Hey everyone! It's new story time! I've got so many plans for this story and I'm very happy & excited with the plots for each character and how each storyline unfolds.
Several of my storyline ideas and events have been inspired from the TV show 'Packed to the Rafters' is rated 'M'. So although this story is rated 'T' presently, it may change later on down the track, depending on how deeply I go into a few of the upcoming events. This is probably going to be my most dramatic story I've written so just a warning with that too, but the storylines rock, I assure you!
Anyway, I'm sorry about my lack of updates with my other stories... life's been busy. You know how it goes. Plus, I've also been working on a collab story and have been focused on developing/establishing/writing this one a lot too.
So did any Aussies see The Logies on Sunday Night? Logies night's always a special night in my household (involving a 'girls night in' and munchies; I'd forgotten how good Lindt chocolate is!) and I must say that this year I had mixed emotions with the winners. I was absolutley devastated that Ryan Corr didn't take out an award for his performance as hilarious bogan-like Coby on Rafters (even my Dad who doesn't get into stuff like this at all was hoping he'd win), but I'm pleased for Hugh that his amazing acting on Rafters was rewarded plud I'm happy with both Packed to the Rafters & Dance Academy winning awards.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy my new story and athough this chapter isn't anywhere near as ground-breaking or dramatic as what's to come, it is the base or background in the story for Clewis.
Chapter 1- Secrets and Lies
Cleo's POV
I leant against the side of the car with a sigh, relaxing for a mere moment before Lewis' head emerged again from where it had been furrowing in the boot. He passed me yet another box, this one open, visibly containing decorative pillows and some of our toiletries bags which were sticking out of the top. With difficulty, I changed my grasp of the box as I turned around to walk inside and dump the box.
"That's it" Lewis said from behind me. I sighed, thinking of all the unpacking that awaited us as I continued in my path.
Leaning the box against the door I put my foot against the bottom, resting the box on my leg as I twisted the door handle open. Walking in, yet again, I saw Kim coming down the stairs. I silently waited for the mockery.
"I still can't believe you're moving back here" she said with a disgusted frown.
"I can't believe that you're still here" I bit back.
Dad walked out of the kitchen hearing our argument. "Nonsense girls. Both of you are always welcome here. Kim, you've made a good choice staying here for now, and Cleo, you and Lewis are wise to move back and get off to a good start financially."
I gave Dad a fake smile as he wrapped his arms around my back in a tight squeeze momentarily while I was on my way upstairs. Behind me, Lewis remained silent, following in my footsteps. He was too wise to get caught up in a fight between Kim & I, and he was to wise to meddle with one of Dad's lectures.
I entered my previously former, but now current childhood bedroom and plonked the box at the end of the bed, where it joined all it's other box friends that held all of mine & Lewis' possessions inside. Walking over to the bare bed, I sat on the end of it, joined by Lewis as he put the final box on top a pile of others in the corner of my, well our, room.
"I'm sorry Cleo" he said as he wrapped his arms around me in a hug, kissing my cheek.
"It's not your fault. I'm just as much to blame" I shrugged.
"Yeah, but still, I shouldn't have let it get this bad. I should've seen it coming."
"I feel guilty hiding everything from Dad & Sam" I said as I snuggled into my husband's arm, leaning on him as he rested his chin atop my head.
"Don't worry, we'll work it out" he added, in attempt to reassure me, tightening his grasp.
A faint smile threatened to cross my lips.
"Yeah we're a team" I said as I squeezed his hand that I'd been playing with.
Pressing one last kiss on top of my brunette locks, Lewis got off the bed. "We've got some unpacking to do!"
I smiled and got up, following Lewis.
Maybe things will be okay...
#
Walking downstairs several hours later, I walked into a shout.
"DAD!"
Frowning at the unexpected yell from Kim who was sitting on the lounge, I continued walking down.
"What is it Kim?" Dad asked, emerging from his study.
"Can you take me to the chemist?"
He replied with a frown. "Why?"
"I need to get earplugs. Cleo & Lewis' room is right across from mine."
I rolled my eyes and scoffed at my sister's immaturity as I sat down next to Lewis on the lounge, while he flicked through one of my Dad's fishing magazines. He'd stopped packing about half an hour before I did. "Don't even go there Kimmy."
Looking at my husband who was totally engrossed on reading about 'DIY lures', I added to my reply. "Besides, just give Lewis a fishing magazine and I've lost him for a month."
"Fine" she shrugged, pausing calmly before she let out another unexpected yell. "DAD! Can you take me to the newsagency then?"
I smirked to myself at my younger sister's drama queen-ing, before sighing and grabbing a cushion next to me on the lounge, playing with the corners.
