Chapter 7

Claire was still very much worried about the kidnappers. She placed her chin on her hand, wondering why she would be a threat to someone.

“It couldn't be a coincidence; it looked like they were waiting for me,” she thought cautiously.

Claire pushed back into her bed, inhaling the sweet cinnamon scent of her room. Her room was her safe haven, a four-walled heaven she had built over the years. She would do anything to always return to this sanctuary.

Deciding to distract herself, Claire turned to her novel project. She eagerly opened her glitter-covered notebook and got lost in thought, trying to include a new character in the story.

Every time Claire's eyelids shut, she saw that night with Luke. Her thoughts were no longer ones she wanted to accept.

“How? I can't let myself get affected by him," she said, a glance of sadness in her eyes.

All her life, she had faced turmoils from people who were supposed to feel like a warm hug.

Despite her distractions, Claire managed to write two extra chapters, with ten more to go. She went to bed with her earphones in, listening to "What Was I Made For" by Billie Eilish.

---

In the library, where books remind us of the lives of their characters, the vintage smell of rusted iron and old paper brought nostalgic feelings to Lucas. He spent hours studying and reminiscing about life in his quiet moments.

Lucas was torn between protecting Claire and focusing solely on why he was in the city.

He closed his eyes, pushing thoughts of Claire away.

“A forbidden fruit is forbidden for a reason; it never ends well,” he said, trying to convince himself.

---

Claire's parents called her downstairs for an announcement.

“Mom, what's wrong?” Claire and Henry asked.

“My sister and her family are moving to our community!” Mom exclaimed happily.

Henry rolled his eyes and went back upstairs. "Who cares?”

“Yeah, we literally don't care,” Claire said as she followed him.

They were both oblivious to the news, which also meant their cousins were going to be transferred to Riverdale High.

Blake and Lucy, the kids of the Cooper family, were werewolves with full awareness. It seemed like everyone but Luna knew she was a werewolf.

Her father had always been scared of her finding out and playing her role in the pack, which could potentially put her in danger.

When Blake and Lucy entered Riverdale High, heads turned, and whispers spread everywhere.

Blake and Lucy had just become the most eye-catching jocks at Riverdale High yet.

Claire got the gist of it when girls rushed in, giggling about Prince Charming.

Claire stared in confusion and irritation. “What is wrong with you?" she asked, her face gleaming with disgust.

A few minutes later, the principal walked in and introduced the new transfer student who had just joined the school.

The squeals and silent screams of the girls weren’t enough to snap Claire out of her trance when she saw her cousin in her class. It didn't help that she had just gotten over her crush on him.

Blake introduced himself, and the whole class welcomed him warmly except for Lucas, who couldn’t care less about new students.

Blake sat next to Helena, Claire’s arch-nemesis. Helena shot daggers at Claire, knowing she had an interest in him.

Claire scoffed and aggressively flipped through her book pages. Lucas gave her a side-eye and chuckled slightly.

Class ended after a while, and Claire quickly rushed to leave. A tap on her shoulder stopped her. “Hey, can I talk to you for a bit?” Lucas asked.

Claire didn’t understand why she was flustered. “Oh, sure,” she replied. They both went to a quieter room.

“About our project...” Lucas asked. Claire thought for a moment. “Uh, why don’t you come over… to my house?”

“Why would I do that?” he asked, confused.

“Come over. I’ve been to your house way too many times,” she said, trying to hide her irritation.

Lucas arrived at the RavenWood house. “Claire, your boyfriend is here!” Henry called out teasingly.

“Boyfriend?” Mrs. RavenWood asked, hurrying over to Lucas and scrutinizing him from head to toe. Lucas felt insecure under her gaze—a whole Alpha curling his toes inside his boots. “No one must ever know I did that,” he thought.

Mrs. RavenWood smiled. “She's upstairs in her room. Walk straight, the second door to your right is hers,” she pointed.

Henry and Lucas were at a loss for words. Lucas nervously went up the stairs and sighed heavily. “Well, that was something.”

He took long strides to Claire’s room and knocked. “Come on in!” Claire answered.

Lucas turned the knob and peeped in, not wanting to see anything he shouldn't. Claire saw Lucas and immediately jumped out of bed, starting to pack away her laundry and snack wrappers.

Lucas stood outside the door for a moment. Henry passed by and mumbled, “Ew, she's cleaning up for a boy now.”

“You can come in now,” Claire exclaimed. She was already seated at her computer.

“Our project compilation is 75% complete. I have a printer here at home, so I could print it when it's done,” she said.

Lucas leaned down on her desk beside her. “Look over here, there's a spelling error,” he said, placing his hand on the mouse to locate the mistake. Unbeknownst to him, Claire's hand was already there.

