I was planning to upload this before I went on holiday but I've been so busy, I completely forgot :o Sorry... Thank you for all the lovely reviews, they made my day! :D
It was almost as if it happened in slow motion. First he turned to face me, his curls bouncing and flicking as he did. Then he smiled, the most natural and beautiful smile I'd ever seen him make. Then I saw his brain ticking away, beating himself down: confusion, disappointed, disbelief crossing his face.
"Claire, what are you doing here?" He couldn't hide the flickers of hope before his face fell again when he thought that I wasn't going to go. It was almost sad to see the self hatred written all over his face.
"I'm coming with you. You said I could and I want to." It all comes out in one breath, a long strung out sentence. For a human, it may have been difficult to decipher but I knew that Myrnin would be able to figure it out.
He stares at my thoughtfully for a few seconds, his eyebrows scrunched up as if he was trying to figure out if I was being genuine or not. I stared right back at him with a look that I hoped was certainty. Then I saw the corner of his mouth twitch and he gave a crooked smile with his dimples showing.
"When do we leave?" I asked, as he turned away from me and continued throwing things carelessly into a suitcase, not really caring about how they were folded or order, as per usual. I should have expected it from him. After all, it wasn't Myrnin who kept the lab tidy, was it?
"Now," He announced, snapping his briefcase shut and spinning towards me. We were closer than we should of been, his breath soft on my face. I stepped back, turning my face away.
"Very well," I heard a voice call from across the room and my head snapped up in that direction. Amelie. How long had she been standing there? "I don't remember being asked for formal permission for Claire to leave Morganville,"
"Sorry Ma'am," Myrnin apologised, bowing his head to her. I felt my cheeks burn bright red. She was right, we hadn't even asked her if I could leave. We both just assumed that the offer would still be available. I looked down at my feet sheepishly. It would be pretty embarrassing if she sent me home now and I didn't get to go anywhere, after all of the drama.
"But I suppose that the two of you would find a way to get out of town unnoticed anyhow so I will allow you to go." Amelie ordered, "On the condition that you come straight back as soon as you have finished the work assigned to you. Do not dilly dally either, this needs to be done as soon as possible,"
"Of course, Ma'am," I said clearly, turning to Myrnin and smiling. This was actually happening! We were actually going to go on a round the world trip.
She turned on her heels and stalked away, leaving us alone. Then I thought about what she'd actually said and furrowed my eyebrows at Myrnin. He swallowed nervously.
"Wait! What work assigned to us?" I asked him angrily and I saw him tense slightly.
"Don't worry about it, Claire. I'll sort it all out. You can just enjoy your time," He reassured me and I felt a rush of uncharacteristic sense of calm wash over me. What was I worried for? Myrnin would sort it all out. I'd be okay. We'd be okay.
I let the whole assignment thing slip over my head as I heard a car pull up outside. I walked over the door and peered outside. A flashy black Aston Martin with tinted windows was parked outside and a man in a suit and tie was walking up the alleyway. I felt Myrnin behind me looking outside too.
"Oh goody, time to leave," he said and grabbed both our bags, heaving them into the arms of the waiting vampire. Myrnin started striding quickly towards he car and I followed him, almost having to jog alongside to keep up. He got to the door, opened it and gestured inside.
"Climb in mi'lady," He said politely, the Welsh twinge in his voice shining out more than ever. I nodded at him and smiled, climbing through into the back seat. I felt special. Myrnin climbed in after me holding a bottle of champagne.
He raised the bottle, offering me a glass. I nodded at him and glanced back out of the window. This was the last time I'd see Morganville for at least a few months. It was bitter sweet. I knew I had to leave, but I almost wanted to jump out of the car and run home and snuggle up in bed with my boyfriend and my friends and my classes and everything that I knew. It was strange how somewhere so unsafe had become the very definition of safety for me. This place, as dangerous and run-down as it was, had become home, my nest.
And now I was flying it, leaving it behind. I'd be back of course but with me going off into the unknown with a bipolar vampire who had made it clear in the past that he could kill me easily, and all. I was sure to learn and mature when I was traveling. Who knew how things would have changed by the time I arrive back at Morganville?
It's a bit of a filler, I know, I know. Forgive me? So they've left Morganville... Where are they headed? From now on is where the magic starts ;)
