by Grace Gervas
Marthashutthemup."Can'tyougirlsstopgossipinganddo morecleaning?"
Clairewasstillstandingtherelisteningtothem,whenBruno appearedoutoftheblue.
"Ohthereyouare!Iwaslookingalloverforyou."He beamed. "Iwasabouttoheadoutforsomeair."Clairesaid, seeminglystartled."Caretojoin?"Shecasuallyadded.He agreed.Theywalkedthroughthegarden,Claire'smindablaze; theconversationshehadheardstilldisturbedherforsome unknownreasons.Ithadn'tleftherindifferent.
"Doyoulikeitinhere?"Brunointerruptedherreverie. "Um--wellyeah,Ilovethisplace.Andyou?"Sherepliedas theystrolledaround,movingawayfromthehouse. "OfcourseIdo."herepliedvaguely,andClairestaredat himintently.
"Thenwhydon'tyoudoasyourgrandfathersay?"Shehit thepointandheletoutalongbreath. Hewasn'trecklessinanswering;hetookhistime."Because itbringsbadmemories!"heturnedbacktolookatthehouse carefully."Isawmymotherdyinghere,slowly,andnoonecould doanything."
Clairehadlearnedthattheirmotherdiedfromaliver cancer,andthetraumamusthaveaffectedhimbadly.Shetook fewstepsclosertohim;bothstaringatthehouse.Bruno'seyes werenearlywet.
Thesilencegavethemtimetoponder. "Thataloneshouldn'tbeareasonenoughBruno,"Said Claire,pointedly.Heturnedsidewaystolookather."Despite thosebadmemories,Ibelievetheremustbesomebeautiful ones;no,actuallyI'msureofit!Haveyoutriedtoreconsider otherpeople'spainaswell?Yourgrandfather'sforexample,or Ryan's?"Shetalkedemotionallywithoutfacinghim.Shetoldhim aboutherlifewithherstepmother,howunbearableshewas, butstillshecouldn'timagineherselfstayingoutofthathouse; thehouseshegrewup.
"Soyouwantmetochangeeverythingjustlikethat?"He queried,absentmindedly. "I'mnotaskingyoutomovebackrightaway,quitethe contrary,justtrytorecollectthebeautifulmemoriesandbury theunpleasantone."Shesmiled."Weallmoveonlikethat,none ofusforgetthingsjustbecausewewantto."
"True."Hemuttered.
"Right,Ibelieveit'saprocess,weshouldmaybelearnto burydarkmemoriesinthedeepestpartofourheartsandrely onhopefulones."
Easysayingthandone,Clairewasawareofthefact. However,she'dfoundherselflecturingBrunowhilehealing herselfatthesametime.Shehuggedhimtightly,inafriendly way,andhefeltatotalconsolation.Theyendeduptalkingand laughingbythepool,totallyobliviousoftheemotionalturmoil they'dexperiencedawhileago.
ITwassixo'clockintheevening,Clairewantedtogobackto Lisbay.ShesaidgoodbyetoMr.StevensandpromptedifRyan wasfeelingfine.
"Heisstillinhisroom,youcangothereandseehim."Mr Stevenssaid. Clairewashesitantaboutthat,butdecidedagainstherfears; shestillhadnoideawhyitmattered.Sheknockedthedoor,and Ryanrespondedforhertogoin.Hewasfinishingbuttoninghis shirtasClaireenteredhisroomwhichwaswellarranged,clean andneat.Heonlylethisbackview;atwhichitselfwasaworkof art.Sheinhaledsoftly.
"I'msorry,Ithoughtyouwerestillsleeping."Shesaidwitha pause."Um--howisyourheadache?"Thenaskedhim, confidently.
"I'mgreat,ifyou'regoingtothecity,Icangiveyouaride!" hesaidwhiletakinghisbriefcase.
"Okay!"Sherelented;anddecidedlyagreedthatitwas impossiblepredictingthatman. Theylefttogether,inaterriblesilencethatsheendedtaking anapthroughoutthejourney.Hedroppedheroutsideher houseinLisbayanddroveoffwithoutanyfurtheradieu,leaving Clairefrowningathisinexplicablepersonality.
