Forever.

Chapter 31: Like dropping a bomb

Braden's P.O.V. (1 week later)

"I'm gonna go to the bathroom real quick, I'll be right back." Claire says as she stands up from the couch and goes to the bathroom.

Now that I think about it, she's been going to the bathroom a lot lately. And I don't want to sound like a bad person or anything, but I've also noticed that she's gained a little weight. Not a lot, just a little. It doesn't matter to me at all, she's still gorgeous, it's just something I've noticed. I've also noticed that sometimes she's acting completely normal around me, and the next she can't stand to be near me for some reason. And sometimes she'll act really weird and distant, and others she'll be normal or always want to be close to me.

There's only one explanation for all of this abnormal behavior.

She's on her period.

I place our plates on the table and sit down.

She comes back out in new clothes. She's wearing black leggings and a big, loose gray shirt.

"Hey, I just finished lunch, and I was thinking that we could try out the pool and stuff downstairs." I say.

"Sure, can we just go later? I'm really tired and I'm not feeling all that well right now." She says as she ties her hair up in a ponytail.

"Do you need anything?" I ask as I stand up.

"No, I think I'm just going to go take a nap or something for a little bit." She says.

"Do you want me to come-" I begin to ask, but she cuts me off.

"No, it's fine. You can just stay out here, work out, or something. I don't really care what you do, I just really need to lay down."

"Okay, feel better." I say. She nods slightly and turns around to go back in the bedroom.

See? This is exactly what I mean. She's acting really weird.

I don't know what's going through her head anymore. She's a completely different person, and has been for about a month.

Now that I think about it, she's been different ever since the first night at the beach. Is she just acting weird because she doesn't know what to do?

I know she's been through a lot, even before we met, and I know that was a big step for us. I know that it was scary because neither of us knew what we were doing, but maybe she doesn't want to be with me anymore. Maybe she realized all I'm good for is getting her hurt, and that's why she doesn't want to be around me sometimes.

But, she's a complicated person, so I can't assume anything.

I take the plate with Claire's food and out it back in the fridge. I then sit back down and eat by myself.

***a few hours later***

It's been a while since Claire said she was going to take a nap. I don't want her to think that I just forgot about her or something, so I'm going to go check on her.

I quietly open the door to the bedroom and I don't see Claire in the bed.

"Claire?" I ask.

"Yeah," she says as she comes out of the bathroom.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She says. "I don't know why, I just got really tired all of the sudden."

"But you're okay now?" I ask.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Okay, I just wanted to make sure." I say.