Claire Danvers was still in shock. She couldn't believe that her parents would do this to her! Uprooting her from Morganville and dropping her in Mystic Falls? Great. And what's worse, Amelie gave them permission to do this? God! Claire was so deep in her thoughts that she wasn'y watching where she was going. Until she bumped into what felt like a brick wall. Claire stumbled back a few steps. Then blinked. She'd bumped into a boy. Well, actually a man. His features were young, but it was his 5 'oclock shadow that betrayed his age. Claire blushed a bright red when she realized he was looking at her expectantly. Why is he -? Oh, God! Where are your manners? Claire scolded herself. "I'm sorry - I wasn't - Oh, God." She stammered. The guy rolled his eyes, saying in a dispassionate but not exactly a rude voice "It's okay. You're not from around here are you?" Inwardly, Claire rolled her eyes. Oh, God. Please, tell me he is not using that cheesy pick-up line! "Your voice, it has a slight dialect to it." Does it? Claire wondered. "North East Texan. Am I correct?" The guy asked with an oh-so-sexy smile. "Yeah" Claire whispered. The guy's Slivery-Glacier-Blue eyes were focused on her, causing Claire to blush again. Claire had met good-looking guys before.
But this one . . . He's hotter than Michael! I didn't think that was possible! She thought. The guy chuckled, a sound that vibrated through her bones. And made her shiver. He stepped closer. Claire drank him in. Taking in everything from his black riding boots, to the way his dark jeans molded to him in such a way that it should be made illegal for him to wear form-fitting jeans, ever, again. To his black T-shirt under his Black leather jacket. Back to his eyes. He was smirking at her, giving her this "Like what you see?" tilt of the head. And she does. Claire gulped. She'd never felt this tongue-tied and speechless around a guy. But then again, they didn't have guys that looked like this one where she grew up. Claire knew that she was staring shamelessly. And she also knew, from the way that he was smirking, that he was loving the attention. The guy was talking to her ". . .Damon Salvatore." He said, holding his hand out to her. Claire blinked at himk, before taking his hand "Claire. Danvers." She replied. Damon smiled and brushed his lips across the back of her before, saying "Well, I hope to see you again, Claire Danvers." And like that, he was gone. Claire shook her head and tried to remember what she was doing before she, literally, ran into Damon.
Class! I need to get to class! Claire though, panicked. It felt like hours, but their little exchange lasted less than ten minutes. "And, then what happened?" Eve Rosser demanded. Claire shook her head, adjusting the phone before replying "And, then nothing. I just made to town, Eve. I didn't really have time to do anything else." "So, you didn't meet anyone? Make any new friends?" Claire didn't like the way Eve emphasised "Friends". After her bad break-up with Shane Collins, Claire just didn't want to be with anyone else. Just then, her memory of Damon, chose that exact moment to swim through her mind. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to talk about it . . . "Well, I did meet someone." Claire said, trying and failing to sound off-handed. She knew Eve's curiosity was piqued. "Oh? Is it a male someone? Are you dating or more like friends . . -" Claire blushed and said, flustered "No. We aren't dating. He's, like an adult." "Oooooh!" Eve crowed. "Really? I see how you are now!" Eve declared before erupting into giggles. Then a rustling sound made Eve stop. Michael Glass must be awake. Whipsering. Angry whispering, started on the other end of the phone, before - "Claire?" A new voice said. Claire smiled slightly.
"Hey, Michael." "You're being careful, aren't you? You're staying safe?" Claire rolled her eyes, before replying "Yes, Dad. I'm staying away from the evil boys who want to hurt me." "You know we worry about you, don't you?" Claire laughed softly before saying "Yes. I do. But, don't be ridiculous. I'm fine. Besides. What's the worst that could happen?" That evening, Claire decided to check out the only place in town, that people go to for fun. The Mystic Grill. Now, she stood in the center of the room, searching every face in the hopes of seeing Damon again. "Looking for someone?" A familiar voice asked, from behind her. Claire smiled "Yes. I was. But, I guess he decided not to show. Oh, well. His loss is your gain." Damon chuckled saying "Is it now?" "Yep." A few hours and several drinks later Claire stumbled to the door, then almost toppled over. Damon caught her, snickering "Easy, easy." Claire squinted at him, slurring "I'm not as think as you drunk I am . . ." Damon snorted, "Right. Let's get you home." "I'm not a drunk as you think I am." Claire declared, shaking her head, to clear the cobwebs. "You know something? You have pretty eyes!" Claire crowed, cheerfully. Damon just chuckled. Until she realized.
This isn't the way home. . . Damon was leading her down a blind alley. "What's going on?" Without warning Damon slammed her into a wall, snarling. Claire saw moonlight glinting off of something in his mouth. Fangs. I knew that whole nice-guy act was too good to be true! Claire reached into her bag. Damon blinked in surprise as she brandished the cross in his face. "The hell . . .?" Claire's eyes widened when Damon threw back his head and laughed. "Oh, Sweetheart. That only works in the movies." Then he snatched it from her and threw it, over-handed, down the alley. Then darted to her throat. Claire screamed and flinched when he did. Then, stopped when she realized he was, oh, god! He was sniffing her. Like a cat! Damon pulled back from her throat. Confusion and puzzlement clear on his face as he asked "How old are you?" "Sixteen." Claire stuttered. "Damn it!" Damon growled, jerking away from her. "What's wrong?" Claire squeaked. "The only fresh Happy Meal that rolls into town. And it's not ready for pick up!" Damon snarled. "Hey!" Claire cried, wounded. "I'm not a Happy Meal!" Damon nodded, "You're right. You're barely a midnight snack! Sorry, I don't eat children." "I'm not a child! I'm almost seventeen!"
Damon snorted "Tell it to someone who cares. No, wait. Don't" Damon flickered across the alley. And looked her dead in the eye, saying evenly "Go home. Go to bed. Forget you ever met me. Do you understand?" "I understand." Claire said, as her eyes glazed over. And the world went out of focus.