Alright. After no reviews T_T, I decided just to keep going. It'll get good, people, I swear!
Disclaimer; don't own anything.
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Gray's POV
I tossed a wild grape in her direction, and Claire's mouth opened and received it. I laugh.
"You're getting better!"
She grins. Her lips had turned a light shade of purple. "So do you think you'll get married some day?"
Way to lighten to mood. "... Nah. I'm better off on my own." I sigh. "I always have been."
Claire frowned. "What about Mary?"
I tensed. "Mary? ... We're just friends."
"Oh, blah blah!" She giggled. "You like her, don't you?"
"No, I don't. I like... someone else." I pull at my hat.
"Who is it? Tell me the truth!"
I shrug. "Sometimes the truth isn't enough."
She grabs my arm. "Please, Gray. Just tell me."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"That's just the way it is."
"Just because that's how it is doesn't mean that's how it should be!"
I snort. "Too bad. And I like watching you beg like this." I grin.
Claire growls. "Fine. But I'll find out some day. You bet your sweet little kiester!"
I laugh.
She frowns, standing. "I'll race you back to my farm."
I stand, muttering. "I just ate a meatball sandwich. I might get cramps."
Claire giggles. "On your marks... Get set... GO!"
--
Kai's POV
"Don't you look beautiful." I say, grinning as she sat down."Happy birthday."
"I do, don't I?" She grinned. "And thanks."
My smile faded slightly. "So... are you free on the 12th? It's a Sunday."
"Oh, yes. I'm always free for you, Kai."
We started to kiss.
--
Gray's POV
"Jeeze, Claire. You're getting fast!" I pant, leaning over.
She giggled, her breath coming out heavily. "It's so hot. That's the one thing I hate about Summer. It's too hot!"
"Yeah." I mumbled. "That's not the only thing..."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Oh."
Silence.
I scratch the back of my head. "Claire?"
"Yes?" She sat down on the grass, and I joined her.
"Do you love Kai?"
Her mouth opened slightly, and she looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears.
"I-I..." Claire stuttered. "I mean, yeah, of course! Of course I love Kai! Why else would I be marrying him?"
"I don't know." I admit honestly. "I just... I wouldn't blame you for just wanting feel safe."
"... Yeah. I-... yeah."
More silence.
She stands. "I... I think I'm gonna go inside. I'm not feeling well."
A lie. She looked fine.
"Yeah, okay. See you later." I get up and head for the front gate.
I turn. "Feel better."
She had a hand on the doorknob. "What? ... Oh. Right. Thanks."
I smirk.
--
Claire's POV
I closed the door gently behind me and run for my bed, peering out the window beside it. Gray was just standing, watching my house, grinning. I close the blinds and sit cross-legged.
I love Kai, don't I?
...
Don't I?!
--
Claire's POV
Ann slowly placed the small tiara on my head.
"It looks perfect." She grinned, standing back to admire her work. "Except this little seem at the back. It's lopsided."
She dove at it with a needle and thread. I tilted my head and gazed at myself. My wedding gown was mermaid style, and hugged my hips and thighs tightly. It flowed beautifully the moment it hit my knees. Around the neckline, it was embroided with tiny silver beads. My train was simple; milky white. May was carrying it.
"You look so pretty, Claire!" She squealed, her dark braids swaying.
"Thank you." I smile, though I feel anything but beautiful.
Kai yells from the Doctor's room. I was in Elli's. "How does it look, Claire?"
I sigh. "It looks good, honey. But you can't see it yet."
"Not until the big day." I can almost hear him grinning.
"Not until the big day..." I repeat quietly.
Then everything went white.
"Whoops." Elli muttered, giggling. "I put the veil on backwards. I can't see your face!"
Everyone laughed. When I could see again, all the girls oo-ed and ah-ed. I felt all the blood rush to my face, and pinpricks at the back of my eyes. My mouth tasted like pennies, which usually meant I was about to throw up. I needed to get out of there. Now.
So I did. I ran all the way out of the Hospital, through Town Square, down the street, and burst into Saibara's shop, crying.
"Where is Gray?" I sobbed.
The old man looked at me. A girl, weeping in a wedding gown.
"Claire?" He muttered. "He's at the Peak of Mother's Hill. What are you-"
"Thanks." I closed the door shut behind me and headed for Mother's Hill.
--
Gray's POV
The sun beat down on my face warmly. I had removed my hat, a rare occurence, to enjoy it. I folded my arms behind my head. My button-up shirt's collar pulled at my neck. I tugged at it, my eyes shut. I felt something at my feet.
Please don't be a wild dog. Please don't be a wild dog...
"Claire?"
"Gray." Claire whimpered.
Her wedding dress was ruined. The train was gone, and her veil hung half-way off. Tears were streaming down her face at an unnatural rate.
"Claire, what's wrong?" I stood, brushing myself off and rushing over to her, taking her in my arms. "Why are you-"
She broke down. "I c-can't m-marry Kai! I can't! This is too much!"
I held her tight. "Claire, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. Even if it means calling off the wedding."
"But I love him!"
"Do you really?"
"Yes!" She sobbed.
"Then marry him! Just... put the wedding off for a while." I looked in her eyes.
"But he's o-only here in Summer." She sniffed, staring back.
"So? ... Get him to stay."
"... What if-... What if there's someone else?" Claire looked down.
My mouth dropped. "What?"
"I-... I don't know." She backed away. "Just forget it."
"But, Claire, I-"
"Forget it. I should've never said that. It's n-nothing." Claire wiped her eyes and walked away, leaving me speechless.
Someone else?
--
Kai's POV
"Move the wedding?" I stutter. "Claire! We can't move the wedding! It's... It's..."
"It's only on the 25th." Claire mumbles. "I was thinking we could wait until late Fall, maybe Winter-"
"Fall?! Winter?! Claire! I won't be here!" I yell.
She yells back. "Why don't you stay!?"
"What? No! Why should I?!" I holler.
Claire's eyes fill with tears. I realize I have said the wrong thing.
"Don't you want to be with me?" She whimpers.
I take her in my arms awkwardly. "... Yeah. I mean, of course! It's just... you know I hate the cold."
She sniffed. "Yeah, I know."
"Let's... let's just think about this, okay?" I whisper.
Claire sighed. "... Okay."
"I love you, Claire, and I want to get married to you as soon as possible." I shrug. " To relieve the stress, why don't we just do it tomorrow?" I suggest.
"T-tomorrow?" She mumbled. "I... I don't know..."
"C'mon, Claire. Let's do it." I do a little dance. "Live a little!"
"I... Okay." She giggles.
I lean into her again. "Summer 10th. Our anniversary."
"Yep." She whispers. "Just one... more... day."
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I wanted to keep going, but I'll stop. I need some reviews!! Help me out, people!! ^^ Can't wait.
- emma.