YOU ARE WHAT I NEED [COMPLETED]

21

The sound of persistent banging on her bedroom door jolted Claire awake. She groaned, pulling the covers over her head in an attempt to block out the noise. Her body felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and the emotional turmoil that had consumed her these past few weeks. It was a struggle just to get out of bed, let alone face the world outside.

"Claire! Get up!" her best friend's voice pierced through the door, insistent and full of energy that Claire couldn't muster. "I know you're in there, and I'm not leaving until you open this door!"

Reluctantly, Claire sat up, her body protesting the movement. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror across the room—pale, with dark circles under her eyes and hair that was a tangled mess. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her.

With a sigh, Claire shuffled to the door and opened it, revealing her friend standing there with a look of determination.

"Oh my god, you look awful," her friend said, wrinkling her nose. "No offense, but you stink, Claire. When was the last time you showered?"

Claire shrugged, not really caring. "I don't know. A few days ago, I guess."

"Well, that's about to change," her friend declared, pushing past her and into the room. "You promised me you'd go out with me tonight, remember? No more hiding under the covers and wallowing in self-pity."

Claire tried to protest, but her friend wasn't having any of it. "I found this amazing club called Pulse, and I had the best time there last week. It's exactly what you need to get out of this funk."

"I'm not really in the mood," Claire muttered, feeling the weight of everything she'd learned recently pressing down on her. Finding out that her mother was a witch and that the woman she loved—craved—was a vampire had thrown her entire world into chaos. She didn't know how to process it all, let alone face the reality of it.

Her friend crossed her arms, glaring at her. "Claire, I know you're going through a lot, but lying here isn't going to make anything better. You need to get out, have some fun, and remember what it feels like to be alive. Trust me, it'll help."

Claire opened her mouth to argue, but the look on her friend's face stopped her. She was persistent, and deep down, Claire knew she was right. Maybe going out would help take her mind off things, even if just for a little while.

"Fine," Claire sighed, giving in. "I'll go. But only for a little while."

Her friend's face lit up with excitement. "Great! I already picked out a dress for you to wear, so all you have to do is your hair and makeup."

Claire managed a weak smile as her friend handed her the dress. It was a deep emerald green, one of her favorite colors. She ran her fingers over the fabric, appreciating the softness before heading to the bathroom to freshen up.

As she stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair, Claire's thoughts drifted to Selene. It was impossible not to think about her. The hairstyle she was doing was one that Selene had loved—loose waves that framed her face and fell just past her shoulders. Selene used to run her fingers through her hair, a soft smile on her lips as she admired the way it looked.

Claire felt a lump form in her throat, her eyes stinging with the threat of tears. She missed Selene more than she wanted to admit. The distance between them these past few weeks had been unbearable, but Claire had convinced herself that it was for the best. She needed time to sort out her feelings, to understand who and what she really was. But now, standing here, thinking about Selene, she realized how much it hurt to be apart.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Claire finished her hair and applied some makeup, just enough to make herself feel presentable. She took a deep breath and headed downstairs, where her friend was waiting eagerly.

"Wow, you look amazing!" her friend exclaimed, giving her a once-over. "Now, let's go have some fun!"

The drive to Pulse was filled with chatter from her friend about how great the club was and how much fun they were going to have. Claire tried to focus on what she was saying, but her mind kept drifting back to Selene, to the life she was still trying to make sense of.

When they arrived at the club, Claire felt a strange sense of foreboding wash over her. The place was dark and mysterious, with a pulsating energy that seemed to vibrate through the walls. She hesitated at the entrance, her nerves getting the best of her.

Her friend noticed and handed her a drink. "Here, this will help calm your nerves. Trust me, once you get inside and start dancing, you'll feel so much better."

Claire nodded, taking a sip of the drink. It was strong, but it did the trick. She felt a warmth spread through her body, loosening the tension in her shoulders. They made their way inside, and soon, the music and the crowd began to drown out her worries.

She started to dance, allowing herself to get lost in the rhythm. For a moment, it felt good—liberating, even—to let go of everything that had been weighing her down. The lights flashed, the music thumped, and she let herself be carried away by the energy of the crowd.

But then, something made her turn around. And that's when she saw it—Selene, standing just a few feet away, locked in a kiss with another woman.

The world seemed to stop around her. Claire's heart plummeted, her breath catching in her throat. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the scene, disbelief and heartbreak washing over her in waves.

Without thinking, she bolted for the exit, tears streaming down her face. Her friend called after her, but Claire didn't stop. She needed to get out, to escape the pain that was threatening to consume her.

Her friend caught up with her outside, pulling her into a comforting embrace as Claire sobbed uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry," her friend whispered. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't pushed you to come out tonight—"

"No," Claire choked out between sobs. "It's not your fault. I just... I didn't expect this. I thought..." Her voice broke, and she couldn't finish the sentence.

Her friend held her tighter, offering whatever comfort she could. "Selene doesn't deserve you, Claire. You're better off without her."

But those words did little to ease the pain. Claire had feared that Selene would eventually move on, especially since they hadn't spoken in weeks, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. The betrayal cut deep, reopening old wounds and reinforcing the cruel words that Mark had once hurled at her.

Nobody loves you. You're nothing.

Those words echoed in her mind as she finally pulled away from her friend's embrace and headed inside. She felt numb, hollow, the tears continuing to flow even as she tried to pull herself together.

When she got home, she collapsed onto the couch, her body trembling with sobs. She had tried so hard to be strong, to move on, but now she felt more broken than ever.

Suddenly, there was a pounding at the door. Claire wiped her tears, trying to fix her appearance before she opened it. But nothing could have prepared her for who was standing on the other side.

Selene.

Claire's heart skipped a beat, her emotions a tangled mess as she stared at the woman she still loved, despite everything.