Chapter 5

Blank faced, all he could do was bore his stare into Clare's ugly ass face. Though this was a great night, it didn't mean I wasn't feeling bad for the guy. I was a little sympathetic towards him, I admit. So fucking sue me. He just found out his wife, who he must have figured was his perfect love, lied to him. And it was one big lie for him to accept. Looking at his face now, I wasn't sure there was any 'accepting' go on in his head though. He just stared at her until his eyebrows slowly dipped. Which was making this night awesome.

"Clare... what is she talking about?" He never looked away from her. I honestly don't know how he was able to look at her evil face for that long but his eyes were desperate, wanting an answer from his foolish wife.

I finally understood why Clare came and got me in a hurry. I already knew it was because her husband would be home soon after. However, she was wearing a blonde wig and I knew that it was because she wanted to get me without running into Luke. After all, Luke does work at the place my mother had to go to pick me up.

"Luke, honey...." She sighed, squeezing her hand in his, as if for reassurance. Reassurance wasn't what he needed. From his face, he needed either sleep or some alcohol. I personally would choose alcohol if it had anything to do with Clare. "Let me explain," she finally said.

Jesus. That's what he wanted and he wasn't stopping her. "Go on Clare. Let's hear it," he said in a cracked voice, sitting back and dropping her hand harshly. There was a disgusted look aimed at her as I think he saw how true it was on her face. He didn't want to believe it but with that disturbed face... he was catching on.

She was shaking even more as her hand fell from his. She whimpered slightly like the crying bitch she always seemed to be. She was always strong and rough, mean and a bitch. But when things went wrong for her, she couldn't be any more weak and pathetic. A weak, pathetic, stupid cry baby. It made my heart feel so warm to see her in this state now.

She couldn't say anything so I jumped in, more than happy to help. "Luke," I said, gaining his gaze as he flicked his broken eyes to me. I wanted to explain it slow and nicely to him because he didn't deserve what was happening to him right now. But like I said, a chance like this rarely happens to me. "Here's what happened. My lovely mother here," I explained, waving my hand indicating her. "Was a big slut-bag as a kid. She fucked this guy at 14 or 15 and he got her pregnant with me. Yeah I know, what a great cause for me to be alive. Anyway, my parents were pretty much trash. I mean, picture it: a 15 year old slut pregnant - with a new 17 year old husband." I sarcastically gasped and looked to Clare. After all, I just 'accidently' revealed another secret about her past. As if me alone wasn't enough to accept already. "Oops. Oh, I'm sorry, did you not tell him you were married before either? Sorry, mom. It just slipped out with the rest of the truth."

Her eyes widened with tears, her stomach was heaving as a sob was close to breaking through her lips. With it, pure hate was aimed at me through her wet eyes. I was happy she wasn't able to speak without it coming out with a sob. And though she tried to interrupt me, that was not happening as I soon turned back to Luke to explain the rest.

His eyes were now trained on my face. His smooth skin along the planes of his cheeks were very pale as his emerald shaded eyes were also wide. Except, not from anger like Clare. From astonishment and disgust, shock and so much hurt.

"Anyway, yeah, they were married. And once I was born, the three of us were the typical trailer trash family. I guess my mom loved me then. I know. Shocking. But after my father left, she started beating on me because she hated my father for it and because I had my father's traits. But now, since I have a new daddy, maybe mommy will start being nice to her 'crazy' daughter. But of course, like I said earlier, you pick what you want to believe." I grinned, glancing over to my sobbing mother that sent me smiling before looking back to him.

After explaining that to him, and seeing his face, I kind of regretted telling him like that in a smug and sarcastic way. I probably should have let Clare tell him - though it might have been another lie. Maybe she would have said something like how she had no clue why I was saying I was her daughter. Because he should have at least been told gently. But he deserved the truth more than a soft reassuring lie.

I wasn't sure he was able to take it all in. It was a lot to accept after so many lies from the woman on his left. I offered him my sympathetic eyes before turning back to cry baby Clare. I could feel my face distort back to disgust.

"It's obvious that you can't say anything right now because the truth is out. And all that comes out of your mouth are lies," I said to her.

"I--" she started, swallowing and looking to her husband, his face broken and hurt - full of the acceptance of betrayal, the only type of acceptance going on in his dumbfounded mind.

"Say it," he said in a menacing voice, clearly upset at her. His eyes were fire, rage engulfed deep. And aimed right at her. "I'm going to hear it from you."

Through her struggling sob, she nodded and with a shaky hand, tried to reach for his. But he flinched back at seeing what she was doing, moving his hand away, not wanting any of her bullshit. He was done with it, the pathetic comfort as if it would help any of this. Her eyes wide at seeing him flinch away from her, she was obviously somewhat pissed at that. Meaning, she was a stuck up bitch. At least she was clear about that around him.

Though mad, she was upset even more and cried a little harder. He gave no sympathy towards her. This night couldn't get any better. "Luke, please. Yes, she is my daughter," she choked out.

