If Walls Could Talk (Adamtina)

Chapter 13

"Christina, I hope you forgive me for this question, but I - I really need to - to ask it..." Christina's eyes focused on Claire's fingers that were now fidgeting tightly in her lap. She looked like Christina felt. Like she was struggling to get air in a room that had none. She looked like she was about to pass out.

"Is - is something going in between you and Adam?"

Christina felt her entire body turn hollow and cave in on itself as the color drained from her face in one big rush.

"W-what?" Christina managed to mumble, suddenly wondering if she was the star of some terrible dream. She tried to focus on Claire's face but her vision had gone blurry.

"Please just tell me, Christina... I'm so sorry for asking." Claire's face and voice were the living embodiment of worry.

Christina just stared back at the face that was looking at her with the fear and urgency of someone who was waiting to find out if a family member was going to live or die.

I can't believe this is happening.

"No! Of course not..." Christina finally heard herself reply, her face turning red hot.

Claire just stared back at Christina, her face completely unchanged.

"Because you'd tell me, right? Woman to woman?"

Christina felt like her whole body was sinking into the floor and she was amazed she was still upright. She dropped her cup onto her coffee table with wobbly fingers, the sharp clink of glass tearing through the tension in the air.

Oh God, Claire, please...

"It's just that he's been acting so weird the last few days..." Claire breathed, her voice weak, "and... well, I guess the other day when you were at our place, I - I could see that you'd been crying... but I - I don't know. And then... well, he - he told me you'd be in New York this weekend on some kind of photo-shoot... I don't know, I just - I just have a weird feeling."

Christina felt tears charge at the backs of her eyes, ready to attack her for her crimes. Claire just sat there almost shaking, her forgotten coffee turning as cold as the air between them. Sitting there under Claire's scrutiny, Christina suddenly felt as bad as she had yet. She felt her stomach ball into a fist as she began to speak, her voice no stronger than a breathless quiver. She felt done. She'd taken this far enough. She just couldn't live with the guilt anymore. It was time to surrender. Claire had cornered her and she couldn't face one more lie.

You were brave enough to be honest with Adam, Christina. Now show Claire the same respect. And then get the fuck out of these poor people's lives.

"Claire... oh God, Claire... I'm so sorry..." Christina broke down as she began to speak, tears spilling over as her tiny body folded forward so she could place her face in her hands. She couldn't see Claire's reaction and perhaps that was the only way she had a hope of getting these words out without passing out. "You're gonna want to hit me or - or at the very least n-never see me again, but I... oh God I'm so sorry..." Christina's wavering voice could barely form words as tears dripped down her cheeks and into her trembling mouth. She tasted saltwater. It was the foul taste of shame.

Christina heard Claire take in a sharp breath as she braved herself to look up at her. The brunette PR was just sitting there staring at her, her face contorted with shock, her mouth gaping open.

"Are you - are you two together?" Claire barely whispered, her face as white as a sheet.

"No!" Christina quickly replied, needing to make that part clear as fast as she could. "It's not that... nothing's happened," Christina continued, the corners of her mouth locked downwards as the relentless stream of tears continued. She could see a clear moment of relief find Claire's face, although she stayed stony.