Hey

Just a heads up, I was looking back through some of my old notes, and someone called Jess appeared. I guess I got confused with my other book or something as I started calling her Jenna, so to clarify, if you have seen Jess or Jenna, they are the same person, my apologies.

I don't know if you're ready for this chapter...but I'm giving it to you anyway.

---

~Elliot~

When Hugo turned up at my house the day after, soaking wet from the rain and carrying a backpack I knew that it was not going to be good news; he looked up at me with sombre eyes and, with my Mum hovering behind me, practically begging to bring him into the warm and her care, he simply whispered:

"They kicked me out" his lips trembled as he said it and then he fell apart again and my Mum rushed to be all motherly to him. When he had calmed down, and Jenna had also appeared to hold his hand, sporting rainbow hair as she rather fittingly was going along to and supporting gay pride, whilst being bi-sexual herself. She is going to pride a few months from now. Anyway, when he was calm, he explained that his Dad, surprisingly too if you look at all the coming out stories online, was okay with it, he offered his support by trying to talk to his Mum. But his Mum could not see past her beliefs and pushed him out of the house.

Currently, he is sat on my bed, as I insisted he take it whilst he stays and that I will sleep on the blow up. To make matters worse, we've only just started our GCSE's and he doesn't need this added stress. Mum told me, when Hugh was out of earshot, that she was going round to see Mary and Curt to see if there is anything she can do to persuade Mary into seeing the situation clearer. My Dad stayed after Hugh's outburst and went round checking that everyone was okay after the sudden drama, they all said that they supported Hugo through and through, wished him the best, but felt for him on how his Mum would react.

My phone begins to ring from my bookcase, I grab it and Hugo shuffles forward and flops down onto the air bed as CHLOE flashes on the screen. I slide my finger across the screen and press the loud speaker button. I look at Hugo in curiosity and he shrugs and shakes his head. I can hear heavy breathing from the other side, and for a split second, I panic as I fear something has happened to her. Maybe she'll have a go at me for telling Clara? Oh god, maybe I shouldn't have told her, but in a sense, I thought she deserved to know, everyone else does.

"Clo?" I question, the anxiety evident in my voice as she shakily exhales down the line to us. I share a quick, but worried glance with my best friend before we both say, louder, and more urgently. "CHLOE?!"

Chloe stops breathing intensely and replaces it by saying, in a row of muddled up words that seem to be laced with pure giddiness and excitement. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god..." over and over again, not letting either us get a word in. But I feel the relief settle in my stomach, because she doesn't seem to be angry or in danger.

"Chloe, calm..." Hugh tries his best but she won't let him take away her happiness.

"I need to go, there's someone at the bathroom sink, but I thought I'd let you know I stood up to Nessa! I told her I was sick of being her little puppy and that she could piss right off and leave me alone"

We grin at each other because finally.

"That's great Chloe!"

"You go, you proper badass!" Hugh adds and she laughs down the phone, I feel so much happiness and pride for her, it's almost unbelievable.

"Thanks! I love you guys, I've texted Clara about it too...oh that reminds me, Elliot you sly little dog" she giggles, I feel my face redden, she's not talking about the fact that I told her that's for sure, Hugh frowns at me and then she says "oh I gotta go, bye!"

The line falls flat, I look up to Hugh's expectant face as he says: "explain"

I sigh and shuffle back, smiling at my own little achievement. It still makes me feel all fuzzy and light.

"I kissed Clara" I smile as his mouth drops to the ground and he lets out a loud gasp. Then he grins wide and he tackles me slightly with a tight hug. I laugh and he does too, and it's such a relief to hear him be so happy.

"Congrats bro! You finally got the courage! Yes, I'm so happy for you!"

I beam at him as he pulls away and shakes his head in a shocked way. Saying 'I can't believe it' over and over. I assume he wants to ask more as he opens his mouth, but then his phone begins to ring.

Man, everyone's calling today.

His eyes blow wide and he looks up at me frantically and then I just know its Austin, because he's never freaked out so much about anyone else as long as I've known him. I mean that's probably because he was dating the gender that he didn't have much interest in except for at a friendly level.

"ANSWER IT!" I yell, smiling wide at him as he gulps and nods almost frantically. He mirrors my previous actions by sliding his finger on the screen and with beads of sweat almost forming on his brow, he speaks.

"Austin" he breathes, like the name is a breath of fresh air and it makes his whole face settle into an expression of tranquillity and calmness, even in this rough storm of a situation. "Hi, how are you?"

