The Wedding Issue

Chapter Thirty Four - Ashes, Ashes, They All Fall Down

I knew that the only way Genevieve would forgive herself for what happened tonight was for her to face Claire all on her own. Genevieve was simply that type of person; she didn't run away from her fears, she faced them with a brave face. I couldn't stand the idea of leaving those two alone in a room together; they could literally rip each other apart. But I figured that this was one battle they had to face on their own if they were both to move past this with no looking back.

One thing I couldn't piece together, however, was how I never saw this coming. Or maybe I did see it coming but I chose to ignore the signs. Maybe a part of me knew that there was something not right about Claire and that's why I always had cold feet. It wasn't just a guy thing which I repeatedly made myself believe, it was that recurring disturbing feeling that I somehow managed to set aside.

All these years together felt like such a waste. The laughs, the fights, the breakups and makeups; it all came up to nothing at the end. Well, not exactly nothing. I learned two very important life lessons and I'll be damned if I didn't say that I learned them the hard way. One; you never really know someone unless you're placed in a tough spot and they show their true colors, and two; never ever ignore that nagging feeling in your chest about someone that makes you feel that something's just not right, no matter who the person may be.

As I wheeled Genevieve into the room, I was beginning to admire her on a whole new level. She was willingly going past her comfort zone to face the beast behind the door. I wondered why I hadn't waited for her all my life.

'Well, well. If it isn't Romeo and Juliet', Claire said with the most sadistic smirk on her face.

Just as I was about to call her a backstabbing, cheating whore, Genevieve grabbed my hand and willed me to stop. The look in her eyes said it all; Claire wasn't worth the anger nor was she worth my time. She rubbed my hand gently and with that my anger evaporated.

'I'll be alright', she promised me, and I nodded my approval.

I gave Claire one last warning glance before I left the room, leaving these two warriors battle it out on their own.

'Killian', someone called.

I looked up to meet whoever called me. It was Madison. She was dressed in her pajamas and wore a coat on top of them. It seemed like she got over here in a hurry. Boy was she in for one heck of bombshell.

'I got a call from the hospital. I didn't get any details. Is Claire alright?', Madison asked with the most clueless expression on her face.

I hated to be the one to ruin her evening, and more importantly, ruin whatever shred of respect she has for her twin sister. She deserved to know, however. I wasn't going to let an innocent girl like Madison get sucked up into the evil whirlwind that Claire creates around her. I took a long sigh before I showed her to the waiting area and explained what happened tonight.

Her face went red with fury and she couldn't control the tears falling down her cheeks. She looked like she could explode at any given second. I didn't know if I should hold her or keep my distance.

'I'm so, so sorry Killian. When Claire called me earlier to ask about the florist, she made me believe that she was getting an arrangement sent to your show tonight. I had no idea she was manipulative enough to actually use me in one of her schemes. I have to go talk to her', she said, and with that carried herself to her sister's room.

I tried to protest, but she was long gone by then. The Wrath of the Titans compared to nothing when it came to the showdown that was happening in Claire's room tonight0. Even though I felt that she totally deserved it, I didn't think it was wise for us to gang up on her when she was already down.