I push myself harder and harder, gaining as much speed as I can during this last lap before thrusting myself into the air and landing.
My breath comes out in harsh pants while I unlace my skates. I grab my phone from my bag and swing it over shoulder, only to see that Chris, Tash and the boys have been blowing it up for the last two hours.
I quickly dial Chris back, and within two rings he’s panicking in my ear. His words are a jumbled mess, but as I walk through the double doors, his words become clear, “don’t leave the rink!”
Flashing lights blind me, the sounds of camera shutters and scattered questions fill my head, completely disorienting me.
“Claire? Are you there?” Chris’s voice is distant. My phone is no longer against my ear, it’s in front of my face shielding me from the paparazzi.
“Claire is it true you’re related to Chris Taylor?”
“Why did you keep your relation to him a secret?”
“Is he ashamed of you?”
“Did you two have a good relationship growing up?”
“Is Lucas St. James using you to get ahead?”
“Are you using your brother?”
“Claire look over here!”
“Claire smile for the camera!”
They bark order at me as if they own me. Like I’m nothing but another dollar to them. So many people are around, they’re too close, they’re moving closer.
Jesus Christ, this is suffocating.
Strong hands grab me, and a startled scream rips from my throat. This is where I get kidnapped and held for ransom, isn’t it? Thrown into a basement and tied up while they wait for money from my family? Send them a stupid video of me begging for help?
I hear the sounds get quieter while the hands drag me into the rink.
“Shh, it’s okay. You’re safe now” Lucas whispers, holding me tight against his chest and kissing the top of my head.
“What’s happening?” I ask him, tears rolling onto his shirt from my cheek.
“Your brother will explain, let’s get you home. Okay baby?”
I nod my head, letting him guide me through the back door and into the car where Blair and Miller are waiting for us.
Lucas hops up front as Blair speeds off, Miller is sitting next to me and pulls my head into his lap, he plays with my hair while they all try to comfort me.
They try to make me feel better, and while I’m definitely shaken up, I’m just angry. I don’t care that people know I’m related to Chris, I don’t care that they’re making up wild stories about me… I care that my entire life is no longer mine.
I sit up straight, pulling out of Millers grasps and wiping my tears.
I’m not going to let this ruin me, I’ve been through too much shit to let a couple greedy bastards be the reason I fall apart. These people don’t know the first thing about me, they haven’t lived in my shoes, they don’t know what it’s been like for me.
“We’ve got your back Claire Bear” Blair says, turning around for a moment to look at me.
“I know you do.”
* * *
“Chris mother fucking Taylor I’m going to kill you” I yell, walking through the front door.
He thrusts Tash in front of him. “Seriously?” She screams.
