Broken Laughter.

Part 5
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"I'm sorry! I didn't know that your his sister. He did mention siblings, Imogen, Peter and Johnny. But I didn't know it was you." Mr Thorn apologised,
"Look it's fine. Just shocked really. Danny was always a ladies man back home." Mr Thorn laughs at me and Harry who's now got his arms wrapped around me.
"Looks like he changed his mind! Anyway now that we're sort of family, I'm Russ" he says holding his hand out to mine. I shake it politely, I'm glad for Danny and everything but he could of helped us. He left me and the boys with nothing. He abandoned us.
"Imogen. You can have a family, house and normal life." says Harry glumly. I look at his sad face and place my hands on his cheeks,
"I don't want one." I say simply. Harry smiles, I know he loves me and what I do. My brother and pets. He likes what I do!
"So your gonna stay where you are?" he asks, Russ is sitting in the table watching us.
"Yep. You should really just come join our little hideout." I offer, he leans down and kisses me gently,
"I'd love to." Harry smiles down at me and we remember that our D.T teacher is watching us!
"Imogen... Would you like to meet Danny?" Russ says standing up, Harry keeps his arms wrapped around me but I manage to swivel round to face Russ.
"Well he owes us a few visits. Meet me at the edge of the forest and 12 am. Bring food." I say simply, Russ nods understanding my deal. I take Harry's hand and lead him through the busy corridor. People look and stare at me, guess violent attacks spreads quick here! No one says anything to me. Maybe they respect me now? Well who cares? I'm not coming back to this place. We hurry out the school (Me and Harry) and run to the forest.
"Boys! I have some news" I call up the tree where the hidden house is. Two little heads poke out of the tree and smile.

Once we're up the tree I get prepared to tell them everything. Luna's still next to me cooing.
"Well what is it?" pushes Peter as Johnny just keeps quiet.
"Right well first thing! Mine and Harry's D.T teacher is secretly gay and guess who he's married to!? Danny!" I exclaim throwing my hands in the air dramatically. Peter and Johnny's faces are completely unreadable. "Well?"
"Danny's married to your teacher who's gay?" repeats Peter
"Yeah. Are ok?" I ask now concerned, I thought maybe they would be... Happy?
"Imogen he left you to look after us. He abandoned us just like Mum!" Peter shouted. I hurried to his side and put my arm around his shoulder.
"I know.... But who said we had to like him?" I say. This perks Peter up again with a big smile,
"So.... We're gonna steal from him?" asks Johnny frowning,
"No but he will probably be nice to us. Offer a warm bed for a while and real food, not any of this squirrel!"
"Oh... And if we like him now. We like him?"
"Yep. It's your decision hoe you feel about it. Now put some clothes we're meeting him and his... Husband." they hurry up and pull on some trousers and hoodies. Me and Harry go higher up into the tree out of ears reach.
"Imogen you forgot." Harry says, this confuses me
"What did I forget?" I ask
"I'm coming to join you in your 'hideout'"
"You mean live with me?" I gasp surprised, I only meant stay over sometimes.
"Imogen. I can see that you struggle. I can bring food and more clothes, we can have a life together!" I run it over in my head a couple,
"Yes Harry! That would be fantastic!" I squeal excitedly throwing my arms around him, I feel him smiling onto my shoulder.
"Let go tell Johnny and Peter." we clamber down to the tree house and Johnny and Peter are ready in some clothes.
"Why do you look happy?" teases Peter. Back to normal then!
"One more thing boys. You'll like this one though." the boys smile like a young child at Christmas. "Harry's coming to live here with us." I smile and watch the boys closely. There smile faded but only Johnny's smile returns. Johnny runs over to Harry and punchs him friendly.
"Wait... Your not only coming to live with us cus you've got my sister knocked up?" glares Peter
"No don't worry 'bout that! Wouldn't do that to Imogen" Harry said winking at me.
"Good. You better look after her though. Or you've got us deal with." Threatens Peter with Johnny nodding enthusiastically.
"Don't worry I won't" smiles Harry.
"Why don't we show you round our garden?" offers Johnny starting to go down the ladder. I nod at them, Peter and Harry clambering down after Johnny who's probably at the bottom already.
