How to Steal a Happy Ending

•twenty eight• The spread of illness.

"Love is a serious mental disease."
-Plato

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Stupid, stupid, STUPID son of a- "Argh," I gave the damn machine another slap upside its head. Apparently, I had a terrible touch when it came to box-shaped contraptions; first lockers and now vending machines.

The girl in poster laughed at me, a large bottle of cola already in her hands, a quaint drop of the sickly, brown liquid I'd craved sitting on her lavish bottom lip. She got my middle finger in return and also a frown that threatened to etch itself permanently on myforehead.

Evening was eminent here outside the cinema. It was located off the side of the highway between White Fields and Brentwood, and by being so caught a bit of each town.

                 

The flashing lights, the colorful stacks of candy at the concession counter and the thick scent of freshly popped corn kernels and melting butter- all this along with the rows of newly furnished seats made up for its admittedly drab, unassuming exterior.

And here in the dusty grey of the sun's six o'clock descent, I could finally see what I was. The roads were quiet and the looming presence of the tree line could be made out from behind the streetlights. I was alone.

                 

The only company I could speak of were those in the movie posters pasted on the walls, smiling at me from behind their Plexiglas cases. The light from inside them illuminated small half circles along the sidewalk.

On my own, it was hard to remember how to make the same 'plastic trees' smile as those motionless pictures. Strange, because I used it so often during the day that one would think I had it down to an art form.

Yes, I was alone. Maybe stripped bare of costume and pretense. But I preferred the stillness of this scene to the one unfolding inside the theatre. In fact, it was because of movies like those that girls like her thought they were better than everyone else. They told them that they were the protagonists, factually and irrevocably, and only they deserved the 'happily ever after's given out at the ending.

The scowl was back and bigger than before.

I couldn't just sit here and let her chase me out of my own life, I had to do something and do it before it was too late...but do what? Break them up?

With a sigh, I dropped down to sit cross legged, back resting against the vending machine. Its subtle hum and the occasional swish of a car passing by were the only noises that hung in the air. I had to do something, true, but I couldn't be that girl.

Although... "See, I asked but her, but I'm still waiting for an answer."

                 

The halo of the machine's light around me was now, by the birth of an idea, more of a devious gleam. Although, technically they weren't together yet.

I rose to my feet again with what could only be the drumbeat of single minded determination pounding within my veins.

                 

I just had to convince one or the other that whatever it is they thought they had could only go downhill. Which it would. The player and the nerd was essentially oil meets water; they don't mix for a reason. And when I prove it to them, they'll thank me, and cut their losses.

                 

Isn't it wrong to interfere like that?

No, the real question is- who gives a shit? No one, that's who.

Because if wanting to get the guy and have a happy ending was a crime then everyone in that theater was guilty of it- buying tickets to watch a two hour dream reel of their fantasies play out on a silver screen.

And all the while they're too busy imagining themselves as the lead to realize what it was they were really seeing. The end credits roll but they still don't realize.

And they probably never will

Not until they're back home, dropping into the outstretched arms of sleep. Even then it'll just be an inkling, soon lost in the void of their subconscious.

But unlike them, I was wide awake.

Unlike them, I didn't have to hide behind grand words like right and wrong.

Because, unlike them, I'd realized that everyone was the villain of someone else's story, even the protagonist.

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A/N: 

I'm so sleep deprived *_*

What do you think of Claire's reasoning, her decision? Do you think she should just let them be and move on? Is all real fair in love and war? What's the worst thing you've done in the name of love? (hehe, this question just makes me think of Snape ...Erm- yeah I clearly need more than three hours of sleep today )

but please don't forget to vote and comment!