Hurricane Clara - Chapter 7
Clara watched as the snow drifted down from the sky in thick white heavy flakes, sticking and freezing to her window as children balled up what was on the ground and threw it across the back property of the mansion in the distance. She couldn’t help smiling at the small puffs of sulfur smoke in the the midst of the snowball fight, sure Kurt was having a blast playing with everyone else out there. She might not like the cold very much but Kurt was lucky enough to have fur…in the back of her mind she wished he’d come inside and cuddle on the couch to warm her further, but she’d never dream of stopping him from having his own fun. With a sigh she drew the shades shut to block the cold from seeping in through the glass and turned the heat and humidifier up in her room. Though this year’s winter came slowly, creeping up from the edge of fall like a white wolf stalking its prey she still found herself having trouble adjusting to the bitter cold of winter.
Winter aside she really didn’t want to leave her room for as long as possible thanks to Warren Worthington III flying around the building. She hated him fully and completely for what he put her through, for cheating on her, and worse, for coming back after all of this time now that she was done with him. He was blond and beautiful and for some reason couldn’t get it in his head that she just didn't’ want anything to do with him anymore. Every time she opened the door to leave there was some new set of flowers or stuffed turtle there. She couldn’t take it.
Clara’s room smelled of sulfur for just a moment as her fuzzy blue demon of a boyfriend teleported away from his snowball fight to warm up in the warmest room in the building. He was breathing heavily, exhausted after all the snow themed fun. Kurt has been wonderful about this whole thing. No matter how hard she searched Clara couldn’t find a hint of jealousy on his adorable blue face. Kurt knew there was no need to be.
“”You want me to take care of any gifts he left this time on my way out Liebling?” He asked with a fanged smile as his yellow eyes looked up to his love. He couldn’t help finding her fuzzy blue sweater adorable.
“Ugh! Please.” She responded as she grabbed her favorite turtle blanket and wrapped it around Kurt to help him warm up all the faster.
“Well, at least come downstairs to help set up for Christmas?” He asked as he wrapped his arms around her, careful to keep his hands above her fluffy sweater to keep the cold off of her. “There will be a fire and hot coco.” Clara couldn’t help laughing a bit as she wrapped her arms over him, Kurt just seemed to bring out the happy in her and when he was around even the iciest of days seemed a bit warmer. “And after we exchange presents…” He was all too excited to see the look on her face when he finally gives her the perfect gift.
“But Warren won’t leave me alone. It’s annoying.” She half pouted in a joking fashion. “And it’s warm in here.”
“Really Liebling. Can you blame him? He knows he lost out on the perfect girl.” He paused as his three thick fingers brushed against her cheek, going under the mess of blond curls instead of moving them the way that Warren used to. It might not have been chic but it was hers and that was all it needed to be perfect to him. “Besides, we’re exchanging gifts tonight, remember?”
Her ocean blue eyes gazed up into his golden orbs as he smiled with a fanged grin, obviously very proud of what he got her before she nodded reluctantly. “Okay, fine. But someone warn him that if he gets too close I’ll drown him.”
“Liebling.” He didn’t have to give the ‘we don’t use our powers against each other speech, his tone of voice did it for him.
“Okay fine!” She pouted playfully as she crossed her arms. “No drowning.”
The large pine was already set up in the main common area of the school, lights and star placed on top by the angel that Clara wished would just go to hell. Currently he was soaring around the tall ceiling hanging long strands of garland. His crystal blue eyes were drawn to her, like a moth to the flame. Oh if only he could get her to talk to him.
Clara looked around the room and let out a soft sigh. She was sure for everyone else it was beginning to look a lot like Christmas but not for her. This time last year the whitest part of Christmas was the sand. But all of that would soon be remedied. Christmas was still a week away, long enough for her to hop on a plane with her beloved German elf for some time in the real Caribbean sun.
