Forever.

Chapter 9: Did you pretend?

Braden's P.O.V. (Continued)

"Because you're smart! I have proven time and time again that I'm not smart about what I do! I am so sorry about what I did! I don't want to ruin what we have either!" I yell. "And me being stupid again shouldn't have to ruin it! It's my fault, I understand that! But I didn't mean it! I swear that it will never happen again!" I yell. I feel horrible about what I did and about yelling at her right now.

I see Claire's knees give out, and she crumples to the ground. I run to her and kneel down next to her and roll her over so she's on her back. Her eyes are closed and her body is limp. What? We were fighting one second, and the next she passes out?

Oh dear god.

"Yes, I walked around all night..."

"I come back here, completely exhausted..."

She passed out from exhaustion.

"Claire, can you hear me?" I ask as I place my hand on her shoulder. "Claire, come on wake up."

My heart pounds and I gently shake her shoulder. Her head gently rocks back and forth, and I begin breathing harder than after a hard workout with my trainer.

This is all my fault.

If I hadn't brought up that stupid thing about her not eating, she never would have left and I never would have called Andrea. God, I was so stupid. I called her. If I hadn't started that stupid fight, Claire wouldn't be unconscious right now.

"Claire, you can't shut down like this. I'm so sorry I drove you to this, please wake up." I plead as I gently shake her shoulder.

I carefully slip my other arm under her knees and lift her up. She's a lot lighter than I remember. How can she be okay living like this? When she wakes up, I'm making sure she drinks a lot of water and eats something.

I carefully open the door and walk over to the couch. Wait, my couch is so uncomfortable. I carefully walk into the bedroom and gently place Claire on the bed. I pull the blankets up and place them on her stomach. I place my hand on the side of her face and gently move my thumb across across her cheek.

"Claire, wake up." I say. "Come on, please."

I walk out of the room and find a washcloth. I go to the sink in the kitchen and wet it with cool water, and I wring it out afterwards. I step to the fridge and take a water bottle, and a granola bar from the counter. I go back to the bedroom and gently place the cloth across Claire's forehead, and I place the water and granola bar on the night stand.

"Hey, come on, wake up." I plead as I sit down on the edge of the bed. "Come on. Please." I say as I grab her hand. "Claire."

I can not believe she's like this again. I lift her limp hand to my lips and I gently kiss the top of it.

I hear the front door open and then close. I stand up and hesitantly go to the front of my apartment. I see Derrick throwing a bunch of bags on the couch.

"You should really lock that door. One day someone is gonna come in and rob you." He says. My stomach drops when he says that. He doesn't know about the other robbery when Claire was with me.

"I'll get on that. What are you doing here?" I ask.

"I came to drop off your stuff for your interviews next week. Oh! And Brian booked you and Claire on ESPN again." Derrick says as he opens a few bags.

"No. I do not want Claire anywhere near them." I say.

"It's good press for you. You two look really good together." He says.