Drinks 'n Dares

Bonus Chapter:

Bonus Chapter:

Claire's POV

"So," I said, once we were alone in Harvey's room. "This talk has been a long time coming."

Harvey settled in onto his desk chair. He didn't say anything but his eyes spoke volumes.

I came and sat on his bed, facing him. Taking a deep breath I said, "I don't know where to start...so I'm just going to go for it. I forgive you."

"You do?"

I nodded. "Yes. I've been working myself up to for a while now but you really hurt my pride, what you said and I - I've just been having trouble with it. But I really got way more worked up than the situation warranted. I mean, yes, you were a dick-"

"That I was."

"-But I didn't exactly make it easy for you."

"No Carla," he scooted his chair forward and took my hands in his. "Don't apologise. I deserve what you gave me after all that stuff I said. Even if you hadn't been standing there it was a dumb move. I was a jerk to you and I'm sorry."

"But I was all those things you called me! I was desperate and pathetic and worse. It's how I always act with guys and it always goes wrong." she sighed. "You were right."

"No I wasn't! I was wrong, so, so wrong." he said feverishly. "Carla you're beautiful and you're clever and you make me laugh like no one else. You have your faults but so do I, and plenty of them. Everyone does. Why - why don't we just agree to forgive and forget."

"A great man once said to forgive but to never forget." I said quietly.

He cocked his head to the side. "Then let's not forget. Let's keep it as a lesson between us. So that we don't screw up like that ever again."

"No. Let's just screw up in entirely new and interesting ways."

"Exactly."

We both laughed. Then I swallowed hard. It was time to get to the more difficult part of my speech. "The thing is," I said, eyes downcast but hands squeezing his tightly. "What you said about me really hit a nerve-"

"If I could take it back-"

I held a hand up. "Please. Let me finish. What you were saying really hit a nerve. It was something my friends and my family have been telling me for a long time. I throw myself at guys and expect them to fall for me, and then when they don't I realise I made a fool of myself and that makes the fall so much worse. Making an idiot out of myself with you gave me the push I needed to start changing...have a little more dignity. I dunno. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm working on it."

"And us?"

"Well...you know that I'm attracted to you." I rolled my eyes. "You certainly already know that. And I'm assuming that you're at least partially attracted to me." he heartily confirmed this. "But I don't want to be that girl. I want to try for a little while...to be something else. I think I'll stay single for a while. I'll see what I can be without a man in the equation, with just me. And it's not like with my acting career finally taking off the ground and Claire's wedding coming up that I'll have a lot of spare time anyway. Are you okay with this? Will you be okay?"

He smiled slowly. "I agree completely. I don't want to mess up whatever it is you've got going on, and I want pressure you into a relationship you don't want, and that I'm not sure would work. If we're meant to be then we'll work out someday and if not we can just be great pals."

"Aww." I grabbed him in a hug. He returned it tenderly. Then I pulled back. "Oh! Oh shit, I forgot to get you a birthday present!"

"What?" he gasped faux-dramatically. "How could you?"

She grimaced. "I guess I was so wound up with making that speech that I forgot all about that."

"That's okay." he grinned. "I'm sure I'll live."

"Are you really sure? There isn't something I could get you?" I pleaded. "It would honestly make me feel better." I could see him wavering and so I pulled out the puppy-dog eyes. "Puh-lease."

"Fine." he said at last and pretended to think. At last he came to a solution. He leaned in close. He looked me square in the eye. And with a look that told me there was not a snowball in hell's chance that I would grant his wish he asked, "I demand a kiss."

So when I put a hand to his cheek and gave him a slow and tender kiss on the lips I think he was honestly shocked. You could have pushed him over with a feather at that moment, and in all honesty I was tempted to try. But I pulled back. And the best thing I'd seen all day was when I saw his cheeks go red. Because it meant despite all my words, and the fact that I was really going to follow hem, his rosy red cheeks meant that he must have felt something too.

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Hey guys, sorry it's been a while. This is my first update from University. Hope you like. The Carla part was just a bonus because there was no way I could do that scene from either Jon or Claire's point of view and I needed to establish what had happened. So lucky you! You got a sneak peak inside Carla's head. So did you like the chapter? No like? Love? Loathe? Please review and tell me! I'm all ears. Stay tuned for Claire meeting Jon's family...

Atramento

P.S Don't forget to vote for your favourite character! The poll is on my profile page.