Guys, sorry it's beens o long! Chapter 10: R&R!
Claire stopped on the threshold, confused. Shane was giving her the silent treatment, giving no sign of anything that had happened in the last 2 hours.
"Shane" she said. He didn't respond, but she had only said it as a statement. He was here. But she'd been so sure… what had Myrnin been blathering on about then? She dithered in the doorway, unsure what to do.
"Shut the door, your letting all the heat out" the tone was not a kind one, and Claire spied Eve in the kitchen, with her back facing the door. After a moment of hesitation, she did so.
She was starving, but no way was she going to go in the kitchen with Eve, who was radiating anger in almost visible waves. Claire imagined them as thick dark black ones, smothering everything in sight.
Suppressing a shiver, she climbed the stairs, wanting to get out from the oppressing atmosphere. When she had almost reached the top, out of sight, she heard whispers erupt. She was tempted to eaves drop, but carried onto her room, where she collapsed on her bed on her back.
She wouldn't put it past Myrnin to play a joke on her, but not about this. So what had he meant? Sighing, Claire turned onto her side. What was going to happen to her? She would lose the only friends she had. Michael might ask her to move out. She'd have to live with her parents again… hang on.
Where was Michael?
The pieces clicked together in her head and Claire cursed at herself for being so self absorbed and stupid. She heard Myrnins story again in her head.
This bench is a memorial you know. For a vampire of course…
Of course! She remembered how furious Michael had been at her when he realised Oliver had messed with Eve's head and cringed slightly. Well, he hadn't known it was Oliver until she'd stupidly given him his name.
Reaching for her backpack automatically, Claire ran down the stairs, and paused at the bottom. Eve and Shane were both in the kitchen, talking about her no doubt. Should she ask them about Michael? She imagined how it would go in her head and winced. No doubt there would be some smart ass comment from Shane, and Eve would stare at her with big, dark eyes, full of mistrust.
The kitchen door started to swing open, and the decision was made. Claire ran to the door and sneaked out before whoever it was saw her.
Right, where would Michael go? To where ever Oliver was. Well that was easy. She turned left and jogged towards Common Grounds.
Getting there, she swung the door open with a tinkle. It was almost full, but not with human customers. It was ridiculously quite, just murmurs of conversation, but Claire squared her shoulders and walked towards Oliver's office.
"He's not here" Ralph, another barista that she barely knew, shouted from behind the counter. She turned. "Where is he then?" she asked as she walked towards him. "I dunno, he doesn't exactly advertise these things." Claire sighed, frustrated. It could take her all night to find him, and she didn't have time. She thought hard, but was interrupted by the cashier. "I thought I heard him say something about going to the warehouse. Apparently there was a mix up in tea bags or something" this last part was said dubiously, as if she didn't believe there were enough types of tea for there to be a mix up. Still, it was a place to start. "Thanks" she said as she left the shop. She caught a snippet of conversation from a couple near the door, but didn't fully understand until she was walking down the street, where she abruptly halted.
That's the one I was telling you about. Oliver's pet…
Oh my god.
Did everyone know? No wonder she felt like she was being stared at in there.
She turned, and saw the soft glow form the window of the coffee shop. A part of her wanted to go back in there and demand answers, but that was a small part, and Claire knew she didn't have time, not if she wanted to find Michael in time, before he did something stupid.
She set off again, heading for Oliver's coffee warehouse.
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