"We both know it is."
"I wasn't even around for half that time."
"Ivy, stop messing about and tell me what you want." His frustration comes through every word.
She just smirks.
I place a hand on his knee under the table, hoping it offers him some kind of reassurance even if I have no clue what's actually going on.
She sighs dramatically. "Mum wants you to know she's sending your spare inhaler tomorrow," Ivy says, looking at me rather than Caspian.
I blink a couple of times, trying to work it out and drawing up a blank. They can't be brother and sister, can they? The two of them don't look alike, or share the same name...or...
"She's not your Mum," Caspian growls.
"But she wants me to call her that, doesn't she?" Ivy's words are sweet, but the wicked grin on her face says differently. She knows what she's doing and isn't referring to the woman as Mum for Caspian. This is about letting me know that the two of them are related. Or not. Them being step-siblings is my current guess, but without being able to ask, I'm not too sure.
"I don't care what she wants you to call her, she's not your Mum."
I don't take my hand off Caspian's knee. Even if he's annoying me, I want him to know I'm here to support him. He knows how much Ivy's been getting to me, and yet he didn't think it wise to mention the two of them knew each other? His one saving grace is that she seems to be annoying him as much as she is me.
It doesn't help much.
"Whatever you say. I'll see you later, bro." She flips her hair over her shoulder and saunters away, swinging her hips back and forth in an action that makes even less sense now than it did before. Why on earth would she want to act that way towards her step-brother? It's not like he's going to do something like sleep with her.
“How could you not tell me?" I squeak once I'm certain she's out of earshot.
"That I'm asthmatic? I didn't think it mattered."
"That Ivy is your sister." The words come out thick, and I can tell my annoyance is giving way into anger.
"Step-sister," he corrects.
"Right now, that's not the point. Did it ever cross your mind that you should tell me?"
"I didn't know how to. The two of you already dislike each other..."
"And at least I know part of the reason why now. I'd be pissed off if one of my siblings brought home a girl I didn't like."
He opens his mouth to argue, but I shake my head.
"Don't even bother." I slam the book shut, mostly for dramatic effect, I don't actually need to take it with me. I swing my bag over my shoulder and grab my notebook.
I don't say a word as I walk away from the table.
"Mona?" he half-shouts.
I stop, and twist around so I can see his face, raising an eyebrow.
"Are we still dating?" he asks after realising I'm not going to say anything.
I think for a moment. The really angry part of me wants to hurt him and tell him no. But realistically, I know that's probably not what I want. I enjoy spending time with him, and he's easy to get along with.
"Maybe, go work it out," I respond.
Caspian stiffens in his seat. I wish I could give him a clearer answer than that, but right now I just want to be out of here so I can calm down and work out what to do.
Ivy is leaning against the library entrance, a smug look on her face. "Are you feeling alright, Mona?"