Blind Fury

Chapter 1

Shane talks continually as he shovels cereal into his mouth, Claire is lost in thought as she gazes at him laughing along with his idiocy of the morning. Eve bangs around the kitchen slamming cupboards and stomping her heavily booted feet. Shane rolls his eyes when they both jump at an overly loud slam of the fridge.

He reaches out and takes Claire's hand, "Thank God we're not like that," he whispers.

She laughs and then shakes her head, "Oh I can do the whole slam-bang-and-smash moody thing if you'd like."

Shane immediately snorts and nearly sends milk all over the table, "Eww gross Collins." Eve barks as she idles past and into the living room.

Alone now in the kitchen Shane takes the opportunity to move his chair closer to Claire's. He leans in for a kiss and she moves away, "I just brushed my teeth dork, I don't want milk all over my face."

Another spoonful of the cereal and he opens his mouth, talking full of food he says, "You're saying you don't want all this?"

Claire playfully swats him on the head and then leans over to kiss him on the cheek. "You're so stupid. But you're my stupid."

Since Bishop was in town everything was a little on edge, even Amelie. Not that she would ever admit it, of course. Oliver still had his sullen stony glare and Amelie was always gliding in and out of the towns view. The edginess was obvious to everyone who was, well, in the 'know' and even Myrnin was sleeping with one eye open. One thing was for sure, Bishop could not be trusted with anything. So far everything had been rather low key, yes the streets still weren't safe at night but that was nothing new. The Glass house was having a rare glimpse of happiness and Claire wasn't going to take a moment of that for granted. She was feeling like suddenly things were looking up. In the pit of her stomach knots formed and made her feel a little insecure, it was her body's way of reminder her that things in Morganville were never easy.

"Earth to Claire?" Shane was waving his hands in front of her face and she blinked profusely.

"Sorry," she laughed, "I totally spaced."

Shane eyed her carefully but if he wanted to ask her what she was thinking the moment was lost the instant Michael walked into the Kitchen his face was serene but anger glimmered in his eyes. With his back to them Claire eyed off Shane and mouthed, 'say something.' Shane, in typical guy style shrugged and whispered, 'say what?' She shrugged and glared at him, "just say something," she hissed.

Michael spun around to face them, "vampire hearing remember?"

Her face reddened instantly and Shane rolled his eyes, "Dude, don't remind me you're on the Anti-Buffy team again. I almost forgot for a moment."

"Shane!" Claire hissed and slumped in her chair giving up on him having any manners this morning, she looked at Michael apologetically.

Michael grimaced, "you don't have to apologise for your Neanderthal Claire, I know they didn't teach manners back in the stone age."

Claire began to laugh but the angry look on Shane's face made her stop. "Come on you two, can you cut it out for one breakfast."

"No," they both said in unison.

She raised her hands in frustration, "Idiots!"

With that she turned on her heel and began for the door, swinging it open she saw Even sitting on the couch looking very glum. Claire took a deep breath and made her way over to Eve. Seriously, she thought she could be a councillor for all the things she dealt with in this house. "Hey Eve," she began with a smile.

Eve didn't bother to look up, "he didn't send you in here did he?"

"What? No, of course not. You know Michael he's already butting heads with Shane and it's only eleven in the morning." That comment got a small laugh from Eve but then she went back to glowering at her toast. "You know," Claire started, "the toast didn't do anything wrong to you. It's innocent in all this and that glare will burn a hole through it."

Eve looked up and smiled sadly at Claire, "it's hard, so hard."

Claire agreed and then said, "What's hard?"

"Michael, vampire's this house … everything." She sighed. Pausing for a moment she turned to face Claire, leaning over to put the toast on the filthy coffee table. Claire tried to ignore the mess.

"You know CB if they decide to take over, he'll choose them." She sounded defeated.

Claire was taken aback, "Who?"

"The vamps Claire."

"No, he, I mean, do you seriously believe that?"

Eve rolled her eyes, "So you're on his side then?"

"Wait, no that's not what I meant. I just don't believe he would ever willingly leave us." She smiled at Eve trying to reassure her, although deep down Claire wondered if she was truly being honest.

"Claire, he's a Vamp, I can't ignore that."

She smiled and put a hand over Eve's, "I know we can't ignore that. But, do you have to worry about it today, now? You know what it's like in Morganville things go from mediocre to world ending very fast. Why don't you enjoy the now?"

Eve opened her mouth to interrupt but Claire continued, "Just listen Eve, he might go with the other team. He might suddenly decide we all look delicious. But don't you think Michael deserves a little bit of faith?"

There was a pause between the two friends and Claire waited hoping that her words made more sense to Eve then they did her. She wasn't very good at this whole 'comforting friend' stuff. Michael walked into the room arguing with Shane and laughing at the same time. The two girls looked up at them and Claire saw Michael take a quick inhale of breath when he met Eve's eyes. Claire looked from Michael to Eve and Shane, well he just looked bewildered as usual. Eve glanced and Claire and Claire whispered, "trust him."

Eve sighed and stood up, "Hey Michael walk me to the door? I have to work."

Claire smiled triumphantly at Shane and then waited for Michaels answer. He was surprised when Eve didn't hurl a plate right at his serene vampire face. "Sure Eve," he smiled quickly at Claire before walking off back into la la love land with Eve.

"Tell me." Claire said standing up and walking to shane.

"Tell you what?"

"That I'm amazing."

"You don't need to ask me to tell you that." He smiled at her and brushed the stray strands of hair from her eyes.

She looked up into his eyes and breathed in his scent, cologne and sweat just how she liked it. "Well, just tell me anyway. I helped Eve see through her veil of anger for today."

Shane lifted his eyebrows, "Did you now?" He pulled her in close and kissed her gently on the forehead. "You're simply amazing Claire Danvers I just don't know how you do it."

"Ha ha" she smiled wrinkling her nose when he pretended to lick it. Before Shane could say anything else Claire stood on her tiptoes and wrapped in his embrace kissed him. He kissed her back and it quickly escalated into a more PG13 rating then she had initially expected. Her head was dizzy and she pulled away, "Down boy."

Shane groaned, "Don't go to school, you don't have to."

"Yes," she rolled her eyes, "I do."

"Screw Myrnin stay here with me."

"Uh, no thanks I don't really want to screw Myrnin."

Shane laughed, "So not what I meant."

Claire kissed him one more time before pulling away, "Don't do that," she mumbled between kisses.

"What?" Shane sighed.

"Be all handsome and good at kissing. You make it terribly hard to leave this house."

"Then don't I told you, free bedroom just you and me we could —"

Claire pulled away, "Goodbye lover boy."

Shane sighed, "Tease."

"I'll miss you too," she called out as she grabbed her backpack and headed for the door.

Shutting the heavy old door it took Claire a moment to catch her breath, she smiled to herself and made a tiny wish that things could stay perfect in her world for just a little longer.

It was too much to wish for, it always was here in Morganville.