Chapter 11

I came into the class awaiting Claire, I had to talk to her even if it meant I had to pull her away from her jerk boyfriend.

“Claire." I called out.

She glanced back before she was pulled away by Blake. That idiot.

As the final bell rang, I caught up with her at her locker. "Claire, can we talk for a minute?"

She hesitated, looking around nervously. "What is it, Lucas?"

She sighed, clearly conflicted. "Look Lucas, I don't wanna talk to you right now."

"Please let me explain, Claire. " I urged, my voice earnest.

After a long pause, she finally nodded. "Okay. Meet me at the park after school. We can talk there."

"Alright." I agreed, feeling a mix of anticipation and dread.

The day dragged on until it was finally time to meet Claire. I headed to the park, my mind racing with questions and possibilities. When I arrived, Claire was already there, sitting on a bench and looking lost in thought.

"Hey." I said, sitting down beside her. "Sorry I kept you waiting.”

"What do you want? I need to get home as soon as possible." she said, her tone impatient.

"Claire, I just want to apologize for everything I've done and for not being clear about my feelings." I said, my voice trembling slightly. She looked at me without saying a word. I handed her the roses and went down on one knee.

"Claire, I'm sorry. Could you please forgive me and let us go back to the way we were?" I pleaded. I might be a jerk but I don't want to lose what seemed most precious to me at the moment, Luna.

She looked shocked and embarrassed. "Lucas, please stand up. We are outside. People might see us. And you know, I have a boyfriend." she whispered urgently.

"Not until you forgive me." I insisted, still on my knees.

"Okay, okay. I forgive you. Now please stand up." she said hurriedly. She took the roses and smiled at me.

"Thank you for the roses but that was too cheeky. I never thought in a million years that Lucas Green would give me roses. I'm not forgiving you completely, but this is a huge step."

"Thank you, Claire." I said, relief washing over me.

"Now can I go?" she asked, starting to leave.

As she turned, she tripped and fell into my chest. We stood there for what seemed like a minute.

I was lost in the depth of her eyes, I tucked some of her hair behind her hair and gently caressed her face. She quickly pulled back.

"Uh-oh, I have a boyfriend." she muttered.

"You keep saying that every time, Claire. I know you have a boyfriend, everyone knows you have a boyfriend and I know for sure that he doesn't deserve to be with you." I said firmly.

"Why would you say that, Lucas? I like him, and he likes me too. I take that you're jealous."

"Oh really? You like him, and he likes you too?" I replied, my voice laced with skepticism. Deciding to ignore the last part of what she said.

"Yes." she responded, sounding uncertain.

"Anyways, now that we're friends again, can you come over?" I asked.

"Come over?" she echoed.

"I can't come over, Lucas. It would be weird going to a boy's house when I have a boyfriend. And I have no excuse to give my parents and my boyfriend." she said, looking conflicted.

"I just want to talk and introduce you to a very close friend of mine. You can tell your parents and boyfriend that you're going to see a friend, pleaseeeee.

To prove that you are forgiving me, or rather, that I have made a huge step in gaining your forgiveness." I said, trying to persuade her.

She hesitated for a moment. "Well, I'll think about it. Thank you for the roses, Luke." she smiled again.

"Don't call me Lu-." I began, but she ran across the park and waved goodbye before I could finish my sentence.

I smiled, content that she had finally forgiven me, or at least that I had taken a huge step in gaining her forgiveness.

I went home and called Darren to come over. I cleaned up the house and started making preparations for dinner.

"Hey man, what's with the cooking and cleaning?" Darren asked when he arrived.

"Claire is coming over today, and I'd like to introduce you to her." I told him.

"Ooh, so she's forgiven you?" he asked.

"No, but I've taken a huge step in gaining her forgiveness. I gave her roses, apologized, and knelt in front of her." I said.

"Wow, this is not the Luke I know. You knelt down in front of a girl?" he said, mesmerized.

"Oh, shush. She is my responsibility after all." I said, smiling with my eyes gleaming with affection.

Claire's POV

I couldn't stop smiling in the car, thinking about Lucas's sweet gesture. I'm surprised he actually gave me roses. I felt guilty because I shouldn't be feeling this happy and flustered over someone like Lucas.

He'd made me pretty upset these past few days. I mean, who wouldn't be upset if a guy kissed her and couldn't even remember?

My feelings for Lucas hadn't stopped growing, but my feelings for Blake had covered them, I thought.

I really didn't want to go to Lucas's house for anything because I have a boyfriend and I don't want any rumors to erupt. I really wish Lucas could have given me these roses sooner. I have forgiven him completely, but I'd like to see what Lucas Green had up his sleeve.

When I got home, I was pretty excited. Mom noticed the roses and asked, "Claire, where did you get the roses?"

"Oh mom, someone gave them to me as an apology." I replied.

"Wow, the boy must really like you to give you roses."

"Mom, I never said it was a guy who gave me the roses."

"Oh, I know it was. I've been there." she said with a knowing smile.

I shyly went upstairs, feeling my cheeks flush. I spent the next few hours looking for an outfit to wear to see Lucas. My phone rang from the bed where I'd put it.

"Hi Blake, how are you doing?" I said.

"Hey babe, I'd like to take you for dinner tonight." he said.

I thought about what to say because Lucas had already asked me to come for dinner, so I lied, "Um, I won't be available tonight, Blake. I have to go see a friend of mine."

"Oh really." he said. "Okay. If it's that important, then you should go."

