chapter 21

Eve's point of view

I worked the late shift and then the early shift at the common grounds. It was exhausting but I couldn't afford to miss any more work and I'd swapped yesterdays shift to have the morning with Claire. Michael was back to work this morning, slightly later than her early start but his teaching would finish around the same time as her shift. He was picking her up to go visit Claire in the early evening.

I saw Michael walk into the almost empty shop around twenty minutes before my shift finished. It was a strange time of day when the humans had fleed home but before peak vampire time. It was dusky and dull outside so unsafe for humans and vampires. Morganville was more equal than it had ever been, yet that didn't make it safe nor wise to be out late. With the shop almost empty, Michael was able to lean against the coffee bar and chat whilst I finished my shift. Before long my shift was over, the next barista had arrived and I was quickly changing into clean clothes whilst Michael order Claire a mocha to take with us. We climbed into Michael car to drive quickly but safely to the hospital.

Walking into the bay I was surprised to see Claire was alone. I shared a glance with Michael before walking over. She was sat reading, as I was surprised to realise it was a textbook. Even now, Claire's was focused on learning. honestly at this point Eve wondered what was left for Claire to learn, then again she had been trying, and failing, to understand the serum the daylighters had used to turn vampires human. A considerable amount of vampires had requested it despite the risks so Claire, Myrnin and Jane had been working on it tirelessly with the hopes of creating a safe version.

Suddenly, it dawned on me Claire wouldn't be able to do much research or lab work for a while and it broke my heart. Claire lived for knowledge, her passion was learning and now she had to give it all up. or at least put it on hold for a while.

"hey CB," I said in my cheeriest voice as I passed her the drink "I got you a mocha, just the way you like it". "Thanks" she smiled back, closing the book.

"so, are u hear alone?" as Michael, clearly as confused as I was. Claire's parents had said they would be here in the evening and it was rare Shane was far. Claire's fair skin blushed. "well my parents went to pack. there leaving in the morning" she answered. I sat confused but Michael tensed up "what! why? Why would they leave their daughter like this?". Michael had gone into overprotective big brother mode and was cross by the thought of Claire's parents abanding her now, in her time of need.

"I told them too," claire said sheepishly. "oh," said Michael, rocking back on his heels and letting go of the angry he had been summoned to protect Claire. I sat on the edge of Claire's bed.

"How come Claire Bear?" I asked sweetly, cautious not to offer or accuse her. I wanted to know why Claire had turned away her parents. "I seemed wrong they were here," she said back, voice breaking. I pulled her into a hug and Michael sat onto a chair, his elbows on his knees, resting his chin in his hands. "You know no-one minds been here, no in fact we want to be. We all love for you Claire and we are all going to be here while your sick" I promise her with a smile.

To my surprise, Claire pushed Eve back away. "And your all going to be hurt when I die!" she snapped back "meanwhile, everyone going to drop everything! I'm not letting anyone put their lives on hold for me!" before leaning back in and letting out a small sob. I sat quietly cuddling her as I rubbed her back, unsure what to say.

I wanted to tell her she wasn't going to die but I couldn't lie. All the girl was doing was trying to protect us from pain, from her pain. I felt completely out of my depth as I sat there, holding her to my chest. We stayed there comforting a silence Claire for hours. When we lifted, she had settled down into the bed and had begun falling asleep. "sweet dreams" I whisper as we leave.

As soon as we were off the ward I rang Shane. I felt argue bubble through me that he wasn't there but was sure there was a reason. Shane was confused and lost deep in thought. To my surprise he was looking at jobs, trying to find one flexible around Claire. I smiled slightly when he asked how she was and if she mentioned her parents. He explained he had been there all morning and had narrowly escaped a punch from Claire's Dad when she had to announce to her parents to go home. I felt for him as i heard the strain in his voice. I had the late shift the next day so I promised to pick up Shane on my way to visit Claire in an attempt to give him some rest. I offered to drop food in but he refused, saying he was fine. Although, I doubted he was eating regularly. I decided to bring a breakfast sandwich for him when I picked him up the next day.

DISLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN MORGANVILLE

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