DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything, not the characters nor the song Thunder by Boys like Girls. I just thought it went particularly well with the story at the moment, so it makes a short appearance. But, I DON'T OWN IT.

I finally decided to stop trying to put myself to sleep around 5 AM and got up. I jumped in the shower and finished quickly, not dawdling to give myself time to think. I didn't want to think right now. I was too pissed off. So I put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, braided my hair, and decided to make breakfast for the family. That would keep me busy. I knew uncle Sam had patrol last night, so I wanted him to eat well before he went to bed. Quil also had patrol last night.

Traitor, I told myself. Good god I'm talking to myself now. It was only six in the morning, even though Sam would be back by seven, aunt Emily and the kids wouldn't be up for at least another two hours. I groaned in frustration and went back up to my room, and called Evelyn.

She anwered the phone and mumbled something incoherent.

"Evelyynnn," I sang. "Wake up! It's bright and early! We have a lot of work to do today."

Evelyn hummed, sounding like she was already back to her slumber.

"EVELYN!"

"wha? Claire Chastity Dearborn. It is 6:07 in the morning. Do you know what time it is?" she slurred.

"Oh god Ev, are you still drunk?" I paused, and then started again. "Wait did you just call me Chastity? I thought it was part of the whole Code of Honor by E and C that we never, ever, ever , mention the dreaded middle name. What is wrong with you? How could you forget that? God, Chasti-"

"CLAIRE. SHUT UP," is all I heard before the line clicked dead. I cringed, knowing I'd have to pay for that later. But Chastity? That was just mean. I was back to square one. It was 6 in the morning, I was bored and alone with nothing to do. I sat on my bed, and my eyes searched the room for something to do that didn't involve Quil. A task that soon proved to be impossible. My eyes landed on the collage of pictures I had put up, more than half of which contained a certain black haired boy I didn't want to think about. I shook my head and moved on. My laptop caught my eye, the shiny black metal of it reminding me of Quil. Again. He bought me the laptop for my 16th birthday, telling me he had been saving for a year. Oh god. What was he not telling me? Why was everything so intense? Every little thing I said, it was like he took it to heart. Every time I mention another guy he gets all broody and silent. What is wrong with Quil? What happened to my best-I have to stop! I can't do this anymore. I picked up my centuries old acoustic guitar and played the first song that came to mind.

Today is a winding road that's taking me to places that I didn't want to go
Today in the blink of an eye I'm holding on to something and I do not know why
I tried

I tried to read between the lines
I tried to look in your eyes
I want a simple explanation
For what I'm feeling inside
I gotta find a way out
Maybe there's a way out

Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer
Do you know you're unlike any other?
You'll always be my thunder, and I said
Your eyes are the brightest of all the colors
I don't wanna ever love another
You'll always be my thunder
So bring on the rain
And bring on the thunder

I played for as long as I could without getting my fingers bloody. Two hours later, the front door opened, and I heard uncle Sam quietly climb up the stairs. I met him on his way up, and he nodded good morning. I pointedly ignored him and walked down the stairs to find Quil and Collin sitting at the kitchen table.

"Claire." Quil said

"Morning kid. You cooking us breakfast?" Collin asked.

"Good morning Collin. Why yes I am cooking you breakfast. What would YOU like? Eggs? Pancakes? Toast? Cereal? You name it, and it shall be yours," I said in my best Stepford wife voice, trying to keep the anger out of it. I knew it didn't work when Quil said

"Claire? You okay?"

I ignored him again, poured only one glass of juice, and gave it to Collin.

He tried again. "Claire. Are you mad?"

I turned on the stove, making sure the fire went to its highest before I turned it off again.

He stood up and walked over to me, grabbed my shoulders, and turned me around.

"What is going on with you?"

"Hmm, I don't know if I should tell you," I said, with my fakest cheery voice. Collin, sensing the tension between us, grabbed his juice and went into the living room.

"I don't understand why you're acting like such a baby Claire," he said.

"Oh no. Your right. I'M the one being immature. I'M the one keeping secrets and lying. I'M the one whose getting yelled at by uncle Sam for no apparent reason. I APOLOGIZE Quil, for putting such a dampener on your mood!" I finished loudly, stormed past the living room only stopping to tell Collin "You'll have to make breakfast yourself."

I slammed my room door shut, and then it was silent again. Oh dear god. What was he doing to me? I put my hands over my face and leaned against the door. I stood there for a few minutes, until there was a knock on the door.

"I DON'T want to see you right now," I said, then realized how immature I really was being.

"It's aunt Emily kiddo. Do you mind if I come in?" she mumbled through the door. I tried to resist, I really did, but it was aunt Emily. Besides Quil, she was the first person I talked to when I had a problem.

I opened the door to see my aunt holding baby Charles in her arms, trying to put him back to sleep. Her hair was still a mess from sleep, and her robe wasn't fully closed. She gave me a tentative smile, then walked into the room and sat on the bed. I shut the door again, and sat on my beanbag chair facing the bed.

"My my. All this drama and it's not even 9 yet," she joked. Or tried to, until she saw the expression on my face.

"Sorry for waking Charles aunt Em," I muttered, looking out the window.

"It's okay. I'm sure you had your reasons," she said. It was quiet again.

"Did I wake uncle Sam too?" I asked.

"No no, he never got to bed in the first place. He's outside talking to Quil now."

I stood up, and walked over to the window opposite the one I was looking out of. Quil was sitting on the floor, leaning against a bench in the garden with his head in his hands. I kind of wanted to laugh, he looked so pathetic just sitting there. Uncle Sam was there too, but he was sitting on the bench. It didn't look like they were saying anything. Then Quil looked up to say something, but I caught his eye and his mouth closed. He really did look pathetic. He didn't turn away, but I blinked twice and walked away from the window. . Aunt Emily was looking at me with an understanding smile.

She patted the bed next to her, and I went and sat down. I put my head on her shoulder and closed my eyes.

She took one hand out from underneath Charles and put in around my shoulder.

"My baby. I'm sorry you're so confused. I hate to see my daughter this upset," she said. My eyes started prickling, and a familiar lump came to my throat.

"When I was pregnant with Jason, the doctor told us it would be a girl. But then he came along. After Charles was born, Sam wondered why I kept popping out boys. You know what I told him? I told him it was because we already had a baby girl to look after."

And there, tears began to fall.

She squeezed my shoulder even tighter, and rubbed my arms as if it were cold.

"Well, your definetly not a baby girl anymore. Because you're our daughter, I hope you understand we did everything for you. For your safety, for your benefit, for your happiness. Just understand that before anything else, okay?"

I looked up, touched, but still slightly confused. Aunt Emily sighed, and laid the sleeping Charles against a pillow. She took my hands in hers, and spoke slowly.

"Whatever Quil is keeping a secret from you, it's because your uncle Sam asked him not to tell you anything."