Forever.

Chapter 30: Everything will be okay

Claire's P.O.V. (Two weeks later)

I wake up when I get an odd feeling in my stomach. It's not a pain, more of a sickening feeling that makes me feel like I want to throw up. Maybe it's that bug that Braden had a while ago, but it's been a long time since then. It's probably just a stomach ache.

Braden and I have been back from the trip for about a week and a half. I loved that entire trip, and not once have I taken the ring off of my finger. I should probably start taking it off when I sleep or shower, but I just love it so much that I can't.

At the moment, the sunrise is barely peeking through the crack in the curtains. We are now living in the apartment that Derrick originally had arranged for me, and it's the perfect size.

I turn over on to my side and Braden is laying on his back. His lips are slightly parted and he's lightly snoring. His breaths are even, causing his bare chest to rise and fall in a perfect rhythm.

He turns on his side so he is facing me. His eyes stay closed and his face stays relaxed. He drapes his arms across my waist and pulls me closer to him. I bury my face in his chest and smile.

His smell usually reminds me of safety, but now it makes me want to puke. I try to turn my head so I can't smell him, but he pulled me so close to him that I really have no choice. I don't know why this is happening all of the sudden.

Braden is absolutely repulsive to me right now and I don't know why.

The feeling in my stomach becomes even more unbearable, so I break out of Braden's embrace and run to the bathroom with my hand over my mouth.

I just barely make it to the toilet before I start throwing up. It burns in my throat and tastes like fire.

"Claire?" I barely hear Braden ask.

I stop throwing up for a few seconds, allowing me to catch my breath. That break doesn't last long, and I am soon throwing up again.

"Claire!" I head Braden yell again. I then feel him pull my hair back for me, twisting into a bun behind my head. "It's gonna be okay." He says soothingly as he gently rubs my back like I did for him.

The sensation of my food coming back up is repulsive and feels horrible. It finally stops.

I remove my head from the toilet and Braden scoots himself behind me. I lean back against his chest and try to catch my breath.

"Are you okay? What happened?" He asks.

"I don't really know." I say through heavy breaths.

"Well, are you...done?" He asks.

"I think so." I say as I nod.

Small waves of nausea continue to come over me, making it feel like I can throw up again at any given second.

"Let's get you back in bed." He says. Right before he goes to pick me up, I start throwing up again. He gathers my hair again and gently rubs my back.

After a few more seconds, I finally stop. I lean back against Braden and the world spins.

"Claire, come on, stay with me. You're not falling asleep, you're passing out. I've seen you do both and I know a difference, you need to stay awake, okay?" He asks.

I nod.

He gently moves me so I'm laying across his lap as he cradles my head like a baby's.

"Just breathe evenly." He says. He grabs the towel off of the sink and wets it using the faucet in the bathtub that he's leaning against. He then gently dabs my face with the towel as the nausea slowly begins fades away.