Reach(pt.40)

Clifford couldn't take another step.She found it.His heart stopped and he waited for her reaction.
She looked over at him with narrowed eyes,"What is this?Did you steal this from me or someone?Why do you have it in your wallet!Answer me!"Clifford swallowed hard,he didn't know how to answer her.Minerva stood up then leaned against the wall,"This is a very old photo,so you couldn't have gotten this recently.It had to have been given to you. The only person who could have given it to you is-" Clifford walked over to her,"Let me explain please."Minerva stood her ground,"Explain what!That your working for my dead husband!" His jaw dropped,"Minerva its not like that!" Her eyes grew more narrow her face more enraged,"I really liked you.How could i be so stupid,Again!" He stood in front of her,but by the end of her statement he began stepping back."Minerva,please.Let me explain." She ripped the photo then crossed her arms on her chest,"Whats to explain Clifford. You played my emotions like he did,so why wouldn't you be sent by him!I cant believe i thought this would be over,that quick." Clifford spoke,"Minerva,Originally i was sent by him,He was my cousin.He never told me how he was,he lied to me too! I didn't find out till i talked to you and the girls and other people! I didn't know that i would fall in love with you like i did!" He had to take a step back,she looked at him longingly hopeful that he was saying the truth.Realizing he was sent by Charlie she looked away,"Get out!"
Clifford tried to reason with her,"We all have a past,all have things we wish we didn't do.I wish i knew the truth about Charlie,I would have saved you the first time he lied to you."He took one last look at her,her blue eyes were streaming with tears but she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He wanted to reach out and hold her and beg her to forgive how stupid he was for lying for so long. But her next statement,"Get out!" sent him on his way to the hospital to see Samantha.
Samantha woke up with Marcus holding her hand watching T.V. she spoke,"Can I have my hand back?" He looked at her shocked,"They said you prob wont wake up today.How do you feel?" She took her hand back then shifted herself in the bed,"I don't know let me move around a little." She tried moving her legs,a sharp pain shot up to her back,"What the fuck was that!" Marcus shook his head,"You haven't moved since last night.The crash knocked you out,your muscles are stiff from the accident." She shook her head and began to cry,"That fucking guy stopped on purpose." Marcus looked around then said,"Don't talk about it now just try to remember when Cyclo comes back you tell him alright?" She nodded and tried to remember everything that happened. She looked at him trying to see if it had changed anything. He sat there looking at her every so often with a smile. "Did we kiss." the statement caught Marcus off guard but he tried to remain cool,"No,but do you remember what I told you before your race." She tried to remember,then it hit her. They said I love you. The heart monitor started beeping faster. Marcus stood up,"Should i call a nurse?" She took a few deep breaths then it returned to normal.
Cyclo and Honey walked in."Finally your up!"Cyclo said setting down some flowers and a Manila envelope on her eating table. She looked at the beautiful arrangement and said,"Who's that from?" Cyclo shrugged,"All it has is a 'Q' and a heart on it." Samanthas heart warmed,"Its from Quinten." Realizing everything from Quinten to Marcus to the kiss to the I love you,her head spun. Honey picked up the envelope and said,"Here,open this." She looked at it then grabbed it,the weight was too much and the envelope dropped on her lap,"What the fuck is it?"She slowly opened it and let the contents fall out. Hundred dollar bills held together with rubber bands poured out. Everyone in the room looked at the money then her then the money again.
 "What the hell did you do to him Sam?" Cyclo said laughing. She looked up and smiled,"Honestly,nothing. I don't know why he would do this." Marcus looked at the money than her and said coldly,"Don't let him think he could buy you." Her head snapped to him. Marcus had a power over her,the power to make her happy and the power to crush her world. In this moment from those eight words he did just that. Marcus looked away and shook his head. Cyclo felt the tension and said,"Did I miss something?" Samantha looked at the money and said,"No,Cyclo.Theres nothing to miss." Marcus looked at her in disbelief and stormed out of her room in the hospital.
Cyclo watched him leave then said,"What the fuck happened last night?" She took a deep breath then replied,"He told me he loved me,and i said it back." Cyclo rubbed his eyes,"Why?When?How?" She smiled,"We do love each other,i don't know if its in that way though.When i was about to race.And how?How you expect me to explain how?" They both laughed. Honey spoke up,"Do you want to be with Marcus?" Samantha shrugged her shoulders,"I mean,we always talked about being together.It just never happened." Honey looked at Cyclo then back to her and said,"Why not?You two have so much chemistry." Samantha looked at the money than said,"The man who sent this,Quinten,I want to see where it goes with him." Cyclo looked at Honey then said,"Can you find Marcus." They kissed and he watched as she left. "Sam,where is this guy who you want to see where it goes with?Obviously he knows what your going through if he sent this.But money,flowers,that don't mean shit Sam.What matters is who's here,who's been here,Marcus hasn't left your side.He cried on my chest begging me to pray with him so that you could be ok.I wont tell you what you should and shouldn't do,but i just want to open your eyes."
Samantha tried to remember everything she went through with Marcus and how he never once judged her,never steered her wrong.When she cried he wiped her tears. He was the right choice. But Quinten. "I could save him,"she thought. She looked through the money and seen that she neglected a letter that was inside the bag. She took it out and read it.
"I'm writing instructions from Quinten.He wont be in New City for awhile, he wanted you to have the money for you to get a new car or to fix yours.He also said he will call you once he can.If you need anything we got you."
She didn't know how to react. She was known as his,if someone would write this on his behalf. Marcus walked in with Clifford and Honey. "Cliff! Whats up man?" She said with a big smile. As Clifford came closer she could tell something wasn't right,"Whats wrong?" Clifford sat down then told her the truth,told all of them the truth. Told her about Quinten. "All this money is from Quinten!What the hell am I going to do when he calls me?"Clifford looked at Marcus who was pacing,"you could put me on the phone!Fucking loser ass dude! How dare he get you involved in some shit like this!" She loved him in this moment. Samantha knew he would protect her to his last breath. "What about Lolita?"Samantha asked concerned. "I sent her to a safe house upstate." Clifford replied. They all breathed a sigh of relief....