Bruno,onotherhand,hadsleptathisgrandfather'sthatnight andeveryonewassosurprised.Mr.Stevensfeltthatithad somethingtodowithClaire,whichmadehimlikeherevenmore. CHAPTER4
Amonthlater;Clairehadfoundherselfajobattheconstruction company.Itwasn'tapermanentpostyet,butshelikeditasit keptherbusy,andthesalarywasenoughtocoverthebasicsfor anaverageperson.Oneeveningshereturnedhomefromwork, afterquitealongday,andheadstraighttoherroom
exhaustedly;shethrewherselfonbedwithoutrealizingwhata messherroomwasin.Everythingwasoutofplace,asthougha searchandseizurehadtakenplace.Shegotupabruptlytograsp thesituation.Unabletounderstandhowfarherstepmother waswillingtogo,wentstraighttoherroomandknockedthe doorfuriously.Itopenedaminutelater.
"Whogaveyoupermissiontotouchmythings?"Clairebarked. Hermotherlookedatherinadespicablewayforamoment, beforereplying,"Ijustdidwhatshouldbedoneyouingrate,I wonderwhereyouhidthosedocuments."Shewasnonchalant.
"Sothat'sthereasonwhyhuh?"Clairesnapped."Fine,Ihave thedocumentsinmypossessionandyouwon'teverlayyour handsonthem,I'mwarningyoumother!Youdon'tknowwhat I'mcapableof."sheaddedsternly,ignoringtheangryglareon hermother'sface"Oh,anddon'tplaythoseoldtrickswiththe lawasyoudidwiththecompany,becauseifIwantto,Icantake everythingaway.Legally!"Shesaidandwalkedaway.
"Youwon'tgetawaywiththisyoubrat!Youbetterstart packingandleave,becausethishouseismine!Everythingis mine!"Thewomanshouted,butClairepaidnoattention.
Clairereturnedbacktoherroomandstartedorganizing things.Whileatthetask,shesuddenlyrememberedhermeeting withtheirfamilylawyerwhenhementionedabouthermother's requestforhimtofindoutifherfatherhadalifeinsurance.She justcouldn'tgetwhywasthewomansogreedytobeginwith. Mr.Levyhadaterminsurancepolicy,inwhichhe'ddepositedall themoneyonClaire'saccountwaybeforedying;notevenClaire herselfknewaboutit.
AfterfinishingeverythingshedecidedtogiveBrunoacall; theytalkedforawhileandhetoldherthathewouldbein Lisbaytomorrow.
"Okayhandsome,I'llseeyoutomorrowthen?"Shesaid laughingly,upononeofBruno'sjokes.
"Rightontimebeautiful!"Brunoanswered. Attheendofthecall,shemadeadecisiontogooutforsome air;sheconstantlywouldfeelstuffedinsidethehouse,andafter alittlewalk,she'dalwaysfeelbetter.ShemetJorgeonherway, whoseemeddejectedasthetaxithathadbroughthimwasjust leaving.
"HiJorge?Everythingokay?"askedClaire.
"Yeah--justtiredandmycarhadsomeissues."Heprompted calmlyashispersonalitystronglysuggested."Whereto?" "Around!IneedabreatherIguess."sheansweredshortly. Shedidn'twanthimtofindoutaboutwhathismotherdid.She knewthatJorgehadnothingtodowithwhateverthatmadofa womanployed.
"Well,I'mgonnagetsomerest."henoddedandwentinside. Sullenly,Clairewalkedaroundtheneighborhood;peoplewere stillpassingbyontheirwayhomefromwork.Shestoppedby theparkandtookaseatatthewoodenbench;hermindwas extremelyoverwhelmedwiththoughts.Shewasthinkingonhow herlifewasgoingtobefromthatpoint.Leaninglazilyagainst thewood,whilefacingupthesky,shetookpleasureon watchingthewonderofbrightstarsthatnourishedthenight.A sigh,coupledwithafaintsmileescapedherlips,whenasound ofherphonebuzzingbroughtherbacktoreality.Shefetchedit outandlookedatthescreen;shewaspuzzledtoseethename RYANTHEJERK.Shestaredatthescreenforafewsecondsand swipedrightward.