I walk happily into the little bedroom. Luna's now perched on my mattress cleaning her wing.
"Everything's turning out ok Luna. We're all gonna be ok" I whisper sitting down and pulling my mattress up a bit. A small flat wooden box sits peacefully under the mattress collecting dust, I pull it to my chest and blow gently over it making small particles of dust fly into the ground illuminated by the sun rays. My Mum owned the box and before she died gave it to me. It was my most treasured possession. I unclamp the little lock and pull out a bronze hair comb and a small pin made of silver. It's an eagle with it's wings spread proudly. I pin it onto my new top covering a small bird also with it's wings spread. The comb runs through my long chestnut hair easily making it straight and smooth. My emerald eyes spot Luna staring at me entranced by what I'm doing.
"Hey Luna. Why don't you go find Harry and the boys. It's time to meet Danny." I sigh stroking her soft head, she squawks and flys gracefully away. I start to make my hair into a long plait which trails down my back.
"Back Imogen." calls Peter, smugly walking into the room,
"Why are you so happy?" I smile at him,
"Nothing nothing..." he smiles even more smugly at me and let's out a loud chuckle,
"What tell me!" I laugh standing up and shaking his shoulders.
"No don't worry about it." his smile fades into a little smirk. Johnny runs into the room with Harry smiling happily at me.
"Why are you all so happy!?" I say annoyed now and wanting to know.
"Don't worry about it Imogen. Just a... Joke."
"Hmm... Fine." I give up and shrugging.
"What time is it?" asks Harry looking outside.
"Time to go." says Johnny. They all stand in line and I straighten their collars. Make them look presentable. Of course Harry already does!
"Boys make your way down. Just need to speak to Harry" I say. They nod and clamber down the ladder winking at us. Once they're out of ears reach I tense.
"What if something goes wrong!? What if there's a bunch of police there to take us away. What if Danny decides he hates us?" I frantically ask Harry who looks so casual and relaxed it's entrancing.
"If there are. Don't worry. You'll be alright, no one can hurt you. I'll be there." he says calmly embracing me in a tight hug. I stand on my toes and kiss him which makes a warm heat run through my body. His hands place themselves on my cheeks while mine tangle in with his hair.
"Come on. Your messing up my hair" I joke he smiles and nods,
"Looks nice by the way." he complements. We reach the bottom of the floor where the boys are waiting.
"Let's go" I say leading my little pack of boys. And Luna who's perched on my shoulder. We walk through the woods in an awkward. A few meters away from the edge of the woods Harry takes my hand which I appreciate as my head is starting to spin slightly...
"Ok.. Be... Presentable" I say looking down at my two siblings, faces covered in dirt, mud covered hands. I'm even worse. The only two presentable ones are Harry and Luna! Luna's a bird...
We walk to the road outside the forest, parked close by is a sleek black car. Danny's got a good life then! The two front doors swing open, Mr Thorn gets out of the passengers seat and nods when he sees us all.
"Hi Imogen, you must be Peter and Johnny." Mr Thorn shakes their hands while they eye him up and down.
"So where is he?" I say trying to keep my cool but my voice breaking. I redeem myself by clinging onto Harry's hand.
"Don't worry. He's just nervous" Russ says sitting on the wall nearby, we all sit next to him and watch the other door open. Danny walks out the car and walks towards us, eyes on the floor. When he gets to us my little gang all tense from what I think is anger. They have every right to be, he abandoned us when we needed him the most.
"Congratulations Danny. Rich life, nice family. A roof to sleep under. Not having to look after your real family." Snaps Peter. Danny looks up at me with full guilt on his face. He's looking good, spiky blonde hair, deep brown eyes, expensive clothes. He's still a ladies man by the looks of it.
"I couldn't cope.." he says simply.
"I was eleven years old Danny! You left me to look after two nine year old boys! You left us living in a run down house with nothing. People came to take us away, you didn't bother to help us! We live in a tiny house in the forest, in a tree! We have no food, we have hardly anything. Thankfully Harry accepted how we lived. At least he won't abandon us." I shout at him. Luna screeches at him angrily seeing that this man was defiantly not good.
"Imogen... " Danny takes a step forward but I lean into Harry who wraps his arms around me protectively. "You two are together?" asks Danny smiling,
"You could say that." I say quietly.
