Four

~Claire

"Yes, Dad. I'll make sure to be careful around here,"I replied in my baby-ish tone.

"I just can't help but be worried. It's the first time in years since you'll be away from me for so long,"he spoke with a sigh.

I understood him perfectly. It was hard for me too. I missed him so much already.

"This will probably be over soon. Once I'm in college, I'll make sure to see you whenever you want,"I assured with a small smile.

"Let's see how it goes, princess. I have to go now. Mr Hilbert has some work for me. I hope it works out,"he spoke hopefully.

"It will. I know it will,"I grinned.

"I'll call you later?"

"Sure, Dad. I love you,"I blew a kiss.

"Daddy loves you more, princess,"he replied before hanging up.

I sighed sadly, clasping my hands together as I muttered a small prayer.

"Dear God, you see how hard Papa's trying. Help him to not give up,"I prayed silently.

The man had too much on his plate. I only wished I could do something about it.

Taking my phone again, I dialed on Amaya's number. She picked on first ring.

Knowing who my best friend was, she probably had the phone on standby, waiting for my call.

"Baby girllllllllll!!!"she yelled the moment she picked.

"Easy there, Maya. You're gonna render me deaf one day,"I tried scolding.

"Whatever, you deserved that. Do you know how eager I was, waiting for your call last night? Only for you to send a disappointing message,"she whined.

"I'm so sorry about that,"I apologized with a light chuckle.

"So, tell me EVERYTHING!"she demanded in an excited tone.

"What's there to tell? Just ask whatever you want to know about,"I suggested cause hell.... I didn't even know where the hell to start.  There was a story to tell about literally everything.

"First, how's your new stepdad?"she asked and I frowned.

The whole idea still wasn't fully okay by me.

"He isn't my stepdad yet, Maya. He's my stepdad-to-be,"I corrected and I could my literally hear her roll eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Just tell me what I wanna know,"she nagged.

"He's not bad,"I replied and we both went silent. She was probably expecting more, but what was I supposed to say?

'Oh, he's super nice, I kinda think he's working hard to make sure he replaces my dad even when he said it's not like that'.

"That's it? Not bad?"she asked after she understood I wasn't going to say anything.

"What else do you want to hear?"I shrugged.

"Are you kidding!!?"she yelled in disbelief. "I fucking need to hear more!! How does he look? Is he handsome? Ugly? We already figured he's rich, so is he arrogant?! Sexy? THOSE kinda details, Claire!."

Okay. So God asked me to pick a best friend and that was the real life witch I chose. Who else feels my pain?

"Okay, he's really really handsome. He's got the looks and the everything. And he's not arrogant too. He's actually the opposite. Very loving and caring,"I replied and she just oh-ed.

"There, you've gotten your answer?"I asked in a grumble.

"Absolutely fucking not. Does he have a brother?"she asked eagerly.

"Uh.... I'm not really sure since we haven't talked about such details — not that it's any of my business though,"I rolled eyes, pointing out the obvious at my fish brained best friend.

"Argh. How the hell did we become best friends? You're so boring,"she whined and I chuckled.

"Tell me about it."

"So how's the house been treating you? You like it? Made any new friends?"she asked, and I heard shuffling noises from her background.

"Uh, the house is really nice, not gonna lie. Friends? Pfft. I haven't even toured the house yet,"I replied lowly.

"Hmmm. I give up on you, girl,"her tone had me laughing.

"But!! I met someone,"I spoke shyly and she gasped.

"Finally!!! Who is it? Please be a boy, be a boy!"she prayed loudly.

And you say she's not dramatic? She was the queen of drama if you asked me.

"It's a boy,"I replied and she squealed.

"Tell me about him!!"

"He's like triple times hotter than Rowan, got this long braids that absolutely fits him. He's kinda tattooed, and totally gives the bad boy vibe,"I spoke quietly.

"Oh my God, Claire. This is literally the universe pushing your first everything towards you!"she spoke in that I-know-it-all tone.

"He's my step brother, Amaya,"I spoke flatly and she went silent for a second.

"Oh...Kay? That was a huge plot twist, wasn't it?"she spoke, sounding so disappointed.

"I guess. But even if he wasn't, he isn't my kinda guy, Maya,"I spoke in denial and she scoffed.

"Spare me the my lies, would ya? I mean, aren't the books you read filled with the bad boys? And we both know how much you love them. Claire, this is literally your chance to live your own book. You're the female lead, the hottie's your male lead, just let fate do the script writing,"she spoke as if it were that easy.

"Are you being serious right now? My mum's about marrying his dad really soon and you're suggesting this?"I frowned.

"I'm not pressuring you, okay? It's your life and you get to make the choices. What I'm saying is, if apparently you like him, and he likes you too, just go for it,"she clarified.

"That's never going to happen, Maya. Besides, he looks like a heart smasher,"I hugged myself slightly.

"Eish. You really need some serious tainting,"she groaned.

"Tainting?"I frowned again.

"Yeah. Someone to bend and break you,"she chuckled.

Was it weird that my mind actually visualized Jace bending me over?

Quit it, Claire Rainer.

"I don't need breaking, Maya,"I grumbled.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Anyways..."she drawled. "Remember that new hottie?"she asked and I shrugged.

"Yeah. The newbie who was supposed to be attending Falcon high as well?"I asked and she smacked her lips.

"Yeah, that's him. Well, I ran into him yesterday and I found out his name was Trenton. He's super funny and stuff, I could totally tell he was into me,"she spoke, a hunt if excitement in her voice.

"Seriously? You could be wrong,"I laughed.

"I know I'm right though,"she mumbled.

"Either ways, be careful not to get hurt. You've gotten heartbroken more times than I have embarrassed myself in public — and it's way more than I can count,"I spoke in concern. "I'm not there to hug you while you cry."

"Yeah, I know,"her tone dropped into a sad one. "I miss you, Best."

"I miss you more, Bae,"I replied with a small smile even though she couldn't see me.

"Alright then, I gotta go. Mom's calling,"she spoke.

"Sure. Just be careful, will ya?"

"Sure will. I love you, girl,"she blew a kiss.

"And I love you more, sugar,"I chuckled before hanging up.

I sighed tiredly. Funny how the house was super huge, yet somehow suffocating.

"Boyfriend?"

The sudden audible deep voice has me flinching as I looked up to see a certain braided guy leaning on the doorframe.

"What are you doing here?"I asked, ignoring his question.

"It's my house. I go wherever I want whenever the fuck I want to,"he shrugged, walking into my room fully.

"You do know... there's a word called privacy, right?"I asked in a quiet voice.

"I don't play by societal rules, Kitten,"he smirked, walking closer to where I was seated on the bed. "The sooner you accept the fact, the better."

He halted in front of me, leaning down till his face and mine was just an inch apart. His breath fanning on my face was a really huge distraction cause I didn't notice what he did till my tight bun loosened.

"Thanks for the hairband,"he pulled away with a lopsided smile. His one sided dimple deeped in, adding to his already addictive beauty.

"I...I didn't give it to you,"I managed to say.

"But it's mine now, sorry,"he winked before walking out.

Okay, what was wrong with my heart? Who's normal person's heart beats for a guy who's hell bent on stealing all her hairbands? That was ridiculous....wasn't it?

Argh. Jace fucking Finn.