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Title: Claire's Letter
Author: obisgirl
Characters: Paire
Genre: Romance, Angst
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters. Tim Kring, NBC, etc own them. No profit is made from this fic.
Notes: Part 1 of 2

Summary: Too scared to openly admit her feelings to Peter, Claire decides to write him a letter instead…

"Claire, are you here?" Peter called as he entered the apartment, dropping his coat on the couch and walking to the refrigerator. As he opened the door, he noticed a white envelope taped to the fridge addressed to him. "For Peter" was written on it, in her handwriting. It was with one of these pink gel pens Claire used for school and doodling. He thought it was cute and opened the refrigerator door, removing the envelope at the same time.

Peter opened his soda and sat down on the couch, staring back at the envelope. As he sat there, he remembered Claire and the way she'd been acting all week. Peter and Claire had been living together for about a year now but this past week, she'd really been acting really weird. Normally, she would be her bubbly self around him but lately, she seemed more closed and set him at a distance.

He asked her many times if everything was okay but she'd smile sweetly and say that she was just having a hard time at school. Peter knew that wasn't true because she was the smartest in her class. There was something else that was bothering her but he didn't know what it was until now, until this letter.

Peter slowly opened the envelope and removed its contents. Again, the stationary was typical Claire too. Light blue colored with small teddy bears decorating the corners with smiles on their faces. She used the same pink gel to write on the stationary. Peter sighed, admiring the thought and care she'd taken into preparing this letter. Obviously, whatever was on her mind was very important to her but he couldn't understand why she couldn't come out and say what was on her mind.

Peter took a sip of his drink as he started read.

// Dear Peter,

I know this may seem silly to write to you like this when we see each other almost every day and talk very often but this is different. Lately, you have noticed how distant I've become. You've asked me many times if everything was all right and I'd smile sweetly, saying everything was fine. It's not.

The truth is, I've been in agony all week over this because we're so close…best friends but I have a confession to make to you Peter. You're not my best friend anymore. You've become something else to me Peter, something else even dearer.

To be honest, this past week isn't the first time I've felt this way about you. I've tried to push away my feelings and hide them but somehow, they always seem to resurface. I'd convinced myself that these feelings…they were nothing until I caught you with Simone at home a week ago.

You didn't know I was there but I was, watching from my bedroom. I had my door slightly open, watching the two of you. The way you acted with her, I wished it were me sitting across from you and not her. It broke my heart and I quietly shut the door, put on my headphones and listened to my ipod, going over my homework.

The next day after school, I dropped by Nikki's and relayed to her the events of the previous night. //

Peter cringed. Claire was there in the apartment when he was on his date with Simone. He thought she was staying late at school for a study group or to meet friends. Peter continued reading.

//I cried to her about the previous night and she recommended that I talk to you about my feelings. She said it was the only way my agony could end but then I realized if you didn't feel the same way, I would feel even worse. So I decided to write this letter instead. First, I thought it would be a safer solution and there would be no awkwardness between us. Secondly, it's easier for me this way to write to you on this subject. Thirdly, I won't sound like some babbling, blonde teen --- //

Claire scratched out the following lines and Peter laughed.

//Like I said before Peter, you've become something else to me during this past year and I've been afraid to say something to you because you're my roommate. And if this backfires, I'm afraid of what will be become of us. But you deserve to know the truth, regardless of the consequences. //

Peter stopped there. Did he really want to read on? Of course, part of him wanted to know why Claire had become so distant to him lately. Another part of him dreaded the coming answer. Peter decided to go with the first.

//I love you, Peter. //

Peter gulped. That was a lot more than he expected from Claire. A crush maybe but her saying that she loved him…that was a major surprise.

//Maybe I've always loved you, I don't know but I thought that you deserved to know the truth. Finally, I ask if you love me "you" being underlined then knock on my bedroom door. I'm already home, going over my homework and anxiously awaiting your reply.

Love,

Claire. //

Tbc