"It'll be fine – just act natural."
Claire caught the panic in Gray's hushed tones and felt her pulse skyrocket.
"How did you even manage to rope me into this?!" she hissed.
He gave her a knowing smirk, offering his arm out to her. "You know you can't resist me, Babe."
Claire closed her eyes to avoid showing the room how hard she was rolling them. Muffling a groan, she took the outstretched arm and followed his lead, the clicking of her heels on the marble not sounding like her own footsteps.
Lost in the sea of unfamiliar faces, she clung to him as they pushed through the crowd.
"This is stupid..." she murmured into his ear, her lips turned up into a fake smile.
"Oh, I know!" A foreign-sounding jolliness was injected into Gray's voice as he spoke aloud with a laugh, nodding in greeting to a few couples that Claire assumed were family, friends, both, or neither.
"If he finds out this is all made up, then what?"
Gray led them to the refreshment table, pouring a glass of punch for both of them. "Then the lying asshole can have a taste of his own medicine," he replied calmly, holding the glass out for a toast.
I don't see how that makes this any better...
Claire hesitated, clinking her glass against his.
She noticed his body language freeze up immediately. Gray's father was on the far side of the room, motioning that he was busy, but would get with them in a bit.
She watched the color leave his face as he stared blankly ahead.
Oh, I thought he was exaggerating when he said he was terrified of him...
She reached out and gave his arm a squeeze, snapping him back to life. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs as if he had been submerged underwater for an extended time.
"How about we get some fresh air on the balcony?"
"Yeah."
She found she was the one guiding him this time. She was grateful to see that the only ones out here were a few couples who seemed lost in their own worlds; they would have their privacy out here.
They both leaned on the railing, taking sips of their cocktails. The city lights illuminated the world below them, stretching out as far as they eye could see. The sky had few visible stars – a stark contrast to the view Claire had grown used to on her farm.
"Sorry for draggin' you into this," Gray mumbled. "I was bein' selfish."
"It's alright," she replied by reflex. "Well, I mean... I want to be here for you. I know seeing your father again after all these years isn't easy."
He took a large swig from his glass. "You can say that again." He turned his head from the city lights, giving her a crooked smile. "But I'm glad you're here."
They listened as the sounds of the city mingled with the faded music from within the dance hall. She was startled by Gray's sudden gruff voice.
"Y'know... Dad always said I'd never land a partner with an attitude like mine..." He shook his head with a huff. "Maybe he's right, though..."
There was a loneliness that she had seen in his eyes only once before. He had been telling of how his family split apart and his father had abandoned him and his mother when promises of what he deemed 'a better life' came along. He quickly learned that the 'better life' he was speaking of was money.
She placed a hand on his arm and opened her mouth to speak when he interrupted her.
"You don't gotta say anything if you don't wanna. I'm not lookin' for pity."
She said nothing, but moved a little closer, resting her head against her friend's arm.
"The lights sure are pretty," she murmured.
"Yeah... you... you're pretty too."
A smile curled on Claire's lips as she gently bunted his arm with her cheek. "Thanks. You clean up nice, too."
He said nothing in response to this, but she noticed the corners of his lips twitch upward a bit.
"You ever miss it out here? Seeing the lights and all the people? There's a lot more to do out here, that's for sure."
Claire swirled her drink in her cup, the ice cubes musical against the glass. "It's different than back in Mineral Town. I wouldn't say it's better or worse. Just... different."
"Huh..."
"Gray?"
He made a grunt of acknowledgment as he finished his drink.
She squirmed a bit, her eyebrows furrowing with worry in spite of herself. "Would you really be upset if I ended up leaving Mineral Town?"
He nearly dropped his glass and whipped around to meet her, his eyes wide. "Wh-what's going on?! Y-you're not, are you?"
She gave him an apologetic smile as she shook her head. "No."
His breath escaped him in a deep sigh. "Then what the hell are you getting me all worked up for? Goddess, tonight's stressful enough as it is..."
She let out a sigh – it was eating away at her, after all. "I don't feel comfortable lying, even if it is to your father."
"Well, that ship has already sailed, Sweetheart. I've already told him that I've got a girlfriend."
"You could've brought Cliff or Kai along for support."
"Well, you were the first one that came to mind and-" Gray stopped himself, his cheeks flushing crimson. "I... uh... I just feel like I'd be most comfortable with you here."
He put down his glass, taking her hand and giving it a desperate squeeze.
"Look, I don't wanna be a liar like my old man, either!"
Claire gulped, her heart racing. "Well, then... don't." Her glass joined his on a nearby table and she wrung her sweaty hands. "I mean... wh-who says it has to be a lie?"
He tilted his head at her. "What are you talking about?"
She leaned in toward him, standing on her tiptoes as she looked up at him with parted lips.
"Uh, Gray...?"
"H-huh?"
"Not to be that person, but... I can only reach so far..."
They shared a chuckle as he leaned down, taking her cheeks in his hands as their lips met.
