Knock, knock, knock.

"Hello? Claire...? John...?" Allison tentatively cracked open the front door and stepped inside. "Is anyone home?" She was a bit worried that there was no answer and the door was unlocked; John Bender was not one to trust his neighbours; he was of the belief that you always lock the door behind you. "Hello?" She continued walking through the apartment, anxiety building within her until she stopped in the bedroom doorway.

"Oh Claire..." she whispered upon seeing her sad form in the corner. Claire was hugging her knees and didn't even seem to notice anyone's presence until that moment. "What happened?"

"He left," she choked out.

"Oh." Allison's heart broke a little when the redhead looked up, her face stained with tears and mascara.

"I said horrible things, Allison. I didn't mean them, he just made me so angry...you know how he can be," she sniffed.

Allison stood there, feeling awkward and not knowing what to say. She felt like she should say something, but all that came out was another "Oh." Silence hung in the air before she ventured the question that was on her mind, "You told him?"

"About France? Yeah, I told him. I knew he wouldn't take it well, but I figured he would be alright about it. I didn't expect him to blow up like he did. I don't know. I mean, I certainly didn't think that it would escalate like it did."

"You know John. He doesn't always know how to deal with his insecurities. You do know that's what all this is about, don't you?"

"I think it's about him being an asshole."

"Come on, Claire. It's about him being afraid that you're going to go over there and find someone else. He thinks that you'll forget about him."

"Yeah, well, he's doing a great job of making me want to have him right now, isn't he? He treats me so well," she retorted sarcastically. "You know, maybe I would be better off without him."

"You don't really mean that, do you?" Allison asked in a small voice.

Claire hesitated before replying. "No. I don't know. Maybe. We're so different, maybe we're not meant to be. We fight all of the time..."

"Can you honestly say that you don't want to be with him anymore?"

"No," she replied meekly.

"He just needs to cool down and then you guys can talk about it. Explain to him that you're going to miss him when you're gone and that you'll only be gone for 3 months. Tell him that you're his and that you love him and that you're not going to forget about him while you're away. Let him know how you truly feel, Claire, because if you don't then it's not gonna work out between the two of you. You can't be afraid to take that chance because if you are then you're gonna loose the one thing that you're so terrified of losing and it will be your own fault."

"Are we still talking about John and I, or are we talking about you and Andy?" she questioned her friend gently.

Allison paused, then offered her a small smile. "Same difference." Just then they heard the front door close.

"Hey princess." John entered the room, looking defeated. "Allison" he nodded in a depressed greeting. "You know, I ran into Sporto at the old hangout."

"Yeah, well, I should probably get going and leave you two to talk. See ya later," and with that she left.

"I have to get to class." Claire said as rushed out of the room. She hung her head low as she walked past him, avoiding his gaze.

"It's past eight at night. What class are you going to?"

"I have some work to make up. I'll see you later."

"Where are you really going?" he asked suspiciously, following after her out of the room.

"I told you, I have work to make up. I'm going to the library to finish it." She brushed past him on the way out the door. "We'll talk when I get back."

"Maybe I won't be here when you get back," he threatened.

"Fine, whatever, John," she called over her shoulder, not looking bothering to look back as she left.

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