Memories

XLVII

ALL THE KIDS ARE DEPRESSED

'How long have you been smiling?
It seems like it's been too long
Some days I don't feel like trying
So what the fuck are you on'

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"Nathalia," a harsh voice said. She woke and immediately tensed. What would he be calling her for this early in the morning? "Nathalia get up. You're leaving today." Nathalia stood and waited for the footsteps to head down the hall before walking over to her wardrobe and pulling out an appropriate outfit for the day's work. She picked up the two suitcases she'd be taking with her, and walked down the hall with them to the kitchen.

"Good, you're here." her father said. Nathalia was a splitting image of her father, with dark, auburn hair and electric blue eyes. He was wearing a suit that accentuated his charming features, and a tie that matched his eyes. Nathalia was scared half to death by him, but knew if she disobeyed his orders in any way that she would be severely punished. She'd seen it happen with her brother - he'd taken a hot iron to the shoulder once, and his skin had peeled off on the metal. She'd thrown up in the toilet five minutes later.

"Get in the car. I will be there in five minutes." Nathan said. He turned to walk away, but spun around to add something else to his comment. "And Lola's coming with us, too." He smiled widely and horrifyingly. It was a trait Nathalia was lucky enough not to have inherited, though her brother had. She hadn't seen Nathaniel in three days, and Nathalia's father hadn't been happy, especially considering her mother was missing too.

"Ah, hello Princess," Lola drawled. It was almost as if she worshipped Nathan so much that she attempted to be like him. It was clear to Nathalia by the way she had that smile. Well, an attempted version of it. It just made Lola seem odd, where it made Nathalia's father scary.

Nathalia didn't say anything as she put her suitcases in the boot of the car and got in the backseat. She put her seatbelt on and kept her head down, as she always did when travelling with her father. It wasn't a good idea to make him mad, so Nathalia kept quiet around him, except when she was asked to say something.

When Nathan finally arrived, he sat in the driver's seat and looked back at Nathalia with that smile. "We're going to your new family."

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"I thought I told you I didn't want to talk." Thalia said. She was at her desk, drawing a picture of Kevin. Her door had opened and she'd tensed, knowing the only person who'd want to talk to her like this was Riko. He could be unpredictable and mean, and Thalia knew he was planning something when the door shut behind him again.

"Sorry," Riko said. "Selective hearing." Thalia stared at the wall in front of her, not wanting to give Riko the satisfaction of knowing he was getting to her.

"Is there a problem?"

"Yes, actually. There is." Riko said. "I have a question for you. And in response for your cooperation, I will leave you alone for the rest of your free period." Thalia turned in her chair. Riko was sitting on her bed and watching her every move. "Why did you stay?"

"Are you serious?" Riko just stared. "Because I didn't want my brother and Jean to live under your scrutiny for any longer. You have no control over them. You have no right to call yourself the Son of Exy. That place is reserved for Kevin Day."

"Is that so?" Riko asked.

"Yes. You're more like some sort of distant relative of the sport. Kevin's mother created it along with your uncle. You're a nephew of exy. Not a son." Thalia said. She knew RIko wasn't impressed by her answer by the way his smile turned into an even icier look, and his eyes were burning holes in her head.

"Well," he said, standing up. "At least I know how you feel about me now. Though those didn't always be your opinions on me." Riko didn't move towards the door, just stayed where he was. Thalia didn't like the imbalance, and stood, too. They were the same height, and the distance between the two of them hardly made her feel better. "But I am a man of my word, and I will leave you."

Riko gave Thalia one more look before turning and slamming her door shut behind him. She let out a sigh of relief and relaxed ever so slightly. She'd never be free of Riko again. Though Thalia had thought she'd never be free of Drake, either, and now he was dead. Who was to say the same thing wouldn't happen to Riko?

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"Nathalia?" a voice called. She looked up and saw Riko and Kevin standing side by side, as they always did. Kevin was the one who'd called to her and she smiled at the two boys. Though she didn't dare leave her father's side until he put his hand on her back and pushed, telling her to go.

Nathalia walked slowly to the boys and held out her hand, knowing that in the presence of her father and Riko's uncle, this was the best way to act. Each of them took it and gave a firm shake, and Riko smiled brightly, while Kevin looked slightly unsure. 

"Boys, take Nathalia to her room." Tetsuji said. Riko nodded politely to his uncle and led the way. There were two halls, Kevin explained. Red Hall, and Black Hall. The three of them stayed in Black Hall, and nobody else. Nathalia wanted to say that it was stupid, but knew she shouldn't, so she didn't. Riko opened the door to her bedroom, and Nathalia placed her things down by her bed.

"We'll leave you to unpack," Kevin said and bowed his head before he and Riko left, leaving the door open. She looked around - the room was large, and mostly black, but Nathalia didn't mind. She'd fill the walls with paintings and the bookshelves with novels she found interesting. She'd make this place feel more like home than Baltimore ever had, and she already thought of Riko and Kevin as brothers, despite the recent loss of her own. 

She hadn't been told why her mother and brother had disappeared, but knew her father wasn't happy about it. Nathalia sighed, not wanting to think about it for now, and collapsed on her bed, smiling into the void. Her life would be good from now on. She'd be happy here. She just needed to make herself believe it.