Chapter SIXTY SIX (edited and rewritten)

Chapter 66

I have added few details so that my lovely readers can understand better. I'm sorry for a trash chapter last time, honestly, I tried this time to give my best. Hope you like it. (I've also changed a little bit of scenes)

Who would've thought that a tired chandler and a troubled Claire would be sitting on the either sides of the bath tub, while one was placing ice prank on her lips and other was trying not to fall asleep in the warmth of his hoodie.

"Why are we in the bathroom?" Claire asked.

It's not like they walk into the bathroom to.. discuss about literally anything. But here they were.

"To talk, duh. So that your parents don't hear us over." He said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He rolled his eyes and leaned back. "Will you go first or should I?" Claire lowered her head and stared at her muddy feet, licked her numb lips and clenched her fingers around the ice pack. She really just wanted to shoot Brady on his forehead.

"What do you know?" She mumbled.

Chandler's breath hitched and he leaned forward, eyes dark. "If Nate hurts you one more time, I'll take him down."

He sounded like a psychopath, but looking at his skinny frame, no one would ever imagine him sticking to his words.

"Take him down? What are you, an alligator?" She scoffed. "I bet you can't even handle social media hate."

"I'm serious." He smiled. "I.. I heard you talking to Lucas."

She nodded her head. She knew he was standing there, she knew he heard every word she just said. But it didn't matter. Chandler knew about the whole thing, except.. except what Claire did.

"I saw you." She said.

"It's been ages since you opened up about this to anyone. Do you like him so much?"

Claire nodded again, unable to draw words to reply.

It was true. The only other person who knew about Vincent was Adam. Other than him, she couldn't bring herself to tell about it to anyone, not even Hailey. And then, there was Chandler, her cousin, who was present when the events took place. Chandler was beside her on every step.

She felt safe, being with her cousin.

"I didn't tell Lucas everything."

"I know."

You too.

Claire heaved a heavy sigh and closed her eyes. She wanted to have a word with Lucas, with his dad, with Nate when he sobers up and she also wanted to meet Adam. There was so much going on in her head, she wanted to melt down or burst into tears. But here eyes were dry.

So dry, it started stinging.

"I haven't told you everything either." She whispered.

"What is it?"

She went quiet, and Chandler swore the silence was weighing on her shoulders, so much it hurt him to see her this way. He didn't expect her to say that.

"I received.. a letter today. From Brady Clark."

Chandler knew he was Lucas' dad, and that he was the world's biggest business man. Famous, rich and fire in his words. Brady knew how to play. And he'll use all the cheats and tricks he knew and make it the best game ever played.

Chandler gulped. "..Brady Clark? Why?"

She didn't know how to explain it to her cousin brother who thought she was pure, harmless and was far away from being involved in any kind of business that'll throw her behind the bars. Well, he was wrong, in many kinds of ways.

"He wants me to stay away."

"Away.. from Lucas?" He breathed, and shook his head vigorously. "No way! He's the only one who keeps you sane."

"It's.. it's not a big deal to stay away. I can do that. Except, he.. he's got something against me."

All of a sudden, her eyebrows furrowed, clenched her jaw and squeezed the ice pack.

"He's threatening you?" Chandler closed his eyes shut for a second and rubbed his face with his palms. "Like what? What's he gonna do? Buy our house? Take away our only place to live? Get higher authorities to throw uncle and his job away? What the fuck is he going to do? Get us on street?"

"Let's get out of this bathroom. I'll show you." She proceeded to stand up and step out of the bath tub. But he wasn't having any of it.

"Show me what? What is happening? What does he have against you? Claire sit back down, tell me-"

"Can you shut up?!" She hissed, sitting back down and breathing harshly at her cousin brother. "He knows that I was involved in that murder case, alright? I helped.. I helped kill Vincent!"

Chandler stared at her for a second.

This was way too surreal.

He snickered, before he burst into fits of laugher like a maniac.

