Lucas and Claire had their comet date. And a few more and yet with each one that passed Lucas grew a bit more distressed. He liked her. A lot. But he wasn't sure what he really liked about her. The mystery, the honesty, how smart she was? Other than that what did he know? He knew she had a sister, but she was cagey on why they hated each other. Lucas was sure that they hated each other because Val made a move on him the day the cheer coach/history teacher Milhouse died. Shame too, Lucas was looking forward to seeing Claire perform after she told him she'd joined the squad. Lucas was torn, he just felt like he only knew her in pieces and with every passing moment he needed more.

Nadine came down the stairs and sighed at him before walking to the kitchen. She pulled out a box of cereal then tilted her head "You know... watching you pine over that girl is starting to get really boring" Lucas rolled his eyes.

"I haven't even mentioned her. How is this pining?" Nadine gave him a look.

"Ok then what were you thinking about while holding your phone and staring at a black screen" Lucas scoffed and Nadine nodded.

"Exactly. Why don't you just call her and tell her you miss her?" She said as she poured a bowl.

"It's not that simple. I'm not even sure where we stand" Nadine groaned and almost spilled her bowl.

"You're an idiot. You are the guy. If you want her... take her. Tell her that she's yours and then if she tries to tell you no sweep her off literal feet and ask her where'd she'd rather be. It's not hard. Why are you all so stupid?! This is why Paulie is walking around like a dog on a leash and you're here instead of talking to the only girl you've ever genuinely liked. Fucking idiots that's what you all are" Nadine said walking toward the stairs muttering to herself.

"I liked Opal" Nadine just blinked at him before walking away.

"I'm your sister. Lying is dumb" at that Lucas just laughed and then he looked back at his phone. Dina may be slightly off about the approach but she was right. He can't expect more from her without making room for it and putting the ball in her court. So, Lucas called Claire and set up a walk in the square. Claire was all for it and showed up a few minutes earlier than scheduled, as always.

"Hey." She said waving at him shyly. Lucas pulled her in for a hug that lasted longer than their usual and Claire frowned as she started to assess him. Lucas seemed nervous and strangely serious, his brow only furrowed that way when he needed to get something off his chest. So Claire pulled him to the bench and turned to him "What's up? I know that look by now. So tell me" Lucas looked at her and prayed that his sister wasn't the real idiot. If he fucked this up he had no clue what to do next.

"Look, I like these hangouts with you. They're fun and it's honestly the best I've felt in a longtime but-" Celeste cut him off.

"It's ok. You don't have to let me down easy Lucas. I'm-" Lucas cut her off this time.

"No, I really like you. And if anything I want us to be a thing. Like a real thing. According to my sister guys are fucking idiots so I won't try to put together some Teen Wolf bullshit. Instead I'll just ask you if... you'd like to be my girlfriend?" Claire's heart jumped into her throat and she could barely contain her smile as she nodded. It was thoughtless the moments after all she could think is what if she was making a mistake. As cute and fun as this was, she was a vampire and Lucas was human. Inserting herself in her life even at a distance was risky but now she'd crossed into forbidden territory. How could she explain away the millions of strange things that will inevitably happen around her? It was dangerous and stupid and yet as she got ready start their walk while Lucas stood staring at her. Claire could hardly imagine tearing herself away from him. Claire barely got two steps into the walk before he grabbed her and pulled her to his chest. The voice screaming in her head that this wasn't right was barely audible now against the hammering of her heart. Lucas leaned down slowly pulling her chin up so that their lips were just barely touching.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt just a quick question for Lucas about the Gala Mom's having tonight. Did you ever find that watch your father gave you?" Elsie asked Lucas hid his irritation but nodded in return.

"Yea I found it. It's in a case Uncle Nick bought for it. I'll bring it over" he said earning a shrug from Elsie.

"Have it over by 4. Mom's losing her shit over not having a full collection. By the way when you see your girlfriend again let her know that the Mayor's waiting on Val's addition too. And to come to the next practice with more of those tumbling skills" he nodded and looked back to see that Claire was in fact gone. She'd left the moment she could grab the opportunity. It was a sign. She should know better. Alba made her promise not to bring these people pain before Alba left their family home in the middle of the night. Alba could bear being so close to the thing she hated, Val, a blood thirsty vampire. So here was Claire hiding, watching Lucas look for her, and trying to convince herself it's the right thing as she went home. Claire thought she'd be safe there but as soon as she got there, there he was. Lucas leaning on his car.

"You ditched me back there" Claire sighed and shook her head.

"I know, I'm sorry. Go home Lucas" he frowned and grabbed her arm.

"What happened? One minute we're together and the next you're gone? Even you have to admit that's a bit weird" Claire groaned and pulled at her hair.

"I shouldn't have said yes! I- I'm not who you think I am. There's things you don't know. Things I've been through that I don't know how to explain. And I don't want you to have to deal with my baggage" Claire moved to walk away but Lucas grabbed her pulling her in front of him again.

"Baggage? You mean Julius? Val told me. Said you were torn up but that she was happy you were trying to move forward. Now I'm sure that me saying this isn't the reason Val was looking for when she told me but that doesn't scare me off you Clarie. You're a good person. Julius didn't make you a monster" if only he knew how wrong he was. Claire shook her head about to explain how wrong he was when Lucas cut her off "You know what. Forget it. I don't even know why I'm here. I hardly know anything about you. That's what you'll say right? You made it that way. You wanted the distance. And I get that now. So this is me taking the hint. Bye Claire." Claire wanted things to end but on better terms. She wanted him to know she was doing this for his safety. He had to understand that.