“Uh, sorry, could you…” Lucas started, but without hesitation, Claire pulled her hand back and looked away, her face turning red.

“Nice and done,” Lucas said as he fixed the spelling errors. Claire felt his hot breath on her as he spoke, causing goosebumps to rise all over.

She turned to him and realized how close their faces were. Lucas didn’t notice her gaze as he scrolled through their work, checking for any more errors.

He noticed the unusual silence from the usually loud human beside him. Lucas swallowed as he faced Claire. Were they growing closer or is Lucas slowly tripping?. These thoughts filled both their thoughts.

They both seemed to be glued in their positions, staring, trying to read each other's inner emotions. Lucas kept trying to figure out those eyes, so did Claire.

Blake barged in and they immediately separated. “Hey, Luggard right?" Blake asked.

“It's Lucas and why are you in my room?" Claire retorted, trying to hide her embarrassment behind anger.

“Chill dude, I didn't mean to interrupt you and your boyfriend." “He's not my boyfriend, what are you here for?" Claire asked dismissively.

"Just wanted to talk to my cuz, but it seems she doesn't want to," Blake said, with a hint of regret in his voice. "I'll take my leave and come back a bit later.”

“It's alright, Blaze. We'll talk soon, I have to finish up my project" Claire said, emphatically.

Blaze shut the door behind him, and Lucas grabbed his bag to leave as well.

"Luke, don't leaveee!" Claire said, stretching her hands toward him, pouting her lips and batting her eyes slowly.

He chuckled loudly, just like the first time she had heard him laugh.

"Hey! What's wrong with your face?" He laughed even harder, walking toward her and covering her face with his hand. "Stop that weird stuff." he said with a smile etched on his face.

"You look better when you smile" Claire said, unconsciously admiring him.

Lucas nervously coughed and took a step back. "Uh, I'll see you at school. Would appreciate it if I didn't, though.” he smirked before turning to leave.

" And don't call me Luke, dumbo.” Lucas retorted.

"Complete idiot, I know you love it." Claire retorted quietly. Lucas gracefully didn't hear.

Claire's POV

After Lucas left, I headed toward Blake's room and knocked on the door.

"Who's there?" Blake called out.

"It's me, Claire," I replied, trying to sound as apologetic and innocent as possible.

"Claire, come on in," Blake responded. I entered the room, my heart pounding so loudly I thought it might burst out of my chest.

"H-h-hiya, Blake," I said, barely audible.

"We don't have to be awkward, Claire," he reassured me.

"Well, I'm sorry, Blake. I didn't mean to hurt your feeli—" I began, my voice meek.

"I feel the same," Blake interrupted, stopping me mid-sentence.

I hesitated, taken aback. "Okayyy," I managed.

"So, what do you want to talk about?" I asked, trying to sound enthusiastic.

"Claire Ravenwood, I have the same feelings for you," he confessed.

Tears stung my eyes, my hands shook as blood drained from them. What? It can't be. I've had a crush on you all my life. Blake stepped closer, and I instinctively backed away. I needed time to process what he had just told me. Bursting out of the room in tears, I didn't understand why I was crying, but I couldn't stop.

I lay on my bed, burying my face in my pillows, crying until I had no tears left to pour. Exhausted, I just needed to sleep.

__

“Ugh, what a headache” Claire sighed, wearily. Her shoulders sagged down in fatigue.

She got up from bed reluctantly. Claire walked up to her human sized mirror and bit her lip, deep in thought.

She stood straight, in confidence. “I’ve gotten my answer!" she jumped playfully.

Claire went down for breakfast with a huge curve on her face.

“You're excited, Ouuuu" Mrs RavenWood commented.

“Mom, Life isn't so bad." Claire chuckled. “That's right, my baby." Mrs RavenWood patted her head and served her more pasta.

The rest of the household were baffled, confused and unsurprised. Girls!

Claire and Lucy got in one car. Henry and Blake got in the other.

Claire hopped over to her friends and went to the first period. “Seems you're extremely happy today haha” Bianca beamed.

“Yepidi yep yep!" Claire jolted. “It's a good day my friends, let's enjoy ourselves."

Claire anticipated the end of the day so much that she kept looking over at the clock.

The day was finally over and the hour is quickly approaching.

She waved her friends goodbye and rushed home in the car with her driver. She had to talk to Blake. Claire felt her feelings had come back and there was no reason to not be truthful about it.

She's had feelings for him since forever and now that he feels the same, she couldn't help it.

“Last night, tears of joy ran quickly down my face. It was happiness." She pressed her lips together, trying to suppress a smile.