“Hey beautiful, what’s wrong?” Warren asked her as his wings folded behind him, his feet hitting the floor in front of him.
“Well, for starters? You’re here.” She snapped before turning her back to him to continue helping with hanging ornaments on the tree.
“Oh come on Clara… I know you better than that. What’s bothering you?” Warren asked as he rested a strong hand on her thin shoulders.
“You’re bothering her, Angel.” Bobby answered for her as he shoved his way between the two of them. “Seriously man. Haven’t you done enough to her?” As his brows drew together in anger a silence fell over the once buzzing room, the only sound to be heard was Kurt’s BAMF as he moved from across the room to Clara’s side. Most of the school knew what happened all those months ago, and they’ve been waiting for this showdown since Angel returned. She loved how protective her boys were of her, but she knew this was something she had to do on her own. As she spun around she placed one hand on each of her protectors’ shoulders signalling them to part to let her through.
“You cheated on me. You didn’t even have the courage to tell me. And now here you are months later trying to win me back with stupid bears and flowers outside my door. Did you really think I’d take you back? Because if so, you obviously didn’t know me very well. But then again I’m really not that surprised. You never listened to a word I had to say.” As she spoke, venting out all the anger and hurt he dealt to her when he broke her heart, pushing him closer and closer to the doors he had just decorated. “But you know what? In a way I guess I should be thanking you. I’m with Kurt now. And I’m not about to pull the kind of shit that you did because guess what? I’m happy! I love Kurt!” Hearing this Kurt couldn’t help smiling just a bit, it was the first time you said that. “I don’t want the bears. I don’t want the flowers. The only thing I want from you is for you to open those stupid bird wings and flap on out of my life.”
“But Clara! I-” He attempted to protest but Your mouth was too fast, cutting off anything he’d have to say.
“Seriously! How can you go around calling yourself an angel when you are such a horrific person? Bird! All you are to me is an annoying bird that sits outside my window.”
“Clara, please, just hear me out.” His eyes grew soft, her words stung, but he knew he deserved them, he deserved worse.
“Do I need to say it in your native tongue? Chirp Chirp just leave me alone!”
“Ok…I’m sorry.” Warren hung his head low as he turned towards the door to give her the space she was so vocal about wanting. “I’m sorry for everything I put you through. Just please don’t throw my christmas present for you out before you open it? It took a lot of work to find it. And I am sure you’ll love it.” She rolled her eyes as she watched her ex leave the gathering. Deep in the back of her mind she did feel a little guilty, she didn’t mean to chase him away from the rest of the festivities…But she was happy that he finally got some peace.
Once all the decorating was done people started passing around gifts. Smiles and hugs filled the room…now THAT was something familiar about Christmas for Clara. But then again that’s probably something familiar about Christmas for everyone.
Clara smiled up to Kurt as he handed her the small box wrapped so perfectly. She wasn’t expecting anything much…there wasn’t much she wanted. But as she opened the box her eyes lit up brighter than the tree. Sitting inside, nestled snuggly among the soft tissue paper sat the remains of the small wooden turtle she used to wear like it was part of her body, until it broke the day Warren met Betsy. It was surrounded by silver, reforming the shape it once held only now it was far more beautiful.
“Oh Kurt…Where did you…? How?” She held it close to her chest like a long lost friend found again. She never wanted to let it go.
“That day it broke I tried to give it back to you…Then I was afraid to…But it belonged with you, around your neck…So I had it fixed.” A slight blush formed on his cheeks, taking the form of more purple than pink due to his skin tone. His tail swished behind him, twitching just a bit nervously. “I…I hope you like it. They said there was no way they could fix it the way it was..”
Tears of joy welled up in her eyes, even if she wanted to be mad at him for keeping it from her all this time how could she when he restored it to the point it could always be with her. Her arms flew around Kurt, drawing him in close. “I love it. Thank you.” He smiled with relief as his arms and tail wrapped around her gently. He clipped the chain around her neck looking down at it as the wood carving finally sat where it belonged once more. “I love you so much.” She whispered gently before brushing a sweet soft kiss against his lips.
