess. I can feel my breathing starting to become more rapid
"I gotta go...see you soon T"
"I'm pulling over Zoey, just hold on" Angus cries, anticipating my oncoming panic attack.
As soon as the car has safely come to a stop I jump out. The cool evening air hitting my hot cheeks. The attack takes about a minute or two to pass but the shame and embarrassment sticks around.
"Im going to kill your sister" He announces
"It's not her fault, she just has no filter sometimes and get excited" I explain
"I was going to ask you, I just couldn't find the right moment today" He rambles
"Ask me what?" Now Im confused
"To be my Girlfriend, to make this offical, I know it's sudden but I'm not the type to be out there dating multiple girls all at once. I want to be committed to just one girl, to you Zoey, I want you to be my girl?" He asks, sheepishly
"I've never been a Girlfriend before though" I explain
"It's not like applying for a job at the barista house Zoey, you don't really need previous experience"
"I know Angus but look at me? Normal girls get excited about moments like this, I have a panic attack"
He takes me by the hands and looks me deep in the eye
"Zoey Green, would you do me the honour of becoming my Girlfriend"
Don't overthink it Zoey
"Yes, Angus McKennzie"
He picks me up, spins me around and plants a kiss on me.
I can here a conversation going on, I guess Angus finally got that FaceTime call from his sister. I can hear his end clearly but her replies come through muffled. I focus in on what he is saying and I realise they're talking about me.
"No Immie, Im not going to give you her name"
muffled reply
"you know exactly why, you'd look her up on simstergram and stalk her profile, trust me, you'll meet her when the time is right, I just don't need my big sister scaring her off"
I get up and move closer to the door, I've never been the kind who listens in on private conversation but considering Im the subject matter I can't stop.
"Look Immie, it's more than likely that she's going to wake up and pretend nothing happened again, just like she did on Thursday."
"Give her time Gus, If she's as sweet as you say she is I'm sure she's worth the effort" Imogen assure him.
Am I worth the effort?
Angus ends his call and I can now hear a blender stopping and starting. Time to venture out of the room. He's standing in his kitchen dressed only in shorts and it's freezing.
"Morning" he says in an upbeat tone, "Did I wake you?"
"No, my hangover woke me, I swear Im never drinking again" I pledge
"Famous last words Miss Green, we've all been there"
"Ah Im sure you never have Mister McKennzie, given that you don't consume carbs"
"I use to be quite a heavy drinker"
"Oh, sorry"
Change the subject Zoey
"what are you concocting in the blender?"
"The worlds best hang over cure"
And he's going to make me drink it!
"Are you not cold, it's freezing Angus"
"I went for a run earlier, sorry, is it making you uncomfortable? I'll go put a shirt on"
Don't think Zoey, just act on impulse, you can do this.
"No, don't" I plead, reaching my hand out to touch his rock hard abs and I don't know which one of us is more shocked. My fingers move slowly up his torso, sweep across his neck and make the way to his mouth, I let my thumb play with his bottom lip and he kisses it softly. He pulls me in closer and brings his lips to mine, I'm anticipating his kiss but he just opens his mouth and asks "Is there a chance that you're still drunk?"
I shake my head, no
He kisses me, lifting me up off the ground.
"Do you have to be home at a certain time today" Angus enquires.
"No but I do have homework I need to do at some stage this weekend so I will need to get our bags from your office" I reply
"You mean those bags" He asks, pointing to the corner where he's carefully placed both my school bag and Tess' too.
"What do you have planned Angus?"
"I was thinking we could drive up the coast to Sulani, I know it's winter but there some great spots to grab lunch on the Island"
"How do you get to the Island though?"
"Ferryboat from New Crest" He informs me
"Im in"
I check my phone in the car and I'm surprised to see that I only had 2 missed calls, one from home and the other from Tess. That's very unlike Tess, usually she would just keep calling until I picked up, her record was 35 calls in the space of an hour. I call home first and my mother answers.
"Hi Zoey"
"Hi Mum"
"I called before to see if you'll be home for dinner tonight and if Angus would be joining you?"
"How did you know I was with Angus?" I asked, thinking Tess must of ratted me out
"Oh, He called us last night, said you had passed out drunk on his couch and he had put you in his sisters bed. Lovely boy he is, we had a long chat too"
I shoot Angus a look and he just smiles, keeping his eyes on the road.
"So, Im not in trouble?" I ask mum
"Why would you be in trouble, we know you're safe and not lying in a ditch somewhere, plus you're our good girl, we know we don't need to worry about you, unlike Tess"
When I hang up the phone my head is filled with so many questions, like what did they chat about.
