Chapter 25
We lay together for a while, but neither of us fall asleep. Both of us are on our sides, facing each other. We take turns looking at the other one, neither of us talking. My hand is resting on her hip. Claire puts her hand on my face, thumb by my ear and fingers at the base of my neck. She kisses my forehead, then kisses me lightly and quickly on the lips.
But I don't have a chance to turn it into round three. Before I can hold her in bed, she's up and gathering her clothes. I don't remember her moving that fast. Maybe I just got slower. I watch her begin to get dressed. I sit up in bed and rest against the wall again.
"I have to talk to Taylor," Claire says. She's buttoning her pants. "Do you know where she might have gone?"
"Probably to her apartment," I answer. The look on Claire's face is priceless. She makes it so easy sometimes.
"She has her own apartment?" she asks. I nod, still watching her dress.
"612," I say. Claire nods and finishes putting her clothes back on. She stops and looks at me. Carefully, she crosses the room and kisses me one last time. I secretly hope this isn't the last one, but a part of me knows it is. She says nothing else, but looks at me for a moment more. She leaves.
For a few minutes I just sit in bed. I don't even bother to smoke. I can feel the emotional weight I've shoved off over the years rushing back. I can see Brian and his kids. Sarah and her annoying, incessant smile. Claire. Her bright hair and her dark eyes.
I can't stand it another minute. It's way too sappy, too nerdy, too… Allison. I get out of bed and go straight into the shower. I make it hotter than I'm used to so I can focus on something other than them. After the shower I busy myself with changing my sheets.
When I'm dressed again I go into the living room. I can hear Taylor crunching away in the kitchen. She must have slipped in when I was in the shower. A new bowl of cereal is in her hands. We stare at each other for a moment.
"Mom left," she says. Then she watches me, as if to gauge my reaction. I do my best to do nothing. "I need the car," she adds.
"Fine. Just drop me off somewhere," I say. I go to the refrigerator and drink milk from the carton.
Taylor scrunches her nose slightly, but says nothing. "Don't you want to know where I'm going?" she asks. Baiting.
"No." Her eyes widen slightly, but I don't know if it's surprise or disappointment. Either way, I don't really care.
A/N: Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that the story is done. There are thirty chapters in all, so only five more to go:o)