Claire didn’t know where to go. She was running through the empty school halls, beneath empty fluorescent lights and locked classroom doors. She finally pushed her way back inside the gym, tears streaming down her face, dragging her mascara and eyeliner with it. She didn’t care. Why hadn’t she stayed at home? She knew that dances weren’t her scene. There was a reason she hadn’t gone to any before. She closed her eyes as she shoved her way through happy students bopping to the beat, not caring as she caused some to stumble. She just had to escape. Why wasn’t she at home? Curled up on her bed, laughing and throwing pieces of popcorn at her friends as Casablanca played in the back, snuggling deeper into her blankets and resting her head on Tyler’s chest.. Tyler, who was outside kissing Ivy. A sob escaped her mouth as she ran into a boy in a suit, feeling strong hands grab her wrists. She tried to pull away but couldn’t, tears blurring her vision as she stared at the black and white figure in front of her. A familiar voice spoke. “Claire-Claire, what’s wrong? What happened?” The hands on her wrists loosened and she could blearily make out sunny eyes staring at her, concerned. She only shook her head, feeling another gentle hand fall onto her back and knowing Emily was next to her now, too. “Please, talk to us.” The blonde girl spoke. “We want to help. Please Claire, tell us. Who did this?” But Claire could only keep on shaking her head, body breaking with sobs. The music around her was too loud, the bodies were closing in too close. Bright lights flashed in her vision and she felt someone accidently shove up against her while dancing. She stumbled to the side, breath coming in short gasps and hands trembling like leaves before they fell. And she was already falling. The black-haired girl yanked her hands away, turned, and ran. >>><<< Claire had hidden away in one of the girl’s restrooms, the gray trash can inside pushed up against the door in a futile attempt to keep anyone looking for her out. The tile walls were cold against the small of her back, knees pulled to her chest and dress stained with black mascara. Her hands had eventually stopped shaking, and now they were back to twisting the cool blue satin between her fingers, eyes red as she watched it flash and ripple under her slender hands. She swallowed, the lump in her throat still pushing back against the action, and messily wiped away some of the wetness on her face as a knock came at the door. “Claire?” It was Emily. “Claire, we know you’re in here.” The doorknob rattled and hit the rim of the trashcan. “Claire, please let us in. Chris and Tyler are here, too.” Her heart jumped in her chest. “We’re gonna make this right.” “Please, g-go away.” Claire called, voice still thick from her breakdown. “I just-I just need to be alone right now.” Secretly, she wanted their comfort. She wanted them to hold her and comfort her and tell her that what she’d seen had just been a big mistake, but.. She didn’t think she could stand facing Tyler after what he’d done. The funny thing was, they weren’t even a couple. They were only friends, and yet.. Watching him kiss Ivy, his hands on her hips, his face so gentle, her nails tangled in his gray hair-She covered her mouth to muffle another onset of sobs. It hurt. She heard her friends' silent hesitation on the other side of the door, and eventually their retreat, leaving her all alone. It was so cold. >>><<< When she opened the door, Tyler was sitting right outside, his back against the wall, in the exact same position she had been not long ago. Her heart jumped in her chest and she tried to quickly close the door again-only to have Tyler shove his hand in the way and accidentally slam in against his fingers. “Ow! Sh-t, Claire, please. I-I-” She stared at him through the crack in the door, her blue eyes round and shining. Tyler was looking at the floor, his face red with shame. “I think.. I think I know why you’re.. Sad.” Sad was an understatement. But, nevertheless, Claire slowly opened the bathroom door, sniffling and futilely trying to wipe away the rest of her smeared makeup. Tyler stood, face contorting with grief when he saw the state he had put her in. This was his fault.. How could he do this to his childhood friend? “I..” He searched for something to say but the words stumbled and fell before they left his mouth. “Claire, I’m so sorry.” He finally mumbled, staring at the floor and ears burning in shame. “Did-.. I’m assuming you saw me and Ivy.” Claire nodded. “I just.. I didn’t mean to find her out there. I wasn’t lying when I said I just needed some fresh air. She seemed lonely, so I just asked her to dance.” “And then you kissed her.” Claire growled, fighting back another sob growing in her chest.
