My questions had been answered on a Wednesday night, exactly three days after she'd stopped coming over.

     There was a small, strange noise coming from my bedroom window—it took me a a moment to realize that someone was throwing rocks at it.

     I opened the window pane and saw Claire when I looked down, her jet black hair a tangled mess, a mischievous grin painted on her face.

     I already knew what she was planning to do, so I smiled back at her, and gestured for her to come over. Thank God there was a tree near my window that she could use to climb up to my room.

     "I missed you," I said, melting into her arms as she wrapped me in a tight embrace the moment she stepped foot in my room. Tears pricked at my eyes and as much as I tried to keep them at bay, I couldn't keep calm anymore.

     I cried hysterically, being apart from her was torture. "Shh, baby," Claire soothed me, her gentle voice was like a lifesaver I kept holding onto while I floated on murky waters. I needed to stay afloat, I didn't want to go through that kind of torture ever again.

     "I'm here," she said, rubbing my back up and down slowly, and I squeezed her in my arms tightly, like a boa constrictor squeezing the life out of its prey.

     "Oh, Claire," I cried in her tear-stained shirt, not caring how helpless and desperate I sounded. I couldn't stand being away from her. My whole being ached for her touch, for her kiss, for her. "God, Claire. I missed you. So much. So damn much."

     "I know, baby," she murmured, planting a soft kiss on my forehead. "Hush now, okay? I wouldn't want your parents to hear you crying and then walk in on us like this."

     I frowned. Oh, yeah. Right. Embarrassed, I looked down at the floor to hide my blush. I hesitantly pulled away from her and wiped my face. I must've looked like a witch, with my poofy eyes and tangled hair, but she still cupped my face and kissed me on the lips.

     "Sorry you had to see that," I apologized, that familiar warmth blossoming in my cheeks again.

     "You're still the prettiest girl I've ever seen, Alexa," she said, tucking a few strands of my hair behind my ear. "I've cried like hell too, for the past couple of days."

     "It's definitely been hell without you, Claire." I sighed. "I've been grounded, probably for the rest of my life, and I'm not even allowed to use my phone anymore. I honestly feel like I'm in jail."