Secret Affinity

18

I saw the mayor for the first time on T.V. and his two sons who stood on either side of him. The way he talked and the way his sons responded—it was obvious they were three clowns short of a circus.

You have the support of the Nightingale Officials? The news reporter asked. Is it true they’ve held a meeting at the party?

Yes, I do have the support of the Officials. We had a friendly conference, the mayor said and laughed with his two sons. It was quite a night, wasn’t it boys?

However, do you allow the Officials to look over the governmental affairs of Brilliant Cove? The news reporter continued.

I simply don’t allow it, the mayor answered, we only collaborate. Like friends and family. You see, it’s our own affair we have going on here.

I understand, Mr. Mayor, but the public is disturbed by these affairs. Do you have anything to say to that?

Of course, I do. The mayor held up his wine glass. Have some champagne and let things happen. It is life, my dear citizens. What’d you say boys?

Don’t forget your cigarettes and ladies, one of them added. The mayor laughed as the news reporter frowned.

It’s an inside joke, my dear, he assured the news reporter. Let the Officials do their thing, and we’ll enjoy our moment here as true Brilliant Cove citizens. Good days, wonderful days are ahead.

The news reporter raised an eyebrow. How so, Mr. Mayor?

We’ll be in liberation! The mayor said proudly. We’ll be a fully, urbanized city. Brilliant Cove will return to its brilliance, and we shall commit to—

I turned the T.V. off and tossed the remote on the table. Yes, I was aware the mayor was a lax i***t before I watched this, but now I was sure he was a lunatic. He practically did nothing useful for the city, and there was no authority in his voice.

On top of it all, he didn’t care. He rambled on and on for days with pride for the party and his spoiled sons. He never raised a word on solving city and governmental issues. Nothing he said covered the NRs and NEs.

That party damaged a part of me that was difficult to repair. Poor Crimson was baffled the day after the party, cursing all day during school and for a couple days after.

Dad had asked me about it the soonest he could, and I fabricated some ugly truths of that day. Too bad I didn’t have any pictures from the party for him to see. I wouldn’t want those kinds of memories. If Mom was here, she’d hunt the boys down and get them arrested.

I went upstairs to take a quick shower and climbed down the trellis to visit the McCoys’ through their sliding door.

“Hi, Ari,” Elise said when she saw me slip into the house that afternoon. “I just finished making ravioli. Feel free to eat some.”

“Thanks, but I don't have an appetite,” I declined politely. When I went into the living room, I found it empty with no toys or kids, and it was oddly neat. “Hey, Elise, where are Andy and Liara?”

“Upstairs,” she said. “They’re playing in their own rooms. I want everything to be tidy when their sister comes.”

“Sister?” I asked, picking up on the word. I walked towards the island. “Can I go upstairs to see them?” Elise nodded and put ravioli in three small bowls.

“If you don’t mind, can you give these to Andy, Liara, and Arian?” she said, handing me a plate with the bowls on them. “Evin and Juli went to work today, but they’ll be back soon.” I took the plate and walked up the stairs.

I didn't go upstairs often in the McCoys’ house, and I always felt the need to be careful. The first room was Andy’s, so he was the first to get the ravioli.

I wasn’t sure where Arian’s room was, so I knocked on all the doors in the hopes of either seeing him or Liara. The second to last room was Liara’s, and I asked her where Arian’s room was. She led me to the very last room which was caved in and knocked on the door.

“Arian!” Liara shouted when he didn’t open the door. “We have ravioli. I’ll eat yours if you don’t want it.”

“Go away,” I heard Arian say. Liara kept shouting at him, and he sighed.

“Little Mermaid and I are going to go,” she said, pressing her ear against the door. “He’s so mean.” We heard shuffling inside, and the door unlocked and opened. Arian gave Liara a hard look, and I held out the bowl of ravioli.

“Elise told me to give it to you,” I told him. “It wasn’t Liara’s fault.”

He took the bowl. “Babysitter to maid. Impressive.” My mouth hung open. Was he kidding me? “Don’t bother me again.” He closed the door, and Liara and I went to Andy’s room.

Andy was working on his colouring book and had a bunch of pencil crayons on the floor. I sat down next to him and picked up a crumpled sheet of paper with messy writing. The title, in red crayon, wrote b-day list.

“Is this yours, Andy?” I asked. He lifted his head and nodded. He told me those were the things we wanted for his birthday coming up.

A horcy, hapynes, love, a hug, daddy and mommy, and the last one was coton candy. I couldn’t help but smile reading the sweet wishes of a four-year-old. All of them were possible, but I wondered about the daddy and mommy one.

