about to play my ace

Listening

Claire's p.o.v.
•••

"I don't want to taint your favorite place with my story."

"Brad, please. I hope you trust me enough to know whatever you are about to tell me won't change my thoughts about you."

"It's a lot, so if you can't listen anymore, just tell me and I'll stop."

"Brad, please?"

"My parents weren't home last night because Ross and I don't live with them anymore. Our mom... We moved in with our aunt and uncle after our mom died."

"What about your dad?" I asked, quietly. He looked really angry and then like he was about to cry.

"He's in jail. That man is not my father. Biologically, maybe. He never acted like a father. He was always drunk. He would get really pissed off about something that didn't even matter, and he'd take it out on my mom. I didn't know what to do, I tried taking the blame for most of the stuff. You know, to save my mom from being abused. He came home one day, Ross and I were at school, and he found my mom asleep on the couch. He was drunk, like always, and he just started beating her. I'm fuzzy on the details, but when Ross and I got home that day..." He trailed off, his voice breaking. He wiped the tears that were rolling down his face and continued. "He was passed out, covered in blood. I tried to wake my mom up, but she wouldn't open her eyes and I knew she never would. I called the police and everybody, then took Ross outside and we sat in front of the house, waiting. He just looked at me and asked if she was okay. I said she was better than okay, she was in Heaven. He said that was good because she deserves a better home. He's an eight year old boy, he's got nobody but me. He's one of the best people I know. If I didn't have him, I don't think I'd still be here y'know?"

"That happened this year?"

"I should have told somebody what he did when he got home every day, but I was afraid it'd get worse."

"I'm sorry, about your parents. I'm glad you told me."

"You are?"

"Brad, I know that was hard for you to tell me. We've known each other for half a month. The fact that you trust me with something like that, means a lot. You're still the same Brad who rescued me from plants, I just know more about you."

"It's hot out here." He said, eyes still red.

"It is."

"We could go swimming?" He suggested, looking at the river.

"I don't have a suit."

"Then you can watch." He said, taking off his shirt, kicking off his shoes... I looked away.

"What's the matter Claire? Afraid of something?"

"You know what? It is unbearably hot today. I'll join you." I said, glad that my black bra matches my panties and that I'm not on my period.

I ran toward the river, away from Brad. I looked back at him, running after me and jumped into the cool, murky water. It felt refreshing on my hot, sweaty skin. Brad jumped in, splashing me in the process.

"Claire, my foot is caught on something. I can't get it free."

I am almost positive he's lying, but if he isn't, if I don't go help him he could drown. I swam to where he was, my eyes open underwater, searching for his feet. It was hard to see because of the color of the water. I came up for air and when I opened my eyes, I didn't see Brad. I started full-on panicking and I felt a hand grab my arm. I was too worried about Brad to think he was the one grabbing my arm, so I screamed. Sure enough, Brad popped out of the water laughing.

"Scared, Saunders?"

"Brad you scared me, I thought you were drowning or something and then you grabbed my arm... Stop laughing. It's not funny."

"It's pretty funny."

I don't know if it was what he told me earlier, the fact that I thought he died, or that he scared me, but I started crying. I didn't want to cry. Brad stopped laughing. He started apologizing.

"I'm sorry, Claire. I didn't mean to scare you. I'm sorry, don't hate me. I was just trying to have some fun after being all depressing earlier. Please, stop crying."

"I don't hate you." I said, my voice shaky. "I could never hate you."

"Really? Why?"

"Because..." I trailed off. Do I really want to do this? What if he doesn't feel the same? He kissed me on the cheek last night, but that doesn't mean he likes me. If I tell him, and he doesn't feel the same, it'll be awkward. "Screw it." I said out loud.

"Screw what?" He asked.

I leaned in and kissed him, quickly pulling away. I've never kissed anyone. I probably did it wrong and now he hates me for going too far. I'm so stupid. But I still had to answer his question. I don't want to look him in the eyes. "I like you, that's why I could never hate you."

"Claire, I like you too."

"Really?" I was looking at him now, he was smiling.

"Would I lie to you?"

"You wouldn't." I said, smiling back.