"Hello?"
"Hey there stranger.... "
"Hey Cammie.." Claudia smiled when she heard the voice of her friend. "Whats up?"
"Just callin to confirm that you'll be at Jeremys party... you are comming aren't you?"
"I don't know... I haven't been feeling that good lately... thats why I've missed school... I don't think I'll be able to make it.."
"Don't give me that! Claudia! You have to come! Please... it'll be just what you need."
"Yeah?"
"Yes! You need to get out of that house. You never go out and this party is exactly what you need. Claud... please come.. I need a friend there..."
"What do you mean you need a friend there? All your friends'll be there." Claudia pointed out. Cammie sighed.
"Yeah... spose.... I just want to talk to you is all... tell me you'll be there..." Cammie said. By the tone of her voice, Claudia could tell there was something wrong with Cammie.
"Ok... I'll be there... I promise. But, on one condition..."
"Whats that?"
"I can bring a friend... actually... he's Taylors older brother."
"You're kidding? Of course you can bring him!" Cammie exclaimed. Claudia laughed at her friends excitement. As the two girls talked about Isaac and the up coming party, Claudia sensed a sadness in her friends voice and that worried her. When questioned about it, Cammie claimed there to be nothing wrong. Claudia didn't believe her. The conversation she had had eariler with Taylor suddenly came to her. Claudia decided not to mention it, if Cammie wanted to talk about it, then she would. They said their goodbyes and Claudia slowly made her way back to the living room where Isaac was waiting for her.
Zac sat alone in the boys room. What he had over heard shocked and disturbed him. The thought of Claudia doing those things to herself had disgusted him enough. Now he knew the truth. There was someone out there sick enough to actually harm another human being in ways that Zac could never imagine. He was still free. Very well still in Tulsa. That scared Zac to the point where he felt sick to his stomach. Another reason Zac felt sick was from the thought of how he had treated Claudia since his families arrival in Tulsa. If he had known what had happened to her, his actions would have been different. He knew that his not knowing was no excuse for the way he had acted towards Claudia. His parents hadn't bought him up to be like that and he didn't know what had gotten into him. He should have known better. Found out at least the basics of what she had been though before he made a judgement. He only hoped that she would forgive him. Zac wondered how he could apologise to her, with out her knowing that he had heard everything she had told his oldest brother. Hearing her cry out from the kitchen, Zac went to see what had happened. Standing by the door he saw Isaac holding her, trying to clam her down and he had decided to stay out of it. Instead of walking away, Zac had stayed and listened to everything. He knew that was wrong on his part, but he couldn't help it. When the phone rang, he had rushed to answer it. Returning to the living room to get Claudia, he walked in on her and Isaac. That was the biggest shock of all.
"..... and... what I'm trying to tell you Claudia is that.... that I like you.... no... it's more than that... I'm not sure what it is exactly.. but I more than like you-" Claudia shushed Isaac by placing her right index finger over his lips. Moving her hand, Isaac grinned at her. "I was babbling wasn't I?". Claudia nodded. She couldn't stop smiling. Isaac had just presented her with a long, drawn out, speech about his feelings for her, her family and what had happened to her. He had promised her that she would never feel the pain she went though again.. well, as long as he still had a breath in his body. That meant a lot to her. "Say something..." Isaac said. Claudia was seated on the sofa, Isaac was kneeling infront of her, holding both her hands. She shook her head. Instead, she leaned forward and kissed him.
"Isaac Hanson.." Claudia said once they broke apart. "What you just said was the most sweetest thing anyone has said to me and it means the world to me that you care about me so much. What you just said is what I've wanted to hear from you since the day you arrived."
"Really?" Isaac asked, smiling. Clauida nodded.
"Yup... really" She said as Isaac rose from his knees and sat down next to her on the sofa. They sat in silence while Isaac studied Claudia's face. There was the largest scar, on the left side of her face, the two row's of tiny dots across her top and bottom lips, and there were also a few small scars over her forehead and cheeks. It killed Isaac to know what she had been through, that he wasn't there to protect her. He wanted to tell her so, but couldn't find the right words. Instead, he kissed her again.
"Well now.... what've we got here?" Taylor's voice asked. Isaac and Claudia pulled away from each other and Claudia's face went crimson. Isaac turned and faced his brother. Taylor had a huge grin on his face as he stood, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed infront of his chest. Isaac knew then that he had his brothers approval. He turned and sat on the sofa next to Claudia.
"What do you think?" Isaac asked him. Claudia stayed silent.
"You tell me big brother...."
"Taylor... we were kind of in the middle of something here...." Isaac said, glancing at Clauida and then looking back at his brother.
"Oh.. yeah... right... sorry.. I guess I'll leave you to it then.." He said and left the two of them alone.
"So..."
"Isaac.... what are we now?.. because if this is just a one of thing and tomorrow you're gonna turn around and pretend like today didn't happen... well.. I don't think I could handle that all that well..."
"Thats not going to happen.. Claudia.. I want to be with you..."
"Why?... Why do you want to be with someone who looks like me? Who's as messed up as me... Isaac, you must know about my nightmares... and how often do I go out huh?"
"You must think I'm pretty shallow if you have to question what I think of you.... Claudia, your looks don't matter to me... I mean, I think you are extremely beautiful... but I can see past your scars.. they don't worry me a bit. If I didn't want to be with you, I wouldn't have kissed you or told you." Isaac said, slightly hurt that Claudia would put him in the same class as those who tormented her at school, those who thought the looks of a person meant everything. He wasn't like that. He looked for inner beauty. Claudia had that.
"I'm sorry... it's just that you're the first guy whos shown an interest in me since the attack... I've still got my defences up... the wall around me is still there... and it'll take a long time before I can fully trust anyone, especially men. I hope you can understand that... and before you go and put words in my mouth, I know that you aren't the one who attacked me, and I know that you would never hurt me... but Isaac... I'm scared to be alone with my own father... how twisted is that? He's my dad for Christs sake and I can't be alone in the same room with him for even five minutes!"
"You've been alone with me for over an hour..." Isaac pointed out. "But I do understand... I know that just becasue I kissed you and poured my heart out to you, doesn't mean that you're going to be competely comfortable with me. I know the barrier you have around yourself is going to take time to disolve... but Claud, I'm prepared to wait. We have all the time in the world and I'm not going anywhere. All you have to do is take your time and let me prove to you that you can trust me and I will be here for you no matter what... I know you already know that deep down inside of you.... you know how I know? because you told me what happened to you... that was a big step for you and you took it. I'm proud of you Claudia..." Isaac paused, noticing the tear that trickled down Claudia's cheek he asked "Why are you crying? Have I said something wrong? Claudia, if I have I'm sorry.." The worry that appeared on his face made Claudias heart break.
"No Isaac... you haven't said anything wrong.... you said something right... your so paitent with me.. I mean, here you are exposing your soul to me and all I can tell you is that I can't trust you... I... I've questioned everything you've just told me and you're still here... you didn't get up and leave the room and give up on me... like anyone else would have... I can't tell you how much that means to me." Claudia said, trying to hold in the sobs that wanted to burst out of her. She had never felt so loved by someone other than her parents. Isaac remained silent as his arms circled around her. He hugged her as though he would never let go. It was exactly what she wanted and needed.
"I'm here for you as long as you need me. If you wake up one day and feel as though you can face the world without me, I will understand. I'm not going to tell you that I know what your going though, because I don't. All I can tell you is that I am never going to hurt you or leave you. As long as you know that, thats all that matters." He whispered into her ear. Claudia only nodded, unable to speak.
Chapter Twelve
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