Chapter Two - The First Night - Part V – The Runaway (Writing as Riley Goth)If I would have known that the first time we hugged would be the last time - forever - I never would have let go. - here [/I]
Just then, the doorbell rings. I feel like I'm in some computer game, where there is some twisted Player who is trying to scare the hell out of me. But then I realise what rubbish I am saying and make my way over to the door.
Still, I am a little more alert. Goodness knows who was at the door or was on the phone. But I wouldn't let my stupid imagination ruin my only evening alone! Well, alone enough. Rose has gone out – saw her skipping 'round back to her super lame "alone place". Purlease!
Anyway, I open the door, and nearly scream when I see this tall, dark, unfamiliar face standing there.
I hide my feelings.
"Yes?" I ask, putting on my "not bothered" look, the one mum tried so hard to drive out of me.
I don’t think he can see me – curse my shrimpiness! After all, I'm THIRTEEN! Nobody's as shrimpy as me! Well, except maybe Jupiter, but that's a different matter.
I hide my shame and try again. "Can I help you?"
"Ah, yes! Rossbert!"
Oh my God – do they EVER give up?
"Actually, it's R-" I begin to stop myself, and he finishes it. I can at least tell it's a man now, or a deep-voiced-flat-chested chick with unflattering clothes.
"How are you? Good? Oh goodie!" he chirps freely.
"I'm sorry – I don't quite remember who you are..." I start, trying to sound as awfully posh as I think he expects me to be. I don't know. I have to be – I am FORCED – to be somebody different around everybody, how am I supposed to know which Riley I play now? "Did we meet at a family gathering?" I ask, unsure whether I was obviously bluffing.
Being the grandson of the famous Mortimer Goth, we are forever going to posh dances and banquets and speeches and so on. Where I get to dress up as a nerd, and the hot, super rich chicks still love me! I think Rose likes them too: she once played the piano at Le Grand Ocassion Petit, and you should have SEEN how they loved her! She had compliments just POURING in! Everywhere she went, even on her loo break, she was in the limelight. People even asked ME if I was the one playing. Do you THINK I look like a girl?" I wanted to scream at them, continuously aware of mum peering at me from across the room. I forced a smile and as politely as I could replied "no" and pointed in Rose's direction.
I don't think Rose liked it. She told me after that she hated all the crowds of people watching her, telling her how "amazing she played" or how "stunning she looked" or even how "gracefully she walked"! You could tell that was from Will Langerak. Scum.
But image that! Someone NOT loving fame! Then again, Rose is probably so used to being praised and being everyones favourite, I guess she gets used to it...and she has to pretend to hate eht fame...to get more! Genius!
"Met!" he gasped, confusing me more by the minute. "Family gathering!" he scoffed. "Really! What has that Cassandra been telling you?" he exclaimed.
"Mum?" I asked, confused. Why would this stranger bring up mother?
"Not quite!" he laughs. "I am Don Lothario! The one and only!" he winks and out comes the cheesiest grin I have ever seen. Only when it has sunk it I scream inside...
"Dad?" I breathe, naturally backing away. "Dad..." I whisper again, that syllable beating away unbearably in my head. I feel hot and clammy, like the sweat on my brow is engraving the words "Here is Riley Goth...fatherless..." on me.
"Son!" he replies, in an almost rehearsed way. But that's OK, I mean – surely he must have dreamt of this day?
"Dad...what are you doing...don’t go…” I whisper, so I can barely hear myself. He’s not going, but I just… can’t think … what am I saying? I try backing away and almost fall over my own feet. I knew nothing. Nothing whatsoever about who Don Lothario was. About who my dad was. I couldn’t let this slip away, I couldn't let him get away, and here I was sending him away! "No, wait - " I say, loudly this time. "Don't ... don’t go..." I say meakly, although he made no movement previously.
"Can...we talk?" I asked shyly. So much to say. Too much.
I stepped out on to the porch, the light flooding my features. I suddenly feel very self conscious as this stranger eyes me up – stares right into me, absorbing all my features as though this would be some strange, last chance to see me.
"Oh phew!" he declares, shattering my unstable tower of sense. All this emotion – wasn't he feeling ANY of it?! "You ARE a boy! I was afraid I'd have to carry on my legacy to a GIRL!" he exclaims, winking at me. But I laugh all the same – it was a joke. Surely he must know about Rose? But when the laughter had settled, I wasn't quite sure...
