Chapter 14 Dream of you

Peter took one shower and walked out of his room. He was the first one, coming downstairs for dinner. The house was quiet for instance and Peter leaned back on his chair, looking through the window. It was just before the darkness fell over the city. He loved that time. It was slightly nostalgic and made him think how different his life was now.

'Strange, huh?' Mel's voice interrupted his thoughts and Peter turned around to see the young girl coming to him. She wore pair of blue jeans and jacket, covering her white T-shirt. Her dark hair fell free over her shoulders and her walk looked secure. Mel smiled at him and took her place opposite his chair.

'What is strange?' Peter asked carefully.

'I just talked with Claire. She looks like any normal girl.' Mel shrugged and crossed her legs under the table.

'She is a normal girl.' Peter frowned.

'No, she is not and we both know that.' Mel smiled self-confidently. Her dark green eyes gazed at him. 'She is in love with you.'

'No, she is not!' Peter narrowed his eyes. 'Watch in your words, Mel!'

'Why?' Mel took the jug and poured some water in her glass. 'What are you going to do about it?'

'You look pretty comfortable for the person just arrived here!' Peter snapped. Usually he was the warmest person in this world, when it came to gusts. However, Mel talked about Claire now and Peter did not like it.

'Wow! We are bitchy!' Mel winked at him.

'What do you want to know?' Peter asked straight.

'Do you love her?' Mel narrowed her eyes towards him and Peter could feel her attempt to influence on him. He leaned on his elbows over the table and smiled at her.

'What do you think?'

'I think you do.' Mel answered quickly, but looked confused of her answer.

'And what do you think about it?' Peter asked again, tilting his head.

'I think that you two have a relationship beyond normal for the family.' Mel took deep breath and stared at him. 'What are you doing?'

'I'm giving you your medicine.' His smile widened. 'Pretty cool power I should say.'

'What?'

'I should've warned you, Mel.' They heard Claire's voice and looked at the staircase. She walked into the room and sat close to Peter.

'Warned me?' Mel looked confused again.

'About him.' Claire looked at Peter and smiled. He smiled back. 'He has ability too.'

'What kind of ability?' Mel looked interested.

'Let me demonstrate you.' Peter stared at Mel again, slightly tilting his head. 'If you are right about me and Claire, would you tell anybody?'

'No.' Mel answered automatically.

'Why?' Peter asked again.

'I don't think that this is my business.' She said and he leaned back on his chair, crossing arms before his chest. 'Wow! So you can do what I can do?'

'I can do what you can do, plus I can absorb powers.' He rubbed his temples. 'Not too much though. It's overwhelming sometimes.'

'Are you okay?' Claire rubbed his thigh and he nodded with smile.

'I'm fine. Just I got this too soon.'

'Okay.' Claire released one smile and looked back at Mel. 'Why are you smiling?'

'No, it's nothing.' Mel shrugged. 'Just remember what I told you about your eyes. You two are too transparent.'

'I think we are pretty good so far.' Claire said.

'Pretty good in what?' Nathan asked as he walked into the room.

'Pretty good of showing me around.' Mel said with sparkling smile. 'I think that this would be one very interesting summer.'

'Well, I hope you'll enjoy with us here.' Nathan said politely. Mel looked at Peter and Claire and answered with another smile.

'Oh, I'm sure.' She said, winked at them secretly. Honestly, Mel had never thought that she would support that kind of relationship. She thought of them as a disgusting. There was nothing disgusting in Peter and Claire now. She could notice the hidden looks and smiles full of love. They shared it through the whole evening. She tried to take the attention over her, so nobody could notice them. Therefore, she did not stop babbling about her life and friends back in LA.

'So your father is on his campaign trip now?' Heidi asked and Mel laughed bitterly.

'Nope.'

'No?' Nathan looked surprised.

'He refused to be a candidate and now his party sent him as an ambassador in the Middle East.'

'What? Why?' Even Angela was surprised.

'He'd never admit that, but it's because of his attitude.' Mel tilted her head. 'He took my mom with him.'

'But it's temporary, right?' Heidi looked at her and her mother heart melted.

'Oh yeah.' Mel smiled again. 'It's just for the summer.'

'That's good.' Heidi leaned back on her chair. She noticed Peter rubbing his temples. 'Are you alright?' She asked him and Peter tried to smile.

'I'm fine.'

'He is tired, but he won't admit it!' Claire snapped and dropped her fork over the table. She frowned against him. 'His doctors said he needs rest!'

'What is that supposed to mean?' Peter asked firmly and narrowed his eyes towards her.

'Oh no!' Nathan murmured with annoyance. 'Not again!'

'You are so stubborn!' Claire snapped. 'That's what!'

'I'm not the stubborn one!' Peter forgot about his headache and turned against Claire. Their legs touched under the table. 'You just forget with whom you're talking to!'

'I'm talking with one idiot!'

'Claire!' Angela hissed, but her granddaughter did not even look at her. She had focused on Peter.

'When do you realize that your health is important and it's not a joke?'

'I'm fine!' Peter snapped again. He looked irritated. 'You are worrying too much!'

'Well, forgive me if I care more than I should!' She said angrily and dragged her chair back. 'Excuse me!' She said quietly and leaved the table. Peter sighed tiredly and repeated her words. He followed her and Nathan cursed under his nose.

