Switching over to 3rd person point of view.

Chapter 9

Michael and Claire had been out all morning sending out invitations, luckily they were able to get around with Amelie's Limo, otherwise in this heat Claire was sure she would have collapsed from all the walking they would have end up doing. It took them a good couple of hours to get around to every single invitation, for someone so old and hated, Amelie sure did have one heck of a list, Claire doubted she even knew half of these people but who was she to say something?

"Here" She glanced up see Michael hold out a water bottle to her, Claire gave him a light smile taking it, and gulped the water down.

"Thanks" she murmured setting the glass down as he took a seat next to me, we were on our way home "You don't have to go to her today?" Claire asked peering at him curiously, he shook his head.

"No that was all for today I called her and let her know that we had the invites sent, so she said we were done for the day. Anyways, Eve and Shane aren't home and I doubt you want to cook, let's go out to lunch" he suggested, Claire nodded partly wanting to spend some time with him. Michael told the driver to take them to the café not far from town square. Since their night, the

Once there, they took seats at a booth as they waited in silence, thought it wasn't awkward this time. Claire glanced around the cafe, it was packed that didn't surprise her during the day was the only time it was safe for the humans, not that most vampires attacked during the evening unless they wanted to be punished.

"Do you think Shane and Eve will want to go?" Michael's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, Claire looked over at him and shrugged.

"I think Eve might, Shane hard to say but I'm sure we can convince him to go along as well" She answered just before the waiter arrived to take their order. Once he left Claire turned her attention back to Michael "Do you want to go?" She asked him suddenly curious, though she herself didn't mind but she had a feeling they both were required to go.

"Do I really have a choice? Well both of us for that matter" He said chuckling a bit as he watched her, the way she tuck her hair behind her ears, he'd never paid attention before but it was shiny, it did feel soft recalling the time he had touched it.

"True that, I'm sure it won't be too bad. Its been a while since we've had something exciting happen." Michael nodded to her, a moment later the waiter bought over their food, Claire had begun to eat alot faster than usual, Michael couldn't help but laugh softly.

He couldn't deny it was nice, just the two of them out, it seeemed be the most normal thing they've done in the past few weeks, and a long while since they both had been alone. Since their night, he noticed Claire avoided him when ever she got the chance and it bothered him alot, but he didnt blame either. He too, was shell shocked after that night but new realiztions had came to him, Claire wasn't just his sister, he couldn't even think of her that way not after that night. He knew he felt something for her, not exactly sure what but it was there, feelings that he was were romantic not just friendly.

He wanted so badly to know what was going on in her mind, did she think of their night? Or did she forget it and decide to move past it? Did she feel something for him even the slightest but a part of him knew that maybe she did. He couldn't bring himself to ask her either, after her break up with shane she would want some space to think, she'd been hurt but now she seemed fine. Shane and Claire had managed to be on good terms, they went back to being just good friends, but Michael didnt know what Claire's feelings were regarding Shane or himself. God, why were women so hard to figure out?

"Michael?" Claire called out to him, he immediately looked over at her curiously

"Yeah?" He asked softly

"You alright? I was calling you for a while now, I was asking if you wanted to leave, I'm done eating"

Michael shook his head "Sorry, I was distracted, and sure we can leave" He motioned for the waiter to bring him the bill, once it arrived Michael put some bills inside the ballet and stood up as did Claire, and soon they made their way out.

They didn't speak the entire way back home but once they arrived, Michael still wanted to speak to her but he waited until the reached home. Shane and Eve still weren;t home but they would be a in a few hours. He then saw Claire start walking upstairs and called out to her "Hey Claire, you busy?"

Claire halted her steps and turned around "No, why?" Well she was going to study for a bit but that could wait.

"I wanted to talk to you..erm, about us" Claire could see wariness cloud up in his eyes, and he looked uncomfortable, she stared at him in silence for a moment trying to find her voice. Though she found her feet walking over to him before she even realized it, Michael sat her down across from him his eyes still resting on her.

"What about us?" she drawled out slowly.

