Suspicious Shade

Chapter 7: I Love You, Claude

Yve and Claude made their way towards the parking lot together, their steps falling into a hesitant rhythm.

They walked side by side in an uncomfortable silence, the memory of their past relationship hanging heavily between them. Yve fidgeted with the bag of chips in her hand, her mind racing with thoughts.

As they entered the parking lot, the silence between them stretched on. Claude seemed just as uncomfortable as Yve did, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans.

He finally spoke up, his voice breaking the tension. "So... I guess you're heading to Ashton's place too?"

Yve nodded, clutching the bag of chips tighter. "Yeah, I am," she replied, her voice quiet.

Another beat of awkward silence passed between them before Claude spoke up again. "I forgot to say this earlier," he began. "But you look... really nice."

Yve blushed at the compliment, her heart fluttering a bit despite herself. She wasn't expecting the comment and it caught her off guard.

"Thanks," she murmured, looking away from him. It was strange hearing him say that. It brought back a wave of memories she wasn't ready to confront yet.

Claude seemed to notice her flustered state, and he smirked a little bit. "You're blushing," he commented, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Yve hastily rubbed her cheeks. "I am not!" she protested, feeling even more embarrassed. She hadn't expected him to point it out so bluntly.

Claude led her towards a car parked in the corner of the lot – a sleek, black sedan. They walked in silence, their footsteps echoing in the mostly empty lot.

Claude unlocked the car with his key fob and held the passenger door open for Yve. "Here," he said, gesturing for her to get in.

Yve stepped into the car, feeling a bit self-conscious about sitting so close to him inside the confined space. She buckled her seatbelt as Claude walked around the car and got into the driver's seat.

The atmosphere in the car was thick with tension. They sat for a moment, neither saying a word, before Claude finally broke the silence.

"So..." Claude began, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. "How have you been?"

Yve glanced at him, not expecting the attempt at small talk. "I've been okay." She paused, then added, "How about you?"

Claude chuckled ruefully. "Been better, been worse. You know how it is."

Yve nodded mutely, staring out the window as the cityscape passed by. She could feel the awkward silence starting to build again.

"Listen," Claude continued, his tone a bit more serious now. "I... I wanted to talk to you about something."

Yve turned to look at him, intrigued. "What is it?"

Claude took a deep breath, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. "I just wanted to apologize. For, you know, how things ended between us back then. I wasn't the best partner, and I... I regret that I didn't..." He trailed off, his eyes fixed on the road.

Claude's words hung in the air. Yve stiffened in her seat, her breath catching in her throat.

"What?" she managed to ask, her voice coming out as a whisper.

Claude didn't look at her, his gaze glued to the road. "I heard you're getting married soon. Is it true?"

Yve's heart thudded in her chest as she tried to process his words. "How... how did you know about that?"