Counting Our Stars • Tyler Joseph •

Chapter 24

          •  Claire  •

Claire found that hanging out with Alice and a couple of other girls, Tatum and Avery, helped in easing her anxiety about Tyler's condition. She did find it odd that no one talked about how his recovery was going. They avoided the subject like a disease. She started to wonder whether they were keeping things from her for a reason.

"Is Zack taking you to the festival next Friday?" Avery turned her dark eyes towards Tatum. They were all huddled together at a table in the dining hall. It was half past seven and the sun had already set. The girls were finished with their dinner.

"He hasn't asked yet." Tatum replied, a disappointed look on her face. The girls, except Claire, gasped in unison.

"But I thought you two were in love?" Alice mocked teasingly, pretending to swoon. Tatum rolled her eyes and pointed her gaze towards Claire. "What about you, newbie?"

Claire push'd her food around her plate with her fork. She hadn't heard the conversation about the girls' love lives and who was taking them to an unknown festival. It wasn't that she didn't care, her mind was just occupied with thoughts of one boy in particular. She missed him and the prick in her heart reminded her of that with every passing thought.

"You okay Claire?" Alice questioned, reaching over to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. Claire started, her head whipping up at the contact. "What?"

Alice frowned. "Are...you feeling alright?"

Claire stayed silent, staring at her plate before slumping her shoulders in defeat. "No, I'm not. I'm..." She inhaled shakily and blinked stinging tears from her eyes.

"I'm really worried about Tyler." She admitted, her fingers wringing in her lap.

"Kelly said he was recovering slowly. He'll be okay." Alice assured her, rubbing her shoulder comfortingly.

"We could go see him?" Avery piped up, her voice a low whisper as not to attract attention. Tatum raised her brows at Avery. "And how are we gonna do that? There's a guard at his door."

"My brother is the guard for tonight." Alice replied with a smirk. All of them grinned at one another.

"You two are so gonna be mates and it'll be with the Alpha, that's pretty hot." Tatum teased, her brows wiggling suggestively at Claire.

She held up her hands in defense and her eyes widened. "I just really like him, that's it."

"Well, that'll change when he has to claim you eventually. It happens to all of us. Sometimes even to a total stranger and one of our own." Avery shrugged and smiled.

"I don't wanna rush anything." Claire stated, frowning. The thought of Tyler having to 'claim' her...it made her stomach twist in knots. She barely had any knowledge of this world so she wasn't ready to stay permanently. What would she tell her parents?

• • •

Claire slunk in the shadows in-between Avery in the lead, Tatum behind her and Alice bringing up the rear. "Come on."

Avery moved further the hallway until they reached an intersection. To the left, rows of doors lined both sides of the hallway and to the right, a large set of french double doors at the end of the short stretch of hallway. Ryan, Alice's twin brother, stood posted outside of the double doors. He looked ready to fall asleep on his feet.

Alice gestured for them to wait there before she scurried to her twin. "Ry, mom wants your help with laundry."

Ryan furrowed his brows and then jerked his thumb over his shoulder to motion towards the doors. "Can't, I'm watching over the Alpha's quarters tonight. Kelly's orders."

"Then I'll take over for a while and you can go help her." Alice offered, her hands on her hips. Claire crossed her fingers that the plan would work. It had to, she needed to see Tyler.

She listened as Ryan sighed and complied, his footsteps fading into the other hallway. Alice peeked around the corner and signaled for them to come. Claire and Avery exchanged a nervous glance.

"Go see your boy." Tatum said, giving her a light push towards Alice and the doors.

Her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest. Her hands were sweaty and trembled with each step forward.

"Good luck." Alice whispered, patting her on the shoulder.

Claire offered a weak smile and reached for the doorknob, slowly turning the knob. She pushed the door open a crack and peeked inside. The sight made her want to cry out of joy and despair. He looked so peaceful yet so small.

As she moved closer to Tyler's bedside, she noticed his eyes were shut and his chest rose and fell with every breath he took. She could admire him for hours, under better circumstances of course.

His eyes opened gradually, drifting in her direction. A small sleepy smile formed on his lips.

"I wondered when I would see your pretty face again."

(A/N: Another chapter so soon?! I hope you have enjoyed this chapter, not much to it except that adorable ending ❤️ Please vote/comment because I love reading/commenting! Already working on the next one!)