I dumped my backpack in the hall and walked into the living room, yawning. It had been a long day at the university and I yearned to curl up in my bed with Shane. Michael was playing his guitar softly, sitting in his favourite armchair. Eve was flat out on the sofa. There was no Shane in here and I couldn't smell chilli coming from the kitchen so she could bet a lot of money that he wasn't in there as chilli was about all he could cook.

"You sound really great. You should do another one of your gigs at Common Grounds again." I told him. He nodded for an answer. He was obviously concentrating so I left him to carry on. It sounded like he was trying to compose a new song. It was sweet and slow. It made me even more sleepy. I took off up the stairs at a slow pace. Shane's door was closed. I knocked softly and opened it.

I stopped dead in my tracks. Kim and Shane were in bed together. Kim! I felt the tears trying to explode out from my eyelids but I held them back, overcome with raw fury. I wanted to scream at her to get out of the bed, get her filthy hands off my boyfriend. But he seemed happy and relaxed. After all she had done to him, he had accepted her and pushed me away like I was worthless.

He glanced up at me. He paused, clearly shocked to see me standing there."I'm sorry Claire. Look, let me explain."

"There is nothing to explain. You don't want me. You push me away and hook up with her. I don't mind. I don't care." I really did but I had to be strong. I wasn't sure why but it seemed like the right thing to do. "After all this time. All them times you said you loved me and would do anything to save me. All them times you said you hated her and you didn't really love her anymore. They were lies. All of them. I'm finished with you Collins. I never want to speak to you again."

I turned and slammed the door in his face.

She awoke with a start. Someone had entered her room. She could see a dim outline of a person, tall and well - built. Shane? She turned her tiffany lamp on. It was him. She switched it on quickly and burrowed under the covers. "Sorry if I woke you. I just wanted to day goodnight."

"Well I don't want you. As I said... we are FINISHED!" She shouted the last word. He looked shocked and came to sit on her bed.

"What's got into you?" he asked hurt.

"You were in bed with Kim and you didn't love me anymore." Claire suddenly realised how silly she sounded and was. "OMG! I'm so sorry Shane! It must have been a dream!" She flew into his open arms and kept mumbling how sorry she was. He told her to quieten down and she fell asleep there in his arms.