Redamancy

Chapter 3: Claire

As quickly as it happened, a week had gone by with Claire not being able to talk to her friend. It had felt suffocating to the redhead; like her own thoughts had been choking her, waiting for her to want to tell someone about what she's been feeling before all of this. From back then to now. Claire had passed by Andre multiple times at school, approached him after their classes, and even tried talking to him at lunch. The redhead's efforts seemingly fell on deaf ears as she tried again and again throughout the day to try and prod the former boxer to talk. Eventually, on the walk home; Andre finally cracked, finding the words to say- at least he hoped that he did.

"Andre, please just talk to me! You didn't hurt me, it was a reflex-" Claire pleaded, yet was cut short by Andre's abrupt speech.

"...Then why did you look so scared? I'm not going to try to pretend I understand you." Andre solemnly replied. The boxer clenched his hands tightly in his pockets as he walked, Claire now matching his stride. He wished he hadn't said anything, he wished he'd kept that thought to himself. Maybe it'd have been better that way.

"...Please, I want you to be able to move closer to me. There's so much I-" Claire began, abruptly cutting herself off. She choked on her words, the truth failing to leave her lips.

"There's so much you what? Is there something that happened that I don't know?" Andre replied, rubbing the back of his head. "Claire, this isn't some kid's playground secret... if there's something bothering you-" The ravenette stopped himself from finishing that sentence. He knew that if something had her by the throat and hurt her this much; he was in no position to lecture her.

Claire could only silently nod- he was right. There were layers to her person that she could never put him through. Could never tell him. She had enough trouble trying not to completely spill out her feelings towards him without it coming out like word soup, or even worse- something akin to word vomit. Claire was never good at using her words- and this rang true even as a teenager. He was all the girl seemed to see- and he hadn't been aware of how hard she fell for him; regardless of what he felt.

Claire heard Andre's phone go off, which he found it had been from his brother. The text made the boy scoff in disbelief. The redhead looked over at the text, her face turning a beet red from embarrassment. Andre was told to stay with her for a few days- as Jayden would be going out of town on business. The former boxer had been rendered speechless, and the redhead wanted to scream. For once, this was a situation where Andre had been the one who did not want to be alone with the other because of their current situation. Unfortunately, he didn't have a choice in the matter. Claire seemingly lived alone- and the only other place she can go is up the road to Mr. Benny's.

"...Alright, come on- we're gonna go and get your stuff. You live in the apartments next to our place, right?" Andre sighed, wishing he didn't have to share his space with a girl. And a girl he physically couldn't touch, as well as liked.

"..Yeah, third floor, third door down." Claire replied, blushing. The redhead kept her stride ahead of him, allowing him the luxury of falling a step behind her.

Claire moved with a certain elegance about her- but also with some roughness around her edges. The ravenette thought to himself as she walked. Claire wondered how on earth could she repair this tear in their friendship. A part of her knew that she herself hadn't done anything wrong- it had been scars from times long past that made her act the way she did. She walked up to her apartment complex with Andre in tow- a constant reminder of how she managed to keep up appearances.

Sliding a key card through a slot near the entrance; the large doors unlocked, allowing Claire and Andre access to the complex. Climbing two sets of stairs led the two to the third floor- where Claire's apartment waited. Claire turned to her friend and smiled sheepishly.