I can't believe I haven't update this since April!!! I am so sorry!

Chapter Ten: The Invite

The Garwin family always comes together for a family brunch at 11 A.M. sharp on Saturdays. Due to Mr. Garwin's busy work schedule, Mrs. Garwin's numerous social events, and Reid's residency at a boarding school, the family rarely got to eat a meal together. And so Mrs. Garwin always insisted on having family brunch at The Kingston, an upscale restaurant downtown. They had been dining there every Saturday since Reid was eight. Ivy was sure nothing had changed.

So after spending the rest of the night listening to Tyler snore from her place on Reid's unkempt and somewhat smelly side of the room, Ivy decided that come morning, brunch at The Kingston would sound delightfully appealing.

"Good morning sunshine!"

Ivy had awoken Tyler at nine o'clock that morning with orders to go get a shower and put on his nice clothes. The woman had lost her mind. Of course when he informed her of such, she marched into his bathroom, filled up a cup of water and dumped it over is "attempting to go back to sleep" head.

Tyler soon found himself dressed and waiting in the Hummer for Ivy to emerge from the Danver's house, where he had driven her and not been allowed to leave. Arguing against any of her insane behavior was pointless. Tyler knew that when Ivy set her mind to something, there was no changing it. He just wished she'd let him know what her plan was.

"Now will you tell me where we're going?" Tyler asked as Ivy settled herself into the passenger seat. She had showered and changed into a green dress and black pea coat.

"Nope. Just drive downtown." She didn't even glance his way just stared out the window.

"Alright then."

As the car began to near the main cluster of buildings she told him park, and then she was pulling him towards a group of shops by the main traffic light.

"Okay put on your happy face and act surprised."

"Surprised about what? You still haven't even told me where we're going!" She wasn't even listening anymore, just pulling his arm in the general direction of the building.

And then she stopped, put on a big smile and pushed him through the doorway and up to the hostess at The Kingston, right at the exact moment that it hit him who would be at the Kingston at this particular time.

"You are in so much trouble, Ivy."

"Can't you smile just a little?!" If he was frowning, Mrs. Garwin would never believe her story when she looked up and noticed them at the small little table Ivy had requested directly in eyesight of where the Garwin's sat, but not to close to be suspicious.

"Why should I smile? You're making me a martyr. Reid will kill me when he sees us here. What ever excuse you have planned for his parents will not work on Reid, and I'm the one who's going to bear the consequences."

"You are being way over dramatic."

"And you are insane."

"Whatever, just stop looking so damn miserable. Anyone else would be all smiles about earning first place in the science fair!"

"The science fair!? Spencer doesn't even have a science fair, and even if they did I wouldn't be a part of it! That's my worst subject!"

"It doesn't matter. Everyone thinks you're a nerd anyway. It'll be totally realistic. If you were good at science, you would get first place. You got first place in that math competition a few years ago, remember?"

"That was in the fourth grade."

"You're point?" Just as Tyler was about to respond, she heard Mrs. Garwin exclaim from across the room. Step One: Get invited to the Garwin family brunch. Complete.

"So what are you two doing here this morning?" Mrs. Garwin asked as Tyler and Ivy settled in at the table.

"Yes, what are you two doing here?" Reid asked with a tight smile.

"Well, Tyler, tell them your good news."

"I won the science fair," Tyler responded in a voice much too bland for Ivy's tastes, after giving her a long glare.

"And I decided that we should go out and celebrate, and this was the first place that came to mind!" She was being a little too animated, but it didn't matter. All Ivy needed was for Mr. and Mrs. Garwin to believe her excuse; she'd deal with Reid later.

"Well that's wonderful Tyler! What was your project?"

"Yes Tyler, what did you enter into the science fair? You must have kept it a big secret. I haven't seen anything in our room." Reid said with a mischievous grin.

Before Tyler could even take a breath Ivy was already regaling the Garwin's with Tyler's ingenious project on the effects of global warming. The conversation soon turned to Ivy's time in Texas and how she was enjoying being back in Ipswich. Reid was silent throughout the rest of the meal, save for the ominous glares he would shoot at Tyler, who would then turn to glare at Ivy. She paid him little attention, however, as she was using all her energy to impress Reid's mother.

"Ivy, dear, you must come back to the house with us. You and Reid haven't got to talk at all! Come, and we'll have dinner tonight! Just like old times!" Mrs. Garwin gave the invite Ivy had been working for the whole meal just as the waiter delivered the check. Ivy had been about to lose hope that she would ask her to come.

Before Ivy had left, she had often joined the Garwin's for brunch and then they would go back the Reid's house. She and Reid would spend the rest of day watching movies or listening to music. If it was during the summer they would swim in the pool. Ivy always looked forward to the weekends she got spend with the Reid. And now she would get to spend the rest of the day forcing Reid to tell her the truth. About everything.

"I would love to."