The Red to My Grey

by William Dudley Berridge Tuckey

  “Look Nami, You’re a beautiful, talented, intelligent young lady. There’s no reason to rush into this kind of stuff. I know not everyone may see you as a kid. Enjoy it; things are only going to get harder, so take it easy with yourself.”

  Nami didn’t say a word and just looked at her with red in her cheeks. Sabrina hugged her tight and chuckled to herself.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing, it’s just that I feel too young to be giving these kinds of talks with a girl like you.”

  “Sorry,” she apologised again as she leant into her arms.

  “Don’t be. If I ever have a daughter, well I hope she turns out a bit like you, so that way I can do this all over again, but when I’m ready.” Her words melted at the heart of the young girl and she burst into an overwhelming display of affection and gratitude.

  “Okay, okay. I get it, enough already. From today on we’re friends, not rivals, alright?” Sabrina asked as she put her hand out.

  “Yes, I like you much better when you’re nice.”

  “Then it’s decided…wait, what do you mean ‘when’?”

  “That’s enough, Sabrina. Thank you, you handled this better than any of us. Well we best be off ourselves. Goodnight everyone.” Johnson said calmly and took Sabrina’s hand.

  “Why don’t you stay for dinner?” Angel asked innocently.

  “After tonight, I rather not. Thank you for the offer though.”

  “Ditto. Laters, cutie,” Sabrina said to Nami and the couple saw themselves out. Angel and I did the same and we went to our room. It wasn’t long before dinner, so we laid in bed to relax before then.

  “Sigh. Why’s everything so exhausting in this family. I’m tired out just watching that mess.”

  “Hmm, I thought it was pretty cute. I love a good resolution.”

  “But it was so long and drawn out, not to mention how awkward it was not being able to say anything actually constructive to further it along. I felt like I was watching some cheap ass soap.”

  “Well hopefully Nami calms down a bit now that this is over with. So, there’s no need to stress, okay?”

  “I’m not stressed—” before I could say another word, she kissed me and when we opened our eyes, I didn’t say anything about how flustered I was while she giggled under her breath.

  “Cute.”

  “Shut it,” I said, bitterly.

  In the doorway was Sophia who hadn’t made a sound and the moment we noticed her, our faces went blank; not only were we extremely uncomfortable, but we had no idea how to react.

  “Relax, I just want to chat with the two of you before I serve out dinner. I’m not going to yell at you or anything like that.”

  “What’s up, Sophia?” I asked as we sat up properly on the bed against the wall.

  “How are things between you? Anne’s not making it hard to have moments like the one just now, is she?”

  “We’re fine, Mama. Anne has been a little clingy with you though, Wade.” I felt a cold stare from Sophia the moment Angel said that.

  “Woah she’s just going through some things right now. She knows I love you, Angel; she could never change that.”

  “I see and my upcoming marriage? It doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable in anyway, does it?”

  I went to open my mouth, but then Angel nudged me in the ribs. I looked to her and the only thing I got from the expression in her eyes was to remain silent. It was easy to tell that this was a sensitive topic for Sophia that she had thought over several times.

  “It makes me a little uncomfortable, but after seeing you in front of me all this time with those dearest to you, seeing the sister I never knew I had…it would be cruel to not approve of your love for Jason,” Angel’s answer was sweet and innocent. However, Sophia also wanted my opinion of both her as a person and her relationship with my father.

  “Sophia, you’re a strong, almost intimidating, woman. You make each other happy, so I guess that’s what counts. You did cut up Celia’s hands though, I can’t forgive you for that. It’s not like I can forget from the scars you gave her,” my answer was honest to the core even if it was blunt.

  “Wade…” Angel looked towards me in shock; it seemed she had forgotten about the night her mother came to our home.

  “That’s a difficult wrong to right,” her voice quaked as she spoke, and I only realised how much I had upset her. I felt awful and came to regret saying that.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t expect you to. What’s done is done. I was kind of sick everyone running around doing their own thing while Celia goes through her days with bandages on her hands.”

  “I-I understand. That’s all I wanted to ask then…I’ll call you when dinner’s ready,” she went to walk out of the room when Angel rushed behind her and grabbed her hand.

  “Mama, we’re not trying to say we feel like there’s no other choice. I love you and you deserve to be happy after everything you’ve been through! – ouch,” Sophia gently pounded her on top of the head.

  “Knock it off…you’re making me blush. I still can’t believe you grew up this cute.” Her pale cheeks were completely flushed red and her eyes were shining. I couldn’t help but to burst into laughter and Angel giggled away once she realised how thrown off Sophia was.

  Once she left the room it wasn’t long until we heard another knock on the door. This time it was Celia; she heard everything through the wall and seemed sort of upset.

  “Don’t talk to her about me okay?” she said while holding her hands over each other at her waist.

  “I was just trying to make things right. I know that wasn’t the way to do it but…”

  “Shut up! I said, don’t!” she screamed at me and then ran off after slamming the door behind her. I turned to Angel and she hugged me, staying quiet.

  “Ugh when did this family get so fragile? It seems like it’s just one thing after another and if you try to confront anyone, it just blows up in your face…I guess I’m getting pretty tired of this.”