***

It doesn't take them too long to arrange dinner for tonight between the two of them, Hugh almost screaming the roof down on how Austin insisted it was a date. I feel an odd sense of pride as he rushes down the stairs in one of my plaid shirts and his own black jeans. It's a weird experience and I find myself feeling a bit emotional as he thanks me for all my support and everything that I have done for him, then he's out the door and hugging Austin in a more sensitive way.

But something is stuck in my mind which he said out the door, with his smile stretching across his face.

"Man, with all us like falling in love at the same time and being so involved in each other's lives and knowing each other's business.... it's almost like we're both in some sort of ...romance Mafia or something, look how things are turning up!"

Romance mafia.

Mafia.

Hmmm.

I walk down the corridor to Dad's office, despite him keeping a pin code on the door, everyone in this house knows it, Ed and Jane included. I'm pretty sure even Hugh might do. The door clicks, mountains of folders and paper work line the far corner of the room in front of the one of five different book cases. I walk to the main black desk and let the door close behind me. I settle into the comfort of the seat and I fire up the apple mac. His password is also really easy to get past and once I'm in I go straight to google.

I type in Italian Mafia, simply for curiosity. I mean don't you think it's a little odd how she claims that everyone in Italy knows the ins and outs of the Mafia? That's like me saying that English people know everything about the secret service such as MI5 and American's know all about Area 51.

Call me an idiot, but surely that's a bit of a weird thing to claim. Also, why is she so protective of her background, her family and everything?

And every time I try to bring it up, she either changes the subject or flips on me.

I mean, I'm not saying all that is related. But if she won't tell me about the Mafia which she is ever so interested in, then I'm obviously going to research it myself. It's not like she said I couldn't. I doubt she'd hide anything from me anyway.

I click the first link and let my eyes wander down, nothing catches my eye, and it's all so boring and uninteresting.

Then I stop. My cursor hovering over the words, it takes me a while to finally realise what I'm looking at.

My breathing catches in my throat and I jolt forward to read it better.

The notorious Don Mother; Adalina, has hosted a good community for her son and now leader Franco, amongst members such as his right hand wingman Milo, Junior, Vince and Marco who are some of the better known amongst them. Unlike Franco's daughter, Clara, who has not been mentioned for several months, rumours has arisen that she could be spending time with her retired Grandmother, due to a leaked document that suggests this could be the case. However, no further evidence have risen and the identity of the now 16 Clara Devoto, seem to remain classified. Franco's wife and Ms Devoto's Mother, Maria, has not been seen for a long period of time, some think she fled for her safety.

Milo, her sadness at the mention of her Mother, Adalina the name of Clara's Nan, living with her, no identity to the press, no contact over Christmas, Milo's urgency for her to return to Italy, the age...

It all adds up together, my head spins, I begin to feel sick as I somehow manage to fall off the chair. It all goes back to her, how distant she first was, how she was so secretive, Ada having no photos, Milo's stern visit, why she is so distant, why she couldn't tell me everything...oh god.

Has Clara been lying to me this whole time?

I lay flat on the floor, I still feel sick and my head continues to spin, I close my eyes but it won't go away, the image of when I first saw her and comparing it to the information I've just read. I breathe heavy, my heart thumping with this new knowledge. Someone explain what's going on.

I've been such a fool. Such a fool to let her in and to trust her, is she here on business? Am I going to get killed or kidnapped by these people?

The harsh reality of what the Mafia do makes me feel paranoid as it. But Clara? The pretty new girl with the hazel eyes and the kind heart...Devoto's daughter?!

Clara Devoto. That's her true identity, who she really is.

I want to cry out, or scream, or run and never look back. I feel anger seeping through me due to the cold betrayal that she has weighed onto me. Did she not trust me enough to just maybe hint to who she was, did she not trust me enough to tell me?

Did she even care about me? About Hugo and his coming out issues and Chloe's pregnancy and the cruel monster that is Vanessa?

Was she acting the entire time?

I get to my feet rather shakily, holding onto the office chair for support as I force myself to look at the computer. I read over it again, begging it to be wrong, but it all adds up and it can't be some coincidence.

She isn't who she says she is...she lied to me this whole time.

I resist the urge to smash up the computer, I simply close the page with shaky hands and shut the whole thing down without logging out. I turn to the door and force it open, my anger evident at the way it bangs against the wall and how the sound echoes throughout the house.

I need to get out of here.

No. Scratch that, I need answers, and I need them now. It's time for a long overdue explanation for everything.

I dig out my phone from my pocket and hastily tap on the message app, she's the last person I texted. A database full of her lies before my eyes, I narrow my eyes at the thought and type a message to her.

I'm coming over. We need to talk.

I hit send and take a deep breath, I feel furious and hurt. How could she do this to me?

I close the door harshly behind me as I storm out the house and start almost running down the street.

It's time for the truth.