Clawen • What comes next

|| CHAPTER 21 ||

They picked up some takeout, got home, ate it all. Maisie being the one who ate most which left her new family very impressed. "What an appetite" Karen had said with a laugh and Maisie had looked down in an attempt at hiding her shy smile.

They stayed at the table hours after having finished. Karen had put out some snacks after they cleaned the table. Their conversation made its way through yet another explanation to what had happened, since Zach was very unaware of the crisis in the past two weeks. Getting through that, they then explained a bit more about Maisie, and the girl got some words in there as well. Then to more details about Claire and Owen, and how chaos always brought them together. Everyone but those two thinking it was quite funny. Eventually the topic landed on the boys and what they had been up to.

As Zach was telling everyone about the trip he had gone on with his school, Owen sitting across from Claire, started to notice that she looked a little off. He sent her a questioning look which she just waved away. Don't worry about me, I'm fine. Classic Claire. But as the conversation went on and got over to Gray and his recent obsession, Claire started to look worse and worse. Squirming in her seat and looking not well at all. Owen sent her the same look but more firm, really needing to know that she was okay and it was just him being crazy. But before she could wave his look away, she stood up quickly and excused herself, before she practically ran down the hallway and slammed a door closed.

They all looked around the table, Maisie looking at Owen, both of them looking nervous as hell. He told himself to pull it together and not show fear. He had to be the bigger man and make sure the girl was comforted and didn't get more scared than necessary. The boys looked a little confused and Karen send Owen a look. "I should go check on her" He told her and stood up. "I'm sure there's nothing to worry about" He said as he left the table. Maisie was left sitting with people she barely knew and Karen quickly grasped the reality of the situation. "I think we have some candy somewhere" She told the girl and even tho Gray was the one wooing, Karen could see the way Maisie's look calmed down a bit.

Walking down the hallway, he had no idea what door Claire was behind. "Claire?" He softly asked out loud and stood still to listen for any sound. "Claire baby where are you?" He then asked, starting to get rather nervous. No sound. Just before he was about to slam down every god damn door in the house, he heard the unlocking of a door and turned his head to the bathroom. The door was slightly open now and he walked over to it, slowly pushing it open. "Claire?" He asked again. As he made his way into the bathroom and locked the door behind him, he found his girlfriend on cold tiles, with her back against the wall. Eyes closed and still not looking well. He quickly crouched down beside her and brushed some hair out of her face, which he realized was covered in sweat. "Claire baby, please tell me what's wrong" He said which made her open her eyes, turning her head slightly to be able to look at him. "Do you want the truth?" She asked, her voice almost inaudible and sounding like it was holding back a sob. He desperately nodded and took her hand in his. She sighed and said. "I don't know" Sounding like she was about to faint. "But Claire, what happened. You have to tell me because you are making me really nervous" Sounding like he was holding back a sob himself, Claire finally let a tear fall. "I just suddenly had to throw up, I don't know Owen I just don't feel well at all" He pulled her into him, careful of not making her feel any worse. "You think it was the food?" He asked, stroking her hair. She shook her head and took a deep breath. "I've been feeling off the whole day, I've just been hiding it as to not worry any of you" Another sob escaped her throat and he cuddled her further into him. "Claire baby don't do that. I want to know if you aren't feeling well, even if its just a sniffle. I don't want you to keep things from me in fear of me getting worried. That's exactly what I'm here for, to help you and take care of you in the hard times. Claire baby please don't shut me out, ever again" A single tear escaped his eye and made its way down. Claire continued sobbing into him and whispered. "I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry, I'm just really bad at this whole thing and you know that. I don't do relationships because I tent to screw them up. I don't know how to open up, how to share my worries and troubles. I don't know how to be more than me. I'm really trying Owen I am, but baby you have to guide me the rest of the way" A crying Claire said. Owen could feel his heart breaking. She looked so lost, so vulnerable, nothing like his strong confident Claire. "I promise you Claire" He said and took a deep breath "I will never, ever give up on you, I will try my hardest to not let you down. I won't hurt you on purpose and I will help you through all your troubles, through all your worries. I'm here for you. Forever" A sob escaped both their throats and Claire quickly leaned up to kiss her oh so perfect man.

She quickly pulled away though, having realized what she was doing mere minutes ago. "Sorry, I forgot I just threw my whole stomach up" She said, which made Owen laugh. "I don't care" He said and went in for another kiss.

Okay this one was short but it was also sort of intended? DON'T GET MAD!

It fit well and so I did it.

You guys love me pfffff. You know I'm kidding right? Not even my dogs love me lol.