Prove It (H.S)

Chapter Forty Five

Claire's POV~

Aubrey's sitting cross legged on my bed, twirling her auburn hair around her finger. "I'm so glad we're friends again, but you're leaving me," she says, pouting her full lips. "It's for less than a month, I think you'll survive," I say, smiling at her.

"You should do some serious partying there. Live a little. You'll be surrounded with mojitos and margaritas! Claire, take me with you!" She dramatically clutches her heart. I roll my eyes with a chuckle. "That's not why I'm going. I'm really looking forward to the philosophy class. The mojitos are just a bonus." Aubrey purses her lips and I laugh.

My hands search through my dresser, finding things to fold into my suitcase. Digging through my t-shirts, my fingers come across black fabric. I lift it out of the drawer, holding it up to see what it is.

My heart sinks when I realize it's not mine. "What's that?" Aubrey asks, adjusting her position on the bed. "It's, uh, it's Harry's." She stays quiet for a minute and I can feel her eyes scanning my face. I try to keep my expression neutral. "I'll return it later," I finally say after clearing my throat and toss it on the bed next to her.

"You know, you're going to have a great time in Mexico," Aubrey says. I nod, placing some shirts into the suitcase. "And who knows, maybe you'll meet some super hot guys there and you can tell them all about your super cute friend Aubrey back in America," she says. I glare at her with a smirk.

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Harry's POV~

Louis brings his water bottle to his lips and swallows. "You know," he says, screwing the cap back on,"I really hope you aren't going to get all depressed after Claire leaves." I stare ahead as we walk and shrug. "It's not like we'd talk anyways." He shakes his head and tosses his bottle into the trash can as we pass it.

"I don't buy that for one second." I look at him, perplexed. "What?" "Stop acting like you don't care that she's leaving," he says. I gulp. "She's only going for a month. But yes, Lou, I'll miss her like crazy, you happy?" Louis chuckles. "Yep."

He pushes open the door to the gym and we make our way over to the weights. I take the towel from my shoulder and hang it over a bar. Louis gets in position under the bench press and I pick up a couple 20 pounders. "Are you going to consider dating other girls?" He grunts, sweat already beading on his forehead.

I crinkle my eyes brows. I never even considered it before, it never crossed my mind. "I don't know, mate. Never really thought about it." Louis lets out a deep breath, taking a break. "I think you should. It'll be good for you." I curl my arms up one at a time, my breath catching on each lift. "We'll see."

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I bring the towel to my head wiping the sweat off my face and my neck. "Am I bad person?" I ask Louis, and he brings his towel away from his face, staring at me. When he doesn't reply, I ask him again.

"Why would you be a bad person?" We leave the gym and I gather up the guts to ask my question. "Am I a bad person for cheating on her? I know how upset and crushed you were when Christine cheated on you. You said you hated her." Louis sighs, scratching his chin.

"You did a fucked up, stupid thing. But you aren't a bad person, Harry. You could never be a bad person. I'm sure Claire doesn't even think you're a bad person." I look at the sidewalk. "Don't beat yourself up," he says, lightly elbowing me. "Thanks," I say.

I take my hair out of the bun it was in and shake my head. My thoughts wander as I walk beside my friend and I think about Claire, of course. She leaves tomorrow, and I don't think she'll stop over to say goodbye to me, and I probably shouldn't bother her by going to her dorm. Maybe it's best if she leaves and does her thing. I'm surprised by my own calmness. I realize that when it comes to Claire, I can be a little not calm.

All I hope as that when Claire goes to Mexico, and has this great, awesome experience, she doesn't forget about me. I hope that I hold a place in her mind and that even if she's dancing with someone else, she's thinking of me.

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Claire's POV~

Aubrey left and I've finished my packing. I sit on my bed, letting out a big sigh of relief. I glance over to the shirt. I pick it up, bringing it to my nose and inhaling the scent that makes me feel so at home, yet so lost at the same time.

I should return it to him. I should get up and walk to his dorm, give him is damn shirt and leave. It shouldn't be too difficult.

The more I stare at the shirt, rubbing the soft fabric between my fingers, the more I grow an attachment to it. The fact that he probably left it here after one of the nights we spent together, that fact that he probably peeled it off his body to let me sleep in it, the fact that it's his and I have it and that I don't have to give it back makes me want to keep it even more.

I close my eyes, bringing it to my face before quickly throwing it in my suitcase and zipping the top. I take a deep breath. Tomorrow I leave. I'm going to a different country for three weeks and I'm going to take a philosophy class with a great professor and I'm going to drink mojitos and everything is going to be fine.

It has to be.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hello beautiful people! I know this update is so late and kinda short but I hope you like it! Thanks so much for all your feedback! I love you all!
Lila