Chapter 5

Claire's illness eventually made its way to my front door.

She stood on the wet steps after the rain, wrapped in a coat, her face as pale as paper.

Ethan supported her, and a few of their classmates followed behind.

One of them was Sophie Lane, who had always been the first to jump to Claire's defense.

Then second she saw me, she snapped.

"Vivian Grant, have you no heart? Claire's sick, and you're hiding inside pretending nothing's wrong?"

I stood in the doorway.

"If she's sick, she should see a doctor. What good would coming to me do?"

Sophie stamped her foot in anger.

"She just wants you to stop misunderstanding her."

Claire tugged gently at her sleeve.

"Sophie, stop. It's normal for Vivian not to want to see me."

Ethan looked up at me.

"Vivian, you owe her an explanation. Today."

My father started to step out, but I stopped him.

I walked down the steps.

"Fine. You want an explanation? Let's hear it."

Claire coughed softly.

"Vivian, I just want you to know Ethan and I have not done anything to wrong you. Whether you call off the engagement or marry Mr. Bennett, I wish you well."

I asked, "Then why did you text Ethan last night, saying you couldn't go on living if I didn't forgive you?"

Claire blinked.

"I didn't," she said.

Ethan said at once. "Vivian, she's like this and you're still making things up?"

I pulled out my phone.

"Ethan, dare you show everyone your chat history?"

The voice of Sophie rose.

"Dare we? We have got nothing to hide."

Ethan frowned.

Claire tugged at his sleeve.

"Ethan, don't. I don't want everyone to see how pathetic I am."

I said, "You don't want them to see... or you are afraid?"

Sophie snatched Ethan's phone out of his hand.

"Claire's got nothing to be afraid of. I will do it."

She opened the chat.

The next second, her voice died in her throat.

The truth was right there for everyone to see.

Claire had sent Ethan more than a dozen messages the night before.

[Does Vivian hate me?]

[If I left, would she be happier?]

[I don't want to feel like I'm stealing from her.]

[Ethan, go find her, please? I'll grovel if that's what it takes for her to see me.]

Sophie gripped the phone, her face turning dark.

I said, "Go on. Read them out loud. Why'd you stop?"

Sophie shoved the phone back at Ethan.

"Claire's just upset."

I looked at Claire.

"You said you would get on your knees. Do it now, then."

Ethan snapped, "Vivian, that's enough,"

"Did not she say it herself? I'm just giving her what she wants."

Tears streamed down Claire's face.

"I was just scared you would misunderstand," she said softly.

I stepped closer to her, one slow step at a time.

"Claire, you always do this. You hand someone a knife, then when they get hurt, you cry and say you didn't mean it."

She stepped back.

Ethan stepped between us.

"That's enough," he said.

I looked at him.

"Ethan, did you bring her here to force me to apologize... or to make everyone see how terrible I am?"

He didn't answer.

I answered for him.

"Both."

Sophie mumbled, "Ethan, maybe we should take Claire home first. She's really burning up."

It was the first time she hadn't kept yelling at me.

Ethan heard it too, and his face darkened further.

Claire heard it as well.

Suddenly, her body went limp and she collapsed into Ethan's arms.

Ethan caught her at once.

"Claire."

Claire's eyes were closed, her voice faint.

"Don't blame Vivian. It's my fault."

I watched her finish her little performance, then turned to go back inside.

Ethan yelled after me, "Vivian, you won't even look at her?"

I stopped.

"I'm not a doctor. Will looking at her bring her fever down?"

As the door clicked shut, I heard Sophie murmur, "Ethan, let's just take her to the hospital. No more of this."

A tiny crack had finally appeared in their perfect little circle.