Part 3

Claire looked towards her friend Kelsey, who was driving sitting beside her, with a scowl on her face. 

She looked down fidgeting with her fingers and took a deep breath before trying to make her understand again.

"Kel,  please try to understand," She said softly. 

Kel looked away outside the window, totally avoiding her. She didn't want to look at her face, she knew if she looked towards her cute face then her puppy eyes top off with a pleading look, will surely melt her anger.

Claire felt sad, not only because her friend had been ignoring her but also because she was the reason behind her being upset.

She bites her lower lip and tries again. 

"Please try to understand. I genuinely tried but.." she was trying to state her point, but Kel cut her in the middle.

"Of course I know, how you were trying to make some excuse like always" She shouted on her little, making her flinch on her seat little.

Claire looked down and her eyes immediately got wet, the next moment Kell realized what she had done.

Damm

She stopped the car on the side of the road and unbuckled her seat belt, turned to her.

"Claire I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to yell but..you know I just got a little carried away in my anger...please don't be sad," she said.

Kel knows how sensitive she is. She can't handle this. She is a beautiful young girl but her heart is still like an innocent baby.

That's Kel kel always felt too protective towards her too.

She understands her reason but she was not ready to accept it. Also, she didn't mean to hurt you. 

She loves her very much. They were friends from the very first day of college.

"It's not your mistake, you did right by shouting at me. I deserve this" Claire said looking up, blinking her forming tears back.

She looks so cute. Kel chuckles mentally at her innocence.

"No, I should have understood that it's not in your hand that Mr Hitler had given you this silly assignment," Kel said, holding her hand.

"I swear Kel, I have already packed my clothes for my night stay but suddenly I got my assignment and I have to submit it after two days that's why. I'm sorry again" she told her again. 

They were going to have a girls night stay at Kel's house with some other college friends, as Claire's parents were not at home. They permitted her, so she didn't feel scared alone at home.

But at the last moment, her English professor gave her the assignment to complete soon.

After this, Claire was trying to make her understand but she was not ready to listen.

"It's ok, it's not your mistake. We'll plan this next weekend, and then it will be for sure Kel said sternly pointing her finger to her.

"You are not angry with me," Claire asked again, she wanted to be sure. She never wanted to hurt anyone.

"On one condition," Kelsay said with a mischievous smile on her lips.

"What's that??" Claire narrowed her eyes.

"Lunch at your home" she demanded casually.

Claire laughed at her shaking her head.

"I'm sure Mom must have made something for you too, she said.

"That's why I made you my friend," Kel laughed, starting the engine.

Claire finally smiled that her friend is no more upset with her.

They had lunch at her place together, which was already made by her mother, before leaving.

It was 7 pm, Claire sighed and saw her work is still incomplete, her weekend has got ruined. 

She felt annoyed when her professor blasted this bomb on her but being a good student she made herself understand. 

She was feeling tired due to constant sitting in the same position.

"Mom, please make coffee for me," she  wrote in her folder.

Then she realized that her Mom had gone to meet some relatives.

She grew frustrated and put her head on the table.

I need mom's coffee

Then she thought to make herself and with that strong determination,  she got up and walked towards the kitchen.

"Why does Mom have to go today only?" She mumbled while climbing the stairs. 

After some time, her coffee got ready, she poured it on her favourite mug and settled on the couch in the living area.

She took the first sip of her coffee and smiled, having a good taste.

She was alone at home as Ken has also gone with his friend but today he'll come soon as per her father's order.

But he hadn't returned yet, so she thought to call him.

"Ken when you are coming?" She asked directly when he picked up on her second ring.

They never neglect each other, despite how much they are.

"Don't know, but I'll come in the morning to pick you from Kelsey's home" he yelled from another side due to the high sound of music.

"I didn't go to her house, I'm here at our home, so come fast now" she yelled while keeping the mug on the side table.

"What!! But you were supposed to go, that's why I came here... God, Claire, you should have told me if you were changing your plan." He said.

