Chapter 8: Facades
The clock chimed 11:30 on the sunny villa known as Gallagher fishing resort; Mount Fishy Lake. And yet, such beauty the clock had reason to shine upon, for not only did the villa include such lush greenery and such steep mountains, not only did a tiny yet tranquil town rest within the mountain's crevice, it also had quite possibly the clearest lake one could find within the state of Virginia herself. Though one might never guess that with the attitude Alex took on the moment she leapt from the tiny Uno family car, her breath appeared hoarse and whispery, her eyes were wide shut, and expression made it appear as though she had undertaken a great ordeal in such short time.
"Land! Oh, sweet land! Oh, how I'd forgotten your sweet scent, your lush grass, your wide, open range of elbow space! Oh, I am not worthy", Alex remarked, speaking as though she were breathing her dying breath.
"So, I guess an hour is like an eternity for you", replied the sarcastic sounding Nigel as he watched his mutant friend deliver a frightening death glare.
"Hey, you try having limited elbow space; I guarantee you'd be going ape within five minutes too", she replied in a rather annoyed tone.
"Yeah, but not everybody's as claustrophobic as you girl", the spunky Abigail retorted, her amused laugh enough to make the curly haired girl pout in mild anger.
Though somehow, the sound of Kuki's grumbling stomach was enough to grab her attention once more, transforming it from pouty anger to curiosity within a milo-second.
"I'm hungry", Kuki replied in a mild whiny tone, clutching her growling stomach as she did.
"I know Kuki, but I doubt dad will stop for a quick picnic lunch", the British bald boy replied in a slightly apologetic tone.
"Ah, don't about it Boss; Numbuh 5'll treat em' ta' lunch", replied the spunky black girl, her words catching the surprised attention of her mutant friend.
"Oh, you really don't have to do that Abby-sama", she replied, attempting to make her panic sound calm and natural.
"But-", the little Asian girl pipped up before feeling a firm hand smack across her mouth, not that it ceased her from attempting to speak her muffled thoughts however.
"Oh relax girl, it's no big deal. Besides, need I remind you what happens when you two start whinin' fo' food", the motherly girl asked a somewhat stern yet spunky tone.
"Well, no but...Really! Oh, arigato Abby-sama", the mutant brunette happily decreed as she glomped her friend in a tight hug, surprising her friend even as she felt her head being stroked tenderly.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Now come on you two, let's get goin' before the lunch crowd gets there", she explained as she heard the sounds of joyful hoorays emitting from her friends mouths.
Though a quick yet devious looking glance back was enough to unsettled the nerves of her already intense looking boss.
"Good luck, Nigel", the spunky African American replied, her words enough to rattle a small sigh from the bald boy.
"Thanks Abby", Nigel replied, a shy yet obvious smile clear upon his face despite his awkward sounding tone.
Truthfully, his answer proved vital enough for the spunky black girl as she went her way, a small smile present upon her face as she did so. Though one quick glance from behind the bald boy, and already could he feel his cynicism starting to slowly kick into his system, as evidenced by his angry looking eyes and firm mouth line. There stood his father, giving his uncle a helping hand. Yet despite the kindness emitting in Monty's eyes, Ben's expression gave off more of a grumpy vibe than he normally showcased even in his Father guise.
"Monty, do I have to go through with this", asked Ben, his tone almost whiny as noticed by his curious nephew.
"Now, now Ben, you were the one who insisted on this male bonding time", the jolly old man cheerfully replied as he remained oblivious to the regretful look upon his brother's face.
"Yeah, but I how was I suppose to know you had fishing in mind", he replied in a rather regretful manner.
"You're not a pro-fisher I take it", his young nephew asked in deep curiosity.
"Is he not a pro-fisher? Why I remember the time you failed to catch that giant catfish, oh pappie had a field day with you", he replied with a jolly old laugh, oblivious to his brother's irritated face as he'd been previously.
"Well, it appears you're the family black sheep in more ways than one", the British bald boy replied, a smirk to match his sarcastic tone his irritated uncle noticed.
"So, you're going with the deadpan snarker approach I see", he asked in a rather blunt tone.
"Was there any other option with you", his nephew asked in a rather nasty tone, one his father did not take lightly to.
"Nigel, you are not to use that type of language with your uncle", Monty said as his tone sudden became stern.
"But dad-"
"No buts Nigel! Your uncle is a guest, so it is only fair that we treat him like one, am I right", he asked his son, his expression returning to it's normally cheery smile as he watched the bald boy sigh in defeat.
"Good...Alright then, let's get a move on", Monty replied rather gleefully, yet once more, he was oblivious to the subtle yet noticeable glares the bald boy and dorky looking man gave one another, even as they joined the chubby old man on his walk.