"Hello?"sheansweredcautiously.
"Hello?howareyou?"Ryanreplied.
Clairewasalittlewary."I'mgood,iseverythingallright?I mean,thisisalltoostrangetome."shesaid.
"Why?Can'tIcallyou?"Herespondedafterabriefpause. "Um--noit'snotthat,"Shetookasigh."okay,nevermind! Whereareyou?"
"Stillintheoffice,yousuddenlycametomymind,soIgave youacall." "Really?I'mhonoured!GettingacallfromthebigshotMr. RyanStevens?Ishouldprobablyputareminder."Sheteased himandtheyalllaughed.
"Areyouathome?"Ryanasked.
"Atthepark,inourneighborhood,tryingtoclearupmy head."
"Okay,wouldyoumindhavingdinnerwithme?"Heaskedher, afterpausingforawhile.
HissuddeninviteleftClairerathersurprised.Itwasalmost impossibletoknowwhattoexpectfromRyan.
"Um--I'mnotproperlydressedandIdon'twanttogohome rightnow."sheanswered,disappointedly.
"Whatisproperlydressed?Areyounakedbyanychance?"He joked. "Hellno!"Shesnapped,andcouldhearhisreallaugh."Okay fine,don'tsayIdidn'twarnyouwhenyoufindouttomorrowin thefrontpageofanewspaperthatTheSKCEOwasseenwitha shabbygirlacrossthestreet."Clairesaid.
"Nothatcan'thappen,I'mnotacelebrity!"
"Alright,prepareataxifarebecauseI'mpennilessrightnow!" "Anymoreexcuses?"Hequeried.
"None?"Shefrowned,thensmiled.
Sherushedtotheroadforataxi.Ittooksomeminutesto
reachRyan'sofficebuilding,andwhenshegotoff,shewaited forhisarrivalwhichtookonlyaminute.Shesmiledathimas sherememberedtheirconversationearlier.
Awhilelater,uponherarrivalatSK;Ryanwalkedovertothe driver,andhandedhimasinglebillforthefare."Keepthe change."
"Thankyousir!"Thedriversmiledinawe,headingbacktohis taxi.
Claireteasedhim."Thatwassogenerousboss."
"Youmustbeinagoodmoodtoday,andIthinkyoulook okay!"Hesmiled,ignoringthesarcasm.
"Ofcourse,onlyifyouwantpeopletothinkwe'reheadi
ngfor abusinessdinner."Shewasreferringtoherofficeattire. ThistimeRyanlaughedheartily,andthesightfluttered Claire'sheart."Let'sgo,mycarisoverthere!"Heurged. THEYwenttothenearestrestaurantthatseemedtooprivate.It hadeccentricambienceandalmostlikeahideout.Theytooka table-for-twowitharomanticcandlelight.Clairedarednot makingacommentonthat.Besides,Ryanhadbeentaking severalbusinesscallswhilebehindthewheelandyetanother onecamewhiletheytookthemenu;butheignoredit.
"Iwonderhowburdensomeitistobethecentreofattention likeinyourposition."Clairesaidcasually.Helookedather, amused.
"Hardattimes,"heansweredwithapause."carrying
responsibilitiesoverathousandemployeesonyourshoulders, fulfillingclient'sdemands,tightdeadlinesandall;it'snotquite simple,butsinceIbelieveintheirhardworkandtrust,it'snot toomuchofaburden.Ican'tcomplain."headdedwithhis smileyface.Itwasobviousthathelovedwhathewasdoing.
"Icanonlyimagine!"Sheremarked."I'llhavesaladsplease." Shetoldthemaîtred'onceaskedaboutthemenu. "Asteakforme,mediumrare."Ryansaid.Onceinprivacy,he turnedtoClaire."Andyou?How'swork?Youtoldmeyougota job?"
"It'sgreat!"Sheprompted."I'mlearning,althoughI'mstillnot doingwhatIwant?"