She felt him getting annoyed.

She closed her eyes and thought it was her mistake. She should have informed him.

"I was going to call you but then I got busy and I forgot," she said slowly.

Ken got silent for some time as he was controlling himself.

"This is not cool Claire, I can't come suddenly." He said, angrily.

"But.." She said,

"You are not some small baby, who can't spend a night alone at his own house." 

Claire felt offended by his comment. 

"Nothing will happen till morning, I'll come after finishing my party" he cut the call without listening to her.

How could she just forget??

Now I'm not going to safeguard her from leaving my party in the middle.

He thought and went to grab some drink, without thinking what she would have been feeling now.

Here Claire was feeling bad that her brother talked to her like that. She throws her cell on the couch, twitching her lip.

"I don't need you either. I'll show you, I can also live alone" she said, sipping her coffee again.

She was busy with her brother then her crang again gained, but she didn't bother to receive it as it must have been.

"I'm not going to talk to you," she said to herself.

Again it starts ringing, after 4-5 continuous calls she groans and receives it.

"Can't you understand that I don't want to talk to you?" she said the first thing without hearing the caller on the other side.

"Why don't you want to talk to me?" The caller said.

Claire got confused on hearing a girl's voice, she checked the name and immediately got up from her position. 

"Grace ..it's you" she jumped in happiness hearing her kindergarten friend Grace's voice.

"Yes darling, it's me. On whom you were bursting on" she asked from the other side. She knows Claire is a calm person,  she hardly yelled at someone.

" I thought it was the ken. Let it be how are you?? And finally today you got time for me, ``Claire said, twisting her lips and making a sad pout.

"This is all because of you only, you are the reason, Grace replied. 

Claire wide opens her mouth.

"I'm the reason. How??" She demanded putting her hand on her waist.

"Who left her friend alone when one week later is her wedding??"

"Do you have any idea how much work is left, and.." 

"Wedding...one week" Claire gasped in shock.

Grace stopped her blabbering and smiled thinking about her friend's expression. 

"Noah proposed to you, when..how and you didn't even tell me" Claire enquired her.

"Yes he proposed to me some days before, and the wedding is on Friday." She said with a fresh blush heating her cheeks.

"Aww....Grace I'm so happy for you," Claire said. She was happy that her friend is getting married to the love of her life.

"Claire, I'm so nervous. Everything is happening too fast. I'm so messed up. My wedding dress is still not ready, please come and help me. I need you" Grace said, getting hyper biting her nails out of her habit.

"Grace suddenly, How can i??"

"Mom Dad is not here also. I need to ask them first and I have some work also.."Claire said slowly thinking about the assignment and her classes.

She wanted to go.

"Claire, it's my wedding, my first wedding." She said,

Claire chuckles hearing her.

"If you don't come then I'll cut my vein and my ghost will haunt your dreams every night and I'll never let you sleep and...." 

"Stop...Grace stop,  have you gone mad??" Claire overdramatic dramatic friend.

"I'll ask you this same question when you get married. You can't even come to attend my most special day" Grace said over the call,  sounding a little low.

"Don't get sad soon to be a bride, you need to look fresh on your special day. And don't worry about me, I'll be there before your wedding,"

"How can I miss Grace Miller's grand wedding?" Claire said which made Grace chuckle there.

"Love you Claire and come fast. Me and someone else here are eagerly waiting for you. Now bye, I need to go. See yaa" 

Before Claire could react Grace cut the call, leaving her in her thoughts with a sweet smile on her lips.

Is she talking about him??

She shook her head, removing Grace's words and steps towards her kitchen, just then all lights turned off making it all dark.

She stopped there on her track, gulping hard. 

She is afraid of darkness.

Just then she heard some noise coming from the living room.

That was enough to make her scared of life. Her palms get sweaty. 

"W..Who's there??" She tried to yell but it came like a whisper. Her heart was beating fast.

She took some small steps towards the living room, her eyes widened seeing a lone figure in the darkness.

Aahhhh

She screamed.

..