“I love you too Liebling.” He answered looking deep into her eyes with a smile.
Clara felt badly now. She just handed him a small card. For a moment his face dropped, after all the thought and work he put into her necklace all he got was a card? But when he opened it there sat inside a plane ticket and a post card.
“What’s this?” He asked as he looked up to her.
“This is the Jolly Roger. A historically accurate pirate ship. I’ve chartered us a private excursion.” Clara explained with a proud smile as Kurt began muttering in German, his golden eyes now wide as dinner plates and a smile from pointed ear to pointed ear. His arms flew around her, this was the best gift he could ever imagine.
“Hey you two, I’d hate to break this up but Clara, you still have a gift to open.” Bobby interjected as he handed her the last gift.
It was from Warren. She was tempted to not open it. But with the spirit of the impending holiday she put that aside…he did after all say it was hard for him to come by, she may as well know what it was before she passed judgment. As she tore the paper away she saw an image of Santa on a windsurfer waving to her behind the clear plastic of a CD case. Anyone from Grand Cayman knew that image, that CD. It was a major part of her christmas as a child. ‘The Barefoot Man and Friends - Christmas on an Island’ She searched her memories for any indication she’d have given him…Once. She once told him about the singer when the two spent a night in watching The Firm during one of her homesick nights. How did he even get this in the states?
“Oh my God…” She muttered feeling horrible for the things she said. Without another word she dropped the CD rushing upstairs. She stood outside of his door for what felt like forever, not sure if this was the right thing to do. BAMF. The smell of Kurt’s sulfur wafted from behind her. She knew it well. “What should I do Kurt?”
“I think you should do what is right Liebling.” After all this time and the harsh words that Warren at dealt to him he still couldn’t bring himself to hate him. He knew he should, that it would be very justified. But who was he to pass such harsh judgement over someone? “Do you want me to stay?”
Clara nodded as she reached her long slender fingers behind her to find Kurt’s hand. “I think that’s a good idea…I don’t want him to get the wrong idea.” The fingers of one hand wrapped around Kurt’s while the other knocked on the door.
Warren opened the door, a soft hint of a smile forming on his lips when he saw Clara’s beautiful face. He didn’t even care that Kurt was there behind her. “You opened it.” Hope was glowing in his eyes.
“Warren…After everything you put me through there will never again be an ‘us’.” She backed up a step, having second thoughts about being here, but Kurt wasn’t about to let her back out on this now. His tail wrapped around her waist reassuringly. “But that being said…I’m sorry. For what I said…where I said it…”
“No…I deserved it. And I’m sorry…To both of you.” The more he looked at the two the more they seemed right for each other. They were the perfect fit. “I’m sorry for not telling you.” He looked up to Kurt. “And I’m sorry for what I said. That’s all I wanted to do. Apologize. Make things right with us. I may not be around much but we’re still on the same team. I know there’s not going to be anything between us Clara. You’re so much better than me.”
“Thank you for the gift…Second best I got today.” Clara offered with an almost sincere smile.
Warren’s eyes were drawn to the silver around her neck. “I can see what beat it. I’m glad you found it…I know how much it meant to you.” He held out a hand. “Friends?” He asked lightly with a half smile.
Clara backed up into Kurt, taking comfort in his support as she shook her head. “I’ll work with you…I’ll show you at least some respect…But I don’t think I’m ready to be friends.”
Warren’s hand balled into a fist as he drew it back, not so much out of anger, more out of disappointment. “Yeah…That’s fair.”
“But maybe….one day.” She offered with a shrug hoping that would ease the blow.
Warren nodded. “Yeah…one day. Look, you two enjoy your trip. I’m gunna…” He trailed off as he gestured inside his room before closing the door.
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