'The peace in this house is over - again!' He said with annoyance and Mel hid her smile behind the napkin.

'The perfect pair.' She murmured, looking at the door where they both had disappeared. She was sure that Peter and Claire would be just fine by the end of this night. Mel wondered how their family could not see the truth about them. They were so in love and it was so obvious that Mel had noticed it immediately.

'What dear?' Angela asked politely, but Mel put down her napkin and looked at the old woman.

'Nothing.' She answered smiling. 'I'm just tired.'

'Then go upstairs and relax, honey.' Heidi said with smile.

'I think I will.' Mel said and got off her chair. 'Excuse me.' She said and walked out of the room. She heard Peter and Claire screaming at each other while she passed Claire's room. One smile appeared on her face. They were so transparent. People just had to look closer and see them, as they really were – a couple.

'You are irrational!' Claire yelled at him and Peter frowned, sitting on her bed. She crossed the room nervously. 'I actually believed you when you told me that you're alright!'

'But I am.' He murmured.

'You don't care about that, Peter!' Claire twirled around and looked at his pale face. 'I love you as my dear life and you just don't care!'

'What?' He asked with confusion.

'You don't have any idea how I felt!' Claire pressed hand against her chest. 'You don't have any idea what it feels even the thought of loosing you!'

'Claire…' He looked at her, did not know what to say. She came closer and he could see the tears in her eyes.

'I just, I didn't know what to do! I do not know what to do! Why you are so careless? Why?' She looked him straight in the eyes.

'I am not careless, Claire.' Peter said quietly and reached hand, wiping out her tears. 'I'm feeling okay. I'm not lying to you.'

'Promise me to be careful!' She sobbed and Peter pulled her into his hug. She sat on his lap and wrapped arms around his neck. 'Promise me!'

'I promise.' He said and Claire felt his hands slipping around her waist. 'I'll be careful.'

Peter cradled her into his arms. None of them heard the door opening. The room was dark and quiet. Her sobs were the only sound there. Heidi looked at them and saw Peter's attempts to calm her. She remembered Claire's words at the hospital.

'It hurts to see him like this.' Claire sobbed lightly.

'I know hun.' Heidi spoke softly.

'No, you don't!' Claire mumbled and her mother looked at her eyes. She saw so much pain in there. It was almost physical. 'You don't know anything!'

'Then tell me.' Heidi said quietly, but Claire shook her head.

'You can't understand.' She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. 'Nobody can!'

Now, Heidi could see that pain and even Peter was not able to calm her down. Claire was too scared for him and his life. She had attached to him and Heidi got scared for real. Claire was not able to speak these two weeks. Her life had focused on watching Peter at the hospital. Heidi thought that her reactions then were understandable. However, now was different. Peter was not in the hospital anymore and Claire still was worried. Heidi closed the door behind. She had to talk with Peter in the morning. Something had happened between them and Heidi hoped that she was wrong about it.

Claire slept in his arms this night. She did not let him leave. Therefore, Peter stayed and held her tightly through the whole night. Claire slept peaceful and he was afraid to move. She fitted so perfectly in his arms as if she had created for him. Peter frowned and one unpleasant thought passed through his mind. Their relationship could not stay hidden forever. Someday, someone would find about it. All the lies and secrets would be for nothing. The betrayal would not worth it.

Peter felt bitter taste on his mouth. He was lying to his brother. He was lying to his whole family. That was something he would not do. However, he loved Claire and sometimes he felt sick about it. The need of touching her, loving her and making her love him was so twisted that Peter wanted to scream. He felt so bad, living in the lie. He wanted to end it there and then. Just when he looked her into her eyes, wanted to say these words, something always stopped him. He saw her love as strong as his. He saw the care and compassion. He saw all things he wanted to see in one woman. He saw his dreams come true just by looking at her. She was his dream and he did not want to wake up. That was how the lie continued and Peter was not strong enough to be honest. That meant that he would be alone and without her. He could not live without his dream. He could not live without his heart, because she held it. She held him tight and did not let him leave. Peter was sure that she would not let him leave ever. The reason was simple – Claire loved him as strong as he loved her. They both had cursed, but none of them seemed to care.

She shifted in his arms and her back touched his chest. Claire wanted to be sure that he was lying beside of her. Peter pulled her closer and gazed the door. He closed his eyes and locked it telekinetically. Now he could sleep close to her. That was the only think he could do now.

Peter inhaled her scent and fell asleep. He dreamed of her…

A/N: Just to answer - yes I'm using my friends as a characters. That is an idea I took from Laura ( the prototype of the character in WaY). She asked if she can use my name in one of her fics. I said yes and then just wanted to return the favor. However, people really liked her character and I thought to keep it anyway. Johnathan is my friend Alex and one of my best critics and reviewers. The thought of putting him and Laura together came up as a joke, but then I thought - hey why not? (The real people are not in relationship like this. It's purely fictional!) The character of Mel here was a spontaneous idea. Yes, she is my friend from the FF and my soul mate. (We called each other 'Twin', but don't get confused - we aren't. Just astral twins and very good friends. Soul mates as I said. *hug*).

Yes, I know I make mistakes with my grammar. I'm sorry for that, but if you like the story - keep reading it. There is so much more to come and I hope you like the trailers for it too.

Love as always,

Arinna