"We talked about you Zoey, how you're going to University next year and you're hoping to study medicine" Angus informs me, like he's reading my thoughts, "I didn't know you wanted to become a doctor?" he continues
"My parents want me to become a doctor and don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind studying medicine, my marks are high enough to get in too but I wouldn't mind becoming a vet either, I love animals, especially dogs" I explain
"You should do what makes you happy Zoey"
I wish it was that simple though.
The ferry ride from New Crest to Sulani takes about 40 minutes, the water is choppy and the wind is blowing a gail but Angus holds onto me tightly the whole way.
"This place is beautiful" I say when we arrive, the water is crystal clear and the sand is pure white.
"Yeah it is, I come up here a lot in Summer, we have a house on the beach and locals are so accommodating"
"I need to ask a question and I apologise is advance if it comes out rude but you're 22, how do you own so much property, it's like you hit the motherlode" I ask and he laughs
"Immie was a world renowned scientist. she invented a cloning machine, among other things, made Billions from it, retired at 32 and now travels the world, she comes home in the warmer months, helps me out with the gym but mostly she leaves me in charge of making the big decisions, I've got creative control over everything" He explains.
We walk to The Sand Bar, a small bar with a food stall out front. We put our orders in and find a wicker cane lounge to sit on.
"Ok Zoey, I think it's my turn to ask the personal question" he says, I can hear the reservation in his voice but still he pushes on, "You've talked to me non stop about your relationship with Tess and I've met your Mother and Step Father, who you also seem to be really close to but you've not once mentioned your actual father"
It was a painful subject, a wound that had never healed. I can feel the hot tears welling up in my eyes.
"Oh fuck, Zo, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up, it's none of my business, forget I've asked. Shit, I wanted to have the best first date with you and now I've ruined it and made you cry." He comforts me, wiping my tears away with a napkin
"It's ok" I assure him, "I cry when I'm angry, I'm not angry at you or that you asked, please don't think that. I'm angry because our father abandoned us, left my mother with nothing, alone to raise to two children on her own. Tess and I were only 10 and he just didn't come home, he moved to Oasis Spings with his girlfriend, Eliza Pancakes and they started a new family together, we never heard from him again"
"Im so sorry Zoey, what a prick, you're poor mother and you girls" He exclaims, shocked
"There were some pretty dark times, bills went unpaid and our power was shut off a few times but Ruth got us through it, she took a job as the hostess at Chez Llama and worked really hard to make sure we had everything we needed. That's where she met Don too, he was head chef. They married about a year later and we moved to Brindleton Bay." I explain
"Imogen tells me that Don Lothario was a bit of a playboy in his younger days at Riverview High. Your mother has done a great job taming him" He laughs and I do too
"You wouldn't even know he once had a wild side, he's so devoted to Mum and is more of father to Tess and I than our biological father ever was"
On the drive home from New Crest I receive a call from Tess.
"Where are you? Im bored and have no-one to talk to" she cries
"I'm about an hour away, I'll be there soon, I promise. I just remembered, I forgot to call you back too, I'm the worst sister in the whole world" I laugh
"You so are Zoey, You get a boyfriend and forget all about me, the real love of your life. Nah, it's all good, I called Angus, I knew you were safe" she assures me.
BOYFRIEND? What? I hadn't thought about that label, it was all too new, I hadn't even had a chance to debrief with Tess. I can feel my breathing starting to become more rapid
"I gotta go...see you soon T"
"I'm pulling over Zoey, just hold on" Angus cries, anticipating my oncoming panic attack.
As soon as the car has safely come to a stop I jump out. The cool evening air hitting my hot cheeks. The attack takes about a minute or two to pass but the shame and embarrassment sticks around.
"Im going to kill your sister" He announces
"It's not her fault, she just has no filter sometimes and get excited" I explain
"I was going to ask you, I just couldn't find the right moment today" He rambles
"Ask me what?" Now Im confused
"To be my Girlfriend, to make this offical, I know it's sudden but I'm not the type to be out there dating multiple girls all at once. I want to be committed to just one girl, to you Zoey, I want you to be my girl?" He asks, sheepishly
"I've never been a Girlfriend before though" I explain
"It's not like applying for a job at the barista house Zoey, you don't really need previous experience"
"I know Angus but look at me? Normal girls get excited about moments like this, I have a panic attack"
He takes me by the hands and looks me deep in the eye
"Zoey Green, would you do me the honour of becoming my Girlfriend"
Don't overthink it Zoey
"Yes, Angus McKennzie"
He picks me up, spins me around and plants a kiss on me.
No comments:
Post a Comment