little lies (an e.d. fanfiction)

✭ chapter 30

song for chapter: too close by blackbear + play on repeat!!

claire's pov

"alex, no," i push him away from my body and scoot to the end of the bed.

i see alex look into my eyes and he reaches his hand out for me to grab. i sit there hesitantly and stare at him in disbelief, not knowing what to do.

"why are you fighting it?"

i narrow my eyebrows at him, "fighting what? i'm not fighting anything. there's nothing between us."

he sighs loudly and ruffles a hand through his hair, "do you not feel it?"

i shake my head slowly, not understanding what he's getting at. does he like me, like actually have feelings for me?

my mind takes me back to the day at lunch when he was warning me about ethan. the day he told me, "who said i'm interested in you?"

it doesn't make sense. was he just saying that to be defensive? or maybe he's making a move on me because he thinks i'm easy?

well, he's certainly not getting anywhere.

"look alex, i'm sorry but i came here to work on our project," my eyes look into his daringly, "and if you have plans with me other than working on this project together you can save them for someone else."

alex looks surprised, taken back almost, but it needed to be said. i'm not gonna let guys use me like ethan did.

my heart flinches at the single thought of his name and i close my eyes inhaling sharply.

alex notices my uncomfortableness and clears his throat mumbling, "sorry about that, it was nothing."

i nod slowly, avoiding eye contact and reach for my folder and pencil. i open the folder seeing our previous work and what we need to finish.

"okay, so we just have a half page left and then we'll be done," i say scanning our paper.

"why don't you add something in there like, i hope to inspire others to be themselves so they can let their best qualities and talents shine?"

i nod my head and start to write his idea on the paper. we work together for another thirty minutes, completely staying on task now to try and avoid the tension and awkwardness between us.

i see my phone light up out of the corner of my eye while i'm writing and i stop to look at it. i see it's a text from the group chat, "hold on," i say to alex, reaching for my phone.

lily: hey claire.. i'm so sorry abt last night. all of us have been thinking abt u and we know things are shitty asf rn but we're by ur side through it all. idk if ur up to it tn and it's okay if u don't want to but all of us are going to the drive in movie to see some scary movie tn if u wanna come. u should bring jade too. love u lots

i smile reading the message and i feel alex looking at me harshly.

claire: aww thanks ily guys. and yes omg i need to get out tn, i'll bring jade too

"i heard about what happened with ethan at the party."

i snap my head towards alex at his unexpected and sudden comment, "what?"

"i said i heard what happened," he pauses, "i mean, everyone has by now."

i purse my lips together and look down at the floor feeling embarrassed. shit sure does get around fast.