"You're kidding, right? You and Vincent's murder? Never. I refuse to believe!" He continued laughing, until Claire shot the most deadliest look at him and he slowly backed away.

"I drugged Vincent, that day. Two years ago, being so weak and afraid of rebellion against those higher grade students who always picked on Vincent, I was forced to drug him, just because the only person he would trust was me."

"Wait, you aren't joking? I thought this was a prank!" Chandler frowned.

"Get serious, Chan."

"Fuck. You haven't told me this."

"I was afraid."

"Are you sure you want to tell me about it?" He asked, concerned about whether it'll trigger her. He looked her in the eyes, "Are you sure?"

She looked back, and nodded.

2 years ago, to be precise.

It was a November night, the cold wind blowing past the cold streets of the city, where everyone tried to get a blink of a sleep, a house on the end of the street shimmered with lights and loud music blaring throughout.

Nate's parents were out of town, which gave the two kids an opportunity to throw a party. Nate and his brother, teaming upon their parents.

The whole house was filled with 15-18 year olds, drinking, dancing, wasting their lives away, while Claire sat with Nate and clinked the glasses together. Vincent sat next to Claire, a smile on his face.

He had raven black hair and bright ocean blue eyes, thin upper lip and a plump bottom lip. He sat next to her, a hand over her as if to hold her protectively. She smiled back and leaned against his chest.

Nate fake gagged, and rolled his eyes at them.

"You guys, kiss already, I can see the love in the air." He snickered.

"Shut up, Nate. Find someone to hook up with if you have nothing to do but bother us."  Claire crunched her nose and batted her hand in front of her to dismiss Nate.

She was light hearted, all smiles and talk. She was so different back then, that anyone who knew her now would think she was just kidding. Back then, what was leather? Right now, what's not leather?

"Don't forget you have a best friend named Nate! Man, why am I even your friend, I feel like a third wheel." He complained, standing up from his seat to leave, as teenagers crowded around the room.

Nate, Claire and Vincent were a trio, unpopular but one of the friend groups people would die to be in. They were always smiles, happiness and laughter. They were loud and always went messing around.

Just that over the time, Claire and Vincent grew closer to each other than with Nate.

"Just get lost!" Claire laughed.

She turned around after Nate was gone and faced Vincent. She leaned in and placed a quick kiss to his lips before pulling away. Her eyes had that glimmer to it, something Vincent had been seeing since he could walk.

"You're so beautiful when you smile." He said and stole a kiss from her.

They were so fond of each other, it would hurt to see the other doing wrong.

"You're always pretty in this sweater." She winked.

"Hey, I'm a man. I'm handsome, not pretty."

It was no secret that they liked each other, openly flirted about it and blushed after. So, what went wrong?

"You're pretty handsome." She giggled which made Vincent's heart flutter.

Claire was so easy to make happy, she was so easy. And Vincent knew anyone could take a disadvantage of that. She was fragile.. but what sucked was that he was fragile too. They were a no match.

They couldn't protect each other.

One day, he thought. One day when I grow strong, I'll balance this relationship.

"C-claire." His eyes flickered behind her saw group of seventeen to eighteen year olds looking at them with hungry faces, smirks and whispers.

She turned around and frowned at them.

They were there, the group who always somehow find Vincent. They loved cornering him, hold him down, choke him until he couldn't breathe and then bruise him up. And sometimes when Claire would be around, they hold her down too so that she doesn't interrupt them and save Vincent.

She felt disgusted, even looking at them.

"Let's get out of here." She mumbled. "Let's go home."

"Okay." Vincent agreed, but as soon as they were about to leave, Nate came back, stopping them and handed them plates of snacks.

"Hey, where are you guys leaving to? It's not over yet. Also you can crash here."

Crash in the same house as Nate's brother? Thank you, but Vincent was TOTALLY against the idea. Nate didn't know how much he despised every second of that senior group breathing in the same room as him.

Vincent gulped. "M-Moms waiting."

"Oh." Nate's smile dropped. "Stay for one more hour then?"

