𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒆

𝑰𝒕 𝑮𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕

Even when I pour my heart out a lil bit, he still manages to find a way and bring her up. Am I really that jealous? When I got up from the couch, I felt the alcohol begin to hit me. I tried playing it off by making small steps toward the kitchen. I was obviously getting drunk..I don't know why I decided to drink since I can't handle my alcohol too well. My tolerance is mad low to be drinking heavy shi like that.

I wiped my face with a napkin as they spoke on the phone. Her voice sounded so flirty and inviting that it was making me genuinely sick. I came to sit back down beside him and he hung up the phone after saying their goodbyes to each other.

"What was that about?" I asked him curiously.

"It was nothing." Louis said while putting his phone onto the table.

I shouldn't even care at all but I couldn't even hide this hatred in me any longer. It's like every time I think about them together, I start getting so toxic and mad about it.

"Sounded like something to me.." I said under my breath then continued to sip on a cup of wine.

"Well it wasn't, so forget about it. Is it bothering you?" He replied with an intent of reassurance.

"I wouldn't know because you won't tell me what it's about."

"Claire, it's not that serious. It was just a short, brief conversation about Irene. What is yo problem?"

"Who is she?" I started to blurt out what I've been thinking about this situation the whole time.

Louis furrowed his eyebrows and took a better glance at me.

Louis's POV

I noticed that Claire's eye were glazed over and she was slurring over her words.

"..Are you..drunk?.." I tilted my head. I was getting concerned about her.

"That wasn't the fucking question, answer me.." She said back to me harshly. She sat herself up and her eyes were starting to water for some reason. I didn't understand what she was getting angry about. I was trying to think but I couldn't just draw any conclusions yet.

I knew how to handle these situations because of my..past wife. I couldn't stop myself from seeing my past wife in her from the way she was about to cry..and how she was drunk

It's my fault because I had let her get so addicted to the drugs and alcohol that she developed the problems she did..

I didn't know how to react. What if I said the wrong thing and it makes her lash out?

I went in for a hug to try to calm her.

Claire pushed me back as tears rolled down her face.

"I can't fucking do this shit."

"Claire.. "

She got up and stumbled as she walked. I got up immediately to follow her close behind and grabbed her wrist. I finally got to know her and even opened up to talk to her because I felt a little spark there.. And I wanna stay because she has unresolved trauma. I don't think she's toxic, I know that she's hurt and I want to heal her. Friendship is all about trust so I'm not trying to lose it before I even build it with her first. Even if it doesn't work out I still would like her to be apart of Irene's life outside of teaching. The way Irene's mood changes when she sees her or hears her name makes me feel like she'd be safer..

"Just listen to me" I said. I maintained a calm voice with her as the situation escalated right before my eyes.

She snatched her hand away then turned around to scream at me with pure hurt in her heart.

"THEN JUST FUCKING TELL ME. HOW AM I GONNA WANNA BE WITH YOU IF YOU KEEP HIDING SHIT FROM ME? HOW THE FUCK ELSE AM I GONNA LOVE SOMEBODY IF THEY KEEP FUCKIN AROUND" When she snatched her hand, her nail scratched up my eye and I pulled away I'm shock.

She wants to be with me?.. No..

My mind blocked out that thought because I'm not interested in love, I want to be there for her as a friend and nothing more. Than that. I couldn't take another blow to the heart like that again. Repeating history with someone else is no use. Besides, I can't be with someone in just met. Love takes time and love takes work. I feel that she doesn't get the concept of that. She doesn't "love" me. She loves the way I treat her which is a difference..

Blood trickled down my cheek but I didn't give up on her yet. I couldn't.

I went back in to snatch her arm then pulled her into me.

Wrapping my arms and securing her tightly. Her sobs went into my chest and her nails dug into my back.

"Let it out.. "

"Just tell me bro. That all I wanna know. I just wanna know who it is. You ain't gotta lie, and do all this other shit tryna beat around the fucking bush. " her voice dimmed down with every tear.

Her hands gripped the back of my shirt and I put my hand on the back of her head.

"It's a kind woman from your school who volunteered to babysit Irene sometime and I figured that now would be the time. Okay? "

"You're lyin to me.. Your lying.. " Claire's knees wobbled and I held her to keep her from falling.

I continued to be there for comfort until the slurred words were accompanied and replaced by calm snores. I pulled away from her and carried her bridal style into her bedroom. Tucking her in and leaving her be. Before I left to go pick up Irene and stay home for the night, I cleaned up the mess, prepared her coffee for in the morning and left her a text saying

"Don't worry about last night, instead enjoy your coffee. Take a day off for yourself and I'll always be here when you need me. "

With that I left the house with the cut still remaining on my face. Deep and memorable