AN; Hi everyone! I moved and basically just completely forgot about this - seeing as I had about 10 chapters which I hadn't published however I may as well put them on here... If people like it enough then I'll keep writing!
Reviews, comments and criticisms always appreciated! Enjoy :)
Zoey's face was one of utter joy and panic when she appeared round the side of the house after Kim and Echo knocked on the front door an hour and a half later.
"Oh, hey guys! It's round the back here... You know, you're technically late because some people have seemed to come early for some reason..." She smiled as Echo and Kim looked at each other worriedly. They had agreed to go separately to Teep, who said Zoey had wanted him earlier to help set up, but if people were already here...
"Has anyone grabbed any food yet?" Kim asked quickly as Zoey laughed.
"Relax Kim, no one gets to eat until we're all here!" Zoey nudged her playfully as Kim laughed convincingly, Echo following them as they entered the back garden. Echo stopped in awe.
"Wow..." She said breathlessly as she took in the sight. Zoey's garden was big. Very big. There were fairy lights everywhere and little lamps that illuminated the whole place, making it look like an enchanted forest of some description. Echo half expected to see Bambi pop up.
She took in her surroundings carefully, noting the table of food directly in the centre of the garden and the chairs and tables lounged around it. There were hedges and bushes and small thick trees growing and various flower beds. Zoey's smile faded slightly when she noticed Echo wasn't following her, walking back towards her.
"Hey... Do you like it?" Zoey asked hesitantly as Echo tore her gaze away from the large tree in the corner of the garden, with a ladder leading up to the tree house wound in Christmas lights. Zoey glanced at it, smiling slightly.
"I ran out of normal lights... So is it alright?" Zoey asked anxiously as Echo turned to her, struggling to keep the smile on her face.
"It's beautiful Zoey..." She said truthfully as she struggled to hold back tears. Zoey smiled back happily, leaving her as the front door rang loudly again. Echo made her way over to Kim, who was watching her in concern.
"It's something, right?" Kim said kindly as Echo nodded.
"Zoey threw this because I suggested it... And it's all so amazing... No one has ever invited me to anything like this." Echo admitted as Kim laughed at her expression.
"Well, don't get too distracted, we need to keep an eye on the food!" Kim said cheerfully as she glanced at the table, waving as Alex and Ross began to make their way over. Echo froze.
"Crap. I forgot to apologise to him." Echo muttered under her breath as Kim looked at her, confused.
"What, really? I thought you apologised on Friday?!" She accused as Alex and Ross came closer, smiling happily as they chatted.
"... I couldn't find him..." Echo said quickly as Alex and Ross came into hearing range. Echo took a deep breath.
"Hey guys! Isn't this amazing?" Echo commented cheerfully as Alex and Ross nodded, Alex avoiding her gaze slightly as he replied.
"Zoey throws fantastic parties! They're always fun" Alex commented, winking suggestively at Ross as Kim shook her head whilst Echo smiled.
"Good." She said evenly as she looked at Alex, who was forced to look at her. He appeared quite sheepish for a second as Echo waited for him to say something. An awkward silence fell across the small group.
"So, Kim, how are you?" Ross asked politely after a second, Kim rolling her eyes as Echo and Alex burst out laughing, Ross turning slightly red. "What?" He demanded as Kim shook her head at him, taking his arm and leading him away from Alex and Echo.
"Right, so do you want to call me an ass or shall I just say it?" Alex said cockily, grinning as Echo pretended to think.
"I don't know... Will you actually listen to me if I do?" She asked teasingly as Alex shook his head mockingly. Echo noticed that Ross and Kim had joined a conversation with Teep and Chris, who were admiring his whiteboard. Echo smiled to herself at the fact Teep had brought it with him.
"Well, actually I was jealous..." Alex said reluctantly, Echo not listening. She realised Alex was looking at her expectantly and she pulled a face.
"I'm so sorry, I left reality for a moment; what did you say?" She asked him curiously as Alex cleared his throat.
