Chapter 163: Vulnerable

I'm out on the street when a small hand pulls my arm back.

"Andrew."

I'd recognise that voice anywhere. I turn on the spot to see Clara Delos looking anxiously up at me. I wait for her to speak. I've made myself vulnerable enough for one night.

"Did you mean what you said?"

"Clara, that's not the sort of thing I joke about." The words come out harsher than I intend.

"Sorry... I didn't know." Her eyes are softer and kind; compassionate.

"No one at school did," I tell her, "except James."

She's nodding. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your problem..." I don't understand why I sound so cold all of a sudden. Is it because I've let her see a part of me that I normally keep hidden; buried?

"I know but... can we go somewhere? Can we talk?"

"I don't want to talk about my mother."

"Not about your mother," she says quietly, "not unless you want to. I want to talk about us."

"Clara, you've made it clear there is no us."