Chapter thirty – Brightness Hides Pain

~~

After getting changed, Michael and I both head back downstairs. Reiss sees us as we arrive into the kitchen, so he walks towards the back door to unlock it.

"Ready to go now?" he asks us both.

Michael nods. "Sure are. Let's go." He takes my hand, then as soon as Reiss has unlocked the door, we all exit out of it, with Reiss locking it behind him.

It doesn't take long to walk to father's house, with the aid of light chit-chat and a couple of laughs here and there. In fact, it's rather a pleasurable little journey. Soon, we arrive, but instead of Clover getting the door like normal, I'm made to unlock it myself with my own key. Once we're inside the house, Clover is the first person we see. She smiles at both Michael and I, but as soon as she sees Reiss, she widens her eyes in surprise.

"Reiss!" she cries, rushing over to him and hugging him tightly.

Michael and I both exchange confused glances. How does Clover know Reiss? I'm real confused, now.

"Ah, Clover! What are you doing here, sweetie?" Reiss asks her.

"I have a more important question." She looks around cautiously, fear clear in her expression. "You didn't bring Marco, did you?"

"No. Why would I?" Reiss raises an eyebrow at her, running his fingers through her hair. "Now, I still want to know what you're doing here, in Citria's father's house."

"I-I live here, Reiss. Citria's father is my Uncle!" she responds, before looking over at me. "Citria, how come you know Reiss?"

"Well ... he's kind of Michael's Uncle," I explain, still confused. "B-But how do you know him?"

Clover then seems to grow apprehensive. "Oh ... it's a long story. A very, very long story ... " She appears to trail off at the end of her sentence, almost upset-looking, so she glances over at Michael to avoid eye contact with me.

Michael then seems to come to some sort of realisation. "Oh my God ... Clover, did you say "Marco", a minute ago?"

Clover nods. "Yeah, I said that."

Michael widens his eyes in shock, looking up at everyone in general. "Marco ... he's still alive?" This question is more directed to Reiss, this time.

"Yeah, kid. Marco is still alive. Why you asking?" Reiss replies.

"Friend of the family, remember? He wasn't at the reunion that day," Michael states. "But then ... I'm glad he wasn't there. Nasty guy."

"Michael, what's happening? I'm sort of losing track." I nudge his arm gently, trying to earn his attention.

He sighs, averting his eyes my way. "Marco is Reiss' best friend. Well, I say that – he's more just an acquaintance now, because Reiss doesn't like him much anymore. See, Reiss is the nice one of those two. Marco is a terrible man; he's done so many bad things to people that didn't deserve it. I hope I never have to see him as long as I live." He then briefly looks at Clover, before continuing. "But I have no idea how Clover knows Reiss or Marco."

Clover remains silent, seeming as if she doesn't know where to look. One moment her eyes are on Michael; the next they're on father; then Reiss. From the way everyone's talking, Marco must have been such a horrible person to them. Shaking my head, I look over at father, who is sat in his chair watching everything happening. I've not even said hello to him, yet.

"Anyway ... hey, dad." I walk over to him, kneeling down at his side to get a better view of him. "Are you okay?"

He smiles faintly. "Not too bad sweetheart. How are you and Michael?" His eyes temporarily flit to Michael, so mine automatically do the same, and we both see Michael muttering with Reiss and Clover.

"We're doing okay. Reiss came from England a couple days ago, and we've taken him in until he finds a place to live, here in America," I explain. "Um ... do you know any places he could stay, dad? He's trying to find a home nearby to mine and Michael's house, but I just don't know this area as well as you do."

Father is about to answer, when he's interrupted by Michael suddenly yelping out in pain. As I turn my head to see him, I notice that he's cut himself on something sharp on the desk at the other side of the room. As soon as he notices everyone looking at him, his cheeks start to glow a gentle pink colour, as he gives a nervous laugh.

"Sorry. I'll go clear this up." He hisses in pain, using his hand to cover the blood that has already started to spill on his arm. He dashes out the room, leaving the four of us remaining.

I roll my eyes in amusement. "How did he even manage to do that? Pretty sure the counter was way further back from him than that!" I turn my head back to father. "So ... do you have any ideas, dad?"

"I'll need to do a bit of thinking first, sweetie. Give me some time, okay?" He reaches his hand up, brushing my hair with his fingers, which causes me to smile more.

"Okay. Maybe I should go see if Michael's alright now."

"Go ahead. I'll still be here," he jokes.

Standing up from my kneeling position, I head into the kitchen, where Michael is trying to soothe his cut with water. It looks nasty for sure – it goes right across his wrist!

