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Clarissa

I woke up in a bed. Again.

But this time it was my bed. Mom was seated in a chair next to me.
She was almost dozing.

I shuffled in my bed.
Suddenly her eyes snapped open.

She stared at me for a minute and the a wide smile broke from her lips.

I smiled back..but it wasn't my best smile.

"How are you feeling now?" Mom asked.

There was a little throb in my head and a slight pain in the hand where I was shot. Nothing else.

"Much better." I replied.

"Wait I'll come in a few minutes." With that she left the room.

Now I was left alone with my own thoughts.

I still didn't know if mom already knows about it or no.
I was dreading the moment when I would have to tell them; i.e. if they donot know.

The moment I will have to tell them that your daughter is not normal.

She returned with a bowl in her hand.
The aroma was of chicken soup.
Yeah I am good at smells.

She sat down in the chair and I got up to take the bowl and started eating.

She sighed.

"Claire, you know what we are thinking of. You were dropped at the foot of the door...unconscious. What had just happened?"

"I know mom. But I don't even know what to believe and what not."

I seriously didn't. What proof did they even have to proove my abnormalcy. And how did they even know about me? I had not give any DNA samples lately.

"Did they hurt you or something?"

I had some hazy memories of pain.....but I couldn't locate it.
I internally sigh. What's the use of thinking.

"No. None I am aware of."

"I think you should have some rest. I'll be right back."
She gave me a quick peck on my cheek and left me alone with my thoughts.

•••••°•••••

Author's POV.

Isabella left her daughter alone and climbed down the stairs. Claire must have thought that she gave her some time alone, but the fact was, that Bella needed it.

Past 24 hours were the most unexpected hours.
Firstly, their daughter didn't arrive home again.
Secondly Martin was found unconscious at the door of their house.
She was expecting the goons who kidnapped her to call them to ask for ransom. But no, they never called. Infact even the police was failing to know about the location of their daughter.

She knew that they wanted Claire for somthing else. If they wanted ransom...they would have kidnapped Martin too. But they didn't.

After approximately 10-12 hours, she was dropped unconcious at the door of the house. Just like Martin was dropped.
There was something her child was hiding from her, she knew it very well.

But what it was..that was yet to be known.

After an hour or two she went up to her daughter's room and found her sitting in the bed with the duvet on her legs.
She was fidgeting with the duvet as if in deep thought.

"Hey sweetie. Do you need anything? How are you feeling?" Asked Isabella.

"No mom I am fine. I just wanted to go to Martin's hou-- I mean Suzanne's house to just--"

"I know I know whose house you want to go." Said Clarissa's mom..cheekily. Trying to lighten her own mood and her daughter's mood as well.

She poked her cheek and then tickled her.

"Oh mom--no-- mooooom-- stop it--" she said in between laughing.

"Tell me then....whose house??" Her mom enquired.

She knew about Martin and Claire long back when they would stare at each other. She had been through the same phase too. She knew Martin very well and was glad that he was her daughter's choice.

"Oh god mom-- fine-- yeah yeah Martin-- I want to talk to him and-- and also Suzanne"
After the last sentence her mom stopped tickling her and looked at her with a grin.

"So you and...Martin huh?"

She immediately hid her face in both her hands..blushing. Oh her happy and beautiful child. How she missed her smile these last few hours when... when she was not here.
She sighed internally thinking about how worried she was

"Go to their house. Just talk with both of them and get your mind out of these latest events. Okay?"

She just nodded with a hmm.

___

Martin was sitting on his bed, in front of his laptop with his specs on.

Finding about something he always liked even as a child.
As he grew older his curiosity made him find almost everything related to his interest.

Just when he was on the laptop he felt the creaking of the door.

His head snapped in the direction and there stood the girl who took away his breath just by her mere presence.

She was wearing a long sea green T-shirt and dark blue fitting jeans with sport shoes.

Even in this simple attire, she looked breathtakingly gorgeous.

Hey guys. This is what Clarissa was wearing at his house.
Sea green is her favourite colour bcz its even mine😜.
Okay back to the story.

She was standin there, rooted to the ground mesmerized by his deep black eyes.

He was wearing simple black trousers and a dark blue T-shirt.

He smiled a bright smile and she smiled back.

"You are here!?" It sounded more like a happy statement than a question.

"Yeah ...I... I just wanted time to get over all that, you know."

He patted on the place next to his bed and closed the tab he was working on keeping the laptop aside.