  “I think we need a day for just the two of us. Think of it as a break. Giggle,” she said to me with a smile on her face.

  I agreed without a second thought and the next day I took a day off work to enjoy myself with Angel. I was so caught up in everything back then, so I had forgotten what it was like to go out and enjoy ourselves as a couple.

  We decided to spend our day walking through the city streets, jumping at anything that caught our eye. It was bright out today and the city was bustling with an abundance of people. Even in the crowds of people, we stood out as I held an umbrella over our heads as we walked. Angel looked beautiful as ever, wearing a tight red frilly dress and it was a bit of a struggle keeping up with her as she skipped and danced through the crowd.

  “Hey! Would you slow down, you’re going to get sunburnt.”

  “Sorry, it’s just been a while since you and I have done anything as a couple,” she apologised as she hugged up to my arm, walking by my side. We still received stares from both men and women alike. Angel was so beautiful she got attention no matter where she went. After a little while, we went and got some sandwiches from a food stand. We had lunch under a tree with a bench built around it. There were lots of people sitting beside us on both sides, happily chatting away.

  “You seem happy today,” Angel said to me with a smile and I nodded while I ate.

  “I am. When you said you wanted to be lovers, it was days like this that I imagined. I never thought I’d be running around chasing the past.”

  “You never had to do any of that. I’m just happy being with you.”

  “Angel.”

  “Yes?”

  “I love you,” I said abruptly and then kissed her; this time it was her who was flustered, and I felt good on the inside, warm and light-hearted. Birds chirped cheerfully in the tree above us and the sunlight was warm and comforting on my skin as I pulled my face away from hers beneath the umbrella.

  “Huh? What’s wrong?” I asked her as she h
ad an awkward pained expression on her face. She wrapped her hands around the back of my neck and shoved my face into her chest.

  “We’re in public Angel…are you sure you’re okay?” I muffled to her; she then gently pushed me away and took a deep breath.

  “I’m okay. Phew. You almost had me there.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “It’s nothing, it’s nothing at all,” she said as she crammed the last of her sandwich in my mouth to keep me quiet. We went back to walking through the streets, when on impulse I was dragged into a crowd of people with strange foreign music playing from the building beside us. Everyone was dancing, and the group was made from an assortment of different people, from backpackers to the locals and those just passing by. Angel grabbed my hand and the people formed a wide circle around us. She basically dragged me along as she danced wildly and elegantly. I felt no such elegance, but I must have been doing something right since the crowd clapped, whistled and cheered as the two of us took centre stage. Of course, I wasn’t exactly a fan of being the centre of attention, but with Angel by my side, I didn’t let it get to me. After about twenty minutes of this energetic display we took a bow and were able to free ourselves from the circle. Angel hung her sandals over her shoulder as she walked barefoot beside me.

  “That was really fun. Was I able to pull you from your comfort zone?”

  “That was crazy, you really got to just say something when you want to do this kind of stuff.”

  “If I did that, you wouldn’t have gone along with it,” she teased me as she fell and leant against me. Our relaxing day for only a moment became serious as we were walking through the crowd. We spotted Sinclair Natsuki walking a bit ahead of us. He was wearing a hooded t-shirt to keep himself from standing out, but the bandages around his arms and the dangerous aura he gave off were more than enough to recognise him. He kept looking over his shoulder back at us and shortly afterwards we sat down at a café table that was reasonably quiet. It looked pretty seedy to be honest, a hooded man covered in bandages, a beauty in red and some guy in jeans, sipping coffee together.

  “Dad…” Angel said softly.

  “Hello Angel, have you been keeping well?” he replied politely to the point of where it was underwhelming. I watched him carefully and our surroundings for any of his beast.

  “I’m doing really well…better than I ever have.”

  “Is that so? I’m glad. Wade, I owe you an apology for the incident the other day and Angel my dear, I owe you an apology, well for a lot of things. Alas, it will have to wait.”

  “What are you planning, Sinclair?” I asked him as he chuckled to himself.

  “Who, me? No, I’m just hoping to have some fun in the near future.”

  “Sigh. So, you’re really up to something then. Just keep it small. You riled up all of Fellbroke last time.”

  “No can do,” he laughed before taking another sip of his coffee. Angel stayed quiet and was stunned to see how both Sinclair and I spoke like casual acquaintances rather than enemies.

  “What’s wrong, little one? I thought you said you were happy?”

  “Dad, are you upset about Mama? Is that why you like causing chaos?” she asked him seemingly from nowhere. He smiled and gently rested his cup on the table.

  “Sophia was never really mine. I stole her from Jason. I had suspected her heart would burn for him one day, so I made the most of my time with her. Whenever I look at you, I am reminded of how lucky I was. I didn’t see myself with a child, well, ever. You are my most precious treasure, my own flesh and blood. As far as chaos – I owe this city nothing less after everything it put both you and I through.”

  “And what did Fellbroke put you through?”

