Clara Carter

Tyler and Ray stand there with huge grins on their faces and eyes full of joy and emotions. My eyes well up just by the sight of my best friends lovingly looking at me.

"You really thought we would bail on you?" Tyler says, opening his arms for me.

I laugh and run into his arms. We embrace into a tight hug, laughing but with tears in our eyes. Then I hug Ray. We stay like that for a few minutes. Remembering how much we missed one other throughout these months and regretting our decision to stay apart.

And no matter how hard we try, we can't pull off the 'I'm cool, we're cool' act. I love these two idiots and have missed them more than I can endure. When a tear falls on my cheek, I break the hug to wipe it away.

"Aw, I never knew you can cry," Ray mocks, forcing me to confront her with my teary, messed-up face.

I look at them with a smile on my face. They haven't changed much in the three months since I last saw them. Tyler's and Ray's appearances have become more serious and mature. The only difference is that Ray now has short hair over her shoulders-still blue-whereas I have long, thick curls that reach my waist.

"I'll go and change." I say, pointing to my dirty clothes. They both nod yes and scatter in my small apartment to evaluate the interior, arrangements, wall painting, and everything else.

As I walk out of my room, I stop in the kitchen to get some beers before joining Tyler in my room. He's standing in front of the photo-decorated wall and table, as well as the mysterious crystal I've kept safe for all these years.

The intent stare he gained by the wisdom of four years watches the photo of the three of us that we took when we first became friends, in high school. I had to steal it from Ray's collection to keep it for myself. It was and still is one of my favorite memories.

"Special moment, huh?" Tyler sighs as he recalls our high school days. Looking at the photo, I put my hand on his shoulder.

"It is, indeed."

"Then why do you hide your other special memories?" I furrow my eyebrows, not understanding what he means.

He carefully pulls a frame from behind that photo of us-mine and Stefan's. Tyler had clicked that picture without us knowing.

The most beautiful and the only picture I had with Stefan.

The shot was taken on the day Stefan asked me out for the first time. He's hugging me from behind, both our eyes closed.

Tyler is a great photographer for capturing that moment from a side view.

I take my hand off his shoulder and turn away. That picture means a lot to me, and he knows it. I used to stare at it for hours.

"It's okay, Clara. I know, come here." He says, making me face him again and offering me a hug.

I shut my eyes close. When I initially moved to Caelfall, I used to cry just by looking at that photo. I considered throwing it away to put a stop to the emotional volcano that was rising inside of me.

But then I clutched that frame close to my chest, and it calmed me like an old friend by reminding me of the beautiful moments I shared with Stefan.

"Clara, I know. But you can't change anything now, can you?" He runs his hand over my back, trying to relax my tense emotions, and it does. Like an obedient child, I nod my head no. "You're the Clara Carter, and the Clara I know isn't going to cry because someone took something precious away from her."

"Then what would she do?" I ask. Honest curiosity peeks in my voice.

"Whoever dared to take anything away from her, she would beat the hell out of them."

Hearing him, I burst out laughing. Something I hadn't done in a long time. Aston and Sarah were the only people I felt close to in this city, but there's always a void that only a true friend can fill. Because they know who and how you are from the inside out, and they are the only ones who can tell you what you want to hear. Which Tyler just did.

"Guys, what the hell are you doing? You know how bad I am at selecting a movie." Ray enters the room, holding the TV remote. Tyler and I both laugh as we glance at each other and give each other a nod of assurance.

"I swear, if you choose the movie, I'll kill you." Tyler warns her as they walk away.

"So, how's the 'independent living' thing going?" Ray inquires, taking a sip of her beer as Tyler turns off the television after successfully forcing himself not to cry when Bing Bong dies in Inside Out. I shake my head, looking down at my fidgeting hands. They are both aware that I came here to figure out my life while living independently.

"It's amazing. I enjoy living on my own and paying my bills with the money I've earned." I speak my mind. "How's it going with you and Samuel?"

It's weird having to ask such questions. It is as though we've met after years, and will part our ways in hours.

"We recently moved into his apartment together. As you may be aware, he was hired by Aerilon's police force. And you're talking to the Sky Studios' official casting director." She throws the last part in both of our faces. Her proud smile makes me both happy and confused.

"Wow," I exclaim. So, she finally got the job. I was surprised to learn that Samuel was studying for the police exams. Who would have guessed that the youngster who skipped practically every class in college and was friends with a slew of goons would wind up in the police force? But I genuinely am happy for both of them.

"That's great," I continue. "What about you Dr. Tyler Hill?" We all laugh hearing that name. He was and still is working his ass off to clear all of the VIVAs and exams.

Tyler rises from the bean bag on which he had been sprawled. He stands in front of Ray and me, a hesitant smile on his face. "GatherMed Medical Group accepted me and they want me to join them as an assistant surgeon."

My jaw and Ray's both drop open wide. He keeps a cheeky look on his face, crossing his arms over his chest, waiting for us to say something.

GatherMed Group is a well-known medical group with various chains spread throughout many countries. It is many people's dream, as it was Tyler's, to be a part of that group.

"Damn, that's a big deal you cracked. Congratulations!" we both hug him and pat his back a little too harsh to make him wince.

We spent the rest of the night talking about all I'd missed in all these months. They tell me that they occasionally come to my house to meet my parents and that they both miss me too. Christopher and I speak on chats and calls all the time, but I only talk to my parents at rare times.

At approximately 2 a.m., both of them fall asleep on the couch, their heads on my lap. Because of the moonlight peering through the window and falling straight on my face, the lights are already turned off. I take in the beautiful sight of the full moon shining brightly in the dark sky.

After months of uncertainty and anxiety, my mind, heart, and brain are free and relaxed. I'm not sure why I was running away from something that is now crystal clear in front of me.

I still love Stefan. I've always loved him. All I needed was for someone to tell me this. Should I, however, ignore the fact that he burned someone alive? I still get shivers thinking about that incident.

But one thing is for sure: I'm going to find that bastard who left me undone, with so many questions swirling around in my head, and I'm going to make him answer every single one of them.

The only thing that scares me is what if he's moved on? What if, as I used to imagine, I was merely a random girl in his life? What if he no longer loves me?

What if he never loved me?