Burning for her

Chapter 24

Clara

I watched her from a distance, staying in the shadow of the hallway, looking through the crack of the door. Maybe I was harsh on Abbie a few weeks ago, but it got her to come back to practice and get ready for the show. My breath caught in my throat every time she stepped into the light, giving me a perfect view of her.

Her eyes were tired, exhausted, but I imagined her heart racing, swimming in the blissful adrenaline after the show. She looked over the room, eyeing the dozen bouquets, not knowing that most of them were from me. I needed her to know though.

She picked up one, looking for the card, which she would not find, since I didn't place one. I imagined her realizing they were my flower, I imagined her eyes softening at the thought, searching for me. But she wouldn't find me, since I was buried in the shadows. But she didn't do any of that. Instead of softening, her eyes widened a little, looking up, watching her own reflection in the mirror.

She didn't know I was there, but she knew the flowers were my gift to her. And that was enough to put some will to live inside me again, to remind me that either way I was still a part of her life.

~

I paced the dark room, with the bottle in my hand. It was way early in the day to be drunk, but frankly I could not give a damn. The blind were closed, keeping the light out of the room. I didn't expect Abigail to call me, probably she expected me to call her like 24/7. But I had a very hard time, keeping myself away from her.

I spun on my heels, when I heard the ding of the elevator, looking at the three people walking out. What the hell?!

"What are you doing here?" I looked at Lillian and Grace. "What is he doing here?" I pointed at the kid, standing slightly behind Lillian.

"Hayley has class." She explained.

"Hm." We eyed each other with the kid for a few seconds, before I walked inside, dropping down on the couch.

"You look like shit." Grace took the bottle from my hands. She probably was in court before, because she was wearing a tight dress with a blazer.

"Thanks." I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

I watched the little guy look up at Lillian, mumbling something. "Alright, wait here." The boy took it literally, sitting down onto the white carpet, taking out a book from his star wars backpack. "I will get him some food."

"I'm going with you." Grace followed her, leaving us in silence.

"I'm Alex." He mumbled not looking up from the book.

"Clara."

"I know." he shrugged.

"Alright." I shrugged too.

I heard noises from my kitchen. Weirdly I didn't want to run off to get away from the kid. The reason probably was that he was just sitting here in silence.

"Are you Lillian's friend?"

"Obviously." I squinted.

"Do you have many friends?" He was still looking down into his book.

Dude! "We don't have to chat." I reminded him.

"I know. But my doctor said I have to socialize more." I nodded, leaving the subject behind. "I don't have many friends."

"Me neither."

"I don't need friends." He closed the book, looking around the room.

"Me neither." I agreed. It wasn't completely true. I desperately needed Grace and Lillian.