Tyler flinched at the accusation but nodded. “Y-Yes. I’m sorry, Claire. I don’t know what I was thinking. She doesn’t mean anything to me. You’re so much more important to me than she’ll ever be.” Was it a lie? Claire didn’t know. She could only shake her head, arms crossed against the goosebumps covering her skin. She could usually forget about how cold school was whenever she was buried beneath layers of soft hoodies and sweatshirts. “That girl you were kissing has been my worst enemy since middle school.” She said, voice numb and still refusing to meet his pained gaze. “That’s the girl that tormented and bullied me relentlessly that you had your lips all over. ..Did I even cross your mind once when you were with her? Did I even matter?” “Of *course* you matter, Claire. You’re one of the most important people in my life.” He reached out to touch her, but Claire stepped back. She didn’t want the same hands that had been caressing Ivy now on her. She couldn’t help but feel a flash of satisfaction at the pain in his eyes when she did. “Claire.. I don’t know what I can ever do to make it up to you. What I did was wrong, plain and simple. Even if we’re not..” The words once again fell dead in his mouth. “Even if we’re only friends, she hurt you. And.. And I hurt you. And for that I’ll never forgive myself, and I can only pray that you will, eventually. But, uhm, until then, I will do everything in my power to make it up to you. I.. I promise. Okay?” Slowly, Claire nodded, shivering as she finally looked up to meet his eyes. She swallowed and tried to smile, shivering in the dark, cold hallway. It was hard to stay angry at him for long. Of course, he wouldn’t get off the hook that easily, but it was a start, at least. Tyler seemed to suddenly notice the goosebumps covering her slender arms and his eyes widened. He quickly shouldered off his blazer, wrapping it around Claire’s shoulders. “Here.” It was awfully big on her, but was warm and smelled like her childhood friend. Claire felt her cheeks heat as she smiled, letting Tyler wrap his arm over her shoulder and gently lead her back to the gym. “Thank you.” She whispered, closing her eyes in his warm embrace. >>><<< Ivy was silencing another call from her mother whenever Tyler and Clara entered the gym once more. It wasn’t as crowded as it was before. It was past nine by now, so kids were starting to leave to head to their afterparties. Her face soured as she studied the couple, Claire dwarfed beneath Tyler’s large blazer and his arm sitting protectively across her shoulders. She nudged Anne beside her and pointed to the pair, the girl only snorting and shaking her head in amusement. Ivy hadn’t told her about what had happened outside. It just.. It felt too special. Well, that and she was a bit embarrassed. Claire downed the last of her drink-non alcoholic, of course-and stood up, making her way over to the pair. She saw them both stiffen at her approach and let a slippery smirk slide across her face. “Claire, your makeup’s leaking.” She purred silkily, eyes flashing. Claire gritted her teeth and Ivy raised her eyebrows in surprise at the anger and resilience in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. “No one wants you here.” She seethed, clutching Tyler’s hand. “Just leave.” “Leave? But my afterparty doesn’t start for another half hour.” The fiery girl whined, pouting her bottom lip. “Really, I thought everyone would be dancing and having a good time for longer. Though, I don’t think I saw you dancing once. Why, didn’t you have a partner?” “Actually I think you stole him for a while.” Claire shot back, causing Ivy to still, the smirk falling cold. So she had seen she and Tyler’s little escapade, then. That’s what all the tears were for. With this girl, they really could’ve been for anything. “I wouldn’t quite call it stealing..” She said slowly, calculating. “And why’s that, Ivy?” Claire was done. She was done with her little games. Done being pushed to the side and ignored, done being bullied and harassed and made fun of. No longer would she simply sit back and let it play out. She was done. “Because you try to trick yourself into thinking he’d ever like you? Because you manipulated him into thinking you have a heart? Because after you bullied and tormented and attacked me for literal *years*, you just wanted to try and steal that last shard of happiness from my life? After I’ve lost everything, you’re only looking for something, anything else to take from me? Is that why? Do you see him as your possession? Think that he’s your for the taking? Think that there’s even a chance he could ever love or touch or kiss your heartless body? There’s not.” Ivy felt a flash of rage in her chest and gritted her teeth, sharp nails digging into the palm of her hand. But, she couldn’t let them see that. So, instead she only smiled wickedly. “That would be much more convincing if he hadn’t already.”
