Chapter 7: Know Your Enemy

"Claire", "Claire". I could hear my name being called out but I paid no attention. My legs would not stop walking. They were pulling me forward but I had no idea where they were taking me; just far away from the church. I kept walking and walking until I found myself in the forest. I sat on an old log and finally broke down in tears.

I then heard someone walking down the path. I tried to mask my tears as they drew nearer. I turned to see who it was. It was Elli, the nurse at the Clinic in town. She sat down next to me and told me that while she was on her lunch break she saw Carter pulling Cliff out of the church and talking to him. Cliff was apparently cussing rather horribly. She heard my name being mentioned and decided to come see if I was okay.

I was sceptical at first; I had never really made any friends in Mineral Town. Elli and I had rarely spoken to each other except for a few brief encounters. I usually didn't tell people about my feelings, but I was feeling so alone right then that I declared her trustworthy. I told her all about how we met, when Cliff was leaving, Starry Night, and the fight in the church and she just listened with a sympathetic look on her face. The sun began to set and Elli and I departed home.

After that day Elli and I had started spending time with each other a lot. Even though only a week had passed we had spent the New Year's festivals together and ate lunch together almost every day; I realized I was making a friend for the first time in a long time. We tried our best to stay away from Cliff but he did give us a fair challenge. Not that it mattered I had seen him hanging around with Ann lately and decided that he had made a friend or something more.

For some odd reason I could never bring myself to cook for myself, so once again I was eating at the Inn. One night while I was eating Ann approached my table.

*Flashback*

I was just about to eat another spoonful of curry when Ann appeared at my table.

"I really hope you're proud of yourself" she sneered in a very unwelcoming voice.

What is wrong with her, I haven't even talked to her in weeks.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"What are you talking about now Ann?" I said.

"Thanks to you Cliff doesn't care about me anymore" she said loudly.

Right, because he even cared about you in the first place, I thought.

"How is that my fault? And why should it matter it's not like he cared about you before" I sneered back.

"You played with his heart. When you offered him a job you ruined all my chances of being with him. I was going to convince my dad to let him stay here for free but Claire had to save the day, didn't you?" she yelled.

Now she was angering me. Why is she blaming this on me, and why in front of everyone, including her dad.

"You know what Ann; I really don't care because no matter how much you try Cliff will never like you. We are supposed to be together and you know that." I growled.

She then laughed which made me even more furious with her than I already am.

"Oh please, if you two were meant to be then you would be together. It's as simple as that. Why don't I tell you this, after your fight in the church guess who Cliff came to see, me. And he told me all about it and about what else is bothering him. At least he can trust someone. So just give it up now Claire and save yourself the embarrassment, it's over" she stated rather positively.

What! What did she just say to me? What the hell is her problem she thinks she can just tell me off like that well I don't think so! Why does she hate me so much, she never had a chance in the first place!

I made sour face and she started laughing again.

That's the end of the line, she's gone too far. The room started spinning and I became dizzy. I was losing control.

I then squared my shoulders and lunged at her.