"You know what I mean, Claire" A small sigh escaped her lips, slowly she met his eyes, now he was much more composed. But Claire wasn't even sure where to begin with, what would she say? She remembered that night like it was yesterday, she didn't think she could ever forget what had happened between the two, it was just impossible. She however was confused on her feelings, but one thing was sure she felt something for him, a feeling that she was sure she never felt when she was with Shane.

"What do you want me to say, Michael? I thought we had this cleared" Michael raised his eyebrows at her

"Cleared this up? Claire, when? Yes we cleared it up with Shane and Eve but things are not cleared between us" He said staring straight at her. Claire bit her lip her eyes wandering around anywhere but at him.

"I thought we agreed to put it behind us and be friends, are we not?"

Michael stared at her for what seemed like a long time, friends? That's all she saw them as? Disappoitnment pooled inside him, he felt a pang of pain go through him any small chance he thought he had was most likely gone now. Now sitting here, he studied her keeping his face composed but he could see nothing in those liquid brown eyes, nothing except puzzlement.

Collecting himself he gave her a tired look and plastered on a small fake smile "Yeah, we're still friends, Claire. We'll always be" Michael added the last part a bit sharply then he intended, but a part of him wasn't ready to believe that's all they would be. But he couldn't force this on Claire, if she felt something for him, she would have to let him know he couldn't keep pressing the matter on her. For all he knew maybe she was willing to forget anything they shared and go back to being friends. It's what she wanted.

Claire still stared at a moment longer before then before giving him a small smile in return. His last words echoing in her mind, she struggled to remain composed. "I'm glad" she squeezed his hand, lying so effortlessly but her insides anything but calm.

Claire so badly wanted to run into his arms and tell him she didn't like him just as a friend, he was so much more to her but somehow Claire felt guilty she couldn't do that Eve. Sure Eve had told her she and Michael were over but Claire was sure Eve still had feelings for Michael. As for Michael she wasn't sure how he felt about her, he had practically told her they would always be friends, crushing any hope she may even had. Despite all that, her and Michael just couldn't happen, it was wrong. 'Are you sure?' A voice whispered inside her head to which Claire brushed off.

Claire was about to excuse herself just when Eve and Shane walked in, she gave them a smile "Hey guys" she said flopping down on the couch, Shane claimed the seat next to her and Eve flopping on the second cushion chair.

"Worst day ever" Eve grumbled, a frown on her berry lips, Michael gave her a sympathetic look

"What happened?" this coming from Claire

"Oh the everything day thing, except Oliver seemed to looming over me during the entire shift snapping at me for the littlest things. Wonder what got up his ass" Eve muttered, the others chuckled

Michael spoke up after a moment, "hey listen guys there something Claire and I need to tell you" All sets of eyes were on him, at that Michael rolled his eyes "Nothign serious" he added quickly

"Shoot" Shane said, leaning back on the couch his eyes darting back and forth between Michael and Claire.

"Amelie's having a birthday party this Saturday night, its her birthday apparently, though less of a party but more of a ball. We're invited, all of us, well Claire and I have to go, but we were hoping you both would come along." Michael carried on.

Shane and Eve glanced to each other, but Eve was the first to respond "Hell yes! Count me in, its about time something fun happened around here!" Excitment radiating off the goth, Claire kind of knew she wouldn't say no. However Shane on the other hand could look as if he could care less.

"I'll see if I feel like going, i'm not big on dancing" he responded with a light shrugg.

"It won't be that bad, man" Michael told him, obviously trying to convince him to go for sure, Shane arched his eyebrow but didn't comment.

"yeah, yeah" Shane quickly waved it off

"Anyways, I'm starved, come help me make dinner, Claire?" Eve said standing up and making her way towards the kitchen.

Calire stood up and called out "I'll be there in a sec" She then turned to Shane and pinched up her face "Shane, go shower, you smell" At that Michael laughed, and Shane shot him a glare before heading upstairs to do as he was told, mumbleing a string of profanties as he did so.

Don't worry you guys they'll be together sooner than you think, but this scene had to happen. :D