"Interiordesigning?" "Yes,Iwantsomefieldworks."Shelamented."Notsittingin theofficemakingteaandhandlingcopies!"Shecomplained."I mean,I'maninteriordesigner,notasecretary."
Ryanwaslookingintentlyather,takinginallthecomplaints shehadwithoutfeelingbored.Hewasinfactenjoyinglistening toher.
"That'showthelargecompanieswork;unless,youcantry smallfirmswithlittlebureaucracy."Hefinallysaid. "Iknow,butIneedtolearnsomethingsfirstIguess."She madeaface."AndIdon'thaveacontractinglicenceyet,but whenIgetit,Iwon'tstandmakingcoffeeforthem."
Ryansmiledathowdeterminedshesounded,andthey continuedtalkingaboutthisandthatforalongtime;mainly aboutwork.
"Youcanstartyourowncompanylaterononceyou'veproven tobethebestatyourwork."Hetoldherwhilesippingawarm coffeeafterameal.
"Youthink?CanIreallydoit?"
"Thatdependsonyou,andwhatyoucanoffer."Hesmiled, andthetalkkeptflowingflawlessly. Theylefttherestaurant,aboutandhourorsolater,aftera lovelydinnerwithniceconversation.Ryangaveheraridehome. Thesummernightwassoothingtotheeyesandespeciallythe shiningcity.Itwasaroundnine-thirtywhentheyhittheroad.
"Whydon'tyouhaveadriverorthosemachoguysstalking yourbacklikeatale?Likeotherbigbossesinthemovies."She suddenlyasked,andhelaughedhard.
"Maybeyoushouldstopwatchingthosemoviesfillingyour headwithfantasies."hesaid."IlovemyprivacyandIonlytrust mydrivingskills,soIdon'tneedadrivernorabodyguard."
"Suuuure!"Claireshothimastop-bragginglook,andalmost rolledhereyes. Butthenagain,sherealizedJorgewasalsothesame;he'd relocatedtheirfather'sdriverassoonashetookthepresidency. Hewasn'tafanofVIPlifeandalltheflash.Althoughshehadan impressionthatwasn'tthecaseforRyan;hewasevidently someone.wholikedpowerandexercisingauthority.
"Doyoulivewithyourfamily?"Ryanasked,afteralong silence.
"Um--kindof,mystepmomandhisson."sheanswered, afterhesitatingforamoment.
"Yourparents?"Hequeried. "Inheavenmaybe,iftheylivedwellenoughduringtheirtime onEarth."Shesmiled,andlookedaway.Ryandidn'twanttoask moreasmuchasClaireseemedlikeshedidn'twanttosaymore. Sheonlyadded,"Thanksfortoday;Ihadagreattime,andthe dinnerwasawesome."
"I'mglad,IthoughtIwasatotalboring."Heanswered. "Oh,soyouaremodesttoo?"
Helaughed."Maybe."Hereplied,andtheysharedasoothing smile. TheyeventuallyreachedClaire'shouse,whereshebidhimgood nightandgotoffthecar.Ryanwatchedheruntilsheopenedthe gatetoherhouse.It'swhenhestartedhiscar,readytomakea reverse.However,hesuddenlyspottedhergettingout,and joggingbacktowardshiscar;hehadtopullover,before scrollingthewindow,alittlefrownonhisface.Shewenttothe driversideandstoodtherewithoutaword,andalittleoutof breath.
Heopenedthedoorwithconcerns,andgotoffthecar. "Claire?"Hevoicedout."What--"Hewasabouttoaskherifshe hadforgottenanything,butsherushedclosertohim,andkissed himonthelips;takinghimcompletelyoff-guard,forasecond.
Shedidn'twanttoenditthere;withameretouchofthelips only,butRyanwasstiff,asifunmoved.Thatforcedherto immediatelypullback,feelingawfullyembarrassed.However, shegatheredthecourage,andlookedhimintheeyes.
"I...IwantedtodothiseversinceIheardyourvoice earlier.I'msorry!"sheutteredinasoftsighingvoice,withhalfremorse,andturnedtowalkaway.
Ryan,similarlyinmanners,grabbedherwaistswiftly,and trappedherbehindthedoor.Hisgazeflewdownonherin flames,andshewascompletelystunnedwithoutknowingwhat toexpect.
