It was getting tougher on her. The emotional torture and the fact that she felt tossed aside by the very person she cared so much about. Claire was beginning to question her judgement as to whether or not she made a bigger mistake when she chose to walk out that door the time when she did. She had done that in good faith that he would come after her but no was the answer. Tristan Jenkins had proven himself just what the paparazzi said he really was. He was a brazen liar and a casanova. She had not the thought to believe she had been taken advantage of as she could recall how she had allowed everything happen. She should have stayed with Jake whose friendship would have built in the solid basis of their love. At least, Jake was honest and she knew his family unlike Tristan whom she barely knew anything about. She had never heard mention of his family from the media. Technically his background was ghosted. Claire believed now that she had played the game of love and had unfortunately failed woefully. Now she was merely a shadow of herself and would only stay in her room mourning.
The rest of her family members had come to talk to her but she had locked herself in the first two days that had passed without Tristan’s call or text. When they could not get through to her, she overheard her father say Martha should make certain she drops her breakfast as when do outside the door. Claire had missed a couple of meals before then and was really hungry but would not dare show herself out to family. She was certain that speculations were being made as to regarding whatever it was that was keeping her locked in but at this time she did not care at all. All she wanted was to be left alone to wine and dine in all her woes. Her phone only rang when Jake or Danielle was calling that she got really tired and upset seeing those same names on her screen. He could have at the very least called the check on her or say goodbye officially. Not like it would do anything to ease her pain but she would have gotten the closure she sought at the moment. It was her first relationship and time trusting a man which had ended absolutely in chaos.
If there was a time at all when Claire hated herself, it would be this particular time when her lacking ability had cost her the man of her dreams. Yes, Tristan Jenkins was all and more she wanted in a man with all he had to offer. Had she been able to read and write, she might have seen his message and responded to it accordingly. But there also was the thought of why he would let such frivolous thing come between her and him. He was obviously a coward and less deserving of her but she too was less deserving of her very self.
Claire remained in there behind locked doors drowning in her sorrows. She had woken up this morning feeling really exhausted and managed to drag herself into the bathroom for a bath. Her room was really messy and Miller had not had his bath for two days. If Claire was being honest as well, it was the fact that she as well did not take her bath the previous day and felt like she stank badly. The dishes from the previous day had not been taken out and once she entered the bathroom, she nearly jumped at what or rather who she saw in the mirror. It was her looking rather whitewashed and tattered. Her hair was scattered in clumps as it had not been visited by a comb since that day either. She was a mess really. Claire got in and spent a good amount of the morning washing herself. She sat in the tub for a long time deep in thoughts until she found the strength she needed to get off. It was then while she had been drying herself that she heard a knock on the door. Mara listened.
“Your meal Claire.” Martha had called out.
Claire felt guilt wash over her suddenly. Her attitude and outburst had created extra work for the woman as she now had to deliver her meals to her doorstep like she was some princess or something. It was a bad habit to be reckoned with and of course Claire did not want that either. Hence, she decided this would be the last day. Upon entering her room, her eyes nearly left their sockets. She dressed up quickly and made a promise to Miller that his bath would be happening soon enough as she set to tidying up her room. She kept the dirty dishes aside so she would easily see when she wants to pack them up and then changed Miller’s water. She was not worried about his food as that was something Martha never failed to forget. She dropped the cat’s meal too by the doorstep as it would seem that he was part and parcel of the family. Claire was certain that her father must have enforced that reminder as she knew well enough how much Lucille wanted the cat out of the house. Claire decided to go bring breakfast and slowly opened the door.
At first she had not seen anyone but just as she would pick her meal, she realized someone was standing by her door. It was Deanna.
“Man you sure look like hell.” the girl said
“Thanks.” Claire responded and turned back inside to drop her own food without realizing Deanna had picked the cat’s food and entered shutting the door behind her. Claire was confused and asked what she wanted.
“Was it that celebrity?” the girl suddenly asked
“What celebrity? And why?” Claire asked her gingerly
“The one you work for. What did he do?” the girl asked again coming to sit on the bed
“He did nothing.” Claire said
“I knew he had something to do with this.” the girl said
“Please I want to be alone.” Claire demanded
“This time, that would not be happening. Your insistent crying and mumblings in the night has prevented me from sleeping well you wicked person and I am forced to make sure you do not cry again.” the girl said.
Claire was now more confused. She did not know if that was supposed to be a compliment or something. The way Deanna said it showed the energy of someone being protective. Claire did not want to let loose her guard with the girl whom from the onset had shown her pure hate.
“What do you mean?” she had asked
“What did he do to you? Do I have to kill him?” Deanna had asked.
Now for certain that was her way of looking out for her family. Claire told her for the hundredth time that it had nothing to do with Tristan even though her heart was broken in pieces because of him. She could not tarnish him further or make herself appear more weak than she already was at the moment. The girl let her eat breakfast and set off Miller’s without saying another word but still would not leave her room. She sat down there like a mother inspecting her daughter that was coming back from hell. And when Claire was done eating, she forced her to let her comb her messy hair. Claire did sit and it took a while to untangle the hair. Since when she had grown, no one had done this for her. Her mother stopped a long time ago and this caused a new amount of tears to form in her eyes threatening to drop. Claire held it in but soon it fell out and she wiped with the back of her palm.
After wards, they both went down not saying anything to each other with all the dishes. Claire saw Martha downstairs and apologized for being an ass but the woman suddenly hugged her tightly staying she understood how exactly Claire felt even though she would not admit to it. She wanted to do those dishes but Claire insisted and eventually went down to the dishes. She had washed everything and was about going to her room when a name caught her. The reporter mentioned Tristan’s name accompanied with a really heartbreaking news.
Tristan had openly gone to pick his girlfriend from the airport and funny enough she was the very first of all his numerous escapades that he had openly hung out with for the second time. He held her hands in his as his free hand pulled along her little luggage. It was heart wrenching that Claire nearly fainted. She had gone pale instantly and quickly ran upstairs to get her sneakers as she threw on her hoodie. She excused herself quickly before Martha could stop her saying she would be back soon. It was straight to Jake’s home and luckily he was home. He had opened the door for her and was really surprised to see her.
“Claire I’ve been trying to get…” he began but she stopped him short when she suddenly threw herself at him in what would appear as a really tight embrace. She held onto him firmly and would not let go. It was after a moment that he managed to break free and look deep into her eyes. He could tell something was amiss.
“What happened Claire?” he asked
“Teach me to read and write Jake.” Claire said.