"I, hm, I said that I was jealous of the rumour. You know, of Rythian playing with your hair." Alex looked very hesitant and Echo suddenly realised where the conversation was going.
"Hey, Alex, let's just forget about the whole thing. I've already forgotten it!" She laughed as Alex looked at her, confused.
"Well, yes, but I wanted to tell you..." He trailed off as Echo grabbed his arm and lead him swiftly over to the others, cutting across him.
"Hey, have you seen Teep's whiteboard? Teep, show Alex your whiteboard!" Echo said quickly as they joined the group, Teep nodding smugly as he wrote something down. Out of the corner of her eye, Echo realised Alex was looking slightly reluctant; it Echo had guessed right about what Alex had been about to admit, then he wouldn't say it in front of everyone.
Echo's phone went off in her bag and she took it out, unable to stop a grin from forming when she saw the name that appeared. She took it out eagerly, Chris looking over her shoulder to glance at the name before she could hide it.
"Hector?" He asked questioningly as everyone suddenly turned towards her, Teep and Kim included. Echo tried to look reluctant as she smiled at their smirks.
"First contact in a month or so... Anyone mind if I take this? It could be serious..." She added worryingly as the others nodded, Echo accepting the call and putting it to her ear.
"Hey Hector!" She said fondly as she walked away, making her way to one of the chairs facing the food. There was a pause on the other end of the line, Echo briefly hoping it was the real Hector before realising how unrealistic that would be.
"... You did not put me down as Hector." Rythian's voice said in disbelief as Echo laughed, hastily stopping as the group looked at her curiously. She waved and sat down, watching as Zoey made her way over to the others and began to talk excitedly.
"Well, I could hardly put your name, could I? And it's a good thing I did to because Chris looked at the caller ID before I could hide it anyway..." Echo smiled as Rythian sighed.
"Fine, I guess... Alex won't be pleased about that. Also, that looked like a beautifully awkward conversation you had before." Rythian commented as Echo gasped, almost turning around to face the area of hedge where she knew Rythian was hiding.
"You were spying on me?" She said, half shocked and half amused.
She could almost hear Rythian shrug as he replied "No one is near the food yet and I'm cold and bored. Was I right?"
Echo smiled as she leaned back in her chair. "Yes... I forgot to say sorry on Friday... but... It kinda felt like he was going to say something else so I led him to Teep and the whiteboard."
"Ah" Rythian's voice said in understanding as he paused for a moment. "So what did you think he was going to say?" Rythian asked interestedly. Echo rolled her eyes.
"Doesn't matter, he's not going to get a chance to. I might have to partake in another mission impossible tonight..." She commented dryly as Rythian laughed, his voice seemingly harsher.
"Hm... Speaking of Teep's whiteboard, he seems very happy with it. How much did you say it was?" Rythian asked causally. Echo frowned to herself.
"I didn't..." She said slowly as Rythian tutted.
"Right... Because you left the label on the box." Rythian immediately regretted saying that as he watched Echo panic, turning around to the group to check Teep. "Teep doesn't know!" He hastened to add, watching her instantly relax.
"Thank god... Don't tell him." She said sternly, unable to stop herself glancing at Rythian's hiding spot. She heard laughter from the group and twisted her neck to observe Sjin and Sips had joined the party and were laughing merrily before focussing on the conversation again.
"Hey don't look over here! And I won't... Although it was pretty expensive Echo, even for an appropriate present." Echo noted Rythian's reluctant tone and smiled to herself.
"Why? Are you jealous?" She asked teasingly as Zoey started to wave at her, motioning for her to hurry up as Lewis and Duncan and Hannah appeared around the corner. Echo waved and started to walk slowly towards the group.
"Of course." Rythian said mockingly as Echo headed towards the group, smirking slightly.