“Liara, why did grandma tell you to stay upstairs?” I asked. Liara was lying on her belly, playing with her Barbie doll.

“My sister’s coming,” Liara told me. “I don’t know how she looks like, but she’ll be here for a while. I don’t know why.” Hm.

Julianna came home before Evin with a bunch of groceries in hand. She was in a rush going from one place to another.

“Evin, can you go get her?” Julianna said anxiously. Evin was in the kitchen, cooking with Elise.

“I don’t want to,” Evin said with no particular emotion. “Tell Arian to go. That’s better.” Julianna rubbed her forehead, and Elise told her to calm down.

Elise called Arian and told him to get Ally. I remembered that name, and when I heard it, I couldn't help but wonder. She was in that picture, wasn’t she? In the picture with Arian and Archie?

Arian left, and Julianna paced back and forth in the living room. I sat between Andy and Liara on the couch, completely motionless. Should I be here? It was some sort of family reunion, I could get that much, but I didn’t know my role.

“Is Ally your daughter?” I asked Julianna. She sat on the couch opposite to me and nodded. “It’s going to be okay. I can’t wait to see her.”

“Me, too,” she said, smiling weakly. “But I’m afraid. I haven’t seen her in so long and this is so sudden.”

“Mom, relax,” Evin said from the kitchen. He didn’t look too excited, but neither was he too unexcited.

Julianna flew up to get the door when finally, the doorbell rang. I heard voices and three people enter the living room: Julianna, Arian, and a girl that was a foot shorter than him.

“It’s so nice to see you, Ally,” Elise said, heading towards her. The girl stood stiffly when she was hugged. “Goodness, you’ve grown quite tall. And my, you have a beautiful fair face.”

“Ally, there’s Evin,” Julianna said. “And here are your siblings, Liara and Andy. We’re really happy to see you.” Ally looked at everyone in turn, and even if this was a family reunion, it didn’t feel that lovely. The fact she had to be introduced to her own siblings like she was a stranger, felt wrong to me.

“Hi, Ally!” Andy said joyously. Ally ignored him.

Her eyes met mine. She had captivating blue eyes, but they were super pale they seemed grey. Her hair was jet black—similar to Arian's.

“Who’s she?” she said.

“I’m Ari,” I said, standing up. “I live next door. I came here to babysit.” She didn’t seem to care when she looked away.

“Arian, where’s my room?” Ally asked him. Arian began to lead her, but Julianna stopped him.

“I’ll show her,” Julianna said, and Ally didn’t look too happy. “Come on, Ally.” They both left. Evin murmured something under his breath, and Elise nudged him with her elbow. Andy was clueless and Liara was pouting.

“That’s my sister?” she said in disappointment. “I like Ari much, much, much better. I want Ari to be my sister.”

“Then, do you want Ally to be your babysitter?” Arian asked her. Liara grumbled, and he sat on the couch.

“You look alike,” I told Arian. “Your personalities seem alike, too.”

Arian leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “And what kind of personality is that?”

“Asshole personality,” Evin replied with an evil smile. Arian gave him a sharp look, but Evin shrugged. “But who knows. No one can understand you.”

“Well, I didn’t really mean it like that,” I told him, sitting back. “Strange personalities you can’t figure out until you get to know them better. But I mean, what Evin said is also right.”

“See?” Evin said triumphantly. “She hates you.” What, I never said that. Arian stared at me with piercing eyes that I tried not to pay attention to. He wanted to go back upstairs but Elise told him to stay here.

“Can I go upstairs?” Liara asked. “I left my Barbie there.”

“I’ll go with her,” I volunteered. Elise shook her head.

She and Evin finished making another batch of ravioli for Ally. When Ally came downstairs, changed in different clothes, Julianna did not come with her. She sat beside Arian, leg over leg and arms crossed.

“Are you hungry dear?” Elise asked her. Ally didn’t reply, but Elise got her a bowl anyway.

“I’m bored,” Ally said. Arian stood up and began to go upstairs. “I said I was bored,” she repeated.

“What do you want me to do?” Arian said to her. Ally looked away, frowning at the ground.

Whatever was going on, I didn’t like it.

“We can go outside,” I told her. The frown left her face. “Um, somewhere you’d like. As like a tour.”

“Wonderful idea,” Elise said, beaming at me. “Evin, Arian, you two and Ari can go together to take out Ally.”

“I don’t want to go,” Ally said and pointed a finger at me. “And this is a family thing, so I don’t know why she’s involved.” Evin took a deep breath, and Elise didn’t know what to say.

