Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 100

Sophia told Nicholas what she’d told Blaine, and everything that had happened between him and Clarisse in the past.

Louis was undoubtedly upset at the mention of his friend hurting.

“She didn’t tell me because she didn’t want me upset,” Louis realized.

Sophia nodded.

“And you’re telling me this now… why?” He asked.

Sophia smacked Louis lightly on the shoulder.

“Because you’re my brother, gosh,” she answered.

“Why else?” She furrowed her brows.

Louis blinked, “Speaking of which, where’s Clarisse?”

“And Blaine?”

Sophia’s heart dropped.

“Oh shit.”

__

Clarisse had finished talking.

She talked till she no longer could; when tears streamed down her cheeks and her eyes turned red and puffy.

She was still hurting, just the sight of him hurt her and brought back that one horrible memory – the time he’d broken up with her.

(Flashback starts from here on out.)

They’d finished their classes for the day, and everything was going perfectly normal, before Blaine – or Wilson as she called him – pulled her over, telling her he urgently needed to speak to her after she freshened up etc.

Clarisse agreed of course, wondering what it could be about.

She’d confide in Sophia, but at the moment she was too occupied studying for the finals to give a damn.

She returned to her dormitory, where Sophia was buried in books, and books and even more books.

“Sophia?” Clarisse called, closing the door before taking off her shoes.

“Yes? I’m busy at the moment, mind saving the chit-chat for later,” she heard Sophia reply with.

“Oh come on,” Clarisse protested.

Sophia responded, “Finals are coming up, advance preparation is required.”

“I’m not going to settle for anything less than the best, Claire, so find someone else to talk to. Like I said before, I’m BUSY.”

Clarisse groaned, “Geez, fine, if you don’t want to talk that bad.”

She heard Sophia pop the question, “You’re not studying for your finals?”

“I just finished classes, gimme a break, Soph,” Clarisse replied.

She heard Sophia sigh from the other room.

“There’s no room for imperfection, Claire, you of all people should know that.”

“Get off your ass and start studying,” she encouraged.

Clarisse sighed, knowing her friend had a point.

“Alright, alright,” she got up from the couch, unable to take her well-deserved nap.

She grabbed a stack of textbooks on one table and carried them to her desk.

She plopped them down, realizing she’d forgotten something completely.

She closed her textbook, and as quickly as possible, she headed for the place she and Blaine would usually frequent during their spare time.

“Blaine!” She called excitedly.

“So what was this thing you wanted to talk about?” She asked, cheerful to be able to get away from her dorm, and Sophia in particular.

Blaine looked squeamish, and that alone was enough to worry Clarisse.

“What’s wrong? You’re super squeamish for something as simple as telling me something, babe,” Clarisse pointed out.

Blaine scratched the back of his neck nervously. He couldn’t get the words out of his mouth, they were stuck.

He couldn’t bear to look at her the way she was looking at him – with adoration, love and passion. What he was about to do wasn’t something he wanted to do, but he had to, for her sake.

He took Clarisse’s hands and held them before he inhaled sharply.

“Honey…”

“I can’t.”

“Can’t with what?” Clarisse asked.

“University?”

“It’s all going to be over soon, there’s nothing to fret about,” she assured.

He felt far more horrible, if only he was able to get straight to the point and not take any other detours.

“That’s not what I meant,” Blaine admitted.

“What I meant was…”

“I can’t continue being your boyfriend.”

“And stay committed to this relationship of ours.”

Tears welled up in Clarisse’s eyes.

“What…?”

“Is this some sort of sick joke?”

“Tell me it is,” she shoved Blaine backwards, her vision blurry as her eyes were filled with tears.

“I said, tell me it is,” she repeated, tears beginning to fall from her eyes.

“Do you not love me anymore?”

“Are you seeing someone else?”

She hesitated.

“Did you find someone else?” She asked in a quiet tone.

“Tell me why,” Clarisse insisted.

“TELL ME!” She screamed.

“Tell me goddamit.”

“Tell me,” she cried.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“Before finals’ week?”

“Why would you break up with me now?” Clarisse asked, hitting him in the chest.

“Are you that heartless?” She asked next, looking up and staring right at his ocean eyes.

She knew Blaine wanted to tell her something but couldn’t.

He looked as though he wanted to scoop her up and reassure her that everything was going to be perfectly fine, even when they weren’t.

He looked as if his world was crumbling right in front of his eyes.

“Clarisse,” he began.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized wholeheartedly.

He tried to take her hand, but she swatted him away almost instantly.

“Clarisse, I’m sorry.”

“I’m so, so sorry.”

He looked at her with tears shining in his eyes.

(Flashback ends.)

He hadn’t the intent to hurt her.

How could he?

He still loved her.

She was the love of his life.

His one and only.

Why would he break up with her so abruptly, when things were going so well and during a vital time in Clarisse’s life?

Blaine came from a powerful family.

They were influential and had connections that helped them establish their position in the world.

They wanted him to continue the family company, but he’d refused.

The only reason he’d refused was her, and his family knew that.

He broke up with her to protect her, knowing his family wouldn’t go after her if she was no longer his girlfriend and a thorn in their path.

Even if it meant he’d have to sacrifice his happiness to keep her safe, even if he had the chance to redo things, he’d do it again in a heartbeat. He didn’t regret anything he’d done, but now, it was all over. Now he could protect her.

Now he had the power to protect her.