The air leaves her lungs in a sudden breath, and Claire finds herself hesitating, unsure if this is the right time to talk. Unsure if this is the right place. And, above all, she feels muted surprise— she's never asked, but somehow, the fact that they started dating without announcing it to the world means that it should be natural for them to fall apart just as quietly. Right?

Apparently not.

"Chris, I..." she takes a wavering breath, brows furrowing deeply as she rubs her palm roughly against the back of her neck, eyes burning with the effort it takes not to cry. She can't, in this case. She has to be the strong one, because if she breaks down for something like this, asks comfort of him, it'd be ten times as unfair as anything she's asked of him up until now. "Chris, I don't really think that there's an us... like that. I don't think we have a chance. We're just. Too different to be anything other than friends."