Only if he knew that one hour turned into leaving forever. Claire licked her lips nervously.

Vincent sighed, sitting back down.

"I.. I'll be back. Gonna take a breather in the washroom, haha." She said, getting fidgety. "Nate, stay here." All she wanted to do was wash her face maybe and come back before anyone tried to mess with Vincent.

"Okie." Nate grinned.

Claire was so afraid of the bullies. Not to mention it sucked because Nate didn't have any power over his own brother. It felt like he was a puppet and would do anything to please his older brother. But sometimes he honestly apologised on behalf of his brother to Vincent, and assured that they'll be safe. As if his words would save him.

Didn't matter to Nate's brother though, all he wanted to do was have fun. They wanted to hit the weak, and gain pleasure, call them fags and laugh at their faces and Vincent was the prey.

Claire shuddered when she felt a hand on her shoulder, stopping her from entering the washroom.

"Look who's here." She heard one of the guys from higher grade say, and gulped. No no no, this is bad. They were all tall, well built and bulky. Everything about them screamed 'dominance' and they wanted to use it to take over the school.

"It's Claire. Pretty Claire." Someone twirled their fingers through her hair and sniffed while humming.

She cringed, and moved away. She felt like puking at the gesture, disgusted by every one of them.

"What do you want?" She tried to put on a bold front. But all she was was small voice, vulnerability and nervousness. She looked back and forth between three guys and one other who was standing distinctly.

"Just.. get your lover boy to drink this. And bring him to the room upstairs." They handed her a cup, which reeked of something unfamiliar.

"..what? No." She shook her head. "I'm not doing anything!"

She refused to do such things, because she was sure this was a drug and that these boys will ruin their night.

Suddenly, Nate's brother pushed her against the wall and gripped her jaw tightly. He leaned in and bit her lips with his teeth. "Do it, or it'll be bad for you. It's four of us here, it'll be real bad."

Something rose up her throat, and she wasn't sure what was happening anymore. She swallowed dry, eyes widening and hands cold.

"N-no I— I don't wanna-"

"Just do it before we forget him... and use you." His hand snakes up her waist and squeezed the flesh harshly. She gasped, her hands on his chest, trying to push him away. His another hand found its way to her lower back and rested there. "Of course, it'll always be Vincent, but we won't mind switching to you. You better do as we wish you to, or.. it can also be my idiotic little brother."

Her gaze flickered behind them, at Nate and back at his brother. "N-Nate?"

How disgusting was his brother? He would hurt his own blood?

He reeked of alcohol, in fact, every around her did. She was afraid, scared, horrified, trembling... You name it. He leaned forward and hurried his face in her neck, sniffing while snickering. "You'll do it, right?"

Claires hands fumbled to push him away, but he was too strong, too controlling that she felt weak. Almost as if she was worthless.

They pushed her towards Vincent and Nate, where they were eating happily and laughing at something Nate said. She stumbled, eyes brimming with tears. She hated feeling this way, and she hated what she was forced to do.

Her trembling arms reached forward, taking her seat. She didn't utter a word, she didn't dare to. Her vision blurred with tears, but she blinked them away, her fingers gripping the cup tightly. She didn't move, but just sat there.

"You you're back." Nate smiled. "We were talking about how I'm going to try for football team next year. I'm going to aim for the captain!"

Vincent frowned at how Claire just looked anywhere but them. He reached forward to hold her hand, and instantly felt a cup and looked under the table.

"What's this?" He pulled it out of her trip and looked at her. She gulped, trying to take it back, but he held it away. "Claire what's wrong?"

She looked at the senior group discreetly and back at Vincent. "Don't drink it."

Nate caught on what was going on and looked at his brother. "Is there a problem? Did they.."

Vincent placed the cup down on the table. He couldn't believe that they were using Claire to get to him, it felt like someone was snatching his world away.

"They want me to drink this, right?" He asked, glancing at her. He pulled her in, kissing her lips one.. last time before bringing the cup up to his own lips.

