I was getting sorted after my last boxing match against Jack, my coach, when I started thinking why I was here, why I wasn't with Klaus helping him with his rehab. I quickly grabbed my things and when I was stopped one of the TV's in the gym, it was in the news it read,
'Billionaire Reginald Hargreeves Found Dead'.
Oh my God.
I immediately left the building to go and see Klaus, I had to find out if he knows yet. I can't believe fathers dead, don't get me wrong I hated him, but I would never wish him dead...ever.
I suddenly got a text message from Klaus,
'Got news on daddy dearest, meet at the academy',
Oh well, at least father's not alive anymore, so that's one less thing to be afraid about going back there.
I order a cab to the mansion, and went to knock on the door but found myself frozen, I hadn't been here since... well, never mind. I picked up my courage and pushed myself inside.
I was greeted by Vanya and Alison who both gave me equally big hugs,
"Hey Mel" Alison greeted, while Vanya nodded in acknowledgment,
"Hey guys" I replied as I turned to Vanya, I had always loved Vanya, and we were the bestest of friends although I haven't been able to see her as often as I have liked. The same goes for the rest of them, besides Klaus, he's always been my number one, ever since Five left he's always put me in high spirits, quite literally sometimes as well, although I'm not and never was addicted.
"I honestly didn't think you'd turn up to be honest, Vee" I told her,
"What's she doing here?" Diego asked coldly punting toward Vanya, " You don't belong here, not after what you did",
I was happy to see Diego again after such a long time, but when he didn't acknowledge me I couldn't be mad at him, we hadn't spoken in years.
"You're seriously gonna do this today?" Alison complained as he walked up the main staircase, when he didn't answer I decided a little tease wouldn't hurt,
"Way to dress for the occasion by the way" I said sarcastically,
"At least I'm wearing black" he retorted, without giving me a second glance, continuing up the stairs.
"You know he's right- I shouldn't have-" Vanya began, but before she could leave I took her hand and squeezed it comfortingly.
"Forget about him" Alison dismissed,
"She's right Vanya, you're part of our family whether you like it or not" I assured her, giving her a warm smile which she instantly returned.
"Come on Vee, I wanna have a look around, haven't been here in years!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, which was something we would've never gotten away with at the academy if father was still here. I took Vanya's hand and dragged her into the living room, Vanya chuckled as we looked around the room, that was until a certain portrait brought me to freeze once again...
*Flashback* 22 years ago*
I was walking down one of the many empty corridors in our- well dads mansion, when I heard crying inside Fives room.
I've never really spoken to Five that often, although we are training partners, but other than that I don't know anything about him, and the only reason I never use my mind powers on him is is because I respect his and others' privacy.
I stood just outside his bedroom door,
"Five?" I whispered with caution, sometimes I found him ever so cold and scary, especially when he just 'pops' out of nowhere. The sobs immediately ceased, so I took that as my cue to walk in, except no one was in the room.
Strange.
Suddenly I heard a 'pop' come from behind me and on instinct, from training, I punched Five right in the face. He immediately let out a grunt of pain, as I retracted my fist.
"Oh my god! Five I'm so sorry, I- you sounded upset so I wanted to see what was going on, and then- you-" I started to ramble and fidget with my uniform, not able to even look at Five.
"What are you doing here, Melanie?" He asked, the annoyance was clear in his voice,
"You sounded sad-" I began, but he cut me off way sooner than I expected,
"And what? You came to tell me I was weak or something?" He shouted defensively, I quickly put my hand over his mouth. It was clear now that I had punched him too hard, my hand was starting to bleed.
Cheers for the training lessons Dad.
"Shh!" I shushed quietly, " of course not, I'm not like that, I just came to see if you needed cheering up, which it kind of looks like you do" He sighed against my hand.
'I probably should've kept my mouth shut, well done Five, way to ruin another friendship' he thought, I know that his thoughts were private but I couldn't risk dad finding me in Five's room, I would get in way too much trouble.
"Don't worry about it, you haven't ruined anything, Five" I assured him, then he popped again.
Rude.
I decided to sit on his bed, and wait till he returned, when he did he popped beside me again, and grabbed my hand. I was about to protest when I felt something cool on it and it took me a second to realise it was an ice pack.
"Oh thanks" I said awkwardly, "I didn't mean to punch you I-",
"I know" he began, he looked up from my hand and looked at my eyes, "but why do you care about me so much?", honestly I thought he was joking, but when I searched his eyes for any humour there wasn't any.
"Oh- um- well, I don't like watching other people's trauma, I find it cruel" I admitted,
"Well, since we're friends now I guess, I might as well tell you why I was sad, I started thinking about my mother" he confessed, Mother? I've never really thought about my mother, I never really cared, she, like so many others gave up on me.
I looked at him and gave him a warm smile, which he tried to return, only he winced, I then realised he had a swollen lip. I held out the ice pack to him, he looked like he was about to protest so I gently placed it on top of the swelling myself.
"You know what helps me when I'm upset, cake, or lullabies one of the two" I told him, he chuckled softly,
"What lullabies do you like to sing?" He asked curiously,
"Well there's only one that I know, although I'm not entirely sure where from"...
'I love you, and bushel and a peck,
A bushel and peck and a hug around the neck,
A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap,
A barrel and a heap, and I'm talking in my sleep about you'
"That was amazing, Melanie" he praised, Bee. I like it.
"Thanks Five" I replied.
*Flashback End* 22 years later*
"Melanie! Number 8!" A voice shouted,
"Don't you dare call me that" I said, in a dangerously low voice, I hated when I was called by that damn name.
"My apologise, miss Melanie, I was only trying to catch your attention, was it your flashbacks again?".
I realised it was Pogo who was the one who brought be back.
"Well you caught my attention alright" I joked, ignoring his question.
I felt a person place their hand on my shoulder, it must've been Vanya,
"How long?" She asked,
"16 years, 4 months and 14 days" I answered for Pogo, I noticed both of them staring at me, so I looked towards Vanya, who gave me a sad smile.
"Yes, your father made sure to keep track of the time, in case of his return" Pogo explained, I felt the colour drain from my face.
Five is never coming back, he left me and everybody that cared about him, he's not lost because he knew exactly what he was doing, when he did it. And he didn't care. He never did.
I wasn't listening to their conversation, and instead wandered off to fathers study.
"-I came to get your autograph added to my collection" Klaus. He must be talking with Alison, who else in the family was famous?
I mocked a gasp, dramatically steeping into the room,
"How dare you, Ali, I thought we were sisters!" I said, ever so tragically, " yet here you are, giving your first-hand autograph to a high guy just outta rehab" I deadpanned, holding up Klaus's wrist, which he snatched back almost immediately.
"What? No, no, little sissies, I'm done with all that" he drunkenly dismisses with his hand,
"I just came to prove to myself that the old man was really gone" he continued, "and he is! Yay! You know, how I know, cause if he was alive, we wouldn't be allowed to step foot in this room".
He sat down in fathers armchair while still talking,
"He was always here, plotting his next torment, right" he chuckled, "do you remember how he used to..." I was listening, just staring out...