"I'm trying to protect you" she whispered.

"I don't need you to protect me from you Claire. I want you. I just want you" he said getting closer again. Here she was, caught between a rock and a hard place again. Wanting so desperately to do right by Alba and the promise to keep her distance. Yet here he was, practically begging to know all of her. And Claire was finding it harder and harder to say no.

"Lucas please." She whispered.

"Just. Let go. I promise we'll be fine if you do" he said as he slid his hands up to cup her face. Two breaths away now. And Claire was feeling more lightheaded with every passing moment. And then their lips touched and she crumbled along with the last of her resolve. Secrets be damned, Val likely lurking in the background. Here Claire was falling completely to her impulses with a boy she couldn't ignore anymore.

Lucas felt that same over the moon feeling. It was strange to him because he'd never felt that way before. Maybe Nadine was right when she said he didn't like Opal. Opal never made him feel this way. Like everything that's happened led him to this. This perfect moment with the perfect girl. If all he had to do was deal with the demons in her closet to keep her then he would do it. Gladly. Claire was worth that much. Lucas could feel it. He pulled away and ran a thumb up and down her cheek. A beauty this flawless shouldn't even g exist but here she was "God you're so beautiful" he whispered to himself making her blush.

"Thank you" Lucas placed another small kiss to her lips then released her and stepped back. Claire finally felt like she could breathe properly "I guess I owe you then don't I?" Lucas frowned as she pulled him inside and into the living room. He sat on her couch for only a few moments by himself before she came back with a small box. This is everything I know about my family's history. I look at it sometimes when I miss my parents. They... loved everything about how long and deep our history was" Lucas said nothing as he watched her go through the box. He felt bad now for demanding answers of her. She was healing from more than one loss like himself.

"We don't have to go through it if you don't want to" she shook her head.

"It's fine. It's time I actually shared a bit of myself with someone. And if it has to be anyone I'm glad it can be with you" Lucas smiled and nodded as she pulled out an old photo. Claire rubbed the picture and handed it over carefully "100 years ago, my family the Boelyns were among the most important of the time. The family of the Mayor. He had two daughters which my parents named me and my sister after. Like I told you huge fans of the past" Lucas smiled a bit as she continued. Little did he know she was talking about herself. Her life before it all began "One the daughters journals is in here somewhere. It stops around the time she died, you know the massacre. Something happened to us then... I don't remember what I'd have to go back in but whatever it was their father shot and killed them that night. That's how the rest of my family ended up leaving. Before my parents died while we were living in New York after a stint in the French countryside. Which is beautiful by the way and there's actually a lot more to do than you'd think. The horseback riding alone is elite" Lucas listened patiently slowly understanding more about why she was so guarded.

"How did they go? If you don't mind me asking" Claire paused then put the box down as she tried to figure out the best way to put this. Her mother died when she was young and her father she murdered after she turned so what would she say?

"They were murdered in some back alley. Some kid needed cash to feed his sick mom. And I guess my parents looked like his cash cow. How about yours?" Lucas flinched a bit at the question but answered anyway. The lie was from a story she remembered from the papers she read before she left New York to come here and visit Alba.

"I was drunk. A fucking mess after Opal, ex-girlfriend, dumped me. I knew I couldn't drive home so called my parents and of course they both came to tear me into pieces for being "irresponsible". I remember being so annoyed that night. Because my dad wouldn't let the conversation go. The entire drive he just kept repeating how disappointed he was. Then the tires slipped and the car went in the water. I survived, but uhh they weren't so lucky" he whispered the last bit but Claire heard him. She knew his story, she was there. Claire could almost picture the violent scene of the car going in the water. She remembered his mother who was still trying to get out and trying to help her. She wouldn't come out. Not without her boy "To this day nobody knows how I got out. Not even me. Everything's a blur after the crash" Claire nodded at this and looked away.

"I'm sorry that happened to you that way. It sucks to lose one person but two at the same time is even worse" Lucas nodded and slid his hand into hers.

"It sucks but I'm here now. I'm glad to be" Clarie looked back over at him and smiled as he kissed her again. Now he had his answers he felt so much better about his decision. She was it, everything he was looking for, he didn't know he knew it but he did. And Lucas was going to keep this gem as long as he could. Claire walked him to the door "You're going to the Founder's Gala right? I know it sounds like a drag but I have to go. I owe Mrs. Kentworth a display piece can't get around it. It'll be fun if we go together though" Claire pretended to think about it for a moment.

"Fine, but only because you asked nicely" they shared one last kiss before he left and Claire was just standing in the doorway smiling to herself.

"Fucking ridiculous. You'd think 137 years would make you grow the hell up but here you are with the door wide open like a child. Move" Val said as she slammed it closed.

Claire sighed, she was in too good of a mood to have it ruined by Val "You still haven't told me what you're doing here. Not fully, what did you mean about bringing Julius back? How?" Val just smirked and placed a finger to her lips.

"That's for me to know and for you to... not" she said as she rushed off leaving Claire by herself and still confused. She'd figure out what she had planned. Claire wanted her gone as soon as possible and anyway she could make that happen she would. Lucas wasn't safe as long as Val was here. None of them were.