This is the next chapter, and thank you so much to everyone who is reading it!

Chapter 7

"Can I have the gravy Claire?" Michael asks, looking as tense as I feel with the atmosphere at the table as it is. Shane is sat across the table from me, not eating, arms folded and staring moodily at his plate full of food that I made – my special tacos.

I hand the gravy jug over to Michael who smiles in response, before Eve launches into overly friendly (and jabbery) conversation to try and hide the fact none of us are talking besides menial things like pass the gravy or the salt.

"Well today we were really busy, but then out of nowhere some campus official clears the place and basically makes us shut up shop for the rest of the day, making us do inventory and stuff. It wasn't very interesting. Oh, that reminds me – you know because I only work Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at the UC – well Oliver has offered me a job for $10 an hour on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Do you think I should take it?" Eve jabbers, and we all (including Shane) look up at this last bit.

Michael looks completely startled and a bit angry – after all, over the years, Oliver has double crossed us numerous times as well as trick us into doing things: he also was the one who tried (and failed) to turn Michael into a vampire. Not to mention almost getting us killed on the way to Dallas, and the fact he generally (although he does have his moments) is not a nice person.

"Are you sure that there are no ulterior motives?" Michael asks my question and she nods.

"Yeah, it's all above board – he just wants someone to replace Jess who's not very reliable," she replies and he looks thoughtful.

"Well, do you want me to go and check it out tomorrow, before I go to Amelie's?" I ask. "Because I have the bracelet and after I shot him he's not going to go against me and lie to me. Moreover, since Amelie has been looking after Sam so much recently, he's not done a bad job as standing in for her as the boss," I continue, holding up my left arm to back up my argument.

"Good idea Claire, then you can get yourself in even more trouble and need rescuing as normal," Shane snarls at me, but although I feel angry inside I just completely ignore him – I don't want to shout, then Myrnin can hear me.

"Shane, shut it! Claire, I didn't know that Amelie wanted to see you: she'd have normally told me," Michael chastises Shane before sounding (and looking) hurt and confused that Amelie didn't tell him: should I have not mentioned anything?

"Oh, it probably just slipped her mind. She asked me when I was at the party for Sam – he's great – and it was supposed to be today but the day changed to tomorrow: Sam rang me up to tell me. That's why I went to the lab: Myrnin heard that Amelie didn't want me so I was required at the lab. She never actually told me what it was about to be honest, so I'm in the dark as well," I say, not mentioning the fun and games the lab trip was about.

"Ok then, well Claire you don't have class tomorrow do you?" Michael asks, sounding fine with the explanation I gave him – I nod my head in agreement – so he continues. "So you go and see Oliver and ask him about the job before going to Amelie's."

"Yeah, I'll do that – then we can check that this isn't just a wind up or got a hidden agenda," I reply with, and we all nod (besides Shane, who's back staring at his plate) in agreement.

Eve stands up, and says to me:

"Claire, I know you cooked and it's my turn to clear away, but is it alright if we switch nights and I do it all tomorrow?"

She looks so puppy dog like (I can't help but compare her to Myrnin for some reason – he wins, hands down) and wistful that I can't help but agree. Once I have given my consent, she grabs Michaels hand and zooms up the stairs with him: as fast as the vampire himself. So that leaves me here with Shane – not awkward at all. He suddenly looks up and realises that we are alone (and I reply our argument earlier, realising I sounded a little sharp) before lifting himself, his coke and taco with him over to the sofa, leaving me alone.

I begin piling the plates up before lifting them through to the kitchen before washing every utensil used up: then I head straight to my room and rescue my dumped backpack. I pull out the books of the lessons I missed earlier (and turn the music player on at the same time, with ominous sounds coming from Michael's room) and begin to look through the chapters I have already learnt by heart… but it can't hurt to reread them.

My phone buzzes then; it's my Mum calling. I brace myself before answering.

"Hey Mum," I say breezily.

"Hi honey, are you ok?" she asks, sounding quite worried for some reason.

"I'm fine Mum, honestly – is there something wrong?"

"Well, we heard that you and Shane had split up and I thought… if he had dumped you…" she tails off, and I feel a flash of fury that she assumed I would be the one dumped.

"Mum, you're under the wrong impression – I dumped him: it wasn't working and he was paranoid and I felt for a while that things weren't right, so I ended it," I explain softly and she lets a deep breath of air out.

"Oh honey, that makes me so glad to hear: I was scared that you were all depressed and would want to move home: I mean, we'd have to give Roger a months notice and everything," she says, and I feel a wave of sorrow her surrogate son (well, lodger but what's the difference to my mother?) is more important; however I swallow it – I chose to move out into the Glass House.

"Yeah, I mean I'm fine Mum. Just got some studying to do now, so can I call you tomorrow?" I ask, feeling weak for a strange reason.

"Of course honey, call me any time – I'm always here for you. Love you," she replies and I echo the last bit before hanging up.

Buzz. My phone goes off again and I see the familiar sight:

You have a text message from Myrnin

Feeling tired? If you are, you'd best get to sleep because gunk balling was a horribly exhausting game and I think you ought to benefit from the excuse of an early night. Don't forget my tacos tomorrow please before you go to Amelie's if you wouldn't mind, because last time you spent half the night there.

From

Myrnin

That's weird – he doesn't normally put 'from' – then again, it's only been the last few months he's put Myrnin – probably a sign of closeness! But then again, it could be something completely different… like what, I'm not sure.

I'm off to sleep now Myrnin, don't fret. And I'll bring you your tacos before Amelie's, just after I've been to Common Grounds to check out a job offer from Oliver to Eve. Goodnight.

From

Claire.

I respond in the same style as he did (not sure why) and then turn the music off, put away my books and put my phone on silent for the night. I turn off the main lamp, leaving only the small one on and lull myself to sleep… thinking of Myrnin.

(this part is in Myrnin's POV for a little bit: just to express feelings etc – it's just after he sends the text to Claire)

I click send, hoping that soon, I can put 'love' before the from. I sigh deeply, looking around the lab that's mostly clean now, remembering the frown on her face when she thought how irresponsible it was in a lab to gunkball; the way she relaxed and caught me out and most of all… the way there was such an energy – it was electric – between us for a moment: she had to have felt it.

My blackberry (ingenious machine; I'm glad I found the phone for me after 34 other makes and models) trills with the fact I have a message from Claire – she has her own little ringtone.

I read the text, and it makes me smile that she's worried I'm fretting – when I text her, I don't really get mad with her; the same as in the lab when I look as if I am because I have to play this act so she doesn't realise how I feel. I could never get mad with her.

I stare at her name on the screen, wishing I could put a 'love' before the from…

I thought the ending was sweet; bit of Myrnin's feelings there – soon, will they be on the same page?

Oliver has his debut next chapter! I'm really excited for some reason, even though it's a Myrnin/Claire story: I still really like the character (maybe write a Oliver/? Story sometime!)

Review now you've read please: or when I release Oliver next chapter, he won't be a happy bunny!

Vicky xx