MARCUS (ongoing)

Chapter 10

Months went by of them staying together. During this period it was Marcus' birthday and they made it as fun as possible for him. They invited Clare's two friends with David as well. He cried tears of joy on this day more than once. They got him all sorts of gifts, cake and Chris sang him a song too.

Clare's and Scott's final gift to him was a picture they took together all three of them at the park which they framed, at it's top was labelled "family by choice, friends by chance" and at the bottom Marcus. He hugged her tightly as he cried. Then Chris flipped it at the back "us assholes gotta stick together" and at the bottom from "C.C.D.T.A".

A couple of months went by and Marcus started to get used to being around Clare and Chris. Then a knock was heard at the door.

Marcus: [opens] hello......
Man: [surprised] he.......lloooo. Um is this still Clare's or she moved?
Marcus: yes it still is. I'll get her.

Clare walks to the door after being called while Marcus stays a little behind watching.

Clare: [eyes widened] oh dad. I didn't know you were coming over I...... um I thought........
Ben: do I need to call ahead to see my daughter? I see that idiot of a boyfriend is making you a little big-headed.
Clare: dad please we talked about this, Chris isn't an idiot......
Ben: he is! A man is an idiot when he's too lazy to work, all he does is the so called business program that won't do him any good.
Clare: [sighs].........
Ben: ...........and that useless music. Music isn't a career it's a luxury!
Clare: how about the celebrities they make a good living.
Ben: they're too lazy to work that's why they turn to such. [Points at her] listen carefully Clare that kid will just waste your time.
Clare: anyway, you want to come in?
Ben: here? No not in his house besides I just came to check on you.
Clare: I'm okay.
Ben: I'll take my leave now.
Clare: alright dad.

Ben: wait, who's that kid?
Clare: um, that's his cousin Marcus.
Ben: ...........anyway, don't forget what I've said.
Clare: did you really come to check on me or criticize my boyfriend?
Ben: I came to see you.
Clare: oh really? Dad you've never being proud of anything I do. Whatever I choose it's always beneath you or "a low-life" like you call it. Remember when I said I wanted to do medicine you said it's like an outfit that doesn't sale and when I ..........

Ben: when did you get so aggressive?! I knew Chris.........
Clare: argh dad! I'm not even raising my voice or anything I just made a statement to air out my feelings, mom would........
Ben: your mother doesn't understand. If she did she wouldn't have become a nurse, that already shows why she backs you up. She got to see that eventually, thankfully and some day you will too.
Clare: ........

Ben: that kid doesn't go to school? It's a school day I see even Chris' family is the same can't even take a little kid to school. I mean why not? If Chris is allowed to do whatever he thinks is sane and you're staying with two of them now [looks at her and shakes his head in irritation]. That's the last time you talk to me like that, your mother must hear this.

He drives off. While she stands at the door and tears a little.

Marcus: Clare? [Pulls her in, makes her sit and closes the door] I'm so sorry.
Clare: [wipes her tears] I don't know what they want from me, everything I do is a wrong thing.
Marcus: you said your mom gets you or something like that right?
Clare: [sniffs and short laughs] I wish but she's not as bad as he is. Sometimes she understands me or at least tries to.
Marcus: .......... [hugs her]. My family was just the same always hated my mom and saying my dad made a big mistake. They'd call us all sorts of things I understand how you feel except for you, you're fighting alone and .......... now that I see it you're not alone. You have Chris and me just like my mom and I had my dad. My mom always said family is everything and when everything treats you like nothing the least you can do is try to be something unlike the nothing they think and turn that something to everything, eventually your everything will treat you like something.

Clare: [looks at him in shock and laughs] what?
Marcus: [smiles] so it does work. Whenever I felt sad because of my family she'd say that to me often and it always made me laugh because it makes almost no sense so I tried it on you, it worked.
Clare: [smiles] it's classic.
Marcus: yeah? See.
Clare: but I get it, it actually makes sense, thank you Marcus.
Marcus: like my dad would say, family don't say thank you they apologize.
Clare: [smiles] wow [laughs].

Later that evening Chris returned and Clare told him everything that happened. Then Clare received a call....

Clare: [sighs in awe] mom
Tessa: how are you Clare?
Clare: I'm okay mom and I'm sure you're great too.
Tessa: how's school and........
Clare: mom just get to the point, I know why you have called.
Tessa: I'm not like your father sweetie I understand how you feel. Just called to say; I know your father can be rough but just try to remember the fears he has from his past.......
Clare: mom we all have childhood trauma and yes I know he lived hard, but his always mean.
Tessa: yes he is. Just don't take it a little too personal.
Clare: whatever.

Tessa: I hear you are living with a kid there......
Clare: [says to herself aloud] here we go...
Tessa: Chris has now really lost his mind. I was still preparing my mind that he's your whatever.........
Clare: preparing? Mom....
Tessa: [continues] then he brings in a mini him. That boy can't support you, look I can handle anything you do but Chris, him I can't.

Clare: firstly, you've had a whole three years to prepare your mind then you only handle a fraction of whatever I decide......
Tessa: a fraction? Your father yes handles a fraction I didn't.......
Clare: dad has never understood a single thing about me, you only handled a fraction. When I first opened up to you about writing you said it's a waste......
Tessa: no I said it will eat up precious time for something more important.....
Clare: that's literally the definition of waste mom. Later I said it will be a side hustle I'm doing med you said no.

Tessa: because I knew your father would flip.
Clare: I did too, but I needed you to support me, instead you turned on me and agreed to whatever he had to say till he gave up arguing. Med is the only thing I got to decide on my own.

Tessa: no one decided on Chris you just.....
Clare: were you forced to marry dad?
Tessa: this is different.....
Clare: just respond.
Tessa: no.
Clare: exactly besides he understands me.
Tessa: I mean of course he would, just look at the way he.......
Clare: I'm hanging up.
Tessa: you're making a wrong choice Clare we're just advising you.
Clare: well then it's been two freaking years of receiving it, I think I've heard, let me decide whether to take it.
Tessa: Clare this is a mistake.....
Clare: then I'll learn from it.

Tessa: anyway. Let's talk about something else............ So, hows school?
Clare: you already asked that.
Tessa: you didn't answer. Kindly take down the defensiveness, the topic is different now.
Clare: ........... School is okay just quite bulky and tricky.....
Tessa: you see we told.....
Clare: mom, I think that's it I'm cutting the call.
Tessa: Clare [line cut].

Ben: I told you, that Chris is misshaping her.

Clare: [rubs her forehead with eyes closed in confusion]
Chris: [walks quickly to her and speaks softly] hey, hey what happened?
Clare: my mom called.
Chris: [hugs her] it's okay I got you. Why don't you lie down?
Clare: I have stuff to look at before I sleep, you can rest I'm going to handle my work.
Chris: okay.
Clare: is he still up?
Chris: I tacked him in, he's sleeping.