"Nexttime,"hesaidhaltingly,withhiseyestwinklingdown mockingly."don'tstealakisslikethat,"hepressedherharder againsthischest."especiallytoanotherguy."headded haughtily.
Hiswordswerealmostthreatening,andthenexciting,in hypnoticmanner.Hequicklyinvadedherlips,inawayshe'd neverbeensweetlyassaultedbefore.Itwasn'ttheonetocall passionate,butthekindofkisstoelectrifyallfivesensesofa body,ashecrashedhertongueandmouldedwithhiswithout lettinghersliphisside.AndClaire,instinctivelyclaimedhisneck tosteadyherself,whilehavingafillofsuchararetreat.They hadahotlongkissever,whichlefthercheeksonfireandher breathtakenaway;shehadn'tkissedanyoneinfouryears,and hewasindeedaterrifickisser.
CHAPTER5
ThenextmorningClairemetBrunodowntownaspromised. Theyhadlunchtogether,afteraccompanyinghimtobuysome silverwareforhisrestaurant.Hetoldherthathehaddecidedto sleepoverhishousesometimes,anditwasn'tsobadashe thought.
"See!You'reabigguynow!"Shejoked,andhelaughed. "Yeah,thankstoyou."Hesaid. Clairecouldn'tbringherselftotellhimabouthermeeting withhisbrothertheothernight;shedecidedtokeepittoherself. SinceherlastbreakupwithDenis,duringhighschool,shehad nothingtodowithmenandithadbeencomfortablethatway. BothsheandBrunosatatacoffeeshop,whenhetookapicture ofherwithoutherknowledge;shewassolostintospace.Bruno keptontakingpicturesuntilsherealizedit.
"Stopit!"Shesnappedwhilehidingherfacewithherpalms. Brunolaughedandputdownhiscamera."Alright!Youare photogenicthough,didyouknowthat?"heaskedherwhile takingasipofhiscaramelmilk,smilingly.
"Really?Whydon'twestartourmodelingagencythen?"Claire teased."I'vewantedtoaskyouthis,areyouaprophotographer orisitjustahobby?"
"I'maprofessional,wannaseemyportfolio?"Herepliedwith pride.
"Sure,I'dlovetoseethat."shegrinned,amused. "Okay,nexttimemaybe."hesmiledboyishly.Heaskedherto accompanyhimtoRyan'soffice,somethingthathadheralittle thrownoff.
"Ohno,Ican't."Clairerefused,thinkingofthekissandthe embarrassmentuponseeinghimagain.
"Ohpleasebeautiful!"Brunoinsisted,andlookingathisface, itwasimpossibletodeclinefurther. "Alright."Sherelented,andheimmediatelycalledRyantolet himknowabouthisvisitbeforehand.Theywentstraightahead toSK,fromthere.
Sometimelatertheyarrivedbythelobby,andwaitedforthe brotherashe'dinstructed.Afterawhile,RyanandDoriswere walkingoutoftheelevatornonchalantly,andBrunowavedat himalittledramatically;despitethesituation,Clairesmiledat thesight.Doriswaslookingfancierthanbefore;herbeautiful tallbodymovedgracefully.Shewaswearingablackofficedress withapalepinkcoatandcreamheels.Aroundhergiraffeneck therewasacreampearlnecklacethatmatchedperfectlywith hershoes.AsforRyan,hewasinablackformalsuitwhich definedhispositionflawlessly.Theywere,withoutadoubt,a perfectmatchineveryone'seyes;wellexceptClaire'swho seemedlikeshewasonvergeofbursting.Foramomentshe foundherselfsopatheticforwhatshehaddonetheothernight.
"Claire?"Ryanregardedherinsuchstyle."Wheredidyouget her?"HeaskedBruno,abitsurprisedtoseethemtogether. "Shewasmydatetoday."Brunoansweredenthusiastically, placingahandonClaire'sface.Itdidn'tseemtobotherher,she wastooengrossedonherownbattle.
