My parents...they tried to do something horrible to me. I have nowhere to go!” Clara broke down into uncontrollable sobbing and Claudio gasped, putting his hands over his mouth, “Why, what do you mean?! Clara, baby, please explain to me, maybe I can help.” Clara’s voice cracked and through sniffling she managed to tell her horrible story, “It all started at graduation at the boarding school in Monte Vista. I was so happy to see my parents and show them all the paintings I had made over the years, I thought they had changed... See they had sent me away to boarding school when I was just 10 years old and I hadn’t really seen them since. We wrote to each other every so often but that was it. They never approved of me being an artist, they said “We won’t have a free loading, starving artist in our family Clara!”. To my parents, all they cared about was the family business and it being ran by the next in line which was me.” “What is your family's business?” “We have one of the largest vineyards in all of Champ Les Sims and our nectar making business is one of the best in the world. I couldn’t stand the thought of my days being filled with nothing but that and when I was younger I let my parents know. That’s why they sent me away to such a prestigious school. They thought that if I worked towards something and advanced my skills in other ways that I would magically want to run the vineyard, but they were wrong.” Clara stopped and stared into her lap, trying to hold back tears, “We got in a fight on the way home...I told them nothing had changed and that I was in love with you. I told them I wanted to be with you, here in Newcrest. It made my Father so furious. Then he started yelling at me telling me how they had already arranged for me to marry someone once I graduated high school, a businessman who they knew knew how to run our business.” Claudio went rigid and growled beneath his breath, “They can’t force you to do something like Clara. I won’t let them take you away from me!” Clara smiled and put a gentle hand on Claudio’s cheek, “It won’t come to that mon amour. I haven’t finished telling you everything.” She took a deep breath and continued, “I couldn’t do anything at that point. We were on my parents private jet and I had nowhere to run to. Apparently I wasn’t supposed to know about this “arranged marriage” until we landed and were at my house, that way my parents could lock me away until it was time. I begged and pleaded with my Mother not to let this happen but she didn’t seem to care. All they ever wanted was for me to listen and do as they said. To be a porcelain doll they stored on the shelf and took down to dress up and show people. They locked me in my old room and had seamstresses come in and take my measurements for the wedding dress that was being made. But I started to plan my escape. Everyday I packed a little bit more clothing in my bag, just enough to where it would seem like I only had dirty clothes. Then when the day of the wedding came and I was all dressed up like the porcelain doll they always wanted, I ran. They left the door open to my room, expecting me to come out and down the stairs to the reception, but I ran out the door through the kitchen with my dress hiked up and my suitcase at my side. I never looked back and I came straight here.” Claudio pulled Clara close and kissed her forehead, “Why didn’t you tell me any of this? I would have come for you, you know that.” “I know...but I was afraid of what my parents would do to you. They could take your passport and never let you leave. It was to risky, I’m here now though...I just have nowhere to go after this…” Claudio gently tugged Clara’s chin so she was looking into his eyes, “You’ll stay here with me. We already planned it to be that way, now it’ll just happen sooner. We’ll re-decorate the room to your liking and get you all settled in. My Mom and Dad definitely won’t have a problem with it considering what you’ve been through. Plum, because of my Dad’s past who knows he might have even worked for your family once without even realizing it. We’ll make this work. You’ve got me and I’ve got you, that’s all that matters.” Claudio was true to his word and let Clara have free reign to re-decorate the spare bedroom however she wanted. By the time she was finished with the bedroom, Harley was so impressed with her decorating skills she gave her permission to do the whole house if she so pleased. As the days passed Clara came out of her depression more and more to the point where she was back to her natural silly self that Claudio met in Windenburg. Coheed’s life was also taking a turn for the better. Margot had arrived in town that morning and couldn’t wait to see him. “Margot, I’ve missed you so much!” Margot giggled as Coheed kissed her cheek, “I missed you too silly. I have a hotel room since I didn’t think it would be proper to impose on your family.” Coheed rolled his eyes and took her hand to lead her into the house, “Clara is already living with us permanently so I don’t think my parents would have minded. The more the merrier!” When they sat down in the living room Coheed couldn’t stop staring at Margot, “God. Have you gotten more beautiful or am I just crazy?” Margot blushed, “Oh hush you. I look the same as I always have. How have you been?” “Eh. I’ve been okay. It feels weird having my brother be the important one now. Since we’re twins we usually do everything together but now that he’s the heir it just feels...weird. Like it’s not that I’m mad about it, it just makes living here different. I mean for god's sake I’m still living in the same room I grew up in as a kid! I just think it’s about time I move out on my own…” “I could move in with you if you want.”
“Huh?” Margot blushed and shifted in her seat, “I mean as roommates! We could split the rent 50/50 and stuff...I mean we’re dating so it wouldn’t be like roommates, it’d actually be like moving in together but... I still want to take it slow and not rush anything but I think it would be nice to live together for a little bit to see if we could work out being around each other all the time…” Coheed smirked and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek, “See I knew you loved me!” “Hey! I never said anything like that! I just...really really really like you!”
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iheartdinosx3