It All Started with a Lie

Chapter 22

Being along never felt right,
sometimes it felt good,
but it never felt right.
~ Charles Bukowski

A/N
Marked above is one of my favorite poets. Hope you all enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 22
Her POV
I slam the door to my jeep and ignore the terrible parking job I've done because I am running far too late to meet Richard and there is no time to fix it.

She is already sitting at a booth waiting, with our drinks ordered by the time I get there. It is unsurprising to her and I sigh in the relief that comes with having a best friend who knows me well enough to know that I am chronically late to everything.

"Claudia!" She gives me that bright smile that warms my chest.

Her crutches sit beside the booth. It is only a little longer before she gets the boot removed and can start walking again. "Richard!" I slide into the booth across from her.

We catch up on the few days of our lives since we've last seen each other, there isn't much to tell. She talks about Ryder and a book she finished, and how Sonny is taking the breakup. She mentions nothing of Klaus and there is a slight disappointment in my voice that I hope she doesn't pick up on.

I tell her about my life, about the dance team, the sorority, and the parties. What I don't tell her is what I spent my morning doing, that I had sex with her brother, that when we went out to get food I made him stop by an antique store and dragged him around the entire store for nearly two hours. I don't tell her that I found the most gorgeous ring with my name, Alexandria, imprinted on one side and for the first time in my life I wanted a piece of jewelry with my full name on it because it reminds me of him, but it was too expensive to justify buying so I left without it. I can't tell her that the reason I am late is because I spent twenty minutes arguing with her brother about something stupid while he kissed my neck. I can't tell her anything.

"So Sonny's not taking the breakup well?" I move the subject away from my life.

She shakes her head. "No, he missed school for a couple days but they share a class together so he has to see Maxon everyday. Klaus and I usually take turns being home with him so he doesn't have to be alone, but Klaus has been spending a lot of time at the frat house."

I must be a terrible person because I get a bit of joy at the topic of him. I know I shouldn't but I am dying to talk about him so I take the chance. "Oh really?"

She nods, taking a sip of her lemonade. "Yeah, he spends nights there a lot, sometimes he even crashes there after work since it's closer than going home."

The frat house only saves him five minutes on his way home, my apartment though, saves him fifteen. I guess I hadn't realized how much time we'd been spending together. He came over after work nearly every day this week. Most of the time he'd go home over after we had a little fun, but sometimes he would look too tired from work to leave so I'd ask if he wanted to stay and he'd ask if I wanted him to and I'd make up some excuse as to why he had to stay so I never admitted that I wanted him to. "The frat has been busy at night," I try to cover my tracks.

I think to offer to spend some time with Sonny so he won't be alone; I couldn't believe he'd wanted me there that day they broke up. It was terrible circumstances but I had the best time with their happy little family. We danced and sang and bonded. Richard and I are certainly tone deaf, even Sonny was having trouble reaching the notes, but Klaus, his voice was like velvet, so deep, so low, you could barely hear it. I strained my ears trying to listen for his voice amongst the rest of ours. It was stunning.

I am desperate to hear it again.

"It's kinda nice honestly, to see him getting out. He spends so much time worrying about Sonny and I, he never gets to live his own life, with his own friends." She looks almost relieved, with a certain glow in her eyes.