Chapter 3

Peter leaned forward as he watched Claire from the corner of his eyes. She was lying flat on her stomach across her bed, busy doing her homework. Her golden locks were tied back into a loose ponytail that showed of her neck and the places where the hickeys would have been if her body had not regenerated. Once every few minutes she would look over her shoulder at him as he studied her, a small blush creeping up her cheeks with each smile he gave her.

After a while Peter finally became bored with the situation and moved so he was next to her. He extended his arms and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her onto him as she squealed.

"Peter!" she choked through her giggles and Peter smiled.

"Yes Claire?" he asked with a fake innocent expression which caused Claire to roll her eyes. Slowly Peter lifted his hand and tugged at the necklace around her neck, pulling her down towards his lips. Claire relaxed in his arms and let herself be pulled down into his lips. It didn't take long before their lips crashed together.

oOoOoOoOoOo

Claire unconsciously tugged at the necklace as she remembered only one of the many times she had tried to study with Peter in her room. Emphasis on the word 'tried'. She was unaware of the foolish smile that had slid over her face at the memory.

Isaac wasn't.

Although he didn't know what she was thinking about – it made him smile when he saw her foolish grin. She only smiled like that when she believed no-one was in the room to see it or when she wasn't aware that she was doing it.

Either way – Isaac loved to see it.

Isaac walked into Claire's view as he handed her the ice cream he had bought them. She smiled as she took it, wordlessly thanking him. Claire stood from her place on the park bench and joined Isaac as he walked further into Central Park.

It was a beautifully sunny day and everyone was out and about – the Park was filled with many people – New Yorkers and tourists alike. Everywhere couples walked hand in hand and Claire and Isaac both watched with eyes that had a hint of jealousy in them. They wished it was so easy for them like it was for everybody else but they were different.

Claire and Isaac had spent most of the day in the Park – enjoying the sunshine and the fact that there was no nearing apocalypse that had to be taken care of. For the first time in a long time they were just Claire and Isaac – not heroes.

He was just a boy that had bought an ice cream for his best friend.

She was just a girl that physically was spending time with her best friend – but mentally was with someone else – yet still loving the company of her friend.

Isaac finished his ice cream first and watched as Claire finished hers off, a ripple of laughter escaped Isaac's throat as his eyes trailed down to the piece of ice cream that had found its place on Claire's face. Her brow moved to form a frown which made Isaac laugh even more at her adorable face.

"Claire…" he laughed and Claire shook her head as she tried to keep her own laughter in.

"What?" she choked out and his laughter died down.

"Claire there is something on your face…" Isaac smiled and Claire wiped furiously at her face – missing the piece of ice cream every time – as her cheeks blushed bright red.

"It's still there…"

"Well if it bothers you so much why don't you just do something about it!" Claire cried out in frustration with herself that she was embarrassing herself in front of her friend. Isaac nodded as he stepped closer to Claire, used his finger and in an almost deadening slow motion to wipe the stuff away. All the time Claire's eyes never left Isaac's and as he pulled his finger away they both were surprised at the sudden longing for his touch on her skin.

"Is it all gone?" Claire was the first to speak and Isaac shook his head.

"No just stand still…I'll get it off in a second." He smiled as he leaned closer.

Neither one was really sure of what was happening when Isaac placed his lips over her silky smooth skin and kissed the final ice cream off of her. Even when he was perfectly sure it was all off he let his lips linger on her skin and moved till his kiss hit almost dead center of her lips. Isaac was the first to pull away as a sense of revelation hit him. Both of their eyes were the size of space ships as they stared at each other in complete shock.

Isaac's mind was on the fact that he had actually kissed her – something he had wanted to do almost since the first day Matt had introduced his daughter to him.

Claire's thoughts were on the suddenness of it all – the kiss and the unlocking of the feelings she had long since tried to hide. Some part of her had always thought of Isaac in a more-than-friendly-way but until now she had hid behind the memory of what she and Peter had had.

But as the kiss sunk in and the air turned awkward it was obvious to her that it was time to move on.

As Isaac moved to apologize Claire's lips had suddenly fallen on his and though he was shocked he immediately responded to it. It was a soft kiss – not the make-out kiss coupled shared on movies – but it was romantic and that was enough for that moment.

"Claire are you sure about this?" Isaac breathed as he pulled his head a bit away from hers. Claire nodded as her lips searched for his again.

"More than I'll ever be."