A big thank you to supernae, Jean Cooper, and now youroctober! Wow! Three reviews for one chapter! Haven't seen that in forever! And thanks for the comments! Now for some interesting news: Before I announced the remaining chapters, I decided to combine two previously written chapters into one because I felt they were too short by themselves. But I changed my mind. Three more chapters after this!! Yay!

Now, for the big reveal. Those of you who've been reading this for awhile probably saw her decision coming from a mile away at this point… or did you? Now I'm making you paranoid. Read away:

Chapter 14: You Can't Handle The Truth!

One cloudy morning later, Claire sat upright on her bed, while Doctor Trent sat patiently right by her. The formerly bed-ridden farmer appeared quite well, now; however, an air of weariness still hung about her.

"Hey, Doctor." Claire uttered with a weak smile, "I think… today's the day I can finally leave."

The good doctor looked on in astonishment.

"Really? Does that mean--"

"Yeah. I'm ready to fess up. You were right all along… all of this panic really hasn't been doing me any good. And… thanks for all your help." Claire replied.

"Good for you!" Doctor Trent nodded, "I knew you were so shaken up, and it made you hesitant, but I'm glad you finally found your ground."

"I just didn't want to worry them anymore. And you were right: it wouldn't do me any good to keep it from them the whole time. They have a right to know… but I'm still afraid why might happen. I still feel like I might be betraying Mary's friendship, and Gray… well, knowing him, he just might lose it."

"But now for sure you're willing to put your trust in them?" Doctor Trent asked.

Claire nodded.

"They're my friends, Doc. I don't really think I have much of a choice here."

"I see. In any case, I'm glad you've renewed your faith in your friends."

The anxious blonde put a hand up to her heart, and stared thoughtfully in the air.

"They're the nicest people I know… and I 'm really hoping that stays true after I come out with it. No, I have to be sure that it stays true…" she said aloud.

" "Gotta be taller than your troubles", right?" Doctor Trent reminded her with a wink.

"Yep, like what Dad always told me. Though I really wish I had some big stilts about now." Claire replied with a weak laugh.

Slowly, the outgoing patient got out of bed, then reached for the door.

"I don't think you'll have much to worry about between the two of them. They genuinely seem as nice as you make them out to be, and they tend to be rather honest about, to." Doctor Trent assured her.

"I'm still a little nervous about Gray's reaction, though. I'm a little worried that it might have him running for the hills." Claire confessed.

"Maybe not. From what I've seen of him, he just might surprise you." Doctor Trent suggested coolly.

"I hope you're right." Claire replied softly.

For one brief moment, the doctor and patient exchanged serious looks. Doctor Trent then formed a confident smile and a single nod, while Claire returned the favor with a smile and nod of her own. She turned the knob slowly and surely, and opened it in the same manner.

"Good luck, Claire. And goodbye."

"Later, Doc."

And with that said, Claire finally closed the door behind her and headed off to face her moment of truth.

Back at the library, the lone librarian was mulling over the absence of her good friend.

"It's almost been an entire week, now. I know what Doctor said, but I'm starting to get really worried now. I'm not even sure if a cold, or even a case of excess fatigue should take this long to heal on its own. Oh Claire, I don't know what's wrong with you, but I really hope to see you well soon. Gray's been starting to throw a fit over it as well."

The eyes behind Mary's usual frames started to tear up. She then lowered her head with another agonizing thought in mind.

"If it isn't illness, is it my fault? I know Gray and I have known each other longer, but… it's still not fair. Maybe I should've told him about my suspicions and have the matter resolved between the two of you, or perhaps I should've been upfront with her immediately. But, you also seemed to be getting along so well with the doctor. Am I being selfish? Do I even know fur sure what I'm thinking? Ugh… no, that's it. She deserves to know. We've been friends for so long, and yet all this time I've been too nervous to say anything about loving Gray and make her worried that I might try to exclude her. I just have to assure her, because she's my best friend, and nothing will change that…"

In a sudden burst of drama, the library door swung open in a very familiar fashion.

