Juliet and The Hunter (Hiatus)

Chapter Four

Coach Lawrence is the kind of teacher who has no qualms with handing out detentions to avoid doing his chores himself. This is why Claire and Toby sit on the gym floor wrapping splintered hockey sticks with sports tape. It's an incredibly tedious task and the silence has dragged on long enough for things to become awkward. Hesitantly clearing her throat, Claire attempts to initiate conversation, wisely avoiding probing for details about the fight, she settles for small talk.

"Gonna try out for the play this year?" she asks quietly, but her voice slices through the heavy silence.

He looks up, mild surprise washes over his face before he shakes his head. Claire isn't surprised; he rarely partakes in any social or extracurricular activities since the incident and becomes increasingly introverted each day.

"Maybe you should try for Romeo," she half-jokes. "Then I wouldn't have to act opposite Steve this time."

She had intended to lighten the mood, but that plan backfired as she realises she's hit a nerve in mentioning his name. She offers an apologetic smile and he shakes it off, returning his attention to the wrapping and peels up the last few fudged turns.

It's no secret how Claire feels about Steve, so she decides to go ahead and say what she has to. "I think it was great, what you did," she starts, gaining enthusiasm as a hopeful smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. "I've never seen anyone stand up to him like you did! It was so brave. Good job Tobes."

Suddenly, Toby looks like he's seen a ghost.

"You look kind of pale," she points out, placing her hockey stick to one side and shuffling closer, as if she were to examine him.

His mouth is dry. "That's. . . that's what Jim calls me."

She pales. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to–," she tries, but he silences her with a stony expression.

If there's one thing Toby can't stand, it's when people pity him.

"It's okay," it isn't. "I just don't like talking about it," everyone's too afraid to ask.

Claire has always been able to see through people's icy facades; no one's been there to listen, so Toby doesn't know how to talk. Instead he's let the pain build up inside and Claire can see he's at his breaking point.

"Talk to me Toby. I'm here," she places a hand on his shoulder. When he searches her face, he only sees earnest and an endearingly concerned expression that makes him feel like he could tell her anything. Lifting his mop of auburn hair, Toby smiles and, for once, it isn't forced.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed that chapter and if you did, don't be a silent reader! Thanks to my beta midnightpansy!

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