  “Fellbroke doesn’t accept monsters living in plain sight and with these eyes, that’s exactly what we were perceived as. However, for whatever reason, for the same reason as we’re feared has become the same reason we are loved. The people in this city are acting strange as if they are entranced by the thing that used to make them cower in fear; even I have received affection from those too foolish to notice the hideous beast in front of them.” It sounded as if he was speaking in riddles, but I knew every word he said had merit to it. Whistle. But then suddenly a group of young men came over to our table to check out Angel who was just silently sitting under her umbrella.

  “Woah, you’re smoking hot, how ’bout you ditch these creeps and come hang out with us?”

  “Creeps? There’s nothing more cliché than what you losers are attempting to do,” I said casually.

  “And who are you? Her boyfriend? You look like a chump to me.”

  “That’s enough!” Angel screamed, and her eyes flared right up.

  “That voice, it’s sexy and those red eyes are so feisty,” one of the men yelled out. Sinclair stood up with his hood over his face and his hands in his pockets.

  “What do you want? Looking to fight? I wouldn’t if I were you; you look like just got out of a hospital.”

  Sinclair looked up and revealed his glowing red eyes that traced behind as he moved them. The men froze up, knowing they were staring death in the face.

  “Do we have a problem here?” he asked in a deep intimidating voice. Their jaws dropped only for them to sprint away screaming at the top their lungs as they fell over one another while trying to get through the crowd.

  “Dad you’re incredible…” Angel said in awe.

  “Have a nice day. ’Til we meet again,” he suddenly vanished before our eyes.

  “We should probably go too; there’d be a reason why he would up and vanish like that.” But as I said that, one of the waitresses handed me the bill.

  Oh, this is why…asshole, I thought to myself. “Angel.”

  “Yes?”

  “I think I might hate your father even after all that, he screwed me over.”

  She looked down at the bill and shrugged her shoulders.

  “It’s just coffee, darling,” she said casually.

  “I guess you’re right; still rude though.”

  We rode the train home later that afternoon; the day had given me a good chance to relax overall and I felt somewhat refreshed. When we arrived home, it was only Nami there, sitting on the couch kicking her legs back and forth while lying upside down on it. She was in her uniform; it looked strange on her since she looked more like a teenager than a schoolgirl. Angel flipped her over and she fell on her back on the floor.

  “Hey, what was that for?” she yelled at us as she picked herself up.

  “Your panties were showing. How was your first day of school?” she asked leaping over the couch to stand over her to stare her in the face.

  “Yeah, all the other fifth graders were so small. I forgot what school was like after being away for so long.”

  Angel threw her against the couch and then looked to me with a mischievous smile.

  “Say Nami, there’s nobody else home, right? Stay in here, watch TV for a while and be a good girl, okay?”

  “Why? What are you doing?” she asked innocently.

  “Are you dense?” Angel said bluntly as a bead of sweat ran down her neck.

  “…You’re so bold big sis!!!” she screamed once the realisation hit her. She hushed her and next thing I knew I was in my room watching Angel getting undressed in front of me. The rest, well that doesn’t need any sort of explanation. It was when Sophia returned, the house became rowdy again. She was in high spirits, tipsy and still in her apron from work; she danced happily around the lounge room. Angel and I peeked from the edge of the hallway; we were only in some clothes we hastily threw on once we heard her arrive home.

  “Why are you so happy, Mum?” Nami asked lying lazily on the couch.

  “It’s a secret, sorry, little one,” she replied trying not to laugh.

  “Is that so?” I asked her as I stepped out into the lounge room with Angel.

  “Oh, you two look like you’ve had a lot of fun today, in more ways than one. You’r
e such a slob, Angel, honestly at least make him work for it.”

  Angel’s face turned bright red and she was speechless. It was cute, but I felt just as awkward at the same time. Anne walked into the room after walking through the front door; her face showed signs of panic the moment she laid eyes on Sophia. She was wearing a short pair of denim shorts and a yellow crop top which she pulled down as she tried to back out of the room.

  “Now where have you been, Ms Frey?” she asked in a cold tone.

  “Gulp. I went to the arcade for a little while…”

  “Didn’t I ask you to stay home and look after Nami while I was gone? Did you even pick her up from school?”

  “Sophy I…”

  “Can’t come up with any excuses? You’d better hope those were next words to come out of your mouth. Why is a thirty-five-year-old woman still playing around in an arcade anyway?”

  “Mum, it’s okay. I don’t need her to baby sit me. I can take care of myself. I’ll do your hair for you if you calm down,” Nami offered calmly like she was used to this kind of behaviour.

  “Yes please!” Sophia took the offer immediately and her anger disappeared on the spot. Angel and I ended up cooking dinner that night. We were making spaghetti bolognaise when Dad entered the kitchen shortly after he got home from work, him being the last to arrive after Celia, who went straight to her room.

  “Hey, you two. How was your date today? By the looks of things, pretty good,” he said as he pointed at our loose clothing.

  “Yeah, yeah. It was what we needed…hey, can I ask something?”

  “What is it, son?”

  I asked what was with Sophia, after noticing she seemed a little moody lately. I was sure he noticed it too, but he gave me a vague answer, only to call Sophia into the kitchen with us. She leant happily against Dad and her hair was neat, shining and tied back, so it reached the end of her back.