freckles

* chapter eighty two *

"Layla!" Claudette sniffed, kicking her shoes off, groceries in her hands. "Layla can you come here please?"

Claudette walked into the kitchen while she waited for Layla, putting the groceries on the counter. She wiped her tears away, unable to get Namjoon out of her mind.

'Mom?' Layla padded into the kitchen, tilting her head once she saw Claudette holding onto the counter top, taking deep breaths, her face all red from the tears. 'Mom sit down.'

'What's wrong Layla?' Eliot also walked out, seeing Layla whine and scratch the floor lightly.

'Mom doesn't feel good right now.' Layla took Claudette's jeans between her teeth and started to yank on them, trying to get Claudette to sit down somewhere. 'We need to get her on the ground or sit or lay somewhere.'

'Mom!' Eliot barked, stomping his paw on the ground. 'Sit!'

"What is wrong with you two?" Claudette frowned, pushing Layla away gently, smoothing her pants out.

Layla shook her head and sat down, stood up, poked Claudette with her nose, and sat down again.

"Do you want me to sit?" Claudette took a shaky breath, realizing her heart was really tense, tearing at her chest. "Oh."

Eliot ran over to the living room and spun in a circle, barking as Claudette walked over, Layla walking right beside her. She laid down on the couch, putting a hand on her forehead. Layla jumped up and laid on Claudette's stomach, looking at her with her puppy dog eyes.

'Please don't pass out, please don't pass out.'

She didn't.

---

"Flower," Jin leaned his head against Claudette's door. "Please let me in."

"Go away Jin." Claudette said, sitting against the door, tears falling down her face.

"Baby let's just talk-"

"I want to be alone Jin." She put her face in her hands, forcing herself to stay quiet as she sobbed. "Please."

Jin closed his eyes and sighed, laying his hand against the door. "I'm here when you're ready to talk."

He turned around, everyone staring with wide eyes. Jin lowered his head and shook his head, everyone's faces saddening.

Claudette hugged Layla tightly, crying into her fur, Layla sitting there patiently, letting her dear owner cry it out. "I just can't face them. I don't,, I don't trust myself."

'Eliot, go grab some toys' Layla told the younger one, him laying down, his chin on his paws as he kept his sad eyes on Claudette. 'And how about you show her some new tricks? She'll love it.'

---

"Hey Ettie." Jimin knocked gently, holding a bowl of soup in the other hand. "I figured you'd want to stay in your room, so I brought you a bowl of soup."

"I'm not hungry Jimin." Claudette stood up and walked to the door, imagining him standing on the other side.

"I know you didn't eat breakfast..." He swallowed his sigh. "Did you eat lunch?"

"No."

"Ettie baby, you need to eat something." He persuaded, his heart hurting for her. "You were doing so good yesterday, remember? You said you had three meals and a snack."

"I'm not hungry Jimin." Claudette's lip quivered. "Maybe tomorrow."

Jimin looked down at the soup. "I'll put your bowl in the microwave, in case you change your mind."