"Well, babes, I have to go, I'm actually at a party... Alright babes, you can call me back in about... Half an hour maybe?" Echo said as she approached the group, people looking at her knowingly, Chris wolf whistling loudly as Hannah laughed.
"... Don't ever call me babes again..." Rythian said seriously as Echo hung up, unable to stop the grin across her face as she closed her phone.
"Sounded serious... Not. I take it you've forgiven him for not calling?" Duncan asked teasingly, the others obviously having told him who she was talking to. Kim tutted.
"Yep!" Echo smiled happily as Zoey brought out a piece of paper from her pocket, Echo trying to ignore the anger that had momentarily crossed Alex's features. Echo ignored the idea that she had made peace with Hector; she knew it wasn't going to happen for a while.
"Seating arrangements!" She said happily, Echo looking over at Teep in concern. They had planned to get the same table so they could avoid talking to other people but...
"Right, Kim and Hat Films on table one, Lewis, Simon, Duncan, Sips and Sjin on table 2 and Hannah, Teep, Echo and myself on table three... Have I missed anyone?" Zoey's face scanned everyone anxiously as they shook their heads.
"Great! So we'll chat for a while and then food time!" Zoey said happily as everyone made their way to their appropriate table, talking and eyeing the food. Kim was already being subjected to innuendoes and wiggling eyebrows before she even sat down at her table as Hat Films had rushed over to try and claim each other's seats. Lewis, Duncan and Simon were partaking in a conversation about the Diggy Diggy Hole Club, which Sips and Sjin were seemingly highly interested in by the small smirks they gave each other. Echo noted all this as she sat down next to Hannah and Teep, Zoey sitting opposite her.
"You know Echo, it's strange; I don't think we've spoken much, yet it feels like I know you so well..." Hannah said kindly as Echo smiled in response.
"Well, I don't think we have any classes except form together... And you always seem busy at lunch!" Echo joked as Zoey smiled happily, surveying everyone.
*Ping* Echo, you should tell Hannah about those sketches in your room; Hannah does Art club after all.
Hannah raised an eyebrow. "When were you in Echos room...?" She asked curiously as Teep instantly realised his mistake, Zoey frowning slightly at him.
"No, I took a picture and showed them him, they're in my room!" Echo said shakily as Zoey nodded, looking slightly suspicious. "I don't have them any more though; had to delete it for storage space" Echo could hear her voice go slightly shaky at the end under Zoey's unusually stern gaze. Teep looked highly relieved until Zoey turned her attention on him.
"Where did you get this from Teep? It's perfect for you!" Zoey smiled, Teep relaxing as he wrote out a reply.
It was a present.
Hannah widened her eyes. "Wow, lucky you; I didn't even realise they did stuff like that!" Hannah commented, turning to Echo with a knowing look. Echo gulped. Hannah seemed unnaturally observant.
"Must have been from someone who likes you very much Teep" Zoey said kindly as Teep pulled a face before remembering Echo was at the table. He froze as Echo laughed, Teep sighing quickly and apologising as Zoey and Hannah looked confused. They looked at Echo, confused.
*Ping* Teep drew there attention back, giving Echo a moment to relax.
Kim and Echo got it for me as a joint present; they had a really good voucher or discount on certain items, so they got me this!
Zoey paused before smiling, slowly rising from the table. "Echo, will you come with me to the food table with me? Let's get these people eating!" She smiled sweetly as Echo followed her to the table, casting a insecure glance at Teep before following.
"So, Teep was potentially in your room and you're giving him gifts... I, um, well..." Zoey suddenly lost her nerves as she looked at Echo pointedly. Echo sighed loudly; she was fed up of conversations about other people to do with her.
"No, nothing's going on, I was being nice." She said flatly as Zoey instantly beamed, nodding as they reached the food table.
"Uh huh. Well let me know if anything happens though; I'm always interested in when people have a crush!" She winked cheekily as she turned around to the others. "Food is now available" she announced happily as she reached forward and grabbed a pringle whilst Echo watched her in horror.