The beginning

Chapter 4

The next morning, Evie got up early like always and went down stairs to get breakfast ready, only to see her Dad plating a full English breakfast on 7 plates. "Dad? What are you doing?" She asked, pulling the carton of orange juice out of the fridge and taking a drink from the carton.

"Use a glass Evelyn." Jeff said, only for her to roll her eyes. "And I am making breakfast. Can you wake your brothers up?"

"Sure." She walked to the kitchen door. "BREAKFAST!" She yelled, making Jeff jump and nearly drop the plate of toast he was holding.

"I meant go upstairs and wake them up." He laughed as 5 pairs of feet ran down the stairs, only to stop dead when they saw their Dad at the table with Evie.

"Dad? What are you doing?" Scott asked, taking his seat at the table.

"I am spending time with my family." He said as his mobile rang. He answered it without even looking at the number. "Jeff Tracy." He answered, his face falling as the person on the other end spoke. "Oh. I completely forgot! Can we not reschedule? Ok. I'm on my way Jenny." He hung up the phone and stood up. "I'm sorry kids. I have to go to work." He left the room and quickly got into his car, leaving 6 kids sat looking at the door in shock.

"I knew it was too good to be true." Evie whispered, getting up and walking up stairs, leaving her breakfast un-touched.

"Every time I think he's changing, he does something like this." Scott said as Alan stuffed his face with food. "Slow down there Sprout. You don't want to choke." He took the young boy's fork and gave him a drink. "Come on. We have to get ready for school."

"Evie?" Virgil asked, walking into their room to see his twin sister doing her hair. "You ok?"

"I'm fine." She said, not looking at him.

"No you're not. You only say you're fine when you're upset or angry." He replied, pulling out his clothes for the day. "So I repeat. You ok?"

"No. I thought that we were finally getting our Dad back! That things would go back to how they were." She said, dropping the hair brush and sitting on her bed. "I should have known this time would be no different."

"Hey, it was a start. At least he's trying." Virgil said. "Just give him a chance."

"How many more chances do we have to give him? He's had 5 years' worth of chances." She said, looking up at her twin. "How many more times is he going to do this? How long is it going to take for him to realise that he practically abandoned us and left us to raise ourselves? When will he realise that we need him?"

Virgil dropped his clothes on his bed and sat next to his sister, pulling her into a hug. "I don't know Evie. I don't know." He whispered. He stood up and grabbed his clothes again. "Come on. We need to get ready for school." He said before walking to the bathroom to get washed and dressed.

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"Well, if it isn't Evelyn Tracy again." Richard said as he sat next to the young girl under the tree they sat under the day before. "Not at lunch again?"

"What does it look like?" She snapped.

"Woah! Chill. I was only joking." He said, putting his hands up in mock surrender.

"Sorry. I'm just in a bad mood." She replied.

"Want to talk about it?"

"Nope." She said immediately. They sat in silence for a few seconds. "I just thought that things would change. I thought that Dad was actually going to spend more time with us! I thought that everything would go back to normal." She said, putting her head on the tree behind her.

"Maybe he is trying. And by the sounds of it, nothing is ever normal in your family." He laughed, only to receive a cold look. "Sorry."

"It's ok. I'm just through with everything." She said.

"How about this. I will take you out tonight. Give you a break." He said with a smile.

"Thanks." She smiled. "But no. I have a lot to do tonight."

"Oh come on! What do you have to do that is so important?" He asked.

"I have to cook, clean, help Alan and Gordon with their homework, do my own homework and take Gordon swimming." She said, reeling off her list for a typical Tuesday night.

"Well, someone else can cook…"

"Who? Scott can burn water, John doesn't know how to use the oven, Virgil doesn't know where the pans are kept and Gordon and Alan are too young to cook." She said.

"Well, some would say that you are too young to cook." He replied. "And as I was going to say, other people can do those things. You don't have to."

"Look. It was a nice offer, but the answer is no. I am needed at home." She said, getting up and grabbing her bag. "And don't ask me again." She walked to the library and sat down, pulling out a book and starting to read.