"Here, let me help," I offer, taking a cloth from the sink, running it under the tap. I gently dab it over the cut, which causes Michael to grit his teeth and cry out softly in pain. "It's okay Michael. Pain'll be gone in a sec."

He squeezes his eyes shut, his eyebrows furrowed to try and take his mind off what he's feeling. Once all the blood has gone, he sighs in relief, opening his eyes and breathing deeply. "That kind of hurt," he tells me.

"But it's done now, see?" I rinse out the cloth in the sink, before finding the first aid kit and taking a bandage out from it. "And besides, wasn't it you who told me that when I did the same thing to my knee?" Gently, I wrap the bandage around Michael's wrist, until it's completely covered up.

"Well, yes ... but it's different this time," he answers, watching me put the bandage on him.

"Different how?" I challenge, tying up the two ends of the bandage and cutting the excess away from it.

"Because ... I'm me. And ... you're you." He gives a hopeful smile after saying this, which causes me to chuckle.

"Well done for stating the obvious so well, there. Want an award for that?" I remark sarcastically, playfully punching his arm.

"Your sarcasm level today is sky-high!" Michael points out, a laugh accompanying his words. "But anyway ... I'm still confused about how Clover knows Reiss and Marco. You'd think that I would know; being Reiss' nephew."

"It's a mystery. Clover reckons it's a long story." I put the first aid kit away, before standing opposite Michael. "But I can't imagine it being so long."

"It is a long story." Michael and I both whip our heads around to the kitchen door to see Clover standing there.

"O-Oh, hey Clover," I breathe awkwardly. "Um, we were just discussing how you know Reiss and Marco ... "

She raises both eyebrows. "I know. I heard." Then, she moves further into the kitchen, arriving at the sink close to Michael and I. "And if you really want to hear that story, then ... I'll tell you."

This is the most conversation I've had out of Clover in all the time I've known her. Normally she barely speaks, unless to Michael. Now she's going to tell me a life story? This'll be interesting.

"Uh ... sure." Michael answers on our behalf. "But maybe we should talk upstairs." He then looks at me. "How about your father's room?"

"That's a good idea," Clover responds, leading us all towards the hallway where the stairs are. We arrive upstairs, sitting on the bed in father's room.

"So ... what's the story?" Michael asks.

"It starts before mom died. It was years ago ... I was still a child. When I was younger, Marco would come see mother and I all the time; Marco's my uncle, see. He was perfect – he made me laugh, bought me silly things ... he made me real happy. I loved him as an uncle."

"Well, that's sweet," I intervene briefly, a soft smile on my face.

"You'd think," she sighs. "Anyway ... a few years later, mom died, and things went from there. Mom said Marco had to be my legal guardian when she died, because father left home when I was three. I thought it would be a great way for Uncle Marco and I to spend more time together; bond a little more. Oh, how wrong I was ... "

By now, Michael looks genuinely interested by Clover's story. His eyebrows are furrowed a little, his chin rested on his hand. That's the good thing about Michael – he's a wonderful listener, no matter who is talking.

"He started off real sweet; just like the normal Marco I knew and loved. But then, he made friends with Reiss, and they went out at night, leaving me home alone. They'd both come home past 2:00am completely drunk, laughing and singing as if there was no one else in the neighbourhood trying to sleep. This began to happen night after night, until I barely recognised Marco any more. He was no longer there for me when I needed him ... " She clears her throat, averting her eyes downwards as she recalls the time. "But anyway ... I grew to be an adult, and that's when things got worse. On my eighteenth birthday, he went out and left me alone again, to be with Reiss. Reiss was a real bad influence on Marco, so I hated Reiss for that ... "

"Then why were you so happy to see Reiss today?" I interrupt.

"I'm getting to that. A few months ago, Marco came home late one night, drunk as anything. Reiss was with him too. I'd had enough of everything that was going on, so I confronted him about it. He got real angry, and argued back. We had a heated argument for half an hour straight, until he got so mad, he threw his alcohol bottle at me. Luckily, I dodged in time, and it smashed against the wall, but because he missed, he ran over to me and started hitting me and trying to hurt me. Reiss knew Marco had gone too far that time, and he stopped Marco from going any further ... "

Clover has tears in her eyes as she speaks now; I feel so sorry for her. She's literally confessing everything, and it must be so hard for her to do that.

"I-I was bleeding badly by the time Reiss pulled Marco away. He was a crazy alcoholic that had gotten out of hand. Reiss knew they needed to change, but Marco refused to. Now, Reiss is like the uncle I always wanted Marco to be ... " A tear falls down her cheek as she concludes. "So after that night, I ran away. I took the next flight over to America and found your father, Citria. I needed to get away, and I knew he was alone after Aunt Tiannah's death. Didn't know you existed, though."