Bright, refurbished, refreshed even. That's exactly the kind of feeling Wally could feel emitting from himself as he jumped out of the small car, a small yawn to go along with the subtle eye rub he gave to his left eye. Yet surprise came over him as a quick glance to the left, even a quick glance to the right could only transform his surprised face into one of annoyance, even anger.
"Hey! Where the crud his everybody" Wally shouted allowed, even though no one could answer save for his own reverb.
To some, there is a comforting feel associated with a glowing noon sun. Perhaps it's how it's radiant rays glisten upon the sparkling lake water, perhaps it's how they seem to create unanimous patterns of light and dark throughout the forest tops, or perhaps it was because it made the world around them feel as though all was at peace in the world. Though honestly, one could only hope to interpret that given Wally's expression.
Written upon face, one could decipher anger, irritation even. Though in all fairness, that wasn't surprising given his recent situation; sitting alone upon a dock, staring at the tiny bob floating in the water as his mind began to run through the possible words he could say to his friends upon reuniting with them once more. Yet quick was he to forget the moment he saw that hook take a dip, almost instantly did his face light up with optimism, prompting him to reel in whatever he'd caught.
For almost two minutes did he wrestle with whatever had caught his line, but such luck for him. For the instant he tugged that string with all his might did the thin line give way, setting his pray free as his face immediately sank into one of great irritation.
"Ah crud! Stupid fish wire", Wally angrily stated, irritation clear in his mumbled words as he searched for yet another wire.
"Here you go", replied a familiar, innocent tone as they held out a wire to the unsuspecting Aussie.
"Oh, thanks Kuki", the short Aussie replied rather casually, only to find himself doing a double take upon hearing his own words. And sure enough, his initial reaction proved correct. "Kuki!"
"Hi Wally", Kuki cheerfully replied as she waved to her surprised looking friend.
"What are you doing here", he asked her.
"Well, fishing just sounds like it's lots of fun-"
"No, I mean what are doing here", the short blonde asked her, feeling his irritation rise with every passing second.
"Oh, well I got worried when you didn't show up for lunch. So I thought "Where's Wally?", and here you are", she replied in a ditzy, yet genuine tone despite him staring at her in disbelief.
"Was one of those places the car", Wally asked as he began to thread his fishing rod.
"Oh, I never thought to check there", the little Asian girl replied in revelation, oblivious to the eye rolling she was receiving from her short friend. "Wait, you were in the care this whole time?"
"Yeah, and with my luck, I probably would've "sufimated" to death before wakin' up to open the door", he replied in a tone of mild anger, continuing to thread his rod even as the little girl's face ballooned with genuine guilt.
"Oh, I'm sorry Wally", Kuki replied in a rather apologetic manner, her tone rather high and squeaky, as if she were on the verge of tears.
"Yeah, well you should be; it's your fault for borin' me ta' death with those stupid Rainbow Monkey stories", the short Aussie replied , completing his threading despite the angered look his Asian friend was sending his way.
"My stories are not stupid", she retorted in a rather defensive manner.
"Oh please, I'd rather watch The Room than listen to you go on about "who's cuter? Mrs. Mary Poppins Rainbow Monkey? Or I Spy Rainbow Monkey?" ", he replied, his mocking tone enough to curl her sweet face into one of anger.
"Well, I guess some people just can't appreciate good storytelling", the little Asian girl replied in a much sassier tone, only to hear the sounds of the small Aussie mimicking her before throwing his hook into the vast lake once more.
It took her awhile, but sure enough was she to follow suit in throwing her own hook into the vast lake. Inevitably, the only thing that could follow such a conversation was silence, a silence which only had merely seconds to last before the little Asian girl opened her mouth to speak once more.
"So...do you want to talk", asked the calm yet confident sounding Kuki.
"What's there to talk about? Besides, isn't that more of a "girl thing", Wally asked as he spoke his last words in a mocking tone.
"Well, there's nothing that says I'm not allowed to ask out of concern-"
"Concern", he asked, his tone suspicious despite the lovely smile that remained plastered upon her sweet face.
"Yeah, because you look grumpier than usual", she said. Yet such innocent words could only send shivers down his spine as he cringed in fear at such words.
"What makes you think that", the short blonde asked, his tone nervous, why he even laughed a little.
"Well, you're not exactly subtle with how you feel", she explained, reverting to a rather sassy tone once more.
And sure enough, that reassuring look in her violet eyes was all it took before a final sigh escaped his mouth before it reverted to a burrowing frown. Truthfully, there was no possible way of walking away from this now.
"I just...I just feel bad about what happened", explained the disgruntled looking Aussie, his tone calm despite the regret seeping through it.
"Oh, it's okay Wally", Kuki explained. "I mean, even I've forgotten important dates."
