Burning for her

Chapter 23

Abigail

three weeks later

According to my latest information, we didn't have a new coach, but practices were happening every day. Everyone knew that there were only two things Hilde would call you in her office after hours. Either to give you a promotion, a leading role in our newest project or to fire you. Since I wasn't attending any of the practices in the last three weeks my money was on the second option.

My palms were sweating as I stood outside the wooden door. The sweater and sweatpants I had on felt a stupid idea now, warming my body too much, making me feel rather uncomfortable. The hood of my sweater covered my hair from the rain that was going on outside.

It seemed like it was raining all the time nowadays. Even though it was understandable since it was the middle of November, it didn't help me to get out of my bad mood.

I knocked on the door with a racing heart, waiting for permission to enter. I heard a noise faintly, taking it as a sign to enter. I cracked the door open, peaking in, looking around, spotting the brunette behind the desk, looking up at me with something unreadable on her face.

For a second I considered leaving as fast as I came here, but I wasn't stupid enough to think she would let me leave after seeing me. "Where is Hilde?" If I thought my heart was racing before, I had no idea what it was doing the moment our eyes met.

"Close the door." Clara put her laptop aside, running her fingers through her hair.

"No." My hair fell freely around my face as I shook my head.

Her white shirt was only halfway buttoned up, not appropriate at all for a workplace outfit, her sleeves rolled up until her elbows. God I missed you! She pushed herself off the chair, walking closer to me with an ensure shaking in her legs. I stood my ground, not moving an inch from where I was frozen in place.

The last three weeks were pure agony, pain. We spent most of the time at Clara's place, but still every detail of my apartment reminded me of her. The dozen and dozen of coke zero hid in places for me to find, her ice cream that definitely contained too much chocolate. The clothes I borrowed, stole, from her and never returned. I should have returned them, when I gathered my stuff from her place, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

I thought she would fight more honestly. Fight for us. For me. But she didn't. She didn't call me, didn't show up at my apartment. Even I thought about calling her once in a while to scream at her because she let this happen, let all this shit to go down and destroy us. I loved us. I love her. But that didn't change the facts.

"Please." Her voice was only a whisper, just a breath, barely audible. The dark circles under her eyes were an obvious sign that she was miserable, she looked miserable. Her eyes were tired, her skin was paler and she didn't mask her emotions at all.

I stepped aside, allowing her hand on the side of the door to close it behind me, shielding us from the praying eyes. Her brown eyes lingered on my face for a second too long. "Take a seat." She cleared her throat.

"You can't use my job and the fact that you are my boss to get in contact with me for personal reasons, Clara." I said while sitting down, obeying her.

"I'm not." Why not?!

"Then?" I tried to keep a natural expression, but it was very hard when Clara looked like... well Clara. The tired expression on her face didn't take away from her beauty.

"You are not coming to any practices." She sat down at the other end of the desk. "You have the leading role, Abigail."

"Sorry, frankly I wasn't in the right headspace in the last few weeks." I squinted my eyes, earning a scoff from her.