"Good going." Danny compliments smiling, making me even more angry with him.
"Come on guys.. We're going home. He hasn't changed one little bit!" I snap. The boys nod and we all make our way to the tree house. Luna's standing on the wall glaring at Danny.
"Luna come on" I call, she screeches at Danny and flaps her wings at him, then coming and flying behind us.

We get to the tree house and climb up it. The two boys and Luna go into the house but I lead Harry up to the highest branch.
"Imogen what happened?" asks Harry sitting next to me,
"He hasn't changed a bit! He's not sorry at all." I glare at my converse.
"You don't know that! You didn't give him a chance" sighs Harry. I run it over in my mind, over and over.
"Your right. I'll go back. Come with me" I plead, Harry nods and we scamper down the tree again. Danny and Russ are sitting on the wall, Danny seems to be holding his head in his hands, Russ has slung his arm over Danny's shoulder. I pick up a small rock and chuck it at Danny hitting him on the back. He flinches and turns to face me.
"Come on.... Bro" I shout at him. They both get up and hurry over to me,
"Imogen I.." Danny starts
"Don't bother. Come on" I snap leading the happy couple back to the tree house.
When we get there I don't bother spending time to help Danny, I run up the ladder with Harry close behind me, then Danny, then Russ clambering up below.
"Boys." I call stiffly. We all climb into the treehouse where the two boys are with Luna sitting next to them both.
"What's he doing here?" spits Johnny,
"Lets see." I walk over to the boys and turn to face Danny and Russ. Harry takes my hand protectively.
"This is where you live?" asks Danny looking around the room and back at me.
"Better believe it. You didn't think we were gonna live in some stinkin' care-home" snaps Peter.
"You live in a tree!" exclaims Danny throwing his arms in the air and hitting his forehead on the wall.
"We do. Guess what we like it. If your not going to except how we work, then don't bother coming back." I sigh and sit down and cradle Luna on my shoulder. Danny sits next to me.
"Imogen.... These boys need a life. This isn't right." Says Danny calmly embracing me.
"What about me Danny? I know these boys need a real life, but they're mine. We need each other." I look up at my two siblings, my closest friends.
"Don't worry Imogen, we're not gonna leave you alone with this guy" teases Peter nudging Harry.
"Good!" I say shoving off Danny's arm and winking at the boys.
"Imogen! Let me take the boys... Give them a warm bed, an education!" says Danny, well this does catch me off guard!
"What!? You must be kidding." I laugh
"No, look I've decided. They're coming with me!" Danny gets up and walks over to the boys, I grip him firmly by the wrist and stop him.
"So first you abandon us, then insult me. Now try to take my family away! How dare you?" I spit.
"Let go Imogen. These boys need a better life. Your certainly not giving it to them." Danny spits back.
"Get out! I don't see why I gave you another chance!" I shout at his face. Shoving him back to Russ who catches him in his arms. "Take that piece of scum back to where he belongs" I shout at Russ who nods sorrowfully.
"Not without those boys Imogen!" shouts back Danny. I pull the boys behind me protectively.
"Get out now!" I scream at Danny and Russ. Danny struggles free from Russ and walks slowly towards me.
"Imogen. It's for their own good." Danny whispers as he gets closer to me.
"They hate you Danny. They always have" I snarl.
"Don't make me do this" threatens Danny,
"What would you do to your sister. Oh yeah, anything you feel like" I look at him I'm disgust. My brother gone bad. All of a sudden Danny's foot is making contact with my knee, bringing me instantly to the floor. He grabs the boys from behind me, Harry lunges forward but Danny easily pushes him back into the side of the house.
"Imogen! Help us Imogen!" shouts Peter and Johnny. I try to get up but my legs give way and I fall ,crippled, back onto the floor.
"Sorry sis. You won't mind though" smiles Danny sinisterly. The rim of his trainer hits my temple bringing the world into a fuzzy haze.
All I remember is Danny, Russ, and my two brothers leading down the ladder. Harry not conscious in the corner.
"Imogen! Imogen! Help!" scream my brother. But I can't. The world around me turns black as I feel a warm tear run down my face and hit my hand.