After the Primatech fiasco and a ride to the garage just down the road from the building that was no longer standing, Claire got into her recently re-acquired vehicle with Elle and they began to drive to California.
"I don't think we're going to get back tonight." Claire said.
"So I guess we can stop at a hotel then." Elle said. "Not some dingy motel, a hotel. Even if we have to drive a few hours to get there. Remind me again why we decided to drive back."
"Well we have to get there car there somehow." Claire said. "And you're a little bit of a hazard on a plane. Besides this way we get to spend some quality alone time together."
Claire typed her address in the GPS and gasped. "I think we're gonna be gone a few days. It says we need to go fifteen hours."
"Great." Elle said, not very enthusiastically. They drove for a few hours not counting the stop at Sonic. Elle was happy that she was finally able to get a slush. They eventually arrived in Carlsbad, New Mexico 3 hours later. They checked into a Comfort Inn and called Bennet.
"Hey Dad we're in New Mexico. We're going to split the driving between 2 days." Claire said. "I'll see you in a few days."
"Claire, I need to be honest with you." Elle said. "I lied to you about last night."
"What happened?" Claire asked, sounding concerned.
"You kissed me." Elle admitted. "You said that it was something you always wanted to do. Was that true?"
"Yes." Claire said before pausing. "Ever since I first met you. But if you just want to be friends, I get that. I was already in a relationship and I thought that your life was complicated enough without me in it."
"Claire I don't think I realized how much I needed you back then. That's why I came back to you. It's too bad that I had to go and screw that up." Elle said.
"You broke my heart when you did that." Claire said. "And then you made it worse by killing me."
"Claire everything that happened between the time I went into Pinehearst and the time I called your dad was a mistake. I regretted it a few minutes after I walked in but I was too late. They chained me up like an animal. If Gabriel hadn't showed up, I would have probably gone insane. I guess I kind of did, falling for him, thinking I could change him back. I could have avoided all of that by just going with you." Elle said before stopping to breathe. "Claire, I haven't been able to stop thinking about that kiss. I think it made me realize that I'm in love with you. But I don't deserve you."
"Elle I said I would give you one more chance and I meant it. I was hoping to find the vulnerable Elle that came to me. That was what made me fall in love with you." Claire said. "You asked me if I had ever been in love, now you know the answer
This time it was Elle that pressed her lips against Claire's. Although her instincts were telling her that it was wrong to fall in love with someone again, it felt so right. The two of tongue-wrestled as they felt backwards on a soft surface. "I don't think we're going to need the extra bed." Elle said giggling before she started to pull Claire's top off. Suddenly a moment of realization of came to Elle. "Claire, please tell me that you're 18."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Claire asked in confusion.
"Because if you're not and your parents finds out…" Elle said, trailing off.
"Elle please don't let that stop you." Claire said. "I'll run away to Mexico with you if I have to. I want this more than anything. I love you."
Elle continued after hearing the three words that she needed to here.
Claire woke up in the morning with Elle lying next to her.
"Morning Claire Bear." Elle said.
"How long have you been up?" Claire asked.
"About an hour but I haven't moved." Elle said. "I wanted to be here next to you when you woke up."
Claire leaned in to kiss her but a grumbling noise interrupted them.
"Do you wanna go get some food?" Elle asked.
"Yeah but not that continental breakfast." Claire said. "If you can call a donut a breakfast."
"I saw a Denny's a mile down the road." Elle said.
"Sounds perfect." Claire said. "So I we thinking was that we should at least be in Arizona before we stop driving."
"Alright but I think I should do some of the driving today. We don't want you becoming tired and crashing. "I'm not indestructible." Elle said.
"Okay." Claire said as she threw the keys at Elle.
"You look so good naked." Elle said before they started to get dressed.
"Well unfortunately for you most places have laws that say I can't be naked all day." Claire said. "Maybe we should have brought extra clothes."
"It doesn't matter. You look good in anything. Even when you have bedhead." Elle said as a pillow was thrown at her. Elle quickly dodged it.
"Good thing you didn't zap it." Claire said.
"You know all of this that we have been talking, we could have been eating." Elle said.
