A/N: I am so very sorry this took so long to get out! Thank you everyone for your feedback and patience! Special thanks again to my friends, V and C, for helping me with this chapter! Hope you enjoy!
XI
It had been a few months since Liana had spoken to or seen Claude. The day after the incident, a female teacher had replaced Claude. She wasn't that bad of a teacher, but Liana preferred Claude more than anyone else. Liana had given up any attempt at talking to Claude, and any hope that he would talk to her had left.
Liana walked down the hallway to her locker. "Liana!" Maryanne called, running over to Liana.
"Hey, Mary." Liana smiled. "What's up?"
"Hey, can you come to basketball tryouts with me?" Maryanne asked, hurriedly. "I need support, and I know how much you like basketball!"
"I don't have anything to tryout in." Liana stuck out her tongue.
"I brought a spare outfit." Maryanne grinned. Liana looked at her in disbelief. "Y'know! Just in case!" Liana sighed.
"Alright, let's go." Liana agreed. "But I need to get some books first."
"Well, hurry up!" Maryanne ran off. "You know where the gym is!" Liana giggled at her friend.
"Jeez, Mary." She said to no one, stuffing her Biology book in her backpack. "I'm only human." She smiled, barely remembering Claude. She shut her locker and stumbled as she ran to the gym, hoping she wasn't late.
Liana had slowed to a walk by the time she entered the doors to the gym. "Mary!" She called to the blonde, who had her hair up in a ponytail.
"There you are!" Mary cried, running over. "It's almost my turn! But you won't believe who the coach is!"
"Who? Who? Tell me!" Liana asked frantically, excited by her friend.
"It's Claude." Liana stopped, her eyes widening.
"Really?" She asked in almost a whisper.
"Come on!" Maryanne grabbed Liana's hand. "I can show you!" She dashed into the gym lobby, pulling Liana to the side so they wouldn't be seen. "There." She whispered, pointing to the table. Liana looked where she was pointing and nearly screamed.
Sitting at the table, watching the student who dribbling a ball down the court, was Claude. He oddly enough was wearing a butler's outfit, which no one else seemed to question. "The hell?" Liana whispered, a confused look on her face.
"I know, right?" Maryanne and Liana gasped and hid as Claude turned his head towards them. "Shit, did he see us?" Maryanne asked as the two cowered under the water fountain.
"I hope not." Liana frowned. "Why the heck is he here?"
"Hell if I-
"Maryanne Flecher!" Maryanne stiffened, hearing Claude call her name.
"Good luck!" Liana patted her friend, shoving a frightened Maryanne into the gym. "Don't even think about him!" Sorry, Mary! Liana silently apologized, running out of the gym lobby to the outside. As the door closed behind her, Liana stepped to the side, out of breath. Her phone vibrated. "Hello?" She answered.
"Hey, Liana!" Her father smiled. "Where are you?"
"Oh, hey. Sorry, Dad." Liana gave a small smile. "I'm with Maryanne at the basketball tryouts. I don't know when we'll be done, so I'll either call you when we're done, or have Maryanne take me home."
"Alright, then. Tell Maryanne 'Good luck' for me!"
"Will do. Bye, Dad."
"Bye, sweetie!" Her father hung up. Liana pressed the 'End Call' button and looked at her phone screen that had been locked with a pattern. She jumped, swiftly stuffing her phone back in her pocket as the door to the gym lobby opened. Girls who had been trying out for the team flooded out, Maryanne lagging behind.
"How'd it go?" Liana asked, glancing back at the door to make sure Claude wouldn't come out right then. "Did he do anything weird?"
"Weirder than normal?" Maryanne asked. "Nah. He just watched me as I played a small game with another girl."
"Yeah, that sounds pretty normal." Liana laughed. She halted her laughter as the door opened. Maryanne and Liana froze as Claude stepped out.
"Good afternoon, you two." He said, smirking at the two girls.
"Hey, Claude." Liana spoke blandly. "Nice to see you again." Maryanne shivered, remembering when he had thrown the knife at her and ran off to the lockers. Claude ignored Maryanne's escape.
"It has been a while, hasn't it?" Claude pushed up his glasses. Liana shifted nervously.
"Well… I think I have to go." She turned to leave, but Claude suddenly grabbed her hand. She stopped, turning her head in confusion.
"Please." Claude spoke in almost a whisper. "Don't go." He gently pulled her back to him. Liana blushed, praying that no one else was around. Claude gently pressed her head to his chest. "I apologize for being gone so long. There was an issue I needed to resolve." He held her tighter, as if silently begging for her forgiveness. Liana stiffened; as far as she knew Claude, he wasn't acting like himself. Or maybe he was. She wasn't sure. He cupped two fingers under her chin and lifted her head so that she would look at him. Liana blushed as Claude whispered softly to her. "I love you." Liana smiled ever so slightly.
"I love you too." She blushed as Claude pressed their lips together in their second kiss. Liana remained stiff for a few seconds, before slowly relaxing and melting into the kiss. Claude entangled his fingers in her curly hair, pressing her closer. They had to stop when Liana's phone rang. "S-Sorry." Liana blushed as Claude reluctantly pulled away.
"It's alright." He smiled. "Answer it." He kissed her forehead. "I will see you tonight, my queen." With that, he had vanished, as if he was never there in the first place. Liana looked at her phone and answered.
"Hello?" She said, trying not to sound disappointed.
"You two are so cute." Maryanne's voice on the other end sang.
"How much did you see?" Liana blushed.
"Everything!" Maryanne cheered.
"Don't you dare tell anyone!" Liana's face turned redder. Maryanne cackled.
"Okay. I won't!" She snickered. "Love you, buddy."
"Yeah, yeah." Liana frowned. "Love you too, smart one. Hey, are you gonna give me a ride home? Because I definitely do not feel like seeing my dad right now!"
"Eh, sure!" Maryanne nodded.
"Thanks." Liana smiled. "It's hard enough telling him I don't have a boyfriend."
"No worries!" Maryanne called, hanging up as she came closer to Liana. "I won't tell."
"You better not." Liana lightly punched Maryanne in the arm. Maryanne laughed.
"I won't." She winked. "But now Kevin owes me ten dollars."
"Why?" Liana dared to ask.
"We made a bet to see if he would kiss you when he saw you again."
"You made a bet?" Liana asked, half yelling.
"Yep!" Maryanne grinned smugly. "Now I'll be ten dollars richer soon!"
"Why are we friends?" Liana sighed.
A/N: So sorry for the wait and the short chapter! School started last month, and my Geometry grade isn't looking so good right now, so updates will take a bit longer to come out. Again, sorry! I promise I'll try and make the next one longer! Hope you enjoyed!