Studying The Star Crossed Lovers

❧ Chapter 10 ☙

Claire was doing her homework when she saw a FaceTime call from Annie.

"Hey doll face, how are you?" Asked Annie into the phone.

"I'm good. Just catching up on all the bloody homework I missed."

"You know you don't have to be perfect just cause your back at school right. You can still be sad he is gone."

"I know Annie, it's just I miss him so much."

"It will get easier, I promise." Said Annie before a large knock was heard on her balcony. "What was that?"

"I have no idea. I think someone is on my balcony." Claire got up and turned on the balcony light that showed the silhouette of a man on her balcony through Claire's curtains. "There is a man on my balcony."

"Claire, can I come in?"

"Holy shit, is that James?" Asked Annie through the phone and Claire froze. She did recognize that voice.

"Annie I have to go."

"Claire if you don't tell me every single thing tomorrow then I will literally kill you."

Claire through her phone on her bed after Annie hung up on her. She threw the doors of her balcony open to reveal James holding a large bottle of rum in his hands.

"What the fuck are you doing her James? If the security had caught you then you would have been shot on site." Lectured Claire as she quickly ushered James inside, closing all her curtains and locking the doors into her room.

"Would you like a drink?"

"Why are you here James?"

"I don't know, my parents were pissing me off and I thought who else has shitty parents that could also probably use a drink."

"I don't have shitty parents." James gave Claire a knowing look. "Okay fine but you are still a dumbass."

James shrugged as he took a swing of the bottle. Claire snatched the bottle out of his hands and her throat burnt as she swallowed the strong liquor.

It had only taken them an hour to finish the bottle and they were both very drunk. Claire was spread out on her bed while James was curled up against the wall clutching the empty bottle.

"You should move out." Said James, his voice slurred.

"Why it's not like my parents ever even come to see me in this massive house. I see the maid, and the cook, and the drivers but never my parents. They are like whales."

"What."

"Whales they are whales."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Neither do I." Admitted Claire before she rolled off her bed and onto the floor next to James. "Hello."

"You are so pretty." Whispered James as he ran his hand through Claire's hair. Claire giggled as James pet Claire's hair.

"Why are you never serious? All you ever do is joke and joke and joke. I want to see you be serious."

"Serious people are sad."

"But you're sad and your not serious." Mumbled Claire as she lay her head in James' lap, her head replacing the spot of the empty bottle.

After watching a movie and eating an enormous amount of toast the pair had sobered up a little bit. They were defiantly not sober but they were nowhere near as bad as they had been before. Claire was sitting on the bench of her family's kitchen and James was rummaging through the fridge.

"You should be my girlfriend." Blurted out James and Claire looked shocked.

"Don't be stupid. That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard."

"Ouch, okay why is that the dumbest idea you've ever heard?"

"James I am going to say this very slowly so you understand. Our families are enemies. We hate each other. If we dated we couldn't tell anyone, we would have to sneak around, and our relationship would never go anywhere. It would be doomed from the start."

"That shouldn't matter."

"But it does." Snapped Claire and James looked hurt.

"We are both fucking miserable, why should we not get a little bit of happiness."

"Because it will only lead to more misery and sadness when it ends in a ball of fire."

"What if I want to risk it?"

"What if I don't?"

"I think I love you." Sighed James as he stared at Claire from across the room while she rolled her eyes at him.

"God, you are such a romantic."

"Your such a cynic."

"This isn't a movie James. This isn't going to end in us telling our love story to our grandchildren. This is going to end with someone getting shot. Do you understand that?"

"You don't know what love is, James. You think you love me. In reality, you haven't experienced real love but the idea of a secret forbidden love sounds nice. It really does but in reality, it just leads to pain, jealousy, and hurt. Especially with our families. Do you think my father would hesitate to kill you if he knew you were here right now."

"But Claire..."

"James, please give it up. Is it really worth the fight?" Sighed Claire, her voice quiet and tired.

"Yes, it is." Decided James and the subject was finally dropped. The pair went back to Claire's bedroom where they both collapsed onto the bed and slept. Expect they didn't.

They pretended to sleep but they didn't. James could hardly sleep when he had just told Claire he loved her. Claire couldn't sleep when a boy had just confessed to her that he loved her.

It wasn't the first time a boy had told Claire he had loved her. She was the type of girl boy's wanted to save. They type of girl that drew people in, the type of people who felt the need to make stupidly bold confessions. This was one of the times Claire hadn't minded a boy had confessed his love for her.

James felt torn. He knew Claire and he knew he loved Claire. Despite their family being enemies their lives intertwined. From when they were children James had always seen Claire and on the rare occasion, he would get the chance to speak to her.

Two young children dressed up like adults talking in the hiding places of some fancy mansion before they are pulled away by nannies and matrons.

At the same time though Claire hadn't said it back. She had implied there were feelings but he could not be sure she wouldn't remain loyal to their family's hatred.