Shiver - Pt. Three (standard:romance, 1642 words) [3/5] show all parts
Author: Freya Griffin	Added: Feb 26 2003	Views/Reads: 2694/2144	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
And it went on... keep the Cd in the cd player, folks...

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

house. She was never that close to her sister anyway. Shari took more 
to their father's taste in furniture then their mother. Every single 
piece of furniture in that room was easily taken from the hippest 
interior design magazine. Trendy and millenish style. 

On the side table there were several frames of photographs. Their
parents. And Chris. Chris and Shari. 

Claire took the frame. It was taken in a beach. Where is that? Chris was
smiling wide to the camera, and so was Shari. Claire felt a painful 
stab in the chest. When is this? How it all did begin? Was it before or 
after she turned him down? 

She couldn't stop herself from shaking and sobbing. She quickly put the
frame back and went to her own room. Slammed and locked the door. 

Her room had always been her refuge. And it is exactly as it was when
she left home eight years ago. Everything was exactly where she had 
left it. She felt like being thrown back to the time when she was 17. 
The time had been frozen in this room while everywhere else it kept on 
going and rushing. Her sister's room for instance. She had grown into 
someone she hardly recognized. And Chris is going to marry her now. 

Shari came home late at eight. She was welcomed by her mother telling
her Claire had come in the afternoon and was upstairs. 

'She did? Why didn't she tell us?' Shari asked a bit annoyed. 

'She said she wants to make a nice surprise. But she hadn't been feeling
well. So I let her rest in her room. She asked about you. Go and see 
her' 

'Yes, Mom' Shari quickly headed upstairs. 

'Have you had dinner?' her mother shouted. 

'Yes, I had' 

'Ask Claire if she wanted anything. She didn't come down for dinner as
well' 

'Yes, Mom' 

Shari walked slowly, not to make any sounds. She wondered how Claire was
doing. She must've known that she had lost Chris permanently to her. 
And if she had no clue, Shari would tell her in person. 

Shari hesitated in front of Claire's room. The door left open several
inch. She could see inside. 

Claire was sitting in her desk with her back to the door, facing her
computer. She didn't seem to realize Shari was at her door. 

Slowly Shari walked in. She tapped the door several times. She expected
her to be upset. She expected to see traces of tears on her face when 
Claire turned around. 

'Hi, Share. I didn't hear you coming' Claire smiled to her. She stood up
and hugged her sister. 

'Congratulations. You could never have picked a better man' she said
sincerely, holding Shari's hands. She saw the ring and another fresh 
pain pierced her. 

'Why didn't you tell me you were coming?' Shari asked suspiciously. 

Claire made a 'don't think about it' gesture. 'I wanted to make a
surprise'. 

Shari smiled, bitterly. 

'So, how far had the preparation gone? I thought I might give you guys a
hand or two' Claire asked. Not hinting any hard feelings whatsoever. 

'Mom hired a wedding planner for me. It's all been taken care of' Shari
answered coldly. 

'Oh well, I will just have to enjoy my time off then' Claire shrugged. 

For several seconds they stood there, face to face in silent. Shari
trying to figure out what her sister was up to, Claire trying to make 
sure she looked as sincere and as happy as she was supposed to be. 
There's nothing else she could do anyway. 

'I'm tired. I need a warm bath. Mom asked if you wanted anything for
supper. You didn't come down for dinner. Are you okay?' Shari turned 
her heels around. 

'Yeah, I'm Ok. I was tired and then I was drowning in this work' Claire
pointed to her computer. 'It's endless! I'll go and make something for 
myself around ten maybe. Tell mother don't worry about me' 

Shari nodded and left. 

'Share?' 

Shari stopped and turned her head. 

'You know how Chris is, he never told me anything. I was very curious,
when was it happening? I never know you two were involved. Probably I 
was being so insensitive...' 

'It was shortly after you left the house", Shari cut her words. 

'Oh' Claire nodded with a smile. 

'Yes, we got pretty close ever since. You know what, I'll tell Mom to
leave you something you can heat on and eat' 

'Yes, that's a good idea. Thanks' 

'Anytime' Shari shut the door behind her. It didn't exactly happen like
that. She saw it coming, that her sister would betray Chris. She knew 
everything that had happened in Claire's apartment. When Chris Warren 
was home to heal his broken heart, she was always there for him. Made 
sure it was her who healed him. She had won. 

Claire told herself repeatedly about love and sincerity. Who else should
deserve Chris but her own sister? She should be happy for Shari. 
Beside, it was her who turned Chris down three years ago. It was her 
decision. She should never regret anything. 

Instinctively, Claire made sure she kept herself extra busy at home. She
avoided going out anywhere the chance of bumping into her sister's 
future in laws was big. She tried hard no to think about it. Not to 
think about anything at all because there was nothing to be thought 
about. She had made her decisions long ago. This is the consequences. 

He was in NY for some promotional works when he heard Claire was back in
Denver. He was going to be home three days before Thanksgiving. His 
first plan was to come and see Claire, or- if she still doesn't want to 
see him-calling her and let her know about the wedding. 

'Claire Perchant came home last week' his mother reported when he called
home. 

'She did? How come Shari not telling me anything?' 

'How do I know? I saw her in the library the other day, but she didn't
see me. Their mother said she had been here the whole week. For the 
wedding' 

'She knew' Chris whispered. 

'Of course she knew. You are going to marry her sister, aren't you now?'


'That is the plan, Ma' 

'What do you have in mind there? What are you going to do?' Chris could
see his mother glaring at him. 

'I don't know. Keep with the plan, I guess' Chris shrugged. 

'You watch it, Christopher Geoffrey Warren. Don't try anything
inappropriate' 

'I won't, Ma' he answered obediently. 

And he kept trying to make himself sure he knew what he was doing. Shari
was much more persuasive and stubborn then Claire. She had been there 
all the time after Claire refused him. After a while, he began to think 
about a new start. And Shari was the one who was there. 


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