She came and sat next to him.

"So..umm do you know what was the reason?" Both of them very well knew what reason were they talking about.

She shook her head.

"It would be nice if we dont discuss it now."

He nodded, not wanting her to feel uncomfortable around him.
But he couldn't see her like this.

He wanted to make sure that she is happy around him, atleast.

After all,
What are loved ones for, if they can't make you feel wanted and happy.

"Okay...so , have you eaten anything?" He asked.

Her eyes snapped to his immediately, with her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Uhh...I was just asking. You know we could just make something you like...or go out."

"You mean a home date?" She chirped happily.

"Umm..yes something like that. Only if you like." He asked nervously.

She laughed making his heart leap in happiness.
Only for the sound of her melodious laugh, he could go on his knees.

"No I am totally fine. And besides, I like mac n cheese."

He smiled joyously at her approval.

"So I'll go down and prepare it. Then I'll bring it up." He said, winking.

"Ah! Such a gentleman you behave like. Only if everyone knew." She stuck her tongue out and giggled.

"Oh look at my lady speaking and acting all non lady like. And why miss, I am a gentleman,--"

he came closer to her face, leaving only inches.

"--or I would have sent Suzanne out....and....she would have been happy to...leave us.... all alone."

Her breathing hitched and he just smirked and winked looking at her reaction and left the room.

Disappointment washed over her at the thought of Suzanne being at home-- what?
Bad and horny mind.... when did she start thinking like that?

She facepalmed herself, blushing and giggling at her thought.

He stood outside the door, and breathed rapidly rewinding his words from the recent incident.

He would have never ever told those words to her in his correct senses.

Well, if he would be in his correct senses around her.

He always lost his mind around her and bit his tongue from telling something he shouldn't.

And hence he flustered only around her, always around her.

He went down into the kitchen and took his phone out in order to prepare the dish.

He was not even the 'A' in 'Amateur Chef ' , let alone even think of 'Master Chef '.

He rummaged in the cupboard for ingredients and started sorting them out according to the recipe.

She sat on his bed, took one of his pillows which had his scent and hugged it tight.

"What am I going to do Martin? Tell me why am I different? I'm sorry I can't tell you now. But you will know it, soon"

She went downstairs and she could smell burning of something.

She went into the kitchen and found Martin sporting a blue apron which seemed to end at his upper thighs as he was taller than his mom.

He was throwing something brownish black--the burned outcome of his tries-- into the dustbin.

She giggled and he turned around...realization gripped him and he turned red in embarrassment.

As if reading his thoughts, she said.

"Its okay. Even I have burnt stuff and thrown. No one is perfect. Perfection lies in the imperfections of a person. That is what makes you special."

"Wow my non-lady, you really have a say in encouragement. Now I have the energy to do it all over again when a few minutes ago I was about to get it from outside."

"Why thank you sir. And by the way non-lady is something which suits me. I like it"

"The pleasure is all mine."

"Well right now, I am going to gain immense pleasure while teaching you my favourite dish."

She said by tilting her head up and rubbing her pointer finger accross her nose...in an attempt to show off (I think you people know what I mean)

He gulped.
"Well madame..you are scaring a poor, innocent boy like me."

She laughed again....making a warmth creep in his chest.

Oh how he loved that sound.

"Innocent? And at that-- you?? Listen people! This is the joke of the century! Mr. Martin Clarke claims to be innocent!" Then she clapped a few times supressing a laughter on the comment she made.

This alone lighted up his world.

She was happy.

Forgetting all her troubles.

With him.

They started preparing for making mac and cheese again.

"Yeah so what-- hey where are veggies? You cannot make my mac and cheese without corn and capsicum!"

Well this was something.

She like vegetables with her macaroni?
Well he wouldn't mind until its what she liked.

She was grating the cheese while he was putting the macaronis to a boil.

A strand of hair escaped her hair bun.

She tried to put it back with the back of her hand but failed.
The second time she failed-- purposely.

She knew Martin was itching to put the strand back but was resisting it.

She didn't want him to hold back.

Cunning Clarissa.

Atlast the hold Martin had created on himself snapped and he put the strand behind her ear, his touch still lingering.

They were so lost in each others eyes and in the electricity of their touch that they failed to notice Suzanne's footsteps rushing into the kitchen.

"Heya Claire. Sorry I was just asleep, mom to-- Woah!" She cleared her throat and they snapped out of their reverie.

