Him.

Chapter 21: Yeah, I know.

*same day*

Braden. Left. He just...left. He got up, climbed out the window and left. I can't believe he did that. If he doesn't want to be around me that's fine, but he should get the message that I feel the same way. I stand up, sending a wave of pain through my body, and I walk over to the window and lock it and close my curtains. I am walking back to my bed when the pain returns and I bend over. I can't make it back to my bed, and I am now on my knees. No. No. No. I can't stand back up. I can't do it. But I will try. I pull myself together and take a deep breath and stand up. I won't be able to walk to my bed so I jump. I land on my butt and it surprisingly doesn't hurt.

I get situated and my phone rings.

It's him.

I debate whether or not I should answer it. I don't know if I should. He just lashed out at me. But I want so see what he has to say. I don't answer it. I just let my phone ring. When it stops it says I have a voicemail. I don't listen to it. But I then hear a knock on my window.

"Claire it's me. Please open up." he says.

I just ignore him.

"I know you have every right to ignore me. I just need you to open up." He says knocking on my window again.

I still ignore him.

"Claire please." he sounds so...so...sorry. And he should be. He just yelled at me for caring! But I know he means well and wants to make it up to me. But why should I let him in? I've been there for him, cared for him, done everything he wanted. And the one time I need his help he lashes out at me!!!

"Claire. Please. This branch won't hold me much longer." he says.

Crap! Now I have to let him in. I stand up quickly and pain shoots through my entire body and I fall to the ground, making my vision go black momentarily. But I unlock the window before the world goes black entirely.

~~~~~~a few minutes later~~~~~~

"Claire." I hear. But it's fuzzy.

"Claire." I hear again. It's still fuzzy but not as bad.

"Claire!" it's clear now.

"Claire! Can you hear me? Claire!!! Please! Wake up! Please!!!" Braden says while rubbing my head gently and then removing his hand.

I open my eyes and I see a big blob in front of me. It's blurry momentarily until my vision focuses, and I see him. He is looking over his shoulder and when he looks back down at me he sees that my eyes are open and he looks at me with worried eyes. He goes to put a hand on my head but hesitates and takes his hand back.

"Claire! Can you hear me?" he asks.

I barely manage a moan and a nod. And I realize I am on my bed and there is an ice pack on my stomach and another ice pack on my head. He must have moved me and put the ice packs on.

"Are you ok? You were out for a long time."He asks.

I moan yes and he lets out a sigh of relief.

"Thank god. I am never leaving your side." He says grabbing my hand.

"Because that worked so well last time." I say back sarcastically moving my neck.

"This time I mean it." he says squeezing my hand.

"Whatever." I say turning my head away from him.

He doesn't say anything else. And he shouldn't! He left me and when he came back I had to help him! I was unconscious because I had to help him again. And he isn't even worried. He isn't trying to get my attention to make sure I was ok. He is pissing me off!