The moment the words left her mouth and reached his ears, he looked away and bit his lip, shaking his head slightly with anger and astonishment. Moving my gaze over him carefully, I noticed something in his expression broke. A sliver of sympathy reached his eyes over her. He sighed at seeing her teary eyes. I knew it was too good to be true. After all, she had him wrapped around her finger since day one if he was still here in the first place. Of course, I knew that sympathy was laced extremely thin.

"Listen Clare, will you just explain why you didn't tell me?" he asked, a little easier. Luke's voice was thick with sadness, curiosity, and the best part was the anger.

"Yes mother," I broke in. "Tell us both why you hid me from your new husband. Why, it couldn't be because you were embarrassed of me? Embarrassed because you thought he would leave you if he knew your daughter was the town freak!"

"No," she cried but it was obviously a lie. "Because... because I was scared."

"Scared of what?" Looking to Luke, I saw he stood in frustration, the need to move, to pace or just do something! He couldn't sit still anymore. Moving in front of the couch and chair where we were sitting, he walked back and forth before us, eyes never leaving Clare.

"I was scared that... that you wouldn't like that I was married before and had a daughter. I-- I wasn't embarrassed," she said, looking to me from him, trying to show him another lie: that she cared for me. "I'm not embarrassed of you. Albany," she sighed. "I just wanted to start over. I wanted to leave my old life behind because it wasn't great. I didn't want to leave you behind but I knew I couldn't keep looking for you. When he came along, I just wanted a new start. I didn't want to leave you behind. Because I do care and love you."

I scoffed, sitting forward and setting my cold eyes on hers. "Right, because that makes sense. You missed me so much. That why you were so worried about me, came 'looking for me,' moved on with your life not a month later, married and never looked back.... Yep, good signs of caring. If that's love, well then that means I love you more than anything."

She sighed but I noticed something. Luke. Something registered in his head, something that made him take noticed in my words. About time time too. He finally looked from Clare to me, seeing I had a good point. Because he knew not one time during their marriage or time together, not one time did she ever seem worried, never seemed uneasy over anything. Realized she never said anything of me or hint of missing me. Looking at him now, I saw she lied about her past beyond what I assumed. Not just bringing it up and that I existed. She made up a whole different background without me. She got rid of every trace of me from him. He saw those were not good signs in caring for her daughter.

After a moment, he shook his head as if trying to get that nonsense out of his head. Because it was nonsense, all those lies. I knew it wouldn't leave his head; it would always be there at the back of his mind.

"Scared? Baby," he said, sighing as he met her wet eyes, his glare burning with true feeling. "I love you. I love you and you know it." Oh god, cue the gagging noises. I think she must have hypnotised him or something because I didn't know anyone who could love her freely. Except my father but honestly, he had to be a real screw up.

He went on, not pausing. "I told you; told you never to hide things from me. Because no matter what those things were, we would be able to get through them. I told you never to worry and that you could tell me anything." He looked truly and sincerely hurt. "Yet... you," he glanced to me before looking back to where she sat silently, her eyes wet and in his, begging. And in that... I never saw an expression on her face like that. It was as if she actually really did love him. Hell, she might love the guy. But we now both knew what a good actress she was.

He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "Yet you hide... you hide her from me," he said looking to me. "You hide her, you hide you past marriage, your whole background and now, our present. And this is fine," he said after a moment, glancing to me before back to her. "It's fine that she is your daughter. It's fine that you use to be married. What is not fine, at all, is the fact that you lied about it. Because it's a big damn thing to lie about," he growled. "Especially to your fucking husband."

With a shaky breath, Clare begged him with her eyes. Soon, through that shame, her lips too when she spoke. "Are you going to leave me?" She asked him quietly.

I couldn't help myself. Cutting in, I said, "Please, don't be afraid to say yes. I personally think she deserves it. But I will miss you, daddy." I smiled.

They both ignored me, just staring at each other. There was a moment of silence between them, Luke thinking over her words or rather just taking them in. "No," he finally said in a sigh. "I'm not leaving you."

Well, fuck me up the ass! He needs to open his damn eyes. "No?! Man, I thought you were smarter than that," I said to him, but his eyes remained on her. Once again, I honestly don't know how; she was just so ugly to me.

"Clare, I won't leave you. This isn't enough to make me leave what we have together. But I won't lie: this really hurt and I won't forget it," he said menacingly.

"I--" She tried, heaving with her pathetic cry. "I'm sorry."

My eyes turning to Luke, I saw he watched her with some sadness with the fact that she was upset. But not too much, which kept my mood up. He was still hurt and upset, like he said. He sighed, looking to me before closing his eyes, shaking his eyes, tired.

"I just," he groaned, running a hand through his hair before rubbing the back of his neck. "I need some air right now." And with that, he turned around and slowly walked to the front door, opening it and he stepped out onto the porch of the night air, shutting the door behind him a little harder than necessary.

