Hehe...yeah...I'm back (hides behind wall from throwing knives...) Well the thing is all my creativity was sucked out of me so I didn't have enough inspiration to write this...I also hit a major roadblock I wanted to portray Claire as more haughty...but I couldn't envision it so this is the next best thing...Please accept my apology!

*DISCLAIMER* I don't own any of these characters...No not even Claire...and sadly I don't own Cliff...:("Cliff, are you?" He cut me off by hiding his face in his hands. I felt even worse than I did before. I gave a small sigh that he couldn't hear and I walked over and gave him a hug repeatedly saying shh it's alright. Why did I have to fall in love with someone who wasn't in love with me? Ann's out of the picture, I'm a pretty girl, so what's to stop him from falling in love with me now? For the first time since this voice started, I actually believed it.

The day was Winter 25. I walked to the Inn to ask Doug where Cliff was. He replied with a pitying voice,

"I'm not sure Claire. Try the Winery." I thanked him quietly trying not to let tears run down my face. After the first five months of Ann marrying Jack, I got kicked out of the house and off the farm.

I walked home as the sun began to set. I had finally become used to the animals and I believed they liked me and the farming became easy enough to where I could finish at 10:00 a.m. and I wouldn't be tired. I had spent the entire day with Cliff. I had tried to get him to open up and I said to him cruelly thinking it would help,

"Ann's gone. She's not coming back. Cliff get over her." It didn't. It simply forced him to turn to the drink. Now every time I saw him, he was in a drunken stupor. Couldn't he be happy that I loved him. Well the answer to that is no. He didn't even realize. I think no one did. I hid it too well and for me to come out and release my feelings. That's just too hard for me. So when he went to the bar to get drunk, I went with him. The alcohol didn't even boost my spirits for the sliver of time that I was "drunk". I never got drunk. I would still be completely, and painfully, aware of my surroundings.

Anyway I had reached the house and had opened the door to see Jack and Ann sitting on the couch. They both turned sharply the moment I entered the house. The tension was at the point of breaking, therefore I tried to lighten the mood,

"What is this a death in the family?" They both sighed looked at each other then Jack stood up. "Jack?" I asked solemnly knowing something's wrong. Jack shook his head,

"Claire we can't afford you. Not anymore. I think you need to move off of the farm." I shouted completely bewildered by this,

"What the hell do you mean "can't afford" me anymore? I know for a damn fact that you make well over twenty thousand a day because of my work!" Ann walked politely over to me and stated,

"We want to be alone. We don't want any interruptions in the house. I really would like to have a child. But here's some money. To get you started." At this point she handed me two hundred gold. I looked at her in shock I practically yelled at her,

"I make you what you earn all day and all I get is a measly 200 G! What the hell! I knew Jack was an asshole, but you too Ann? Just keep your damn money. If all I get is what you consider charity then I don't want a DAMN CENT!" I then stormed out of the house. Jack walked outside and said,

"Claire, we need the key." I fumed at him inside my mind and threw the key as hard as I could at his face. I didn't even care if it hit his face or not.

Since then I have been working part time at the Inn. I wasn't staying there either. I didn't want anyone's damn charity. Not anymore. Instead I built a small hut of sticks, driftwood and leaves at the base of a tree I found near the Lake. Instead of saving my money like I should, I give it all to Cliff. Cliff just spends it on alcohol. I used to dream that he would stop drinking and get me a present. But I don't care about presents anymore. I just want him to kiss me. Just to feel his lips on mine. Just to feel him close to me. Just for me to feel like we love each other. Even if it's only for an instant.

Cliff's POV

Great Starry night. It's absolutely a wonderful evening. Not. Ever since Claire made me realize that I lost Ann forever, I turned to disillusion myself. Now Duke won't even sell me any damn drinks. So here I am having to deal with my "feelings". Bah whatever I'll deal with them later. I don't particularly care at this point. The only one I have on my side is Claire. She's the one that keeps my money store in the positive. I don't even know how she does it, but then again I don't particularly care. I should go see Claire at this moment so we can drink tonight away. She's always been my drinking buddy so I'm sure she'll want to do the same. I walk over to the Inn. There just walking out of the Inn! I say,

"Hey Claire! I have a question for you!" She walks over slowly. She looks so much thinner since then. She's lost so much weight she looks haggard. I usually think about asking, but I can't even deal with my problems let alone hers. "Hey um...I was wondering if you'd like to go to uh...Mother Hill with me tonight?" Her face instantly brightened as she gave her consent. She then ran back inside after telling me something I didn't really pay attention to. I was walking around when I noticed a bottle of half-drinken Gray Goose in the garbage can. I picked it up and wiped it off and started to drink. Ah, the wonders of getting drunk.

Claire's POV

I can't believe it. He asked me to Starry Night. It's like a dream come true. I-I think I'll make some tempura and some cheese fondue and some cheesecake and oh my heart! I walked over to Doug and pleaded with him to let me use his kitchen. He complied quite easily. I started to make the meals as I thought of the different romantic ideas of how the night would go!

I decided to take a picnic basket with me and I folded my blanket so we could use it to sit on. I packed all the food and walked slowly towards Mother Hill. I still had some time so I caught some fish so I could sell it. Knowing Cliff he probably needs some more money. Either way I saw that it was finally dark and I decided to walk up there and I saw Cliff. I hadn't even seen him come in so I waved and he waved back causing me to smile. Something I haven't done in a while. I walked over and spread out the blanket and as I was getting the foods out of the basket Cliff got up walked over to me. He grasped my chin and lifted it up to face him. He then crouched at my eye level and he said,

"You look quite gorgeous tonight." I blushed and then as he leaned in to kiss me I smelled it. Alcohol. He had been drinking again. I pushed away from him as I felt my eyes fill with tears as I finally realized the fact that he doesn't love me. At least not enough to stop drinking. Maybe if I confess something will change. He made a grab towards me whining, "Baby what's wrong don't you want me to kiss you." *Slap* He stood there for a moment as if reason had finally come back to him. I looked down at the ground as I yelled at him,

"Cliff. I don't understand why you want to get drunk all the time. I understand you lost your love. Well, I lost my house, my job, everything! I even lost you! Cliff I love you! Every time that you cried over Ann you don't know how much it hurt me! How many times was my heart torn into shreds. Then this I get hope...you ask me to Starry Night...I think tonight will be so perfect. And yet you decide to get drunk over having to spend a night in reality with me! Do you know how much that hurt! I love you Cliff with all of what's left of my heart...but..." I stopped to wipe the tears off my face with the back of my sleeve, "...but I don't want it to be like this! Cliff please say something! Say yes or no. Allow me to move on...With or..."I took in a deep breath so my voice wouldn't crack as I was saying this, "...without you..." Cliff looked stunned. I just stood there miserably feeling more self-pity than any one person should feel. He began his statement that would ultimately be my heartbreak,

"I'm sorry...I can't say I feel the same..."