Disclaimer: I don't own Resident Evil or any of the characters. :/

Author's Notes: Uhh, yeah. So this is the first chapter. Hope you like it! Reviews are welcome.

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On his hasty retreat from school, Steve bumped into a tall girl. His books tumbled to the pavement, his energy drink splashing all over her chest.

He apologized immediately, looking around for something to help clean up the sticky mess with.

To his surprise, as he looked up at the girl, she wasn't upset. She was disappointed, but she wasn't upset. At least, she didn't look it.

"Oh no..." Claire frowned, glancing at her now soaked tank top.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." He fumbled through his backpack, hoping to find a spare shirt or a towel or anything.

Claire frowned to herself. "It's my fault, I wasn't paying attention..."

Steve stopped, blinking slowly. "What?"

"I wasn't paying attention where I was going." She repeated, digging in her own backpack now.

Steve shook his head, silent for a moment. "I should've been more careful."

"No, it's fine.. I'll just have to make a little detour on my way to the mall."

Steve finally found a spare shirt, wrinkled and covered in dust, and shoved it at her. "Here."

"Oh..." She smiled softly. "Thanks..." She glanced around.

"L-Listen," Steve started, looking up to her but avoiding her eyes. "If you want, my house is right around the corner, a-and I can wash your shirt for you..."

She glanced to the clock hanging on the outside of the school. It read past 3:00. She knew she would be late already, so what would be the harm of taking his offer?

"Alright." She smiled. "Do you have a car?"

He shook his head. "I'm not old enough to drive."

"We can take my motorcycle." She slipped on the baggy shirt, plucking at it lightly as it clung to her sticky skin.

Steve bent, eyes averted to the ground as he fumbled to pick up his books. "Okay...I'm really sorry, again..." He shoved his books into his bag, keeping his eyes on the task at hand and refusing to look up at her.

She smiled this time. "It's okay. Stop apologizing."

He grabbed his things, holding them close to his body as he watched her, waiting for her to lead him to her motorcycle.

Claire walked him to her motorcycle, handing him the helmet. "Here, put it on."

"Why me? You're the one that should be careful."
"Just wear it." She sighed, a little exasperated.

The boy jammed it on his head, glancing around. "It's weird."

She straddled her cycle, making Steve blush as he focused on the girl's behind, traveling down her long, shapely legs. He shook his head, glad his face was hidden behind the helmet for now.

"Where do I sit?"

"Behind me." She murmured, starting to get a little impatient as she felt her shirt start to dry to her skin, making it highly uncomfortable.

"B-behind you?"

"Come on."

Steve hesitated, but sat down on the leather seat as Claire started up the engine. He wrapped his arms around her slowly, unsure if this was right. He'd seen people in his video games like this, but usually it was the woman who rode "bitch." But he wasn't complaining, it meant a chance for him to sit like this with his arms around her pretty little waist. Nope, no complaining here.

Steve pulled his keys from his pockets when they arrived at his house, getting off of the motorcycle as he pulled the helmet off. It had messed up his hair, and he wasn't very happy. He ran his fingers through his hair, fixing it to the way it was. The auburn hair was pushed off to one side and was absent of styling products.

Claire unstraddled her bike as well, brushing off the seat of her pants as her new companion moved towards the door.

"Are your parents home?"

"Huh? Oh, no, I don't live with my parents. Why?" He murmured, fumbling with his keys.

"I just wondered if they would think it's weird that you brought home a random girl, is all." She walked up behind him, adjusting her knapsack.

Almost instantly upon opening the door, there were several dogs barking at them. Claire blinked, taking a step back. She hadn't really had very good luck with dogs. They always considered her more of lunch than a friend.

Steve extended his hand, petting the closest one to him. It was a large dog, it probably came up to about his hip and was black with thick fur. It was a rottweiler, and it made Claire nervous. It's entire mouth was probably bigger than her fist.

"Relax...uh, what's your name?"

Claire swallowed hard, moving closer to the boy. "Claire. Claire Redfield."

"Redfield!?" Steve turned to face her, studying her. "No way."

"...Yes way." She gave a weak, somewhat nervous laugh as she kept her eyes on the dogs. Two of the three were very large, obviously the rottweiler, but there was also a husky, and then a much smaller dog, a brownish-orange color with short, thick fur and little stubby legs. It was a corgi.

"...You're kidding."

"No..." She frowned softly. "Why are you so shocked."
"Well.. uh, I was with your brother in gym class, and he kinda picked on me..."

"Chris?"
Steve nodded, watching the corgi and the husky sniff around Claire's feet while the rottweiler barked and wagged his tail. "Yeah..."

"...you're kidding. Chris doesn't seem like the type of person to do that..."

He shrugged lightly. "I heard him talk about you, he's a little over protective." There was a weak laugh. "Come on inside, the dogs won't bite."

Claire hesitated, but followed him. "So what's your name?"
"Steve. Steve Burnside." He said proudly as he led the brunette to his living room. It was a somewhat small house, a little messy, strewn with video games, manuals, and the occasional collectors edition stashed somewhere high on a shelf. It was big enough to make sure the younger boy had plenty of room to live.

"Steve..." She smiled softly, glancing around. "So you really live all alone?"

He nodded. "Wait here, I'll go into my room and get you a shirt to borrow."

Claire took a seat in one of the arm chairs, looking at the dogs as they rushed over. The little corgi was first, it's little stubby legs moving fast. She gave a squeal as it jumped into her lap, licking at her face.

"A-ah! Stoppit!' She spluttered, gently pushing it away. It jumped down, settling at her feet with it's little tail wagging.

Steve came back out, holding one of his shirts. This one was clean, a simple white t-shirt. He tossed it to her. "There, go change and get out of the wet one."