"I could always demand it." Richard said, making Evie jump as he sat next to her a few minutes later.

"Are you stalking me?" She asked, putting her book down.

"Nope. I'm just a guy that doesn't take no for an answer." He replied with a wink.

"Look, you are 3 years older than me. I am 13! I am not going to go out with you. Ever." She snapped. "Now leave me alone."

"You are very grown up for a 13 year old. Very mature." He said.

"I had to grow up. I had no choice." She said, picking her book up and continuing to read.

"Everyone had a choice." He said, trying not to let his anger show.

"Not me." She snapped. She saw John enter the library over Richard's shoulder and stood up. "Bye." She said, grabbing her stuff and walking over to John, flopping down opposite him at the table.

"What's up Belle?" He asked, looking at her over his space book.

"Just annoyed Star." She replied, using his nickname. "Why aren't you in the café with the others?"

"Gordon's having the curry." He said, his face scrunching up.

"Eww. I can't even look at a curry anymore." She said, her face showing her disgust. Last time they had eaten curry, Gordon had made the biggest mess in the world and had even managed to spit it up over John, which explained why he had left.

"Why do you think I left?" He laughed. "So, what's the plan for tonight?" He asked.

"Well, if you could take Gordon swimming and help him with his homework, then I will help Alan with his and cook." She said, already thinking of what to cook.

"Deal." He laughed. The bell went and they walked to their next lessons, Evie avoiding Richard as much as she could.

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"Gordon! Time to go!" John yelled up the stairs later that evening. "Evie, where is the key?"

"On the table where you left it." She replied from the kitchen table where she sat helping Alan with his homework.

"Oh, thanks. GORDON!" He yelled again. "Where is he?"

"Did you check the door?" Virgil asked, walking past.

"The door?" Virgil opened the door to reveal Gordon sat on the front step. John looked at him in shock. "How did you know he'd be there?"

"That's where he always is." Virgil replied, walking back upstairs.

"Let's go! We're wasting precious swimming time!" Gordon moaned, standing up and waiting for John.

"What's for dinner tonight Evie?" Scott asked as he entered the kitchen and raided the fridge.

"Spaghetti. Keep your mitts out of the fridge!" She said, getting up and hitting him round the head. "Al, why don't you go watch some TV." He jumped up and ran out of the kitchen, glad to finally be done with work. "Hey Scott, what did you say to Dad last night?"

"I said that he needed to start acting like a Dad. Why?" He replied, sitting at the table and looking at her.

"Because we haven't had a family meal, or even Dad cooking us breakfast, since mum died. I thought that things were finally changing, but they're not." She said, leaning on the counter and looking down.

"I know Evie. I thought that it would be different too." He got up and pulled her into a hug. "We're ok though. We have each other. Why don't you go out with some friends tomorrow? Take a break."

"And who would cook?" She asked immediately.

"I will." She looked at him with her eyebrows raised. "Ok, I'll order a take out." He said, making her laugh. "I'm serious. We can cope for one day Evie. Go out, have some fun. Or I will be forced to hand your guitar over to Little Red." He said before leaving the kitchen, leaving Evie staring after him with her mouth open and her eyes wide. He wouldn't dare! If Gordon got his hands on her guitar, there was no way it would survive! He was blackmailing her and he knew it. She started to cook, and decided that she wouldn't risk her precious guitar. She knew what she would do.

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The next day, Evie walked over to Richard in the library and stood in front of him. "Is that offer for dinner still available?" She asked, making him smile at her.

"So, you finally realised that you need a night out?" He asked as she sat down.

"More like Scott threatened to give my guitar to Gordon, who would destroy it before you can blink." She said, still angry about the idea.

"Fair enough. I will meet you at the gates after school and we will go out." He said with a smile.

"Deal. I will see you later." She said, getting up and walking out. He smiled and knew that he had picked the right person. Now, he just had to wait for the right chance.

Here you go guys. Sorry it's a bit short. What do you think Richard is up to? You won't find out for a few chapters, but I want to hear your theories.

Please review and let me know what you think.

Emma