Chapter 2

Gina didn't try anything, it turns out. She sat there glaring at Claire but without he so-called 'friends' she was harmless. A dog that's lost its bite.

Chemistry flew by. So did Physics. And the afternoon lecture she had was the longest one in her life so far. Claire was in the advanced classes but she knew everything, inside-out. She probably knew more than the teachers did.

The lecture finished at four. Claire decided to go visit Eve at work, who finished at five-thirty. As Claire walked to Common Grounds she expected something to happen - anything: an attack from a bloodsucker, or a threat from a human. But nothing did. She got some smiles and nods - of appreciation? It seemed like. She did get a few frowns and glares, nothing too serious.

When she walked through the door to Common Grounds she saw Eve busy taking orders. There were a few tables left as mostly students got a coffee after school. She took the one in the corner by the window and waited for the queue to die down by getting her head stuck into her physics book - again. Instead, a cup of mocha, just the way she liked it, slammed down on the table as Eve slid into the chair opposite.

"Hey, Claire Bear." She caught her breath.

"Oh, hey, thanks." Claire put her book away. "Busy?"

"Was, not now though. Managed to speed my way through those orders - might have broken the world record or something." She laughed which was a good sign. "So, did you manage to talk to Shane?"

"No. I couldn't."

"Sure you could have," Eve frowned as she leant back in her chair, "you had a moment alone this morning and he drove you to school."

"I know. I just wish we could talk about something else instead of am I feeling ok and have I told anyone." Claire tugged on her hair out of frustration.

"Ok," Eve threw her hands up in surrender, "what are you going call it?"

"I don't know and I'd have to talk to Shane about the names." Claire smiled. "I don't even know if I'm keeping it."

"What?" Eve gasped. "Don't you want it?"

"Of course I want it!" Claire felt a little offended that her best friend thought otherwise. "What if Shane doesn't? I can't raise it by myself and I'm not ready for it."

"Honey, it's your body - not Shane's. If he don't want it, screw him." Eve said flippantly and Claire smiled at her private joke: I already did.  "You won't do it by yourself, you'll have me, and Michael. We'll get ready for it."

"Swear?" Claire said desperately.

"I swear." She wiggled her little pinkie in the air and hooked it on to Claire's. "Do you think my design is ok?" She meant her nails. Painted a polished black with white little skulls hand painted on.

"They are so you." Claire said and they both shared a moment of laughter. Claire glanced at her watch.

"Claire, why don't you go work in the lab at the hospital instead of working Myrnin?" Eve asked, placing her hand on the back of Claire's.

"Because... He... I... I don't know. He knows stuff," Claire shrugged and Eve gave her a look that said 'well so do I', "he knows things that no one else does, things that doctors and researchers spend their whole lives looking for."

"Human ones." Eve rolled her eyes. "Anyway, Michael should be here soon. He's got a set tonight, I guess Oliver needs to bring business back." From the Daylighters who aren't totally convinced by Amelie's new rules.

"Ah, cool. What time?" Claire sipped her mocha.

"About five, can you stay until then?" Eve asked, hopefully.

"I can stay until five-thirty. I need to be at the lab by six." Claire sighed.

They chatted for another twenty minutes over more mochas and coffees. It got to four-fifty and the door jingled open and Michael walked in, carrying his guitar. Even though some people were calling his name, he headed straight for Eve and Claire.

He kissed Eve on the cheek and leant his guitar up against the wall. "Claire, are you staying tonight?" Michael seemed a little surprised to see her there.

"Yeah but only for a little while." Claire shifted away from Michael as if she could hide her secret that way.

"Shane's making his famous chilli for dinner tonight. Hungry?" Michael laughed. Claire, in fact, was. She didn't want to eat and throw up though so she didn't risk it, unless there was a toilet nearby. But here traitorous stomach betrayed her. "Wow. Have you even eaten today?"

Thankfully Eve chimed in, "I'll make you a sandwich. I'll be two minutes." She rushed off, clearly not wanting to leave them alone and let Claire be 'unsupported'.

"What did you do to Shane?" Michael pulled his chair a little closer. "He seems... spooked. Is everything ok between you two?"

