Keeping Claire

Chapter Twenty Four

                Chapter Twenty Four

Cody’s POV-

                I walked out of the bathroom knowing what I wanted to do. The necklace was in my hand as I searched around the apartment for Claire. I finally found her sitting in the living room, watching TV. I smiled as I watched her behavior whilst she was in her own little world. She did lots of small things and didn’t even realize it. When she was nervous or thinking about something, she would twittle her thumbs or bit on the insides of her cheek. Then sometimes, she would subconsciously rub the scars on her wrists.

                After watching her for a few minutes, I decided to act. I walked up to the couch so that I was standing directly behind her. I didn’t want to spook her by wrapping an unknown object around her neck. So, I knelt down and whispered into her ear, “Good evening, Princess.”

                I could tell that she was smiling. She always smiled when I called her by her nick name. After that, I stood up and lifted the necklace over her head then clasped it around her neck. She looked down at it and quietly gasped.

                I walked around the couch and sat down, pulling her into my lap. She was still examining the necklace that hung around her neck. “Why did you give me this?” She asked, looking at me with a small smile.

                “Because I care about you and when I saw it, I thought of you.” I said, smiling at her embarassed reaction.

                “Thank you.” She said, smiling at me.

                “Are you sure you like it?” I was all of the sudden overcome by worry. I didn’t want her to feel obligated to wear it if she didn’t like it.

                She thought for a second; then took me completely by surprise by kissing me. Not a quick peck on the cheek, a long kiss on the lips. I almost started chuckling at her new found confidence.

                It wasn’t often that she engaged any physical contact between us. However, when she did, I have to be honest; it kind of turned me on.

                Our kiss didn’t last long enough, but I was just happy she did anything of that sort. When we pulled away, she was blushing and smiling timidly. “I love it.” She whispered.

                After this, she yawned, then smiled shyly. “So when are we leaving to go to your family’s?” She asked.

                I had momentarily forgotten about taking her to meet my family. “Probably Teusday.”  I replied.

                “Are you sure you don’t wanna go a little earlier and spend more time with your family?” She asked, sounding concerned.

                I thought for a moment. “Well, I just-I know you aren’t completely comfortable with the idea and don’t want you to have to hang out there all week.”

                She suddenly looked worried. “Cody, don’t miss out on time with your family because I don’t feel comfortable about meeting them.”

                I let her words sink in. That wasn’t the only reason I was apprehensive about spending all week with my family.

                My family and I didn’t exactly get along all the time. They wanted me to go to college, have a house in the suburbs, then have a wife and kids. At that point, I didn’t want any kind of commitment to be tied to. Of course my desires have changed since then, especially since I met Claire.

                My facial expression must have given away my thoughts, because Claire suddenly interrupted my thoughts. “Cody, I know you might not like them,” Tears were starting to well up in her eyes, “But at least you have a family to spend the Holidays with.”

                Her words cut through all of my feelings about my family. She had an extremely valid point. But a weird thing happened when she spoke these words: anger. Anger and rage flooded through my body.

                Why couldn’t her Father control himself. It just wasn’t fair for her to suffer such an emotional wound. She was too sweet and caring for this to happen to her.

                She started trembling and tears flooded out of her eyes. I wrapped my arms tightly around her, rocking her gently back and forth. It was like I was shielding her from the pain, shielding her from the world.