"You do, err, know – don't you? About me and, err, Rose?"
"Rose? Is that her name? I'm glad it isn't....never mind. Long time ago, anyway. Right, so yes, I'm Don Lothario, currently a docter. You're Roulette Dreamer and...?"
He has such a way of talking! So precise and to the point, blunt and doesn't waffle. Yeah, I liked that. I think. But really, my name!
"I got a B- today..." I mumbled
"Right...so you're Rou-
"Riley!" I state, surprised. "Isn't that what you named me?" I think he blushes. It's hard to tell with this light.
He pauses before he goes on, almost like he's remembering something, like my name!
"Riley." He repeates. "You're Riley Dreamer and you got a B- today. So, yes, just popping round to say hello, so I guess I'd better go now. Ta!" He natters on merrily.
"You're leaving?!" I scream. Or, at least it's trying to be a scream. It's much quieter then I would have wanted it to be. My powerful "scream" is barely audible.
"Oh, but Ra-"
"Ah, yes, Riley – Riley, I must go. Left the oven on...." He rolled his eyes at this, like it was something he did everyday. He turned slowly around, then sharply turned back. "Of course...nah, stupid...Well, I guess you could...forget it...Coming with me?" He blurted out in the end. I physically move backward I am so shocked. This stranger – somebody claiming to be my dad, decides to "pop round" to see how his only son is doing and gets to know me for less then five minutes, and wants to pick me up and go? He loves me that much?
"What...what would you want me to do?" It was a daft question – he hadn't seen me in 13 years...He hadn't been there when I was little – walkin', talkin', and goin' potty: all Nanna Rose and Christian. Then mother. Then our nannies Elizabeth and Suzanne, but never DAD. He must want me! But by the way he quickly dismissed the original idea, I wasn't so sure...
"Riley! Really, you're my son! Of course I want you to come with me!"
Dad...he loved me. Somebody in my family actually loved me...not because I was Rose's BROTHER, because I was ME. Don Lothario was my only father – Darren a replacement, but with him and Cassandra looking after a bunch of their own, I've been feeling left out. Grandfather Mortimer is being heavily looked after in his private hospital, and my grandmother, Dina, lives all the way on the otherside of Pleasantview. I find things odd about Dina, and her DNA...how neither her nore Uncle Alexander inherit her blonde hair, green eyes or tanned skintone? But anyway, she was still FAMILY, and so was Don Lothario. Dad.
My mind was made up. I was NOT going to let this...dream...end. He turned, knowing I'd follow.
“Wait!” I called into the night, not knowing where he was. Curse these expensive floodlights (which don’t work!). “I have to…” if I said “tell mother” how awfully draggish I’d sound! And mother wasn't even here, it was just me - shivering, alone and feeling vulnerable - and Rose. Rose! I think he has the wrong idea about Rose, but, it’s worth it, right? Or… “…get my phone.” I finished with a proud smile, amazed I can wing my way through an easy lie to Don Lothario like this. I thought parents are supposed to be experts in telling truths from lies!
“Very well!” he says rushedly. “Just be quick!” he mutters and I dash into the empty house, up the stairs and round into our room.
“Rose?” I whisper, knowing there is no WAY she could have snuck back in unnoticed. I grabbed her bedside pen and scribbled a note, probably filled with errors she’d just love to correct. But I didn’t worry about that now, I just attatched the scrap of paper to her bedside table – where she’d see it, and left. I ran back down and composed myself as I approached the door, where I could makeout the shadow of Don standing there, probably looking impatient. I took a deep breath and opened the door, and light flooded outwards, so I could see his features, all illuminated and riddled with shadows. I closed the door as quietly as I could and then whispered to this stranger:
“Alright. I’m ready.”
My voice has lost it's nerve and it starting to crack as I go on. "Let's go...home." I say - dryly, crackled but soft, like a pile autumn leaves. I look around at the trees – turning browns and golds, then I look down at the wilting flowers and dying shrubs. What an awful time to be called Rose.
Notes: Incase you’re a little confused, Don takes off with Riley on foot, and Rose hears the footsteps (Part I) but then dismisses it. Soon after they leave, the Dreamer family return home, and well after the only Lothario-Goth child has run away, Rose re-enters the house and finds Riley’s note. Sorry if it was ambigious, I had to tell three different sides of the story and add little clues to make them add up
Oh well, hope you’re enjoying it so far.