"No, not that", he replied as his tone switched to one of mild annoyance before reverting to it's calmer tone.
I mean...I can't believe I acted like such a chicken. I should have just told myself they couldn't scare me, but I didn't."
"You shouldn't feel ashamed of that, it's only natural to feel fear when we don't know what will happened", she tried to explain, completely oblivious to the irritation upon his face growing tighter with every second.
"But we we're given a mission and I FAILED; I let my feelings get the better of me and look where it got us", the short blonde explained to the surprised Asian girl, her violet only able to communicate a shadow of regret as she turned away from his angered expression. "Who am I kiddin' though, you wouldn't understand."
"I understand", she quietly replied, her words enough to send shock pulsing through the boy's system as he turned to face her once more.
"What", he asked, his tone clear with confusion despite its squeakiness. "Oh come on Kuki, I kept freakin' out and you kept your pretty little smile on like nothin' happened."
"Yeah, but sometime's that's all I can do...", the little girl quietly replied, her quiet tone, even her violet eyes proved enough to leave her short friend at a loss for words.
"I mean, even I get scared sometimes...In fact, I was actually pretty scared we weren't going to be successful on that mission...But then I always remember "if I just put a smile on, then I'm sure everything will work out alright!. Maybe it doesn't work all the time, but at least I'll know I did all I could do to keep my spirits up..."
Her words; they rang of such calm, yet such sorrowful vocal tone. Her words; they appeared to be the type to rip apart even the grumpiest of hearts in two. Or perhaps, maybe such a reaction seemed native only to Wally as his gaze remained ever focused on her. His mouth pouting, his body remained ever still, even his emerald eyes seemed clouded by sadness as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Kuki...I had no idea", Wally explained, his tone regretful, even as he put his rough hand upon her sleeve covered one. Though surprised by such a gesture, all she could do was give him a small smile before speaking once more.
"Well...it's not like I told anyone", Kuki explained in a mildly hearty tone.
"No but...well...I'm glad you did...", he managed to get out, a small smile on his face visible to the smiling Asian girl.
"So...you're glad we had this talk...", she asked him rather calmly.
"Yeah...I am", he responded in a rather calm manner as his smile remained ever present upon his face.
For a moment, all seemed quiet amongst the two young friends. They felt relaxed, comfortable even in their moment of blissful eternity. Or perhaps, they would have if Kuki had not opened her mouth to speak once more.
"Wally...can I ask you something", she asked in a calm yet curious manner.
"Sure...What is it", he asked, his tone a bit more suspicious than curious at this point.
"Well, I've been thinking, and I wanted to know...do you think that kiss between us counts", she finally asked, her tone bright with cheeriness and optimism.
Yet little did she know that such a question was enough to send shivers down her blonde's friends spine, why he even blushed a little as he appeared at loss for an answer.
"What", he asked, or rather screeched given his sudden reaction.
"I'm asking you; do you think that kiss we had counts", she asked in a more cheery mood than previously.
"Count as what", he asked in a rather angry tone.
"Oh come on Wally, the masquerade is over; the hand gestures, the rescuing, the sudden bursts of confessions. You can't tell me that you don't have something you want to say to me", the little Asian girl remarked in a rather sassy manner, despite the look of disbelief her friend was giving her.
"So? You've done the same for me", the short Aussie replied in a tone of disbelief.
"Yeah, but not on a regular basis", she replied in a flirtatious manner, watching as his cheeks flushed with embarrassment and his mind desperate to search for his next response.
"Okay, fine. So what though, it's not like I'd kiss you anywhere else", Wally replied, his tone a desperate attempt to prove his assurance even as he crossed his arms.
"But you agreed to kiss me", Kuki flirtatiously reminded him.
"That's only cause you made me", he angrily reminded her.
"That's not what your eyes said", she replied, her tone, even her violet invoked flirtation.
Her words; they were enough to stain his cheeks with rosy red colouring, even send surprise shivering through his spine. Her words; they were enough to stain his expression with surprise, even paint his emerald eyes with surprise as he desperately searched for his next response. Though it took several seconds, his brain began to finally compute once more as he opened his mouth to speak once more.
"Screw this, I'm gettin' a drink", Wally shouted rather angrily, taking his leave from the dock before he stopped to turn and face her once more. "Do you want anythin'!"
"Well, I could go for a Dr. Pepper", she calmly replied.
"One Dr. Pepper", the short Aussie angrily remarked as he took his leave once more. Yet despite the obvious touch of angered embarrassment clear upon grumpy looking face, he remained oblivious to the little Asian girl's chuckle as she watched him take his leave towards the concession stand.
"Two-Seventy-Three's right, he really is a tsundere", Kuki sassily remarked as she threw her hook into the lake, humming a little tune to herself as if not a care in the word existed at this moment in time.
End chap. 8
