Chapter 8 - Mending

8/4/2019 Chapter 8 - Mending

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Welcome!

Reading the two chapters prior to this one is strongly

recommended.

Are you holding on tightly? Were in for a bit of an emotional

rollercoaster...


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Ding-dong!


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The student who opened the door had a pleasant face and

rather unfortunate facial hair.

Hi! You wouldnt happen to be Claire, would you? Castor

mentioned an alien.

Half alien, actually.


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Terribly sorry. he said, leading her though the door. I think

Castors in the living room if you want to see him.

Thanks.


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As Claire passed through the house, she couldnt help noticing

the bad state it was in. A remodel, perhaps?


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She entered the living room and froze upon seeing the tangle of

limbs on the couch.

C-Castor?

He jumped at the sound of her voice and stood up quickly. Thegirl stayed sitting and wiped a trace of lipstick from the corner ofher mouth.


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Claire! This isnt what it looks like. Shes just an old friend who

was stopping by-

What kind of friend is she and how long has she been

stopping by?


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Are you accusing me of something?

Yes, yes I am! I want to think that this is only a one-time thing

but it isnt, is it?


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Shit, you didnt reallymean it when you said you loved me, did

you? I thought you were just joking around!

She tried to fight it but a tear leaked from the corner of her eye.

I dont want to see you anymore. Were finished.


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Dont be such a child, Claire! You think you can stay safe inside

your little legacy bubble but this is the real world, kid! Grow up.

She kept walking and pulled out her phone.


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I have to go, Abby said upon reading the text. Claire just

broke up with Castor and she needs me. Gwen was at class so

shes already on her way.

Its nearly dark, I could come with you, Jericho rose hastily.

Please, for once dont argue with me, she said, although her

tone indicated otherwise.


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I dont understand you. Youre as argumentative as ever but

you know how you feel.

She stopped at the door and turned slowly.


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He crossed the distance between them.

You know, dont you? Youve realized but youre acting the

same.He chuckled weakly, I can read your emotions but I cant

read you.

Maybe I know that you would read me too well if I let you.


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Speculation is overrated.


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---


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I know. It hurts.

How could I have been so stupid, Gwen? What was I thinking?

The first guy to come along is never the right one. Even if he had

been faithful I couldnt marry him. I shouldnt have been the

heiress. They should have picked you.


17/52

Its a good thing they didnt. I know it feels like your heart is

breaking right now but itll get better. You can move on.

Gwen felt a small prickle of guilt over the last sentence. Who am

I to be giving relationship advice when Im hung up over a girl I

have no chance with?


18/52

That still doesnt change whats happened because of him.

Corey and I had a stupid fight and I got so wrapped up in dating

that we never fixed things. I havent spoken to him in so long.

Gwen had no answer to this. She simply stayed and they mulled

over their broken relationships.


19/52

Hey, Lara hugged Dillon tightly. Its so good to be out of the

house. Claires been moping for weeks now and everybodys

tiptoeing around everybody and there are midterms coming up

and lets not think about any of that.

Okay. Lets focus more on us.


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For example, am I going to ever meet your parents?

Youll probably meet them at their birthday party. Why?


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Its only proper, he shrugged casually.

Oh, come on. Propriety isnt exactly your thing, Lara smiled

flirtatiously as they walked across the square.


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It is in some aspects of life. I love you, Lara.

You know that I love you, too.

Enough to be with me for a very long time?


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A smile began to creep over her face. Yes, she managed to say.


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He sank to one knee and pulled out a velvet-covered box.

Enough to marry me?


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Yes.

Just like her father, Lara got engaged in the rain...


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Claire felt different. She couldnt say whether she felt better, but

maybe having your heart broken was something that changed

you forever and you dont realize how different youve become

until you find the right person.


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Seeing her cousin so happy and about to start her life with the

man she loved was bittersweet. It reminded her of everything

she thought she was going to have and everything she could still

have.


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Still, there were times when she felt so unhappy with herself

and the choices she had made that she would just cry. She

would let out all the pain and continue with her life.


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That probably wasnt healthy.

She needed a change, and a fairly big one at that. Thats why

one Tuesday near the end of her Sophomore year Claire made a

phone call.


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Hello-and-welcome-to-Unkempt-Beauty-where-we-believe-

that-youre-beautiful-the-way-you-are-but-if-you-want-to-

change-anyway-then-youre-in-the-right-place-this-is-Tina-

speaking.

Hey, Aunt Tina.


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Well, if it isnt little Claire-bear! Hows university?

Not so great at the moment. Can I make an appointment?


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Im sorry that things arent going to well. Today is pretty quiet

so you can stop by whenever you want.

Thank you so much.

Any time, love.


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It was with a small sense of trepidation that Claire pushed open

the door to the salon. Unkempt Beauty was her aunt and uncles

pet project and generally a roaring success.


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Hey, sweetie! Oh, its so good to see you!

Tina pulled Claire into a quick hug before stepping back to look

at her.

So, whatll it be?


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A total makeover, I guess, she smiled.

Oh, this is going to befun!


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Tina ushered Claire into a makeover chair and looked at her for

a long moment. She muttered something to herself and tookout the scissors.


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---


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Oh, Claire.

Does it look okay?

See for yourself.


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Aunt Tina, you made me beautiful.

You always were, hon.


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Exam time rolled around not long after and no one was more

stressed than Jill. It was her last set of exams before graduationand she spent many an hour trying to absorb every word in her

textbooks.


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In the end, she had nothing to worry about. She passed with

flying colours and soon the house was filled for the firstgraduation party since Lukes days in college.


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For the most part she was happy, but there was one thing she

had to do first...


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Are you drunk? Gwen tried to sound firm but she was fighting

the urge to smile.


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Ive never been more sober. Gwen, I like you. I dont mean in a

platonic way. I mean I seriously, actually, like you. I was horriblein winter but thats because I was all confused. Not confused

because we kissed, but confused because I liked it. If youll have

me, well...


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Jerk, Gwen muttered before pulling her close.


46/52

Claire smiled one of the first genuine smiles in months. Her

thoughts drifted to Corey yet again.


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Claire!

She stopped and turned around slowly.


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Wow, you look hot.

I thought I said I never wanted to see you ever again.

But you were mad and stuff. I thought youd change your

mind.

Why are you here?


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Just cause were over doesnt mean we cant hook up.

Yes, yes thats exactly what it means.

Oh, come on.


50/52

Do you have anyrespect for women whatsoever? I loved you,

Castor, and made sure you knew that. That didnt stop you fromcrawling into bed with someone else. If you think that Im ever

going to let myself be treated like that again then youre wrong.


51/52

Well-deserved rant finished, she took a cleansing breath and put

on an evil smile.

Get out.


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Authors notes:

This chapter took forever and Im still not quite happy with how it

turned out. Future chapters will probably be just as short becauseit makes the pacing more natural and theyre faster to create.

You probably know where this Claire plotline is going, dont you?

Well, there are going to be one or two more college chapters andan interlude in there somewhere before we move on to Generation

4.

Bye!

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Chapter 8 - Mending