Claire's POV
"Shane!" I heard someone call from behind us. Shane quickly pulled away from me, taking his warmth and comfort with him. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"Eve," Shane said. "I was just giving Claire a friendly hug, she was upset!"
Eve grinned and her eyes fell on me. "Awww," She said. "Did the cutter get upset by someone? Hmm, wonder who it was?"
"Brad." Shane simply said.
Eve's eyes filled with glee. "Really? What did he do?"
"Nothing." Shane said.
"Well where is he?" Eve asked.
"Crying under a tree, bruised and broken." What was he doing, I thought he wanted to stay a popular not become an outcast!
"You didn't… Oh hell no!" Eve exclaimed. "Did you defend this bitch?"
Shane shrugged and nodded. "Why not?" He asked. "No one's nice anymore; they'd rather see someone suffer than try to make them happy. Well guess what, here's the guy who still cares."
"You know what this means don't you?" Eve said in a threatening tone.
"What?" Shane challenged.
"I'm breaking up with you and I hereby declare you no longer a popular." She came over to me, stood there for a while then finally bitch slapped me. I could see it coming, but I didn't dodge it, I deserved it I guess. And with that she stormed off strutting her 'stuff'.
"What the hell!" I cried.
Shane looked at me with confusion. "What?" He asked.
"Why are you being so nice to me? I don't want your pity."
He smiled a bit and god was it hot! "I don't pity you at all; I just want to be there for you."
"Why?" I challenged. Why can't he just remember that day?
"I don't know! There's just something about you that makes me feel like I need to protect you."
My heart finally started to beat again, I felt something! Was he remembering? After all these years has he finally broken the memory block?
"You hardly know me." I said.
"Then I can get to know you." Shane said with a devious smile spreading across his face. "Not in that way!" He rushed when he noticed all the colour drain from my face.
I nodded awkwardly and stood up and brushed my jeans off then grabbed my bag. "Erm, maybe I should go home today."
"Okay, I'll call you when I can." He said and started walking off in the other direction.
I stood there for a while, not knowing what to do. Shane was being nice to me; one in thousands of people actually liked me?
Shane's POV
I wasn't one of the populars anymore? Does it really happen that quickly, one member saying you're out?
Although, I'd rather leave than beg to come back, the populars are stupid and ignorant. I'm glad I don't get classed as one anymore, I can still hold my own, popular or not.
There's just something about Claire that makes me want to run up to her and give her the biggest hug in the world. It feels like I've known her since forever. But I haven't.
"Bro!" Someone called from across the parking lot. Michael was running towards me and surprisingly, no Monica in sight. "Wait up, what happened?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You're not one of us anymore, bro."
I stared at him for a long moment, choosing my words wisely. "Good." I finally said, unable to think of anything else.
"What the hell?" Michael said. "Dude, everyone dreams of being a popular and you'd rather give that away for Claire?"
"I'm not giving it away for her; I'm giving it away to help her."
He frowned. "You've changed."
"No I haven't." I said in a matter of fact way. "I've just woken up."
He narrowed his eyes. "Eve's gone up the wall, she misses you and I know deep down you miss her too." Then he turns and walks away.
I stood there, staring at nothing for a long time. Maybe I did miss Eve, just a bit. But I'll get used to it when I'm with Claire all the time now, like a big brother.
I know I want to be more but I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet. Not straight after Eve anyway.
I sighed and turned round to walk in the other direction, but not towards school. I didn't want to see Eve yet. Tomorrow, I'll be fine.
I found myself walking in a familiar direction but I wasn't sure why it was familiar, I'd never seen this place before. And yet, it feels like I have so many memories here.
Why do I feel like I know this park? It makes me think of Claire, mysterious little Claire. I still can't get round that I feel like I know her, which is why I want to protect her. She needs protecting, she always has. But why!
Claire's POV
Lying in my bed I closed my eyes and tried to remember some of the memories I'd shut out of me and Shane for so long.
Flashback
"Hey!" Someone called. "Loner, wait up!"
I sighed and turned round, Brad was following me to school, again. "What is it this time?" I asked.
"Where's your school bag?" He asked.
I frowned and looked at my shoulder, yeah, my bag was still there. "It's right…"
Before I could finish my sentence my bag got ripped off my shoulder by one of Brad's friends.
"I said, where's your bag?" Brad teased, moving the bag out of my reach.
I ran for it but he moved out the way making me stumble to the floor.
"Give it back." I whined.
Brad's smile grew wide with glee. "Nope."
"She said, give it back." A familiar voice said from behind me. All the colour drained from Brad's face and he silently gave me my bag back. "Now go away."
They did, running as fast as they could, not even in the direction of school. I stood up and brushed my skirt off. "Thank you." I said to Shane. He'd always looked out for me, even though he was 2 years older than me.
Everyone feared him because he was known as someone you shouldn't mess with. He was my big brother, one that I never had.
End of flashback
I was 8; he was 10, no one could split us up. Not even Morganville.