Third Wheel

chapter three - maybe more than friends

NOT EDITED

(will)

"You really do know how to pull off a suit." Cassidie said in a low voice, looking at me hungrily, pulling me closer by my tie to her.

"I try." I said, shrugging my shoulders and leaning in to kiss her before her pointer finger came in as a brier between our lips.

"Na, uh, no kissing-" she lets go of my tie. "-you need to look presentable, and we can't have my lipstick smudged all over your face now, can we?" she said pointedly.

"You are such a tease-" I sneak a quick peck on her lips. "-Cassidie Langston."

"I try" she said, mimicking me from before.

"Do you think she's going to show up?" I ask

"I hope she does, and if she cares about you half the amount that was radiating of off her when I brought you up, she's going to show up."

"I really hope that you're right."

"I do too and if I'm not-" she said, looking at the watch on her wrist, "-fifteen minutes and we find out."

*** *** ***

Im standing on a makeshift podium surrounded by a room full of reporters, and the only thing that's missing: Claire. I guess she's not coming after all.

"I'm sorry, but when are we going to start? We're already running ten minutes behind schedule." a reporter for CCPN asked.

"Yes. I'm very sorry. We can start now. Go ahead." It's the only thing to say, seeing as Claire made her choice and isn't coming.

"Yes or no, was the woman you were photographed with, Cassidie Langston, the princess of Andorra?" a reposted asked.

"No"

"Then who is she?" He followed up.

I paused for a moment, Who is she? If Claire Mont were standing beside me right now, who would I say she was? "A friend, a very close one."

"Do you often kiss your friends, Mr. Madden?" A different reporter this time.

"Well, no-" I chuckled, "I guess she's more than a friend."

"Why isnt she here with you, answering questions?"

"She's-" I start, but I'm very quickly interrupted.

"She is here-" the voice came from my left side, "-just running a bit late."

To my left was Claire.

Claire Mont was saving my ass like she had done countless times before in high school.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" a reporter asked her.

"I am his close friend...or more than friends, I guess."

I could feel her eyes burning holes in the side of my face as the questions started firing at her.

"Are you an actress?"

"Are you one of his clients?"

"Are you of convenience to him?"

"How long have you two been together?"

I would've cracked under the pressure, but she, she handled it like a pro, like she had done this a hundred times before, as if it were a daily occurrence for her.

"No, no, I don't think so, and to answer the last question, we're childhood friends, so if your question is how long we've known each other, then the answer is a lifetime." She replied to every single question smiling and holding her place as if she belonged here, and at that moment I found it hard to believe that she owned a small town bakery because if you had told me to guess, she was something- no someone important enough to have had social media training—someone who has been tough enough to not cripple under pressure and answer every question gracefully and with a smile, which really was something because I personally couldn't do half of those things.

It's only then that I realize I haven't spoken a single word since she entered. "Are there any more questions?" I ask wanting for this to be over so I can have a moment in private with her.

"Yes, actually-" a reporter answered, but was quickly cut off by me.

"Save them for next time, goodnight," I said, grabbing a hold of Claire's wrist and dragging her behind me to one of the empty rooms.

I let go of her wrist and took a singular moment to take her in. She was beautiful as always; I never thought she looked anything else. That's actually how we became friends in the first place, but that's a story for another time.

She had long brunette hair, quite like Cassidie's, but she was different in every other way. Her face was long and soft; she had a jaw that could cut through cold butter, piercing gray eyes that made you want to forget who you were, a cute button nose that fit her, and plump lips that tied her face together. She was short; she reached my chest, and that was her in heels. One thing that was clear was that her height didn't make her any less of anything. She was sure of herself and confident in her body, and why wouldn't she be? She was beautiful, of course, in a frilly way. In the same way, you would see a woman and just feel mesmerized by her looks. Claire could hypnotize and get any man she wanted, but she never did.

"Hi." I finally managed to find the word to speak.

"Yeah, hi" she said, rolling her eyes, and the next thing I knew I was being punched in the face, and damn it, but she really knows how to throw a left hook, and something about that really fucking messed with my head.
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AN:
OK I KNOW THIS IS ALSO A SHORT CHAPTER BUT I REALLY LOVED WRITING IT
ALSO HOW MUCH WOULD U LIKE ME TO UPDATE ??
BYEEEE<33