"Yes, if you must know," Claire said bitterly. She didn't mean it to sound like that but she was just fed up of trying to hold it all in. "We're just going to talk later tonight. That's all."

"Ok," Michael leant back in the chair, "but if you're having second thoughts about being Mrs Collins then you're a few months too late."

"No!" Claire protested, defensively. "I love Shane! I would never want to be anything but Mrs Collins. He means everything to me." Claire glared with so much fire at Michael's accusation.

"Sorry, just have to rule that one out." Michael looked guilty. "So I can tell him he has nothing to worry about. That you're not planning to run off to another up-class university miles away without telling anyone or even saying goodbye." Last time Claire had woken up early so she didn't have to go through all the goodbyes.

"Of course not. Morganville is my home now." It was exactly like the sign had said when she first came to Morganville: You'll never want to leave. And she didn't. "And so is Shane."

"Good. Just checking. Man stuff." Claire rolled her eyes.

Eve returned with a sandwich and Claire didn't care or taste what was even inside. She wolfed it down and ten minutes later she felt sick and dashed to the toilets to throw up. Out of everybody in Morganville, why did it have to be Monica Morrell?

"Dork, do you really have to do that in these toilets?" Monica said as she applied her eyeliner. "They're bad enough as it is." When Claire didn't reply, Monica carried on, "so, freak. What's going on with you? Do you have a bug or something? Don't give it to me!" Claire carried on throwing up the nice sandwich that Eve had made - free of charge - Monica turned to face her and surprised her when she said, "Claire? Are you alright?"

That made Claire wipe her mouth with tissue and stand up to face Monica. "What do you care, Monica? You've hated me since the beginning."

"Well. If you hung out with a cooler crowd and had fashionable clothes then maybe a mutual liking..." Monica stopped, took in a deep breath and continued, "look, for some unknown reason Richard liked you and your friends and I think he'd want me to at least try to be nice to people like you. So I'll make the effort if you don't mess up my life."

"Trust me," Claire said as she turned on the tap, "I wouldn't want to get involved with your life. I have my own to worry about." As Claire rinsed out her mouth she realised she felt that she had just reached no-man's land with Monica. They were both equal.

As long as neither tripped the wire.

Monica silently fixed up her makeup and her hair as Claire left the toilets whilst placing a mint in her mouth. Eve and Michael looked up in surprise when they saw Claire and Monica share smiles that said 'agreed'. Claire quickly re-joined them and looked at her watch. It was time for Michael's set.

"Everything alright?" Eve asked hastily.

"For a change, it is." Claire felt a little better. "Monica isn't going to be a problem ever again." Unless they crossed paths but Claire wanted to stay feeling hopeful.

"Hmm..." Michael paused, "well, it's show-time." He picked up his guitar and started to set up along with Oliver, who at some point appeared out of his office. Claire glanced at her watch, it was five past five. Michael was running late.

Eve made Claire another mocha and stood behind the counter next to Claire as they both listened to Michael play his beautiful music. Crowds started forming around the stage area but Michael hardly ever took his eyes off Eve. Claire downed her mocha, looked at the time and mouthed to Eve that she had to go.

Again, Claire was anticipating an attack on the way to the lab. But still nothing happened. She walked past what used to be the Day House - but now was a construction site - and down the alley. Myrnin was busy vamp-speeding around the room.

"Ah, Claire!" The blurred exclaimed. "I have lost my journal!" Myrnin finally stopped so he was visible. He was wearing khaki shorts with a bright yellow shirt, flip flops and his old-fashioned hat. "We must clear up, I need your help."

"Ok," Claire sighed, hopelessly, "if we clear up - we," she felt it needed to be made clear, "then it's got to stay that way."

"Oh, so sweet Claire, you are not my mother. She is asleep in her grave - may she rest in peace." Myrnin laughed. "Of course I am going to keep it clean. I can't let Lady Grey visit me in all this mess!"Claire rolled her eyes. Myrnin had affections towards Jesse and it was clear there was a possible history between them. "I'm hungry so I'll be back in a jiffy."Claire dumped her backpack by the steps and grabbed the broom from the supply closet. Just before she started working Myrnin shouted, "you look unwell today."

Claire gritted her teeth.