Page 3 of Secret

“Yes, Mummy,” I squeal, jumping up and down.

The memory of her fades, leaving only the sadness that she is gone. I kept it hidden well enough because of that memory. I guess I had always hoped it was my dad who gave it to her, but who knows? It looks expensive, but my mum never dated anyone, that I saw when growing up, so it could be.I could ask Harley. I put it into my bag and then go into the bathroom to collect my shampoos, soap, razors, and hairbrush. I chuck those into the bag and look at myself in the full-length mirror.

My long, almost white-blond hair is nearly at my waist. Even in a plait like it is now. I have those bright-green eyes, like my brother, and a layer of freckles, of which I’m not a fan. I’m quite pale, as I don’t get out much, but I have a good body.As my best friend would tell me anyway. I’m looking at my eyes, wondering about my father, when I hear a thump and a man cry out. I race down the stairs, finding Harley holding Fred by his neck up against a wall, and Harley’s face is close to Fred’s.

“Don't speak about my sister like that ever again, or I’ll end you. Do you understand me?” he asks.

Fred mumbles a shaken, “Yes.”

Harley lets him drop to the floor. He looks back at me with a smile and starts brushing down his suit before asking, “You ready?” I nod, and he turns back to Fredwith a scary amount of hate on his face.

“We’re going now, and don't contact my sister or I’ll find you.”

With that, he gestures for me to walk out, and I do so with my head held high. I say goodbye to my old life and head out into the new.

Chapter3

IZZY

We drive for nearly seven hours toward the Lake District, away from my old life. Harley tells me that we’ll be living in a small village called Kendean, where they are all from. Harley continues, telling me I will be joining the twins in their last year at the local grammar school. The school does the same courses that I am doing now, and I can continue them for the few remaining months I have left. We talk about what I study, and I tell him about my love of art and history. I also tell Harley I want to work with my art when I'm older. I’m surprised when he thinks this is a great idea and can't wait to see my work.

“So, what work do you do?” I ask.

“I own the local gym in the village. It’s the only one for miles so we do good business. Plus, it helps that we all had a very good inheritance.” He glances at me before looking back at the road.

“That’s why you’re so buff then,” I joke, and he grins at me.

“Yes, and so are your brothers. You can come any time to build some muscles if you want,” he smiles.

“No, I don’t do exercise.” I laugh at his shocked face. “I’m serious. I can run if I want to, but I get all red and sweaty. Well, I’m lazy.”

“You’re joking, right? Don’t you eat? Because you’re quite thin and small,” his tone is now serious.

I can understand why, seeing where I came from, but I’m just lucky I have a good body despite not doing much exercise.My friend, Tilly, always used to moan about that.

“I just have good genes, I guess. I have a bad addiction to Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.”

I laugh with Harley when he answers, “It’s good that Luke likes that stuff and it’s always in the freezer, then.”

“I may like Luke already,” I say.

“Do you drive? We live in the middle of nowhere and, without a car, it will be difficult to get around,” he says, and I sigh, thinking back to Tilly’s father who bought me a crash course for my seventeenth birthday from all of them. It was the sweetest thing, even if I could never afford a car and insurance. I passed straight away out of pure luck, I believe, and a few late nights practising in my foster parents’ car.

“Yeah, I have a licence,” I answer.

“That’s great, all the boys have cars, so one of us will be able to drive you anywhere until Sebastian or I can buy you a new car,” he tells me.

“That’s too much money,” I frown.

Harley laughs at that and we carry on the drive in a comfortable silence. As we pull into the village, we cross over a beautiful, old bridge with a large river running through the town. As we drive farther, I notice the small mountains in the background. The town is beautiful, even at night. Glancing at the clock on the dash, I realize it’s now close to midnight, and I hope to go straight to bed when we get there.I’m glad we stopped off for some food on the road.

We pass more country roads and eventually pull onto a small road with heavy, black gates, which are open. I can see a long road behind them with massive trees on both sides, and it’s lit up with large, street lamps.

Harley mutters something about the gates being open when they weren’t meant to be and drives up the path. Slowly, the biggest house I’ve ever seen comes into view. It's beautiful, grey stone, even in dim lighting, but all the cars parked in front and the loud music blasting from inside distracts me it.

I wonder if this is normal.I briefly think I have no chance of sleeping until morning as I look at the garage built on the side of the house and then the people flittering around outside. I can’t see much in the dark, but big windows seem to line the front of the house.

“For fuck’s sake, I leave them for three days and come back to a massive party,” Harley shouts in frustration as he jumps out of the car and slams the door.

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