Chapter 8—Revelation

Chapter 8

After dropping Claudia off at her house, I went back home to see what was wrong with my parents. To be truthful, I didn’t give it much thought—thanks in part to Allison’s surprise appearance. I pull up into my driveway and pull the key out of the ignition. Then, I unlock the door to the house; I notice right away that the lights are off. I attempt to turn on the lights when I’m interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Don’t you dare turn on them lights son,” my dad states ominously.

“Okay dad, what’s going on here?” I demand. Right now, anger courses through my veins.

My dad chuckles, “isn’t hard to see in here?” By now, my eyes adjust to the darkness and I notice my dad’s face; his face shows that of pleasure and teasing.

“Well duh!”

“Hehe I thought so. You see son, you can’t drive anywhere if your lights aren’t working properly.” At that time, I notice a powerful beam of light penetrate into the house. I hear a very familiar sound of an engine—that of a Volkswagen Beetle! “That’s right son, that car you hear out in the driveway is yours.”

“What? You mean…there’s nothing wrong between you and mom?” By then, the lights divulge in all directions. My mom, my dad, my little brother, Troy and Elizabeth are all here.

“Why did you think something was amiss between me and your mother?” he question.

“I…it seemed like you and her were having problems because she didn’t want me questioning what was going on.”

“Don’t worry about Victor, there’s nothing amiss between your parents. This was all a surprise because we wanted to give you an early graduation present,” Troy chimed in cheerfully.

“I don’t understand; graduation is more than 7 months away.”

“We know, but that didn’t stop us from buying you a new car.”

“Claudia?”

“Yes baby, I drove your car after you dropped me off.”

“Wow! I cannot believe this! A new Beetle just for me!” I wrap my arms around Claudia, my parents, and my friends. “You guys, I just do not know how to make this up to you!”

“You don’t have to. We all pitched in. Well actually, it isn’t fully yours,” my mom says.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, as Troy said, this is your graduation present which means that you must continue to excel in school and athletics before you get this car.”

“Yeah,” my dad nestles his arm around my mom’s waist. “We want you to do well in school, and we felt that the car would be a motivational tool for you.”

“I’m still confused as to why you two acted weird earlier this morning.”

My dad chuckles and looks at my friends and Claudia before answering, “that was all our idea. We didn’t want it to be appear obvious to you about the car. However, we underestimated how effective our plan was and for that we’re sorry. Forgive us?” my dad gave me a puppy face expression.

“Of course dad! I could never be upset at you; it was just surprising that’s all. Thank you very much for the gift!” I walk towards my parents and I give them a big hug with all of my love manifested in it.

“Come on tiger, let’s go out for dinner,” Claudia invites.

“Actually Claudia, I would like to stay here and collect my thoughts. You can join me if you want.”

“Well, alright. Troy, I’ll call you later alright?”

“Sure thing. You two have fun now,” Troy and Elizabeth take turns giving us hugs.

“You too!” After that, they were gone.

“How do you feel champ?” my dad ask.

“I can’t really tell you. I feel like I’m floating on top of the world you know?”

“Well, you better settle back down before your head becomes inflated with a huge ego.”

“Hey big bro, you think you could let me ride with you sometime?” my little brother ask.

“Why sure thing!” I smiled down at my little brother. My little brother and I are very close; he looks up to me and I try my best to steer him in the correct direction.

“Man I’m starved!” my dad pats his belly. “Who wants pizza?” All of us raised our hands.

“I guess it’s settled then. We’re all having pizza!” my mother smiles at my dad. At that time, the phone rings. “Excuse me for a minute hun,” my mom kisses my dad on the cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

“What kind of pizza do you guys want?” my dad ask.

“Umm..Claudia and I would like a supreme pizza.”

“I would like supreme too!” my little brother exclaims.

“Easy now son! You can share the pizza with your mother and I. Okay it’s settled then: two supreme pizzas.”

“Victor, it’s for you,” my mother hands me the phone.

“Hello?”

“Hey Victor, it’s me Allison.”

“Hey Allison, what’s up?”

“I have a question to ask you.”

“Okay, go right ahead.”

“Is it okay if I come down tonight?” she asks.

“Yes, we’re having pizza tonight and Claudia and I are hanging out together. Why?”

“Good,” she said with relief on her voice. “I want to patch up some things about our past.”

“Okay, that’s fine with me. I’ll talk to you later.” With that, the line went dead.

“Who was that?” Claudia asked looking up into my eyes.

“It was Allison; she wants to come down tonight.”

“Why tonight?” Claudia states pouting.

“Because we have unfinished business to attend to about our past together.” Claudia’s eyes drifts to the floor. I lift up her chin, “Listen Claudia, I love you and only you. Allison and I want to get everything out in the open so that we can move on with no strings attached. You are the one I love mon cherie,” I kiss her lips.

“Okay, enough with the luvie duvie,” my dad teases. “I just placed the call for the pizza so it should be here anytime soon.”

“Remember, je t’aime,” I smile down at her and as delicately as possible, I kiss her lips.

“I love it when you decide to speak to me in French. Okay okay, I’ll let you off this time. But remember, that I am the only one you love baby,” Claudia winks at me and slaps my butt. As if on cue, the doorbell rings. “You should get that baby. I’ll be in the living room if you need me okay?”

“Claudia,” I restrain her, “you do not know how much I love you. I love you so much and I love the fact that you support me and trust me. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m glad that I found you.”

Claudia’s eyes well up.

“Claudia?” She covers up her eyes in her hands and sobs. What have I done? “You okay Claudia?” She nods her head. “Was it something I said?” She shakes her head. “What is it then?” She looks down at the floor and busts out crying. Finally, she looks back up at me and kisses me long and deep.

“Thank you Victor. Merci beaucoup, je t’aime beaucoup. Now get going tiger,” she smiles up at me.

I walk towards the door feeling like I could collapse at any minute. How did I deserve such a wonderful angel as her? I open the door and Allison appears before me; she is wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt saying, “I (heart) New York”.

“May I come in?” she asks gently.

“Yeah, come on in.”

“Are you okay?” she asks me.

“Yeah I am; things have been real emotional lately.”

“What about Claudia? She seems shaken up as well.”

“Let’s just say that we both realize things now than ever before.”

“Oh, well tell her that I’m not mad at her.”

“Okay I will. Why don’t we go upstairs so we can talk in private?”