"I doubt it." Claire said. "They'd still make us wait."
"Let's just go." Elle said.
"So do I really look good with bedhead?" Claire asked.
"You look really cute." Elle said as she ran her hands through Claire's tangled locks.
"What I don't look sexy?" Claire asked in fake offense.
"You always look sexy Claire Bear." Elle said as she kissed Claire's cheek.
"I think you can do better than that." Claire said.
"I can but we need to go, Claire." Elle said. "We have an 8-hour drive ahead of us. When we get to the next hotel, I'm all yours."
"I'm gonna hold you to that." Claire responded.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Elle said.
The two girls headed to Denny's and ate breakfast. After that they headed to Wal-Mart to buy some essentials: clothing, hairbrushes, and toothpaste.
"Do you even need to brush your teeth?" Elle asked.
"No but unless you want me to have bad breath when I kiss you, I should." Claire said. "I have cavities or any of that stuff but the plaque would still be there."
They continued to drive until they reached Tucson which took an hour longer than they had expected. Elle eventually took over the driving.
"Did we really have to go back into Texas?" Elle asked.
"That's what the GPS said." Claire said. "And we were on an interstate. I'd rather go on that than get stranded in the desert."
"So what hotel do you wanna go to?" Elle asked.
"I dunno you pick." Claire said, not really caring.
"Okay." Elle said as she pulled a place called Arizona Inn.
"This place looks expensive." Claire said.
"Daddy that could turn things into gold, remember?" Elle said. "I can afford it."
They walked to their and Claire hopped in the shower. She emerged not long after wearing a robe.
"I really needed that." Claire said. "Do you wanna go next?"
"Actually I was thinking we could get dinner." Elle said. "Tonight happens to be karaoke night."
"Oh no I'm not going anywhere near that." Claire said.
"Come on. I sang for you." Elle said.
"I don't remember that though." Claire said.
"I'll sing something too then." Elle said. "Claire this will be fun."
"Fine just don't laugh if I suck." Claire said as she started to get dressed.
"You won't suck, Claire." Elle said.
It eventually came to be Claire's turn.
"I would like to dedicate this song to someone special." Claire said.
"Oh why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
And don't be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through
Cause I've seen the dark side too
When the night falls on you
And you don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
Could make me love you less
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
So if you're mad get mad
Don't hold it all inside
Come on and talk to me now
Hey there what you got to hide
I get angry too well I'm a lot like you
When you're standing at the crossroads
Don't know which path to choose
Let me come along
Cause even if you're wrong
I'll stand by you
I'll stand by you
Won't let nobody hurt you
I'll stand by you
Take me into your darkest hour
And I'll never desert you
I'll stand by you
Claire nervously bowed and the audience started to clap.
"Claire that was so good." Elle said.
"I've never really let anyone hear me sing before." Claire said.
"I'll guess I'll go up there now." Elle said.
Elle sang Reflection by Christina Aguilera.
"I think they liked both of us." Elle said. "Maybe if the college thing doesn't work out we can start a band or something."
"I wouldn't go there just yet." Claire said. "Let's just head back to our room."
"Yeah it's getting late." Elle said.
The two walked back to their room.
"You know I meant what I said in the song." Claire said.
"That was the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me." Elle said. "Although it wouldn't be that hard since you're only the second person I've dated."
"So is it alright if we don't tell anyone about us right now?" Claire asked. "I was just thinking with the whole sex thing and all."
"I'm fine with hiding our relationship for a little while." Elle said. "Maybe we could wait until you're 18. When's your birthday?
"In a month." Claire said.
"Well I guess you'll have something to look forward too." Elle said.
After spending another night together, they woke up in the morning. Elle took a shower and then they headed out on the road. After 3 more hours of driving they arrived back in Costa Verde.
"Hey Claire, your mom said the carnival was going to be in town. Do you wanna go there as in a date." Elle asked.
"Elle Bishop, I would love nothing more than that." Claire said.
Oh what three days together can do. I originally wanted them to stop in Dallas but then I found out that that was in the opposite direction. And there's something special that's gonna happen at the carnival so keep reading and reviewing.
