The Flames of Medicine

35

Claire's POV:

I feel like i'm swimming.

my body feels heavy and tired as I wake up.

I look around feeling the heat from my window hitting my legs as i stretch, feeling a pair of eyes looking at me.

"Landon?"

"hey, how are you feeling?"

Embarrassed. what the fuck happened?

"i'm okay, i feel tired though. what time is it?"

"it's 8am"

"SHIT! I'M LATE TO SCHOOL"

"woah! Claire, you can't go to school like this! You had a rough night, I think it's okay if you don't go today."

"I can't skip school... If I miss class, they'll call Laura and Sophia and it will be a huge mess and they'll come investigate and they'll fin-... nothing." Fuck I almost spilled everything to him. "I can't miss." I finish off as I slowly get up to get ready for school.

"Woah, what do you mean they'll investigate and find something? Claire, please talk to me..."

"Nothing Landon. It's really nothing. Thank you for helping me last night, but I seriously have 5 minutes to get ready for school."

"no."

"no?" I look at him from my closet with a hoodie in hand.

"No."

"Landon. get out."

"No Claire. I saw your scars. I know you're hurting yourself."

Fuck.

"No, I do-"

"STOP LYING CLAIRE." he huffs and stands up as he runs his hands through his hair.

"Landon, I - "

"Stop lying to me Claire, and talk to me. You know you can trust me. You know I'm there for you. Let me help you. I know there are other things going on with you. You don't have to tell me about them right now but i know about the cutting and anxiety attacks. i wish you would please let me in Clay. I'm not your enemy. let me be your friend. i won't hurt you."

I stare at him as silent tears fall down from my shocked eyes.

"i'll only hurt you if i let you help me Landon." i whisper as i dry my tears and look at my wrists. "you can't help me without hurting yourself or worse. please just let me be."

he walks towards me slowly with tears running down his eyes and those heartful eyes that i've grown to like.

"Claire, please. let me help you. i care about you more than a friend should. i like you Claire. whether you have demons in your corner, i don't care... "

i slowly look up at him as he extends his arm softly placing them on my shoulder and i see how sincere he is, hurting me with how much i'm lying and hiding from him forcing to look down in shame.

"... i have demons in mine. lots of them. let's fight them together." he places his hand under my chin and kindly lifts my head aligning my crying eyes to his loving ones. "...let me help your pain and fix your pain with love. please. please Claire. even if you push me away, i won't give up."

i stare at his eyes and look down at his welcoming lips, filling me with a tinge of lust to kiss them.

I slowly lean in, softly kissing him when i feel him kissing me back.

It's the most loving kiss i've ever received. he didn't choke me, he didn't shove his tongue down my throat, it was soft, yet strong with emotion, soft but passionate.

I slowly pull back and lay my head on his chest, giving him a strong hug, his arms wrapping around me and his head laying on top of mine.

"I have to go to school, Landon. And I'm late. please." I softly push away and take my clothes to the restroom, shutting the door behind me, not looking back.

I stare at myself in the mirror and see so many emotions running through my head, but not one of them was pain. not one of the tears running down were tears of drug induced nightmares. they were tears of shock. tears of shock that someone could actually feel something so nice for me.

I get ready for school and leave, arriving 30 minutes late to homeroom, making up a bullshit excuse as to why I was late, and by some miracle, my teacher believed me and didn't send a notification to anyone.

My phone vibrates as I look down to see a text from Landon, making me smile and feel something weird in my stomach.

I don't know what that kiss means, but whatever it means, i'm here for you even if you don't want me to. Have a good day at school shorty ;)