Prove It (H.S)

Chapter Thirty Eight

Claire's POV~

I stare blankly at the sidewalk, letting the light drizzle fall on me as I wait for my parents to pick me up. Other than the quiet patter of the rain and the occasional roar of an airplane, all is silent.

The skin on my cheeks feels tight from the dry tears. I sobbed through out the entire plane ride, earning odd looks from the passengers and flight attendants. Little do they know, I had just experienced one of the worst moments of my entire life.

Each moment after has been almost more awful, though. I cannot stop thinking about the way his hands ran up and down her body and the way she played with his hair. The image is burned into my memory, more and more vivid every time I revisit the thought.

Finally, my mother's black Prius pulls up right in front of me. She hops out of the car quickly, running over to me with a look of concern on her face. "Claire!" She throws her arms around me, hugging me tightly.

When she pulls away, her blue eyes study my face. "Honey, what happened?" I open my mouth, trying to get the words out to explain, but all that is released are tears. She cups her hands around my face, furrowing her eyebrows.

"Get in the car, dad's at home," she says softly, opening the car door for me to get inside.

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As we drive through the rain, I stare out the window. My mom turns on the radio, listening to the news. I tune it out, focusing on the way the raindrops run down the glass as if they're in a race to the bottom.

My attention is caught when we drive past the park near our house. I suck in a breath, remembering the amazing start to a trip Harry and I had, a trip that turned into misery. That all seems so long ago.

Before I know it, my mom is pulling into the driveway. She gets out, grabbing my bag from the trunk. I slowly unbuckle my seatbelt and open the door. The continued drizzle hits my face, coating my skin in a thin layer of moisture.

I drag myself up the front stairs and follow my mom inside. "Geoff! We're here!" She calls, carrying my things up to my room. I stuff my hands into the pockets of my sweatshirt. Looking around, I think of Grams. A whole new set of tears stream down my face, and I'm surprised I have any tears left at all.

"There's my girl," I hear my dad's comforting voice boom from the dining room. He's standing in the doorway, I sympathetic and loving smile on his face. He opens his long arms for me to walk into, and I do.

My sobs dampen his gray shirt and he rubs my back. "What happened?" He asks, letting go of me. My mom walks in then, standing beside him. I sigh, wiping under my eyes. "Why don't we sit down?" My mom says, pointing to the living room. I nod quickly, my lip already trembling.

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Harry's POV~

My bottom lips is held between my fingers as I scroll through this list of flights to Oregon. My eyes scan the times and dates, my hand shaking, making it difficult to click on one.

Then, the door clicks open, Liam and Louis walking inside. "Hello, Harry," Liam says, patting my back before opening the mini-fridge. I mumble something close to a 'hello' and continue looking at my computer.

"What's got you so focused?" Louis asks, taking a seat on his bed where Liam then joins him. "I'm, uh, I'm trying to get a flight," I say, my words squishing together in a fast string of letters. "A flight?" Liam asks, sipping from his coke.

I glance up, noticing Louis' eyes soften. "Harry, are you trying to get a flight to Oregon?" I nod slowly, running my fingers through my hair and sigh. "Mate, I think it might be good for both you and Claire if you just wait this one out."

I dart my eyes in his direction, my vision already blurry with threatening tears. "I have to fight for her, Lou. I owe her that. I can't be without-," I'm cut off by a tear rolling down my face. I must look pathetic, crying here in front of my two friends.

"I'm lost," Liam says, waiting for one of us to explain. "Nothing," I snap, hoping Louis doesn't share for me. Louis nods, looking at the ground. "Well, did you hear Zayn broke up with Perrie?" Liam says, obviously saddened to share the news. "Oh yeah? I wasn't even sure they ever really dated," Louis says. "Oh, they did. Zayn even told me he was in love with her, it's a mystery as to why they broke up."

I slam closed my lap top, rising from my bed. I cannot hear this any longer. "Can you please stop talking about break ups?" I ask, softer than intended, my voice breaking. Liam looks at me, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion and Louis just looks pained.

I take a deep breath before reclaiming my seat and rest my head in my hands. "I'm getting on the next flight, Lou. It leaves tomorrow morning," I say. When I look up, Louis is just nodding at me.

"Okay, Harry. Go get her back."

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Claire's POV~

"And I just couldn't stay there," I say, wiping under my eyes. I curl my legs up into the love seat. When I look at my dad, his jaw is clenched, and he just looks sad. My mother is nodding, and she gets up to sit next to me.

"My sweet girl," she whispers into my ear as she wraps her arms around me. Her blonde hair overs my face. She pulls away and her eyes are red. "Don't cry, mom," I say. "I know, it's silly for me to cry. I just, I hate to see you hurt," she says, trying to smile at me.

"Dad?" I'm getting worried by his silent state. He looks at me and says,"What do you say I make my famous BBQ ribs?" A huge smile takes over his face and mine. That's Geoff Hoffman, always trying to lighten the mood. I nod and my mom laughs.

"Yes, that sounds perfect," I say. My dad gets up and gives my shoulder a squeeze before leaving the room. My mom gets up too, kissing my head. I just sit there for a little, letting everything sink in. I look to my side, my eye catching the framed picture of Grams holding me when I was just born, a sweet smile on her face.

I tear my eyes away, forcing myself not to cry. How has so much happened since I started college? Why did all of this happen to me? I pull my hair into a pony tail, collecting myself before I join my parents in the kitchen.

I don't know if I'll ever be okay again, it certainly doesn't feel like it, but if I am, then this is where I need to be to recover. This house holds memories that can heal me, but also ones that can break me. I have to be strong, force myself to forget those things and soak in the good memories. The memories that do not involve Harry Styles.