Page 25 of Ivy's Venom

I head to the family room and find him immersed into a football game, a bottle of whiskey beside him. I don’t know how he functions enough to work and I get the feeling the Greenes keep him around out of pity.

“Son, come watch the game.” He pats the couch cushion beside him.

I sit down further down the couch and watch the game in silence, he never actually wants to talk to me. Amelia comes into the room and her brow lifts at the silence. She hands me a cup of hot chocolate and sits between us.

“How has school been?” She asks me and dad finally looks at me.

“Good.” I nod and sip the warm chocolate. “How about you?”

“It’s been okay,” her head dips and I know she’s lying.

I let it be for now because I know she doesn’t like to upset Dad and have him storm the school. He’s an embarrassment nowadays.

I finish the cocoa and stand, “I’m gonna go get settled.”

“Dinner is at eight.” Dad says, his eyes never straying from the TV.

“Cool.” I nod at Amelia, “come help me.”

We head upstairs and I pause slightly at Charlotte’s door before moving on down to my own. I can’t lose sight of what I need to do, no matter how attractive my target is, and how intrigued I am by her.

Amelia follows me in and crashes on top of my bed, “look,” she starts, “everything is fine.”

“Spit it out.”

“Neil…”

“Amelia.” I stare down at her. “Spit. It. Out.”

“I’m just upset about something stupid and I’ll get over it. I see it everyday at school and it pisses me off.” She huffs, but I don’t miss the way her face loses colour. “I just can’t tell you.”

“Are you being bullied?” I ask as I sit beside her.

“No,” she shakes her head, “trust me Neil it’s not that bad, really.”

“As long as you aren’t hurt or anything.” I tell her.

“Nothing physical, no.”

“Is it a guy?”

“No.” She sighs and I begin to see what’s happening.

“Is it that Cam guy? Did he get another girlfriend or something?” I would kill the fucker if he used my sister in any way.

“No!” She looks at me wide eyed. “I told you, me and him aren’t like that.”

Her phone pings with a message and she pulls it out. I see the notification on her lock screen, Veronica Hanes.

“Who is that?” The name sounds familiar.

“A girl from school.” She shrugs, “she’s been really nice to me and I’ve started hanging out with her group.”

“Be careful,” I tell her. “Well, what does she want? Are you guys going to make a burn book or something?”

“Please tell me you did not just reference Mean Girls.” She rolls her eyes.

“Charlotte made me watch it.” I shrug and laugh.

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