Clare and I sat in silence a moment later after the absolute sound of the door shut. Glancing back from the door to her, I watched her dumbfounded - or just dumb - expression aimed at the door. She was quiet. About time too. Her tears were growing cold on her cheeks as she sat back into the couch more. Raising a hand to her cheek, she wiped away her tears in a moan, happy he wasn't leaving her. I just hoped the thing he said after that stayed in affect. I hoped that he would hurt for a long time after about her. Not because I want him to hurt. But because I was hoping if that pain stayed with him, he would grow to realize that he couldn't stand it and would want to leave her. I would never know though. I would be gone by tomorrow night.

I was a little mad he didn't leave her right now. I was so sure he would. That was a lot to hide from your husband and a lot to except in one night for him to take in. Yet, he wasn't going to leave her because he wanted to try to work it out and get through this. However, I never heard him say he forgave her. Lets hope it stays that way. I hoped he would leave her because he deserved better.

Though he wasn't leaving her, I wasn't letting that get me down. As long as she was hurting and upset, nothing could bring me down. Sitting back in the chair, I watched her as she tried pulling it together.

"Karma's a bitch. For you, I guess that's an understatement," I said, grinning.

"Albany," she growled, looking to me, her eyes trying to burn mine with the hate she was aiming at me. Like I said: devil's mistress. "Go up to bed. Before I strangle you!"

"Ha! Sure thing, mother. Oh, wait," I said sarcastically. "Oh that's right! I don't have a bed! Or a room for my bed! You got rid of all my things! Thanks mom, you're the best."

"I don't care," she hissed, leaning forward towards where I was sitting. "You will sleep in the guest room. If you don't like that, I wouldn't mind chaining you up in the basement."

Raising my eyebrows in humor, I gave a chuckle. "That is, if you could. I don't understand how you landed a man so much smarter than you. Let's try this: Clare," I said slowly. "Luke said he isn't leaving you. I know that's hard for you to get in your head because we both know he should. But he isn't. He is staying here. In this house, right? So that means you can't do those nasty things to your daughter. Who is me, if you forgot - again. If Luke - your husband - is here, you can't hurt me. Is that clear enough for you?"

She stood, swiftly taking the few steps it took until she was standing an inch in front of where I was sitting. "I may not be able to beat you or kill you like I want to now. He is here and that means you are right. I can't beat on you as much. But when I do, I promise... you will be sorry you ever set foot in this town again. He will believe me over you. He just did. He will understand you are insane and that you hurt yourself."

I scoffed but I knew it would be true. Would be as in if I was going to stay here in the first place. It didn't matter. Tomorrow night, I'm out of this hell house.

I stood myself, facing her. I smiled back, not worried or caring. "Whatever you say," I said, lightly pushing her shoulder back so I could move around her towards the stairs. Strangely, I wasn't scared like before. Not after seeing her breakdown and seeing Luke would be here. Plus, I was only here for another day. I should be fine. But I knew as I was walking towards the stairs, that I wouldn't be fine if I didn't have some weed in me. Soon. I mean, there was something about the stuff I had that made the urge stronger. I would have to try to get some by tomorrow night or sooner. Because as I was walking towards the stairs, I felt myself shaking more violently, my body quivering and I felt somewhat sick. I knew you can't really get addicted to weed - you just could to the feeling. I shouldn't be feeling this bad over it though. Strange... but so was everything in my life.

As I got to the bottom of the stairs, I looked back to where Clare bored her stare into the ground, a scowl on her face as she was thinking. "Clare?" I asked, getting her attention, my smile still there despite the shoot of pain that was running through me. Once she looked to me, I continued, needing something to end this night just perfectly. "If Luke is still upset with you by the time he goes to bed, you can tell him he could always sleep with me in my room. After all, after what at you did to him, he doesn't deserve the couch. He deserves a bed with a girl that hasn't lied to him."

Her eyes grew and tears formed around them, anger swelled within them with so much hate again. I laughed before she could do, say, or act at all. Now, my night was complete. A great night with a crying mother and a stressed marriage.

Walking up the stairs, I turned down the familiar hall toward where my bedroom use to be. The carpet that once was here was no longer present. The wooden floor continued up here. Since it was dark, I wasn't able to tell much but along the walls, I was able to see a new color besides the white these walls once were. Pictures lined the halls too, not so much nature ones like downstairs but people. Well, two people. Clare and Luke were all over the walls but after looking at one with them standing side by side, smiling happily, that was enough for me.

Continuing into my room, I saw all my things were gone. Everything, like I figured. The only thing that was the same were the floors, walls, and the window. And even then, the floor was now wooden and the walls in my room were an ugly yellow. Finding where the bed was, it looked the size of what mine was. It most likely was my bed but a new bed cover was over it. It was pushed against the wall of the window, the window sill just above where the covers were against the wall. Beside the bed was a night stand, holding a clock and a box of tissues.

Looking around, I was disgusted. My computer, desk, dresser, clothes in my closet... everything was gone. It upset me more than it should have but I knew not to get too mad over it. After all, I was gone by tomorrow night. I choose to leave this all behind and it was the right choice.