Clara slammed the door behind her and ran straight into the bedroom. She threw herself onto the bed and started sobbing immediately. What had she done? Could it really be that she lost her best friend and her boyfriend on the same day? Had she screwed up so badly that it was beyond the point where it could be fixed? She cried for what seemed like hours until her head was hurting and yet she still couldn't stop. Alex had never been so mad at her, he had never yelled at her like that before, he had never refused to sleep in their bed and suddenly she felt like she was a stranger in her own home. Only it wasn't her home, not really, it was his home and Alex was beginning to slip away from her. Clara wished she could be somewhere else, she wished she could be with John, wished that he would take her in his arms and kiss her head and tell her that everything was going to be fine. She wanted to be with him more than she wanted anything else right now. Clara knew that if she went over there right now he wouldn't turn her away, no matter how angry or confused he was, John would be there for her. But if she did that, if she left the house to be with John right now she could just as well pack her things because Alex would never forgive that and she still loved him, too, no matter the how much they had been fighting lately. And she began to wonder if maybe it wasn't Alex that was slipping away from her, but Clara slowly slipping away from him.
Clara hadn't heard the alarm go off. Instead she was woken by Alex who walked into the bedroom to find some clothes to wear – and he was carrying a garment bag.
“What is that for?” Clara asked immediately, afraid he might use it to pack up a few suits and move out. Her imagination was running wild before he even had the chance to answer.
But Alex dropped the bag on the bed.
“What is that?” she asked again.
“It's your dress for the ball tonight,” he explained and Clara could hear from the tone of his voice that he was still angry.
“My what?”
“I bought it for you in Seattle. I thought it would look good on you.”
Reluctantly Clara unzipped the bag, revealing a sparkling, midnight blue ball gown. For a moment she had no idea what to say.
“It's beautiful,” she said in a low voice and looked up at him. For a second she thought she saw a twinkling of satisfaction or even joy in his eyes, “Thank you.”
Clara cleared her throat. Her voice was still a bit husky from crying all night and somehow this beautiful gift only made her feel worse about what she had done to Alex. “So, we're still going to the Christmas ball? Together?”
“Unless you'd prefer to take John,” he replied coldly.
“Alex-”
“Yes, we're going to the ball together. I bought the dress, we took the dancing lessons, I don't want it to be for nothing. Besides, if we're there together Missy might think twice before she gossips about last night.”
“Missy is going to be there, too?” Clara asked, the horror all too audible in her voice.
“Yes,” Alex said sharply, “And I want you to be on your best behaviour. Tonight we will be the nice, perfect couple. If we're convincing, they might not believe what Missy is going to tell them. Can you do that?”
Clara nodded. Even though Alex was still angry with her, she had a feeling that if she was nice and did everything the way he wanted her to tonight at the ball, he would eventually get over their fight.
克拉拉砰地关上身后的门,跑进卧室。她扑到床上,开始抽泣立即。她做了什么?难道真的是在同一天,失去她了她最好的朋友和她的男朋友吗?了她搞砸了如此严重,远远超出了点在那里能不能修吗?她哭了什么好像几个小时,直到她的头被伤害,但她仍不能停止。亚历克斯从未如此生她的气,他永远不会嚷嚷了她那样之前,他从来不肯睡在自己床上,突然感觉像在自己家中,她是一个陌生人。只不是她的家,不真的,它是他的家和亚历克斯开始与她擦肩而过。克莱拉希望她能在某处别的,她希望她能与约翰,希望他会带她在他的怀里,吻她的头,告诉她把事情搞得很好。她想要跟他比她现在想要什么。克莱拉知道是否她在那里现在他不会将她赶走,无论多么生气或感到困惑是他,约翰会在那里为她。但如果她那样做,如果她离开房子要和约翰在一起现在她一样好可以打包她的东西,因为亚历克斯将永远不会原谅你,这和她仍然爱他,太,再怎么多他们曾一直打架最近。她开始怀疑也许要不是亚历克斯,渐渐离开了她,但克拉拉缓缓离开他。克莱拉没听见闹钟响了。相反她被吵醒了阿历克斯走进卧室去找件衣服穿 — — 和他当时携带一个服装袋。"那的是什么?"克莱拉问立即,害怕他可能利用它来收拾几套西装和搬出去。她的想象力运行野生之前他甚至有回答问题的机会。但亚历克斯丢弃在床上的袋子。她又问"那是什么?"。"今晚,它是你的球的衣服,"他解释说,和克拉拉能听到从他说话的语调,他是还在生气。"我是什么?""我买了它为你在西雅图。我以为它会在你身上很好看。很不情愿地克拉拉拉开了拉链袋,露出闪闪发光,深蓝色的晚礼服。一会儿她根本不知道该说些什么。"这是美丽的"她小声地说,抬头看着他。第二,她以为她看到一转眼满意或甚至喜乐在他眼中,"谢谢你"。克莱拉清了清嗓子。她的声音仍然是有点沙哑从哭了一夜,不知何故这美丽的礼物只作关于她对亚历克斯做了什么她感觉更糟。"所以,我们还是会参加圣诞舞会?在一起吗?""除非你宁愿采取约翰,"他冷冷地回答。"亚历克斯-""的我们要去球在一起。我买了件衣服,我们带上舞蹈课,我不想要什么。此外,如果我们有一起小乔可能三思而后她说闲话有关昨晚的事"。“Missy is going to be there, too?” Clara asked, the horror all too audible in her voice.“Yes,” Alex said sharply, “And I want you to be on your best behaviour. Tonight we will be the nice, perfect couple. If we're convincing, they might not believe what Missy is going to tell them. Can you do that?”Clara nodded. Even though Alex was still angry with her, she had a feeling that if she was nice and did everything the way he wanted her to tonight at the ball, he would eventually get over their fight.
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