Daybreak | IC Inbox.

[awooligan]

CLIFFORD NORMAN
UN: REDRIDINGHOODIE

STATUS: grade 11

ACCOLADES: n/a.

BIO: name's cliff. let me know if you'll buy cigarettes and shit for me, we can work something out.

© TESSISAMESS

Comments

[awooligan]

[Your Mamá is gonna be pissed, Coco. Relieved and happy, but also pissed.

Nora mimics the girl with a shake of her head, though for her this time it’s clear how much she’s been hiding her ever-simmering anger. The depth of the bruises really spoke for themselves, but — ]

I come home to him with his hands around my son’s neck, and he tries to say he attacked him. As if even if that were true, it would make it okay for him to ever lay hands on my boy.

[Carl Hudson should be a dead man, but here we are.]

I’ve already let an officer know what’s happened. If that man’s dared to stay at my house through this, he won’t be for much longer. We’ll have to go back to Podunk, but no, sweetie. I’d never go back to someone who I know hurt either of my children.

[kept_his_letters]

[That's her secret, Cap, she's always pissed. But yes, she is a dead girl walking.

She winces all over again when it's put to words. She saw bruises, she had the image in her mind, but still.

By the end, she nods her head.]

Good.

[A pause.]


Um... I maybe lied before when you were on the computer. He didn't actually get in a fight trying to rescue me, exactly. He... he was actually helping to save the world. He got hurt by being a hero. It was really brave. And I wanted to tell you before but, you know, the whole world was supposed to be keeping a secret then. But, I just thought you should know that Cliff is good.

Also, I think if Cliff did attack... Cliff would've won.

[awooligan]

[Nora leans gently against the desk, chair creaking with the movement. The revelation doesn’t seem to be much of a surprise, just getting her to stare down into her mug with a weak uptick to the corners of her mouth — half a smile, have a grimace.]

It was the Herald fight, wasn’t it? You kids shouldn’t have to be anywhere near that sort of thing...

[Boy would there have been hell to pay if her son hadn’t made it back from that one. It makes an awful lot of sense, though. And she’d thought his problems had been so...normal, even when trusting the blame wasn’t solely on him.]

I don’t doubt it for a heartbeat. [Which makes it even sadder that Carl made it out of all that without so much as a scratch.] Even when he’s mad or talking back, he isn’t the sort to hurt people. I wish he wouldn’t have run away so often...but he would always come back and talk to me. I couldn’t really ask for much better, could I?

What about you? Do your parents need a glowing review of their daughter, to set old secrets straight again? I don’t know you well, but I can tell how much Cliff trusts you. I’d certainly repay the favor you’ve done for him.

[kept_his_letters]

[It was the sort of thing Mamá would say. It was why Mamá had been here so long. It doesn't seem a smart move to say that or bring up that she didn't really help.

It's nice to hear Cliff's mom speaking so warmly of him. After everything, more people should.

The brief smile that was there falls away. She answers too quickly.]

No!

[She flushes.]

Uh, I mean, it's fine. I'm okay. My parents aren't mad at me. [Yet.]

[awooligan]

[...Oh, honey. The look Nora gives is an odd mix of amusement, confusion, and exasperation. What is it with these two...! Well, it's probably one of the things that had bonded the two together, which was...sort of sweet, maybe, but still concerning.]

Rain check, then. Though I can't promise it will make them any more understanding on whatever it is you're doing. At least tell me the trouble you're up to isn't something that's going to get you or my son hurt?

[kept_his_letters]

[She tries not to wince. She imagines that, no, whatever Nora says isn't going to save her skin.

But it's the last part that puts ice in her heart. Her mouth opens, but she hesitates. She pauses way too long, looking down at the notes she's gathered.]

It's a project. A big one. I'm going to be asking some teachers for help, I think, once I figure it out. They'll make sure things go okay. I don't want to get Cliff hurt.

[But she doesn't know. She wonders if that's selfish.]

[awooligan]

[She really, really wants to be supportive........ Why is she making this so hard? She appreciates that Coco doesn't seem to want to lie to her, even if she's trying to be secretive. Nora leans in a little, sympathy and concern clear, but she doesn't press her on it for now. She may or may not be saving that conversation for Cliff.]

It's good you know to get help. We both know what it looks like to carry a burden on your own when you don't have to.

[kept_his_letters]

[She wishes she could. She wishes she could just say it. But Nora is a mother and she knows, or she's sure at least, that the first thing Nora will want to do is to try and contact her Mamá.

They would probably get along, but every part of his rescue would be ruined. Maybe once she finds Papá...]

Sí.

[She nods her head and goes quiet. She stays like that a moment, then-]

And, Kevin? Is he going to be okay? This is better but... I'm guessing he might still be sad.

[That man was his dad. And unlike with Cliff, Kevin would have been blindsided.]

[awooligan]

[Ah. Yeah. Kevin...]

I don't know. It can't be any other way, but that doesn't mean it's easy. I never would have thought, for all they argued... [Nora shakes her head regretfully. If Clifford had said something, she would have believed him of course, but since he hadn't...and if the sight wasn't stuck in her mind, it would never had occurred to her. Carl had always just been...protective, even when he fought with his rebellious teenager. Looking back, playing things over in her head, just thinking about what had seemed so obvious makes her feel sick.

Kevin was young, and didn't know a life without a father that had seemed nothing but fun and loving.] He knows what Carl did is inexcusable, and he loves Cliff...but he loved his dad, too. Loves. It shouldn't have to be complicated, but it will be. I can only hope he'll be okay, and talk to me when he isn't.

[kept_his_letters]

[She nods her head. That is about the best that can be asked for.]

He'll miss his dad. [That she's sure of.] But he won't forget the rest of his family. He won't forget they've been hurt. And I imagine he'd do a lot just to ease any pain.

[She says that, looking down at her notes.

She tells her mother she loves her every night. She has no problem with that. But she thinks, tonight, she'll make extra certain that it's known.]

You should talk to him too. I know parents don't like to, but we know anyway.

[awooligan]

[This is a very good and wise young woman, and she couldn't have asked for a better friend for Cliff to find so immediately after he left home. He knows he'll be well taken care of, even when she has to go back to Podunk with Kevin.]

Thank you, Coco. For looking out for all of us.

[kept_his_letters]

O-oh.

[She flushes and rubs a hand on her arm.]

Um. Thank you? Uh, de nada? Lo siento...

[Now she's embarassed.]

[awooligan]

[Good. Very cute. Nora wants to pinch her cheeks, but she'll spare her, for now, innocently spinning the chair and her attention back to the laptop. Gotta email those teachers of Kevin's. Figure out sleeping arrangements, maybe.]