They both blushed and looked everywhere else but each other's eyes.

Suzanne decided to break the silence only to increase the embarrassing state more.

"Its alright. Its not that I saw you both kissing or on the onset of a hot session." She giggled.

Clarissa and Martin's eyes widened at the statement Suzanne made.

They flushed more.

"Are you making a pizza Claire?"

"Uh...um no? I mean no. We are making mac n cheese."

"You like veggies in it." Claire nodded.
"That's a really healthy habit."

Well with the help of both of them and the good cook, Suzanne, they finally succeeded in making a dish.

Suzanne was now picking up the veggies and setting them in Clarissa's plate.

"Hey! What in the name of macaroni are you doing?"

"Well you like veggies but I don't. So I am giving them back to the person who loves having it." She shrugged.

"Well I'd like to have the proportionate amount which I already have right now in my platter. So no thankyou have it yourself."
She spooned it back into Suzanne's plate.

"Hey no! This is wrong! This is pure injustice!"

"Well, serves you right."

"No. I am not eating these veggies. I am definitely going to puke if I swallow this."

"Well I won't have your share"

"Yes you will"

"No I won't."

"Yes you will"

"No I won't."

"Yes--"

"Oh god what a nuisance are you both? Can't you enjoy the food irrespective of its content? Give those vegetables to me Suzy. Now. Eat."
He glared pointedly towards Suzanne and Clarissa, pointing towards their plates with his fork.

Martin jumped in their conversation. This was one of those rare times when Martin was angry. Well both those girls wouldn't want to anger the already angry Martin more.

So they ate quitely, stealing glances on his angry face and then suppressing a laugh.

"What?" Snapped Martin.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." Again after her statement Suzanne supressed a laugh.

"Now if you both continue this I swear you both will--"

"Hey don't get angry. But, you look cute when you are angry." Clarissa winked and caught hold of his hand under the table.

Martin's anger started to fade away just by her touch. His features softened and he turned back to eating, not letting go of her hand.

"I smell something fishyyyy." Suzanne commented in her I-know-what's-happening-cuz-I-am-the-expert tone.

Clarissa intended this to soften his anger so she just smirked triumphantly while Martin blushed a bit.

"Oh leave us alone, will you?" Clarissa just blurted out in her daze.

Then she realized what she just mumbled.

Her eyes widened.

"No-- no Suzy-- I just-- I meant-- stay--"

"Hey stop stuttering. You just spoke your heart and I am generous enough to grant your heart a wish it asked. So shut up."

With that she refilled her plate with macaronis and left with the plate full.

"She eats like an elephant." She whispered under her breath.

"Yeah she does. Sometimes I think she has the largest appetite for her age in the whole world."

Her head snapped in his direction. How could he hear something so faint?
Maybe she was loud.
Or maybe...loud enough for him to hear.

Confusing.

"So..complete it."

"Huh?"

"Complete it."

"Complete what?"

"The task for which you shooed Suzanne away."
A blush crept up on her cheek.

"Oh...thaat...umm..it was..uh" she put her face in her hands while blushing.
How could she just tell that?

Blushing and smiling was an understatement.

"Go away" she mumbled.

"What if I don't?"

"A gentleman listens to his girl."

"So now you are my girl."

"Yes!" She said annoyed and then realized what word just escaped her mouth. Was she even thinking before speaking today at all?

"Is that so?" Says Martin with a smirk.

"Now, have you taken any dimploma in annoying me?"

As he was about to reply to this comment his eyes caught something shiny on her right arm.

He caught her arm gently and squinted his eyes to have a better view of the thing.

It was a silver pin.

"Do you know what this is Claire?"
He asked.

"I--I dont know. I just went unconcious after that thing was pierced in me."

"Did he come near you and pierce it or did he shoot it from a gun?"

"A gun."

Dread pooled inside him. This cannot be.

He made her sit comfortably on the chair and pulled the pin out in one go.

He was surprised to see that she just flinched a bit when he pulled it rather than cry in pain.

She was stronger than he thought.

A trail of blood followed after he pulled the pin out.

He acted as if he threw the pin inside the dustbin but he saved it for later.

He bandaged the wound. When his fingers brushed her arm, small tingling sensations arised in her gut.

She savoured the moment. Her instinct told her that maybe these were the last moments she will cherish.

Maybe her life will take an abrupt turn.

Maybe normalcy was not in her destiny.

Because life never turns out to be what we expect it to be.

••••♡••••

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