"N-no-"

Her eyes closed, as it was too late to stop him, he had gulped it down. But she made no move to take him upstairs. Instead she clenched her fists and just looked anywhere but him.

He groaned at the ugly taste and slammed the cup down. "What weird drug is this?!"

Nate's jaw dropped, as he watched Vincent drink it. "Did you just.. what the fuck dude? Are you insane?!" He sniffed the glass. "This.. this is.." his eyes widened and he turned around to notice that his brother and his friends were laughing while walking towards them. "This is bad."

"Vincent, are you okay-" She asked, holding his face in her palms, but was rudely interrupted by the four others who had reached them. Nate's brother yanked him up from the chair and pushed them towards the stairs.

"Good job, Claire. Let's take yall to the room. Vincent needs to rest." He snickered.

One of them was always oddly quiet, silent but given a chance, he would flash a smirk. He went by the name "Wesley", someone who the whole school knew. It was funny because Claire saw no exception in him.

"Wesley, grab the camera."

***

"My little brother's camera sure does work wonders." Wesley laughed, looking at the pictures that he clicked not even a minute ago. Claire watched as Nate got stepped on, with a 'little brothers really are stupid.'

She wrapped her arms around her folded knees and hugged herself tightly. She was scared, because she, Vincent and Nate were in a room with bunch of drunk bullies. They hadn't done anything but click pictures till now, but they could.

"Next round." Someone said and Wesley snapped his head up to look at him.

Next round? What next round? Aren't they done yet?

"Guys, what's next? I thought we were done," Wesley's eyes widened, and his gaze fell on Claire, who just looked down with bruised up lips. "..we aren't doing anything troublesome, are we-"

"Shut up, pussy. Just click some good pictures and then you can leave."

Wesley fumbled with the camera, glanced at Nate who was on the floor next to the bed and looked at a passed out Vincent. Leaving his friends alone with kids won't be that fruitful now, would it? And these kids were his brother's age, which only twisted his insides.

So he shook his head. "My dad will be upset-"

"Fucking get out then, such a fucking baby. Go cry in your dads arms."

He flinched at the words. "At least let the girl go, I'll stay." He sighed, looking at a shivering Claire, crying in the corner of the room.

"Jeez, Okay."

Nate sprang up from where he was quivering and pulled Claire outside the room, holding her arms tightly and taking her to the bathroom. Claire couldn't believe what was going on. What were they going to do to Vincent? She couldn't leave him alone.

"Claire, get out of here, this is bad. Save yourself, I.. I texted your cousin.." Nate said, pulling out his handkerchief from his pocket and turning on the tap. He wet half of it and dabbed it softly on her lips.

"Call the cops!" She whisper yelled, taking the cloth from his hands, and pushing him away. "It's for the best!"

"No! My brother will be caught. Please don't call the cops!" He cried.

Chandler sighed. "What the fuck did I just hear."

Claire fiddled with her fingers. "Chandler.. Movies and tv shows, dramas, series are all bullshit. One hit to the right place on our head is enough to kill a person. It killed Vincent. And it killed my heart."

"I'm.. I'm sorry about this."

"Chandler, I'm scared." She said in a whisper, as if it would break her if she said it out loud. So vulnerable, so weak. She hated feeling this way. If she was strong back then, she could have saved Vincent.

He pulled her closer to his chest and hugged her tightly. "There's nothing to be afraid of. It's not your fault."

There was everything she had to fear. She feared of being judged by Lucas, what would he think when he finds out? He'll hate her, he'll hate her so much, she'll never be able to handle herself. She didn't want to leave him yet. She had just begun to have fun.

The only person who brought warmth to her heart was Lucas. Made her feel alive. And they wanted take him away. There was something she regretted about liking Lucas.

It wasn't about getting threatened or exposed. It was that, everything Lucas did, always reminded her of Vincent.

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A/n Was this.. fine? Or do I have to change the whole chapter?