Doris'seyeswincedatthementionofthenameClaire,as thoughshewastyingtorecollectamemory."Claire...Claire... oh...it'sthatgirlright?"ShefacedRyan."Theoneyousaved thatnight?"Addedshe.
Clairewasjustsilent,forcingasmileuntilshefinallyuttered, "Hi?"toDoris. "HiClaire?IheardalotaboutyoufromRyan."Dorisreplied. "I'mDoris,theonlygirlfriendRyanhas.Oh,andonlybigsister Brunohas!"shesaidwhilecrossingherhandwithRyan's.The twomenbothrolledtheireyes,butinanamusedmanner.
"Oh--Isee."Claireansweredbriefly,feelingapiercingonher chest.
Quitecasually,Ryanasked."Haveyouhadlunch?wewereon ourwayout,maybeyoucanjoinus?"
Brunoanswered,"Wejusthadabiteearlier,butmaybeareal mealwilldo.RightClaire?" Clairewasskeptical."I'msorrybutI'mafraidIha
vetogo," Shereturned."Iforgotsomethingimportant."Sheadded,and apologeticallystaredatBruno."We'llkeepintouch."shesaid pointedly,andturnedaroundquickly,asifshe'dencountereda ghost.
Brunofollowedhertotryconvincingintostay,butfailed.She wasunusuallyperplexed,andsimplyruntowardsthetaxi, leavinghimtotallyinshock.
"Justcallmethen,okay?"Hescreamedbutitwastoolate.She wasgone,andhejustwatchedthedoorshutting.
Onceseatedattheback,Claireletoutahystericalsmirk.She wastotallypissedoff;especiallyfromDoris'sremark. "What?Ryantoldmealotaboutyou?AmIsomekindofa showtobediscussedafteranepisode?"Shemutteredfuriously whichmadethedrivertolookbackather."Justdoyourjob mister,stoplookingatme!"Shesnappedathim;Theencounter hadtotallyruinedherday.
Shearrivedhomeandwentstraighttoherroomlikealways. WhatfollowedwastophoneGenastraightaway,andtoldher abouttheKissbeforethehorrorafter.
"Girl,aftersomeyearsofpayingsaintyouhavefinally unleashedyourfeminineinstincts?Butwhydoyousoundso mad?"Genaasked.
"Imetthatbastardtodayandhewaslikeadifferentperson, youmightaswellsayhehassplitpersonality,andguesswho wasaccompanyinghim?Theprettybitchstickingalloverhim! YeahIknowsheishisgirlfriendbutIjust--"shegrittedher teeth."Ijustfeltlikesmashingherface!"Clairesaid,asifshe wasrecitinganangrypoemwithoutpausing.
Genalaughedloudlylikecrazy."Takeiteasygirlfriend,ifyou canthaveit,justforgetit!"Shetoldher."Justchangetheprey; switchtotheotherone,Bruno!Ithinkheisanicecatchhimself, it'snotlikeRyanistheonlyflowerinthefield."Genarapped, herinanaughtyway.
"OhpleaseGena!wearenottalkingaboutsomestupid hangupsthatyoudumpeveryday.No!I'mnotlettingitslidethat easily,I'llmakehimpay."Shewhined."Idon'tcareifsheishis girlfriend,aslongastheyarenotmarriedheisstillaneligible bachelorwhoisridiculouslyhandsomeandabastard!"Claire saidslyly.
"Gosh!Idon'tbelievethis."Genalaughed."Isthatreallyyou Claire?Youareofficiallyahomewreckeryouknow?"She screamedgirlishly."I'mcomingbacksoontoseeformyself; maybeIcanbelievealittle."
CHAPTER6
AstrangerainamidtheSummer,accompaniedbysmall lightningwaspouringonthatFridaynight;itwassuchacold lonelynightforthoseinsolitude,likeClaireLevyherself.Itwas eleveno'clock,andshewasstillrollingundertheblanket, unabletosleep.Decidedly,shewalkedoutofbedandopened thewindowcurtains,towitnessthesightthat'sprobablyabit scarytoothers;butnottoher.Ifitweren'tforthatincidenta monthago,she'dprobablysaidthatshelovedrain.