So, you get an update every day that it is possible for me to update: this story is hopefully going to be finished by mid-may at the latest, as that is when my exams start (Monday 16thargh) so I want to get at least a couple of stories done by then XD

Oh, and Claire still has Amelie's bracelet xD

Thanks to Luvdavamps for an awesome idea, and also BlackSapphire96 as well for another crazy funny idea xD

Wednesday 27th April 2011 – 11:45pm

Dear Diary,

Today, Shane went to the hospital and told them that he didn't want to take the route of treatment, that he would rather… die. I didn't go with him because I didn't think I would be able to cope with it, hearing him confirm that he wasn't going to fight it with drugs – he is just going to succumb to the cancer. I can't blame him: I'm not the one who is dying, so I can't judge him for what he wants. In a way… it's almost better. We can do all these crazy things together and be able to pretend that everything is normal – if he was in hospital, I wouldn't be able to pretend.

Whilst he was there, I went to university. I didn't know what else to do, and we're trying to be normal - as normal as we can be, if Shane is dying. So Eve went to work and Michael just slept as he does during the day normally and I, I went to school. I didn't learn anything new – I never do – but it gave me a sense of normality which nagged at the pit of my stomach. This is normal now, knowing Shane is here, but soon he isn't going to be – soon, I'm never going to be able to see him again. Shouldn't we be together as much as possible? I know he is quitting his job as soon as school ends… which is earlier than normal.

As soon as I arrived at the campus this morning, Sam was waiting in the shadows. It was a while since I had seen him, as he was recuperating from Bishop but I didn't associate it with Shane – I never thought that Amelie would already know Shane was dying. I know I haven't told her and I haven't even told Myrnin yet, so he couldn't have spragged to her. That is going to be a fun conversation, telling Myrnin I want four months off. Then again, he was in love with Ada – surely he will know just how hard it is to say goodbye.

But yeah, Sam was there and he gave me a letter from Amelie before just disappearing without a word – sudden, but it gave me a chance to read the letter. I've copied it up here, just incase anything happens to it:

Claire,

I have heard about Shane's condition and would like to offer my most sincere condolences. I know that this is not of any use for you, therefore I have decided to ensure the University passes you this year, meaning you can depart after the May Bank Holiday on May 2nd. I have also enclosed a bracelet for Shane with my Protection, for free, for his time… I can only assume what crazy and most likely idiotic stunts you shall be partaking in, so I felt it best to ensure your survival with his Protection. I shall ensure that Oliver knows to not be, ahhh, violent if any 'pranks' are pulled on him; something which I am assuming will happen.

You, however, shall have to arrange the situation with Myrnin: I have no desire to listen to his complaining regarding my interference for the next millennia.

Once again, this is a travesty and should never happen to anyone, let alone one so young.

Amelie

So I finish school next Monday and can spend the entire with Shane, which is something off my mind. I know I would never have finished the year, so it's a good thing Amelie has made sure I pass – although I already know physics beyond the last year at school – as otherwise I wouldn't be able to finish my degree.

When I got home, Shane was here and he was just staring at the television screen, shooting down zombies or whatever he does on the games machine – I think he was waiting for me because as soon as I entered he threw the console aside and came to give me one of the biggest kisses ever. It's as if we are on borrowed time and we have to get everything in as soon as possible… including practise for the goodbye kiss.

"So, have you any ideas what crazy ass stunts we're going to be doing in this dusty town?" Shane said with a twinkle in his eyes as he strapped the bracelet enclosed in the letter on after reading the letter three times to make sure there wasn't a condition to wear Amelie's symbol.

"Well, I made a list," I grinned before reciting everything off that I had. It isn't a lot and I can only hope that I can be able to persuade Amelie to let us leave town in a couple of months so that we can travel – Shane has so much left to see of the world and I want him to see everything possible. Whether or not she will give me a loan is an entirely different matter, but Shane dying ought to allow her to let us leave – I will come back…

"Let me grab my coat," Shane laughed, not actually telling me which one he wanted to do, but just showing that he did want to do something, that my ideas weren't absolute tosh. "I have an idea that I want to do first – I never dared to before, as Eddie is the only cab driver, but I may as well now," he explained as he returned, evidently having one of his own ideas to use rather than mine – but it was his time, not mine.