“It’s okay, I don’t have to come,” I told her. “It’s just a suggestion.” I was pretty surprised with her blunt attitude, but I tried not to let it get to me. Ally stood up and told Arian to take her somewhere then.

“First, he’s not taking you anywhere unless Ari comes,” Evin said, trying to keep his cool. “And second of all, apologize to Ari.”

“Excuse me?” Ally said to him with eyes narrowed. “Fine, sorry ‘airy’.” Sigh. Like brother, like sister.

“I’m not coming, so you and Arian can go,” Evin said, mouthing a ‘sorry’ to me. I appreciated the support, but we had to consider Ally's feelings. She was the main guest here, anyway.

“Andy, Liara,” Arian said, looking directly at them. “You want to come?” It was amazing. He never asked anyone, not even the kids, to go somewhere. What overcame him?

“Is Ari coming?” Liara said. “Because I’m not going with…” She stopped herself and held onto my hand.

“Get whoever you want,” Arian said, standing up. “I don’t have time to waste.” Evin smirked and washed his hands. Okay, what was with this change of mood?

Finally, all five of us sat in Arian’s car. Andy wasn’t coming with us, so it fit us all perfectly. Ally sat at the back beside me, and I was in the middle. The whole time, she had her arms crossed and a sour face.

“So, Ally, this must be your second time in Brilliant Cove,” Evin said from the front. Ally nodded tightly. “I’m sure you don’t remember anything. We’ll take you to DQ.”

“Not again,” Arian and I said at the same time.

“Okay, fine,” Evin said. “You didn’t finish your ravioli so you must be hungry. How about a restaurant or something?”

“Golden Food?” Ally said suddenly. Evin turned back in surprise, and Ally stared out the window. “I remember that place.” I had no idea where and what that was, but I assumed it was a restaurant. It took us a while to get there.

The restaurant was huge, had glass panels, and outdoor tables on a patio. There was a large beach behind the restaurant, and the view was spectacular even if it was frozen.

The inside looked posh, had silver cutlery and bright chandeliers above booths and tables. We sat at a booth, and I ended up sitting between Liara and Ally. The menu card was given to us, and I didn’t know what to order.

“I’m not a big fan of fancy restaurants,” Evin mumbled, and Arian didn’t look too thrilled either. Liara was excited as she already knew what to order. Same with Ally, but she wasn't as much of an enthusiast as Liara.

“Ari, you done ordering?” Evin asked me. I shook my head and told him I didn’t want anything. “I’ll order for you.”

In the time we were waiting, I wanted to make small talk with Ally. She, on the other hand, wasn’t interested.

“Will you be going to Juniper High, too?” I asked her. She didn’t reply, and Evin told me she would. “Okay…”

Our food came and an awkward silence stretched between us. Liara talked to us more often than we did, and I threw in a couple words.

“I want to switch seats with Evin,” Ally said. Arian ate his food in a way that showed us he wasn’t hungry. Evin finished his already and so did Liara.

“I’m not moving anywhere,” Evin said. “You can switch with Arian. Don’t be such a—” He stopped himself.

“I don’t care. I don’t want to sit beside her,” Ally said, and I stared at my napkin. “I just want to sit with one of my brothers. Is that too much to ask for?”

“I’ll switch,” I said, standing. “It’d be good to sit with your brothers.” Liara whined beside me.

“Come here,” Evin said, standing up. We switched, and now, he sat between Liara and Ally and I sat beside Arian. “Liara, we’ll go get dessert.”

“Yay!” Liara said, shooting to her feet.

“I want to go home,” Ally mumbled. Evin asked her if she wanted dessert, too. She was hesitant but got up. I noticed something about her. It was so vague, but that something made me curious.

Arian and I didn’t want dessert since we didn’t even complete our first meal. I lost my appetite, but I didn’t have one to begin with. In the meantime, I had discovered there was some connection Ally had with Arian. I couldn't help but ask—this was the perfect opportunity.

“Is she close to you?” I asked and received a shrug as his reply . “I mean, she seems okay with you. What’s the difference?”

“What made you say that?” he asked, and I shrugged this time. “She’s a little f****d in the head. You learn to get used to her.” But was it really that? Was that all?

“I have the picture,” I said. Arian looked at me. “The one with you, her, and Archie.”

“Do I need to ask why you didn’t throw that away?” he said. Strangely, not with anger. But I expected anger, so I couldn’t answer properly.

“I thought, um, you might need it one day,” I said, eyes on the table. “I wish I could’ve met Archie. I felt a connection when I first saw the picture. I thought I might need to keep it whether anyone needed it or not.”

