Bittersweet

Masked in War Paint (Ch. 19)

~ Clementine's POV ~

"You must really care -"

"Shut up." He laughs.

"Well. I'm going upstairs."

"Not without me." He speaks out.

"Where exactly are you going to go?" I question.

"Put me anywhere."

"That trash can seems good." I point.

"No." He playfully rolls his eyes.

"Okay." I start to walk. When we are away from the lounge he grabs me by my waist and pushes me up against the wall.

"Another forceful one?" I chuckle.

"You could say that."

"Whatever you imply fart face."

"You're a child."

"We both are." I kiss him.

What was wrong with me? Was all the bickering playful banter?

I drop my book. I forget all about it. I rake my fingers through his hair. He brings his hands lower, I laugh at him, causing him to smile.

Doing this felt forbidden but needed. Like therapy from the one I had a general despise for.

******

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"You kissed him."

"And?"

"Clementine."

"Ashton."

"What are we?"

"We aren't children. You can stop acting so deliberate."

"Clementine."

"I don't want to deal with this. I don't need to deal with you."

"So he's my replacement?"

"If you want to imply that, no one is stopping you."

"It's you isn't it?"

"What is me?"

"You don't want this to be fixed."

"There's nothing to be fixed."

"Yes there is."

"Which is?"

"Us, me, you, your emotions."

"Nothing needs to be repaired."

"Everything does."

"It's don't want anything to be fixed! I never wanted anything to be damaged!" I respond.

"Clem."

"I've never been so broken in a relationship! It's depressing! All this heart break is so unnecessary!"

"Then stop making it necessary."

"It seems as if you need it for there to be heart break."

"You've had too much heart break."

"Don't. Don't you turn this into a sympathy session." I retort.

"I just want things to be fixed." He pleads.

"Maybe things are better not fixed."

"Like us?"

"Like us." My voice had shattered. I was disassembled.