Studying The Star Crossed Lovers

❧ Chapter 11 ☙

Her madness hath the oddest frame of sense, such a dependency of thing on thing, as e'er I heard in madness.

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"Are you two just plain stupid?" Shouted a woman as she threw cold water on a hungover Claire and James as the lay in Claire's bed. Claire rubbed the water from her eyes and the blurred woman became Annie.

"Annie, what the fuck are you doing here?" Croaked Claire as she sat up next to an equally hungover James.

"No the better question is what the fuck is he still doing here?"

"Well I was sleeping but you came and ruined that." Groaned James as he pulled the covers over his head.

"Claire your mum is on her way."

"Fuck!" Shouted Claire as she got up and began rushing around her room. James' hoodie was lying on the floor next to the bottle of whiskey. She threw the bottle in the bin and the hoodie into her washing basket.

James got up and hid in Claire's closet while Claire was shoving the windows open and lighting a candle.

"James, what are you doing in there?" Asked Annie who was on the verge of giggling.

"Hiding."

"James, Claire's mother likes to pick out her clothing. She is going to head straight for the closet."

"Then where do I go?"

"Hide in Claire's study. Her mother doesn't really go in there. Stand in the closet in the study and shut both doors behind you." James ran out of the closet and into the study while Claire got back into bed and Annie jumped on the bed beside her to cover up the fact a second person was in the bed.

The doors of Claire's room opened revealing Claire's mother who was immaculately made up. She stared lovingly at the girls in front of her before she made a beeline for Claire's closet.

"Good morning my darlings, how are you both today?"

"Good."

"Okay." Sighed Claire as she wiggled deeper into the covers.

Claire's mother walked out of Claire's closet with two full outfits in her hands for each of the girls.

"I was thinking we could all go to brunch together and just have a girl's day. Let's go shopping, you two deserve a treat."

"Sounds lovely Mrs. Whiting."

"Annie, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Diane? You are making me feel old."

"Mum, do we have to? Can't we just do something here?"

"Oh darling are you feeling okay? Should I book you another therapist appointment? We can get you back on anti-depressants if you need them. We want you to get better."

"I'm fine."

"Honey you can't just say that because you have said that in the past right before your most serious breakdowns."

"Do I miss Justin, yes, but I am in control of my mental state, yes. Give us twenty minuets to get ready and we will meet you downstairs and we can go to brunch." Diane gave both the girls a kiss on the forehead before she finally left the room.

The entire time James had been in the closet listening in on the conversation and he was shocked. He had never known that Claire was in therapy, on medication, or that she had ever even had a mental break down.

There was a seriously belief in their community that your mental health must be perfect. People weren't encouraged to be human. They were encouraged to be slightly psychopathic in the way they killed without fear. But being vulnerable and being open, that was considered a death sentence.

James thought he was close to Claire. It made him realize that he truly knew very little about her. If Claire had a soulmate it wouldn't be him, it would be Annie who no matter what made sure Claire was comfortable and happy.

Claire didn't have to voice what she needed to Annie. Annie knew what Claire needed to make sure she didn't go over the edge.

Of course, the friendship went both ways. When Annie needed Claire then Claire would use every recourse she had to help Claire. They were perfect for each other. While Claire needed emotional support, Annie needed financial support, and they were both happy to offer the other everything they had.

"Claire you go take a shower and get ready, I'll deal with the boy in your study." Said Annie as she pushed her friend into the ensuite knowing Claire wasn't ready to confront James after what he had just heard.

When the bathroom door shut and the shower began to run Annie opened the door to the study.

"If you tell anyone about this your a dead man, got it, Dancy? Now put this hat on and take my car back to your house. I want it at school on Monday though. Avoid the pool as there are heaps of security cameras around there. Climb back the way you came." Said Annie as she handed James her car keys and a large cap.

"You're a good friend Annie."

"James, whatever you think you know you truly don't. When you see her pretend you didn't hear shit. If she brings it up, listen, but don't bring it up yourself. No get the fuck out of here and if you two are going to meet again don't do it here, that's a death wish."

James climbed over the edge of the balcony and dropped down to the ground below. He thankfully made it to Annie's car and Claire watched in a towel as James drove off of her property.

"He said he thinks he loves me last night."

"What? And you didn't think this would be good to mention any earlier?" Laughed Annie in mock outrage as she fake tackled her friend onto her bed.

"We should probably get dressed."

"Yeah, I think your parents would have an issue if they found us lying on your bed with you in a towel and me half-dressed." Laughed Annie as she pinched Claire's exposed arm.

"We would cause a scandal."

"Ruin the Whiting name."

"It would be in the papers for weeks."

"The whole of Great Britain would be traumatized."

"The Queen would weep."

"Bet you Henry wouldn't mind though." Teased Claire as she brought up her friend's boyfriend.

"Eww, he wouldn't wouldn't he."

"Didn't he say that would be his dream threesome."

"Oh my god, I'm dating a perve." The girls burst out laughing before composing themselves for brunch.