Worlds Collide: Multiverse of Y/N

Chapter 16 • Growth (FFAF)

❥Warning:
Includes strong language and eating disorder.

-Y/N's POV (Falling For A Fan)-
When Clay basically exposed that he loved me, I froze while giving him a shocked look.

Y/N:
"You...you love me...?" I asked quietly, making sure I wasn't hearing what I wanted to hear.

CLAY:
"W—Well yeah..." He let his hand fall from under my chin, "We haven't known each other very long but...you're a great friend...so of course I love you..."

Friend.

I'm a great friend to him. That's all.

Knowing that made my expression fall as I sighed in disappointment.

-CLAY's POV (Falling For A Fan)-
I called Y/N a great friend instead of exposing that I like her as more than one because she is still heartbroken over her ex and son. So, I knew that she wouldn't want to start something new with me when she was still not over the loss of them.

Y/N:
"Clay...look..." She released a shaky breath out with a serious expression, glancing down at her lap, "I appreciate the fact that you want to help me...I appreciate the fact that you care about me when no one else does...including me..."

I swallowed hard.

Y/N:
"But no matter what you say or do..." She shook her head with a weak smile, meeting my gaze, "I'm never going to be able to live with myself over the horrible choices I made..."

My lips curled down farther.

Y/N:
"I mean, look around you, Clay..." She looked around at her apartment, "I have no mother, no father, no siblings, no friends...no boyfriend, no husband...no son..."

Her voice became quieter as slight tears started to form in her eyes. Shortly, she met my gaze again.

Y/N:
"No amount of your friendship is gonna change anything...it's not gonna bring anyone back..." She bit the inside of her cheek as more tears filled her eyes.

CLAY:
"I'm not trying to bring them back, Y/N...and I'm not trying to replace them..." I tilted my head with a frown, "I know you're still torn up about what happened, but...you came into my life so unexpectedly and...now, I wanna spend everyday not knowing what's gonna happen..."

Y/N:
"You're not afraid...?"

CLAY:
"No, not even a little bit...I was put on this Earth to help people, and I believe that with everything in me...you're not weak, and yeah, you made some mistakes but...your mistakes don't define who you are and they don't have to..."

Y/N tilted her head down as her frown deepened. Her tears collapsed onto our hands. Our fingers were intertwined, I just noticed. We didn't even reach for each other on purpose. I felt warm inside now.

CLAY:
"You messed up...it happened, you can't go back and change it. All you can do is move forward and try your best everyday...try for them..." My eyebrows squished together in sadness, "They'd want you to take care of yourself and try being happy..."

-Y/N's POV-
He was right.

If my Clay was here right now, he would be telling me the same exact things. He'd want me to be happy, even if it was without him. He'd forgive me for my horrible decisions, because he knew how hurt I was about my past.

He knew how badly I was torn up about my abusive mother and absent father. Clay knew I wanted to be a better mother to our son than my own mother was to me.

Everything this new Clay was telling me was true, and I knew it. My Clay would want me going on without him. He'd want me to wake up everyday with a smile on my face. He'd want me to eat, and shower.

He'd want me to stay alive for him.

Y/N:
"You're right..." I admitted in a whisper, finally understanding that I did need to take care of myself, "You're right about everything..."

A shimmer of hope appeared in Clay's eyes, making my shoulders drop.

Y/N:
"They'd want me to keep going...even if it was without them...because they loved me...they always wanted me to be happy..." I swallowed hard.

Clay sadly smiled at me while squeezing my hand. I didn't even realize we were holding hands until right now. So, I released a shaky breath out while meeting his gaze.

Y/N:
"I lied..."

Clay's brows furrowed.

Y/N:
"I am kinda hungry..." I admitted.

CLAY:
"Whatever you want, I'll cook." His lips curled up.

Y/N:
"You actually can't because I have literally nothing to eat. All the shelves are empty, inside and out." I raised my eyebrows while pressing my lips together.

CLAY:
"Oh. I can order something for delivery then." He let go of my hands to slip his phone out from his pocket, "What do you feel like having?"

Y/N:
"Surprise me." My lips curled up a little.

Clay nodded with a content, cute smile, then started typing away on his phone.

•••••

After 20 minutes, the food arrived since Clay put on the order to deliver it ASAP. The front door was against Clay's back as he discreetly took the grocery bags.

Once the driver handed Clay a bag full of food, I noticed it wasn't a stranger delivering the food, it was Sapnap and George.

I raised my eyebrows, then once all the bags were inside, Clay shut the door behind him and made his way to the couch to sit next to me again.

Once he was seated, he unwrapped the biggest bag filled with food, and I viewed it.

Inside the bag was different fruits, vegetables, and meals. I thought he ordered fast food, but he actually had Sapnap and George go grocery shopping so he could stay here with me in a safe, calming environment, and so I had more food for the rest of the week.

I sadly smiled at him with teary eyes. He sadly smiled back at me.

CLAY:
"Dig in to whatever you want." He waved his hands, making my lips curl up farther.

Slowly, with a shaky breath out, I reached for the first thing I saw, a green apple. While holding the fruit in my hands, I stared hard at it as I clenched my jaw.

This would be my first piece of food in weeks.

CLAY:
"You don't have to eat the whole thing. A tiny bite is better than nothing." He smiled in reassurance.

I gulped nervously, opened my mouth, raised the apple to my lips and hesitantly took a bite. Instantly, the juicy flavor in my mouth tasted amazing. It didn't take long for me to swallow it. Once I did, I sighed contently while staring at Clay.

Clay was staring at me fondly with a proud smile.

Y/N:
"It's good..."

CLAY:
"Yeah?" He spoke softly with a smile.

Y/N:
"Yeah, it's really good..." I laughed while looking down at it.

After a few moments, I wrapped my arms around him tightly with a sad smile.

Y/N:
"Thank you, Clay..." I whispered in his ear.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me back tightly with a sad smile too.

❥Thanks for reading!
Final word count: 1222