He leaned to my side a little, and I froze from the intensity of his eyes. “Don’t show that picture to Ally.” His voice was low. I nodded tightly, and he sat back, grabbing his fork. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

“Well, you’re the one who said to bring whoever we wanted,” I told him. “Well, to Andy and Liara. I wasn’t going to come because Ally didn’t want me to, and I was okay with that. I’m not even hungry—”

“You talk too much,” Arian interrupted, and I shut up.

The three came back with large bowls of dessert, and Liara tried to squeeze in next to me. I told her to sit beside Ally, and she flatly rejected the idea. I sighed and gave her some room to squeeze in.

“Do you want me crushed?” Arian scowled at me. He was crushed in between the wall and me.

“Sorry,” I squeaked, and pulled Liara into my lap. “Are you okay?” I asked her, and she nodded. Ally watched us like we were a laughing stock that somehow ended up in a horror story.

“Arian?” Ally said. “I need to speak to you later.” She was looking at me when she talked.

“You could’ve told me later,” Arian said, and Evin laughed. Ally’s face contorted, and she gave Evin a dark look. Evin apologized. Arian’s eyes flitted to someone walking towards us.

I couldn’t speak. It was the man in the white suit from DQ. The man with the green eyes, and the same man I'd seen talking to Arian at the party. I slouched as an attempt to hide myself behind Liara. Arian’s hand formed a fist on the table.

The man stopped at the table and smiled at us. “Ally, how was your move here so far?” he asked.

It was surreal. All these things happened, and I was baffled to point I didn’t know how to be with the McCoys anymore. Too many unexpected events were occurring, and I didn’t know whether to ignore them or ask for information.

Ally talked normally to the man, and the others were also unfazed. Liara didn’t even notice someone had come as she was stuffing herself with ice cream. Evin was the only one talking along with Ally.

“Were you following us?” he asked. The man scratched his head and said something about safety precautions. “Yes, of course, safety precautions.”

“For Ally,” the man added. His face saddened for a second, but he regained his tough composure. When he saw Liara in my lap, he frowned. “Who is she?” He was referring to me. But I knew he knew me, he remembered me, and he didn’t hide the fact he confronted me.

“Neighbour,” Evin said. “Her name’s Ari.”

“Oh,” the man said in sudden thought and realization. Did I know this guy? No. How could he know me? He stretched a hand out for me to shake. “Nice to meet you. I’m Boston.”

“H-hi,” I said, about to take his hand. Arian held my wrist and pulled it away. “What, what are you—?”

“You can’t be a coward and fearless at the same time,” Arian said, his words directed at me though his eyes were on Boston.

“I don’t understand,” I said.

“Why are you here?” Arian said to Boston. “I told you not to come anymore when…” He furrowed his brows when Boston looked elsewhere. “Leave.”

“I’m—” Boston started but stopped himself. “I’ll go. Just give me a moment. There are some theories at the—” Boston looked at me real quick and sighed. “I have some important things to talk about with you. I’ll meet you outside.”

“Call me later,” Arian said.

“What is wrong with you?” Boston was frustrated at this point, and I was puzzled because I had no idea what was going on. “Fine. Take care. Bye, Ally.”

I felt a load lift from my shoulders when Boston left. I let out a relieved breath and wrapped my free arm around Liara to comfort myself. Evin smiled weakly at me, but Ally was annoyed.

“You can stop holding her hand now,” Ally told Arian. Arian tightened his grip in response, and I winced. “You’re hurting her, idiot.”

“Why do you care?” Arian said, and Ally scowled. He let go, and I clutched my wrist.

“I think we should head back,” Evin said, standing up. “It’ll be fun having two assholes in the house.” Ally looked up at him. “Me and Arian. Me and Arian,” he told her, but everyone knew who he meant.

Back at the McCoys’ house, Ally and Liara went upstairs and the two boys went into the kitchen. I heard them murmuring to each other, low enough so I couldn’t hear. I walked towards the island, and they made an abrupt pause while looking at me.

“Can I come in to get some water?” I asked. Evin went to get me a glass, but Arian looked like he wanted to strangle me.

“Why are you still in the house?” he said. I opened my mouth, but he continued. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away?”

“Why do I bother you so much?” I asked. Evin told me to ignore him and gave me the water. “It’s hard to ignore him, just like it’s hard for him to ignore me.”

“That is true,” Evin said. To Arian, his tone turned sincere. “I’m happy you’re talking more often these days. Acting like an actual member of the family. Not the best, but a member.”

“Don’t make me ask you another time,” Arian told me, ignoring Evin.

I sighed. “Okay.” Before leaving, I took a peek up the stairs.

My stomach hurt at the thought of what happened today.