"God." Words sort of fail me right now. Maybe that was a long story after all. That's the only time Clover has ever confided in us; now I feel like I know her better than before.

"That explains it," Michael mutters, his voice low. "Clover, just know that Citria and I are here for you, no matter what. Okay? You need us? We'll be there."

"Yes, we will," I second Michael's words. "And besides ... we're family." I gently place my hand over hers in support, which causes her to give a faint smile in return.

"Thanks guys. It's the same for you too. Citria, we're family, and I understand your pain; losing your mother is terrible. Michael ... you too. You've lost everything ... so I'll do my best, with Citria and Reiss, to fill any kind of hole in your heart."

"Thank you Clover. That's real sweet of you." Michael flashes a closed-mouth smile, resting his hand on top of mine, which is still atop Clover's. Now all our hands are together.

"You know, Clover," I start, looking at her to receive her undivided attention. "When I first met you, I kind of didn't understand you. I thought you were too loud, and too crazy around Michael. Now I understand why: you were just trying to be happy to make up for the sadness you've already been subjected to. I completely understand that. I do the same thing."

"Thank you, Citria. I'm sorry about any misunderstandings ... between any of us. You're right ... I think it was just to make up for the sadness ... "

"We can all identify with that," Michael adds, drawing his eyes down to the floor in thought. "Because the brightest smiles ... they hide the most pain."

"Sure they do." Clover looks Michael's way, causing Michael to return the glance, and they both smile warmly at one another.

Both their smiles are hiding pain.

"Well, I think we all get one another a little better, now." My words cause Michael and Clover to turn towards me, and both of them nod in agreement.

Clover then brings me into her embrace, so I hug her back, bringing Michael into the hug too. As the three of us share the moment, I can't help but feel a weight off my shoulders for finally being able to know Clover better than before. I have a feeling we'll be a lot more friendly and loving towards one another in the future when we come visit.

Just then, we hear a knock on the bedroom door, which makes us all separate from one another. The door opens, revealing Reiss. He sees us all sitting on the bed, so begins a little interrogation.

"What's happened up here?"

"We were just having a little heart-to-heart ... to-heart," Clover answers. "They just wanted to find out how you and I know one another."

"Ah. That explains the tears." He sighs in sympathy, before walking over to us and sitting on the bed by us. "You brought up the topic of Marco, didn't you?"

Clover nods. "Yeah. I told them everything, Reiss. Absolutely everything."

"Something still doesn't make sense," Michael then says. "Reiss, if you were such an alcoholic, then how come you seemed just fine every time you came to visit us from England?"

"Well ... I wasn't anywhere near as much of an alcoholic as Marco was. He was reckless; I was able to be controlled. I've changed for the better, now." He smiles at Michael, before reaching up to ruffle his curls.

"Uncle Reiss, lay off the curls wouldja?" Michael laughs, playfully slapping Reiss over and over. "And I guess that makes sense. Now I think of it, I remember you telling me how much of an alcoholic Marco is."

"Exactly." Reiss pulls his fingers away from Michael's hair, before changing the conversation topic completely. "Anyway, whilst you guys were gone, your father and I had a little conversation, Citria. He told me that you asked him where I could live that's close by, so ... he said, with Clover's permission, I could live here with him."

"Of course you can stay here!" Clover seems to brighten up instantly at this news, and she squeezes Reiss tightly in excitement. "Please live here, Reiss!"

Reiss chuckles at Clover's enthusiasm. "Okay, okay! Sure, I'll come live here with you." He then looks at Michael and I. "You don't mind that, do you?"

I shake my head frantically. "That's fine! It's perfect – you're close by; Michael has his uncle here; Clover has you; you have a home; and father has extra company. You all win!"

Michael glances at me. "And what benefit do you get, Citria?"

"I get to see all my favourite people happy. That's enough for me," I reply, a grin forming gradually on my face.

"Selfless," Michael breathes, bringing me closer to him. "Selfless Angel." He kisses my lips quickly, before squeezing me tightly for a second.

"Now that's settled," Reiss starts, standing himself up from the bed. "Should we all go downstairs? Citria, I bet your father's wondering where we all are!"

"Alright. Let's go see him." A chuckle passes my lips.

Having said this, we all make our way downstairs, to spend the remainder of our visit with dad.

~~

Abrupt ending, I know. But was that a bit of a plot twist for you?
The more eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed I've revamped the front cover of this story, too!
I hope you enjoyed this chapter!