Project Shady

Three words

''You don't mind if I drink right?'' Clara asked Marshall who'd sat himself on the sofa with the Pizza they'd just ordered in front of him on the little coffee table.

''Nah it's ok,'' he replied, chewing on the slice he'd just taken out of the box.

''Just checking, here's your coke,'' Clara wandered back over to him handing him the can. He thanked her as she took a seat next to him placing her glass on the table next to the Pizza box.

Marshall watched taking a sip from his coke as Clara turned the TV on and started flicking through the channel. He left a little as she huffed, obviously not finding anything interesting to watch. He was about to ask if she had any actual films they could put in, but once he realised she'd pulled up Netflix, he didn't even bother suggesting it.

''What do you wanna watch?'' Clara asked placing the remote down in front of him. The action made him look at her as if she'd gone mad, he had no idea what he wanted to watch and evidently she'd didn't either.

''How about we just get to know each other, you know, since that's kinda the reason why I'm here now,'' he pointed out.

''That's why I'm getting you to pick what we watch, then I'll know what you like,'' Clara pointed out, picking the remote up and shoving it into his hands, while he was reaching into the box for another slice of Pizza. The action took him by surprise and the remote slid through his fingers hitting him square on the foot.

''Fuck why'd that hurt so much,'' he cursed out, bending down to pick it up.

''Aw has Marshie hurt himself,'' Marshall just glared at her as she put on a childish voice to mock what had just happened to him.

''Fuck you. We ain't watching shit now I wanna know about you even if ya don't wanna know about me. Start talking,'' Clara had no choice because once Marshall had picked up the remote he'd stuffed it into the pocket of the jacket he had been wearing. This meant it was out of reach and so she was unable to use it.

''Fine I'm Clara Taylors, Thirty-two...''

''I want to know about you, not just facts Clara like where you're from who were you working for before me, your family,'' Marshall had cut her off, overwhelming her with questions he wanted her to answer. There were plenty that Marshall reeled off with, so many she stopped paying attention. Instead, while he spoke she tried to create answers for the ones he'd most likely wanted answers for.

''Ok stop I'll tell you some stuff about me ok,'' Marshall nodded stopping with the questions that seemed to just fall out of his mouth.

Clara took a deep breath, sure she was able to tell when somebody was lying, but she didn't know if Marshall could or couldn't, meaning she had to be careful with what she said. Although the answers she'd planned in her head did have elements of truth to them. The amount was up to others to decide.

''I'm an only child no brothers or sisters,'' first lie, she actually had an older brother, but he wasn't exactly on great terms with the law. Clara couldn't keep up with the number of times he'd been in and out of prison, she didn't even know if he was still inside or not.

''Really, I got my brother Nate. Thinking about it now, I don't know how, but having a younger brother made me more responsible,'' Clara nodded, before then continuing to answer another one of the questions he'd asked her.

''I worked as a secretary for some small company in the Uk. Wasn't very exciting I wanted something else so I just sort of stumbled across the application form for being your assistant and I just thought what the hell,'' Clara hated lying to Marshall. He wanted to generally get to know her and it hurt her so much knowing that he had no idea that everything she said to him wasn't going to be true. She had no doubt he'd hate her guts if he ever found out who she really was, coupled with all the lies she was feeding him too.

''To be honest with you I had no idea Paul had even placed the add until he said he'd hired you,'' maybe it was the alcohol or the comment was generally amusing, but it made Clara crack a small smile and she even let a giggle slip.

''Marshall can I be honest with you now,'' he nodded. Clara shifted closer to him on the sofa, taking the coke from out of his hand she stared straight into his eyes.

Marshall wasn't sure what was happing, but the closeness of her made him take in every single one of her unique facial features. From the deep green pools of her eyes to her soft looking pink lips. He hated the cut that was clearly visible on her forehead, it ruined her face. Thankfully it was a lot smaller than it had been that morning when he'd first saw it, but that still didn't stop him for hating it.

''I'm not who you think I am. Please don't believe everything I tell you. I'm not saying everything I say is a lie, but I'm telling you to pick and chose what you think is true,'' Marshall frowned, what Clara had just told him frazzled his brain and to say he was confused was an understatement.

''So are you saying what you just told me is only the truth if I chose to believe it. I don't understand you, Clara, I just can't get an accurate read of you,'' he mumbled the last bit, however, Clara still heard him.

''I've got secrets Marshall plenty of them. When I mean plenty I mean I've got plenty to take to my grave. I can't tell you everything about me because I just can't. You'll understand one day I promise.''

''Clara I don't...'' Clar cut him off, laying her index finger over his lips to stop him from saying anything else. It was then she'd realised the alcohol had taken over her because she'd moved even closer to him, close enough to smell the cologne he was wearing; he could now smell the sweet scent of whatever perfume she was wearing too.

''I'm tipsy and you shouldn't stay any longer because I'm gonna say or do  shit I'm gonna regret,'' she whispered. Marshall wasn't sure if it was sexy or slightly intimidating, either one kind of turned him on, that he couldn't deny.

''So, it's just us,'' he took her finger off his lips to hold her hand. Clara whipped it away and scotted away from him before she stood up from the sofa. he watched her with interest, yeah she still confused the hell out of him, but it made him still want to know what was really underneath the woman who stood before him.

''That's not the point. You have to go, I'm sorry.''

''No why can't you tell me. You were fine a second ago and what type of lightweight gets tipsy over one fucking glass of whatever the fuck you were drinking. Wait what were you drinking?'' Marshall exclaimed standing up, causing Clara to take a step back.

''Vodka, but I may have been sneakily drinking it throughout the evening, you know since I finished sorting out my bedroom to then help you in the kitchen,'' she confessed, a hiccup bubbling it's way up and out of her mouth, ''I haven't got a problem if that's what you think,'' she added.

''Didn't think ya did. I'll only worry if you start drinking during the day. Any last words before I accept your request and leave.''

''Any last words, before I blow your brains out kiddie-winks.''

Clara started to shake and walk further and further away from Marshall. He frowned confused at her actions, her face was completely pale, her hands were shaking. Marshall looked over her worried as tears quite clearly started to fall down her cheeks.

''Don't ever say those words,'' her voice came out as a harsh whisper.

''What? What did I say? Clara?'' He asked rushing over to her before she collapsed.

''last words and the word any. It makes me see things, bad things. Just don't repeat it please,'' he nodded as she pushed away from him.

''Right I won't. Um I guess I'll see you tomorrow at the studio,'' she nodded.

Marshall rather reluctantly made his way to the door. He didn't want to leave, he wanted to know more about Clara, wanted to make sure she was also ok, but it was quite clear she didn't want to tell him anything. She gave him a small smile in an attempt to reassure him. However, as he made his way down the stairs and out of  the building towards his car , Marshall couldn't help wonder what type of horror Clara had witnessed for it to come back to her when simply three simple words were uttered.