"Claire! You're okay!" Mary cried with relief.

The librarian's eyes continued to tear up, but her face lit up with her friend's health restored. However, Claire appeared far more solemn.

"Mary…" Claire began, "I'm really sorry I've worried you this whole time, especially when it was all because I worried myself into being sick."

"It's… it's okay! You're fine, and it's all that matters." Mary replied with a meek smile.

"Thanks for being so glad for me, but I think there's something I have to tell you." Claire continued, "All this time, I don't think I've been fair to you. I mean, I just started realizing something important, and all I did was freak out and camped out in the hospital because of it. I think I just betrayed all the kindness you've given me as my most awesome best friend, but I really, really don't want you to hate me for it…."

"Claire…" Mary uttered. "N-no, I won't hate you. I never will. To be honest, I don't think I've been all that fair to you, either."

"Don't be silly, you've been very fair to me. Maybe even more fair to me than you think," Claire smiled. "I'm still so afraid right now, but I just know you had to be the one to know this first… because I really, really trust you…"

"She must know that I love Gray…" Mary thought to herself.

Claire took a great deep breath, as Mary watched on in anticipation.

"Claire, thank you…" replied Mary with a warm, soft smile, "You don't have to worry. I promise you we'll be friends no matter what it is you have to get off your chest."

The anxious blonde farmer clutched her heart in agony, and then lowered her head, unable to look in her best friend's eyes. She took one huge, deep breath, and finally calmed her nervous.

"This whole time, I've felt really glad to hang out with you and Gray. The two of you have been my best buddies. But lately, whenever it is I start to think of the two of you, my heart starts to ache. It was weird… really, really weird, because I've never really felt this way before. And then whenever we start talking about Gray together, it starts making feel all scared and anxious. The talks with each other just started getting more and more awkward between the two of us because of it! I really wanted it to stop, but my heart would start pounding like crazy and it would never stop!"

"Claire, that feeling…" Mary started.

"No, I found out what it is, now." Claire answered, "I just wish it wasn't true…and I was really hoping it wouldn't split us up because of it. I didn't want you to see as an awful person because of these feelings, Mary. I didn't want our friendship to end…"

Mary could see the fear and suffering swelling up in the panicked farmer's heart, and immediately embraced her to comfort to her.

"I…I don't want it end, either…" Mary assured her sympathetically.

"You mean too much too me, Mary! But I couldn't help it! I… I'm in love with you!"

"It'll be okay. I'm fine that you're in love with her, and I'm sure--"

Upon realization of what she just said, Mary froze in place as Claire decided to back up. The two of them looked at each other in uncertainty.

"C-Claire… d-did you just say--?"

Mary then slowly raised a finger, and pointed to herself, and Claire nodded in reluctant confirmation.

Um…

-flees-

Sorry! Really! I know what the summary said, but I really wanted to go for something out of the blue! If you read a review from StarrNight earlier, that MIGHT have leaked some unintentional spoilers, even if it was a joke. Of course I had to cover it up! But I wasn't lying, either! Claire wasn't SUPPOSED to seem conspicuously bi throughout most of the story up to this point!

I guess that means if any of you feel uncomfortable at this point, go ahead and leave the story. I won't stop you. But if the category of this story offers you any hint, and by that I mean the lack of "Romance" label, there WON'T be any girl love makin' in this story. It's mostly innocent stuff, and lemons and limes make me gag. If you're still ready to finish up this story, then enjoy. : )

Next up, we take a journey to the past as Claire has a flashback about a talk with Doctor Trent. It's probably the most bizarre talk about the birds and the bees ever, but if you love these two talking together too much, it won't bother you at all. It's touching and sweet, and if you didn't figure out why Claire didn't feel well in this chapter, it should be made very clear the next. Until later…