"Ten minutes and dinner will be ready" Sam said as she stuck her head into the room from the kitchen.
"Thanks Sam" I said politely as I picked up one of Kim's magazines off the coffee table and started flicking through the glossy pages.
A bright heading captured my attention, or more so, the title did.
'Are You Ready For Marriage?'
I skim read over the double page, before going back and reading it in more detail.
In theory, on paper and according to the article, Lewis, I and our relationship were ready for marriage, but practically, I'm beginning to doubt whether we were quite ready when we took the plunge.
"A bit late for that don't you think?" I heard a whisper from next to me say.
I looked at Lewis and looked at the article, softly laughing it off. "Those magazines are full of trash-talk. They're about as knowledgeable as a 5 year old!"
The man next to me smiled and kissed my cheek... forgetting that this was a controversial & potentially risky move in my childhood home.
"Lewis..." Dad warned, making me shift away from Lewis.
"Sorry Mr Sertori" he apologized, returning to his fish lure article.
"You can stop calling me Mr Sertori. You're a part of the family now."
Lewis nodded and looked up from his magazine with a confused frown. "Right... Dad?"
"Don't push it Lewis" Dad said warning Lewis again with a glare, which even made me confused by what he wanted Lewis to address him as.
I returned to my magazine, turning the page quickly as if in a hope to turn away from my thoughts & fears too.
"Alright, dinner's ready" Sam yelled from the kitchen, prompting myself and the 3 others in the room to get up and move to the table that was in the process of being set by my step-mother.
"Looks good Sam" I said, observing the large lasagne dish sitting on the middle of the table.
Sam smiled, taking her seat next to Dad, across the table from Lewis and I. "Thanks Cleo."
"I agree. It looks great... much better than Cleo's cooking! Hopefully it tastes better too!" Lewis said with a smile as I playfully slapped his shoulder.
"Oh surely it can't be that bad!"
"No it isn't, her cooking's fine. Besides, who am I to complain?" Lewis explained with a smile as Sam dished the lasagne onto our plates.
"I'm surprised she didn't give you food poisoning" Kim sniped from her seat and the end of the table.
I clenched my jaw to stop myself from spitting a harsh remark back in response.
I knew that even though I am now a married woman, I'd still get told off by Dad about being nice to Kim, as well as a lecture from him about the fact that I've only got one sister so I should appreciate her.
"Honestly Kim, Cleo's not that bad at cooking" Lewis said politely defending me.
"Yeah. Those muffins you brought for the barbeque night a few weeks ago tasted great!" Sam added with a smile.
"That was a packet mix Sam. A sleeping monkey can't fail those..." I informed with a frown, prompting an awkward silence from the table as everyone chewed their lasagne.
"So when are you two going back to work?" Dad asked before he lifted another mouthful of lasagne into his mouth.
I looked at Lewis, who looked at me. "We're both going back tomorrow. We couldn't get any time off."
"That's annoying. Couldn't anyone else cover for either of you?" Dad asked with a slight frown of confusion.
"No. They said we didn't give them enough warning, so we only had today & yesterday to get moved in and unpack everything" Lewis informed them, with me adding another sentence. "It would've been good to have more time to get settled in properly, but I guess it was our own fault."
Dad nodded and the silence continued again as we all ate our dinner.
#
15 minutes later, everyone had finished and I stood up to start clearing the table.
"Cleo, Kim. You two have got the dishes tonight" Dad said.
I froze on the spot. I'd been used to Lewis automatically doing the dishes every night, so I had to quickly think of an excuse as I returned to my former nightly nightmare.
"Umm... I've got a really bad headache" I said as I massaged my temple, trying to add believability to my lie.
Dad frowned and opened his mouth to speak before Lewis stepped in. "It's okay Mr S, I can do the dishes for her. You go upstairs and rest Cleo."
I smiled as I left the room, realizing that unlike in my teenage years, I now had my husband as live-in backup.
Walking upstairs, I could hear my Dad sigh and say "Great. Here we go again..."
I guess that my Dad was right, but I also knew he was wrong. Some things had stayed exactly the same, but most things in our lives had changed dramatically. The parallels and similarities between the current time and the old stage of my life were so few, yet so many.
I didn't know where my life was headed from here on and I had no way of knowing whether my life would continue the way it had been, return to the way it used to be or follow a totally different path altogether.
I had no idea.
So what did you think? Worth continuing? I guess it's kind of hard to tell considering you don't know what's coming up, but I'd still LOVE to know what you thought of the start.
Next chapter: Will is faced with a blast from the past.
I've one hundred percent finished the next chap, so if you review, I'll upload it. Like I said before, the drama increases and intensifies much more and will continue going upwards from there.