I felt guilty as I ended the call. Eventually, I found an outfit to wear. When it was time, I dressed up, took my pretty pink shoes to match the pink dress, and grabbed a white Gucci bag to go with it.

I waved my mom and brother goodbye, telling them I'd be home late because I was going to a friend's house. The driver took me over and dropped me at Lucas's house door.

I was welcomed by the fresh smell of pasta and lasagna. I walked into the living room and saw a boy who looked like he was in his early 20s, tall, with blonde hair and nice features. He looked breathtaking. I was yet to see Lucas, but it seemed like the guy was Lucas's friend.

Lucas came into the living room, happy to see me. "Claire! Oh my, you're here already." He was in an apron covered with flour and oyster sauce. He looked so goofy and cute in the apron. I smiled and chuckled a bit.

He noticed. "Oh, you think I look good in the apron? I know, right? I look good in everything." he said, boastfully.

"Oh please, you're too full of yourself." I teased.

I went over and hugged him. He seemed startled by my gesture, and I became nervous because I felt like I did too much. But to my surprise, he hugged me back.

"Welcome, welcome again to my house, Claire Ravenwood."

"Thank you."

"You can have a seat." I sat down, and he brought orange juice to me. He introduced his friend to me.

"Claire, this is Darren. He's my longest friend and very close buddy."

"Hi Darren, I'm Claire." I said.

"Claire, nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you."

"Well, really?" I asked.

"Yeah, because Lucas couldn't stop talking about you every time I saw him." he said.

I smiled and got flustered at what Darren said. "Oh." I replied shyly.

Lucas hit Darren on the head and shooed him out of the room. I giggled as the two went into the kitchen, hearing Lucas scold his friend.

Lucas and Darren eventually came out of the kitchen after so much bickering. Darren served the dinner on the table and Lucas called me over.

"Claire, it's time for dinner. I have to go upstairs to change." he said.

"Why change? This outfit already looks good." I replied.

"Oh, so you do like how I look in the apron?" he teased.

"Whatever, just do what you want." I said, avoiding his gaze.

Lucas went upstairs to change into something more comfortable, while Darren lit candles for a cozy atmosphere.

Darren asked, "How come you're friends with him? I've never seen him hang out with any females or even males outside. He doesn't know how to keep relationships."

I replied, "Oh, I guess it just happened that way, that we became friends, even though sometimes I do wish we weren't just friends." I said in a sad tone.

Darren noticed the awkward tension and looked at us both. "Let's play a game." he suggested.

"What kind of game?" I asked.

"Let's play 'Never Have I Ever'" Darren proposed.

"Huh?" Lucas asked, surprised.

"Yeah, let's play that." Darren insisted.

I raised my arms up in agreement.

"I'm in." I said.

"I'm in too!" Darren exclaimed.

"Uhmmm, anything that doesn't involve blood." he said nervously.

"Yeah, I was right, weirdest dude ever!" I teased.

"Agreed." Darren added, and we both chuckled.

We all sat down on the floor, our legs folded under us, in a circle.

"So, Claire, you go first." Lucas said.

"Okay, okay. Never have I... Never have I ever... Never have I ever slept during a class!"

"What?!" Lucas and Darren both exclaimed.

"Yep!" I said.

"You're really the nerd Lucas says you are." Darren said, chuckling.

"I'm very passionate about my grades!" I defended, feeling a bit proud.

"Okay, okay." Darren teased.

"My turn." Lucas said. "Never have I... ever sleepwalked."

"You sure have done more than that." I mumbled.

"Huh? What did you say, Claire?" Lucas asked, his eyes narrowing in curiosity.

"It's Darren's turn!" I said, quickly changing the topic.

"Hmm, Claire, I also wanna know what you said." Darren insisted. That sneaky boy.

"Okay, don't say I didn't warn you, and for the record, I didn't force you." I said.

"Spill it, Cee." they both urged. Their eyes fixed on me.

Darren actually seemed more fun than I expected, so casual with me.

"Okay, okay, I'll talk." I said, taking a deep breathe. "Uhmmm, Lucas..."

"What about Lucas?" Darren asked.

"Yeah, what about me, Cee?" Lucas added.

They were both staring at me, waiting.

"He kissed me in his sleep!" I blurted out.

They both were dumbfounded. Darren's mouth popped open, then it turned into a mischievous smile.

"Was it a French kiss?" he asked with a sly grin.

"What?!” I hesitated for a while. "Yea-..."

"That's crazy, bruh." Darren said, hitting Lucas playfully.

Lucas looked like his soul had left his body. He raised his head and looked at me apologetically, his eyes filled with regret.

"H-h-how come, when, Clair-e... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-..."

"It's okay, you thought it was a dream." I said.

"Was that part of the mixed signals you said I gave?" Lucas asked, his voice soft, filled with disappointment.

"Yes." I admitted.

"Shit." Darren muttered, shaking his head.

"Claire, would you please forgive me? I messed up very badly." Lucas apologized, his voice trembling with sincerity.

"Don't worry, I enjoyed it." I said.

They both had that dumbfounded look on their faces again.

"What?!" they said in unison and shock.

"Uhmmm... you liked it?" Lucas asked nervously, swallowing hard.

"You wanna have another one?" I teased, a mischievous glint in my eyes.

"What?!" they both exclaimed, even more shocked.

"It's getting hot in here." Darren said, fanning himself dramatically.

"Just kidding, just kidding. Let's have dessert. I'll make ice cream." I said, standing up.

Lucas looked like his soul had been ripped out of him, still processing what I had just said.

I hopped to the kitchen. I think I love this trio friendship. Haha.