Baby, This is Paradise

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Vic's POV

"Vic...?"

Oh God. Oh no.

I shoved Lindsay off of me.

"Claire! Oh my God. Claire, I can explain-"

Her eyes were filled with pure pain. Pure devastation. Oh my God. I couldn't stand to see her like this.

Before I could speak again, she fled the hallway, sobbing. Lindsay clawed my arm, throwing herself back on top of me. I shoved her aside and ran after Claire. I had to find her. I had to explain. I had to fix this. I couldn't lose her.

I saw Alex explode out the stage door, completely distressed. Claire must have gone out that way. Before I could follow, Tony grabbed my shoulder forcefully.

"What the fuck did you do, Vic?" I pushed him off and ran out the door after Alex.

Claire was on the ground, bawling.

No. No, no, no.

Alex held her, giving me a death glare. Her nostrils flared, her face reddened. She looked like she could kill me, right then and there.

She stood.

"If you do not fix this immediately, I swear to God- I. Will. End. You." Her voice was even, stern, and calm. It was terrifying.

I nodded.

She shot me another death glare as she strode back inside.

Claire's POV

No, please don't leave me. I tried to say it, to tell her that I couldn't deal with this without her. My voice was lost behind the flood of tears, still flowing. The door clicked shut.

Vic's POV

Claire and I were alone now. She was slumped against the wall, and her small frame was shaking violently with sobs. She covered her face with her hands as I approached her.

"Claire-" Her body violently turned to face me. Her face was bright red and black eyeliner ran down her cheeks.

Claire's POV

I can't take this. I can't take this. I gathered all my strength and exploded.

"I never, ever, want to see your fucking face ever again. I hate you! Don't talk to me!" I snapped through heavy breaths.

Vic's POV

My eyes burned with tears that I tried to hold back.

"Claire, please just let me explain. It's not what it looks like-" She had to know. She had to understand.

Claire's POV

Not what it looks like? NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE??

"Oh, really? Because it looked like you were passionately making out with Lindsay in the hallway." My voice was harsh. I stared at him, then the ground. My voice came out as a raspy whisper. "I wasn't even gone for ten minutes, Vic." I looked at him, defeated. That was all the strength I had. I can't do this anymore.

Vic's POV

I blinked tears out of my eyes, and a few rolled down my cheeks. I sat down on the pavement, facing her.

I pulled the white rose I got for her out of my jacket. It was a little crushed because of Lindsay, but it's beauty wasn't comprimised.

I stared at the ground and composed myself. It was silent.

"She forced herself on me, Claire." My voice was quiet and unsteady.

Claire's POV

Wait. What?

Vic's POV

"She what?" I felt her look up at me from behind her knees.

"She made it backstage somehow, and forced herself on me in the hallway." I looked up at her, my eyes brimming with tears. "I was coming to give you this. It was a surprise." I extended the slightly crushed rose toward her.

Claire's POV

A rose? He was coming to give me a rose? It's so pretty-

I forgot my parents. My brother. My life. All I wanted was to start over. All I wanted was him. Forever.

Vic's POV

"Vic-" her voice broke off as she took it.

I moved next to her, leaning against the wall.

"I wouldn't- couldn't- ever do that to you, Claire."

She looked up at me, eyes puffy and red from crying.

"Actually-" I moved my face closer to hers. "I think I'm a little bit in love with you." I placed my hand on her cheek, wiping cool tears off her soft skin.

Claire's POV

I- I love you too.

Vic's POV

And then I kissed her. I kissed her to say that I was sorry, to say that I loved her, to say that she was so, so beautiful. To say that I would never leave.

The End