So I stood up and we walked out of the door, luckily flailing Eddie as he passed, not doing anything whatsoever. Shane took his time getting in the taxi for some strange reason until a car that I recognised but couldn't identify how passed, and he screamed, "You have to follow that car!"

Eddie, of course, looked absolutely stunned until he saw the bracelet on Shane's wrist, showing his impending death – it isn't a normal bracelet. It's like the ones from the hospital but it's black and shows how he doesn't have long left.

"Kid, you have no idea how long I have wanted someone to ask to do this," Eddie chuckled as he followed the car down yet another road, picking up speed as it did. Finally, the car came to a halt and the disgruntled occupant – Richard Morrell, that's why I knew it – stepped out and over to the taxi.

"Eddie, why are you- oh, it's those two," Richard said, seeing Shane and I in the back and understanding instantly. Well, he didn't know about Shane dying but just us two being there explained why this was happening to him. "I should be having strict words with you two but I'm in a lenient mood and the entire chase was quite funny. Just don't do it again," he amazingly let us off before returning to his car without a word, although I could have sworn I heard a chuckle making it's way back to us.

"Anywhere else, kids?" Eddie asked, laughing still as the absurdity of what we had done evidently hit him.

"Deveno's please, Eddie," Shane surprised me by saying – why was he taking me to the most expensive restaurant in town, I wondered. But I didn't say anything, just looked at him in surprise. He pulled me in closer to his side and pressed his lips to my forehead before whispering, "It's a surprise – don't ask."

So I didn't. I let him take me to Deveno's where Eddie refused to let us pay for our long taxi ride around town. I let him take me inside, which was miraculously empty and something I didn't understand until he explained that he went here after the hospital and bought the place out. That he would do something like that was extraordinary and I didn't understand it until he said:

"Claire… this has really got me thinking about stuff, and the fact that I have so much to do and so little time to do it in… but Claire, I love you and I want you so much… I know I'm not going to be around for much longer but I want to be able to be with you forever, even when you move on… so, what I'm trying to say is… Claire, will you marry me?"

I couldn't actually believe it; I believed it even less as he moved around the table and knelt on his left knee, producing a blue velvet box which contained the most perfect ring ever – the ring which is now on my finger. It's silver – a protective thing in this town – and has a little diamond on the front and is absolutely perfect!

"You've been thinking about this for a long time," I said, stalling the perfect moment so that it would last even longer. He shrugged and nodded in agreement, so I felt it was time to put him out of his misery – as much as possible. "Honey, I would love to marry you!" I squealed, and then the band began to play, showing just why he had bought the place out – so it was entirely our own as we made the plan to make this commitment to one another.

"I love you so much, Claire, and I was probably going to do this soon anyway – I've had the ring a long time; I've been waiting…" he began, before stopping. Pain was evident in his eyes as he accepted that he doesn't have long left, so I put a finger over his lips to stop him from talking.

"We're going to have a right laugh these months, ok?" I told him, tears welling him my eyes as he took the hand from his mouth and slid the ring on my ring finger. "I am going to make you the most hated man to the vampires in town… well, unless you already have that crown," I laughed, and he couldn't help himself as he snorted.

"I think my Dad got that – best to keep it in the family, after all," he joked, standing up and pulling me up with him. I leant into him and pressed my head against his chest, so happy already that we are going to get married and I can be with him forever, in a sense. "Come on, shall we go share the news with our friends?" he suggested after what seemed like both an age and a second at the same time.

"Might as well," I sighed, pretending as if it wasn't a big deal. It was.

I spent the next three hours showing Eve my ring, making plans for what will be the happiest day of my life. The entire time, Shane and Michael killed zombies – what a surprise! But then we all went to bed, and here I am, writing this whilst Shane is in the shower – it's been a truly perfect day.

Just a shame that it's borrowed time.

Claire

So, what do you think of this chapter?

I got both ideas in here xD

Please review!

Vicky xx