The next day, Claire got up and went down stairs for her breakfast. Her mum had songs of praise on the radio in the kitchen. Her father was in his chair reading the Sunday newspapers. She helped herself to two slices of bread and stuck them into the toaster.

"Oh Claire, you shouldn't slump around the house in your dressing gown at 11 in the morning, we might have visitors"

Claire rolled her eyes at her mother , "oh mum, its still the weekend"

Her mum put the chicken into the oven, "even so, it really is uncoof"

Claire folded her arms as she waited for the toaster to pop up.

"And what is that over there? Fish? I don't think the kitchen is the right place for them do you?"

Claire smiled to herself, it was the gold fish Gripper had won for her, "I was thinking that dad could stick them in his pond"

Her mother looked less than enthusiastic about the idea, "nice idea Claire, but you know that they won't last long in there...not with all the cat's around here"

Claire buttered her toast, "then what am I supposed to do with them?"

Mother removed her pinney, "oh don't ask me Claire, they are your fish"

Claire picked up the bag and bit her lip, she then went upstairs with them and went into the bathroom and lifted the lid of the toilet. She dangled the fish over the bowl and pulled a face.

"Claire? Where are you?!"

Irritated, Claire turned her head away from the fish, "Upstairs"

There was some rummaging from the foot of the stairs, "who's is this coat?"

Claire shoved the bag in the sink and then dove for the top of the landing, "I borrowed it"

She could see her mother holding the tanned sheepskin up and scrutinizing it, "oh I see...a boys coat...I suppose it belongs to that Stew-pot boy"

Claire raced down the stairs and grabbed it off her, "it's not his actually...now, I'm gonna get dressed"
And with coat in her grasp, she was off upstairs again.

***GH***

Suzanne looked at the fish in the clear bag, "why would I want a pair of fish gawping at me for? Nah, you are gonna have to flush'em"

Claire watched Suzanne make them a cuppa and sighed, "I tried that, but my conscious wouldn't let me"

She brought the mugs over, "where did you get them from anyway?"

Claire looked up to her as she grabbed her mug of tea, "the fair! I told last week I was going, didn't I"

Suzanne remembered, "oh yeah...you and that idiot Gripper"

Claire tutted, "oh leave it out Suzanne, he was very nice to me"

Suzanne screwed her face up her, "oh yeah? Are we still talking about the same guy who shoved a stinking mop in your face"

Claire shook her head, "that was years ago...and besides, like I said before he's changed"

"I thought you are just getting back at Stewpot?"

Claire didn't know what to say. Yes that had been the plan, but now she didn't really care about what Stewpot got up to.

"I don't know...I don't know what I want out of it..."

Suzanne tutted, "I knew I should've got to the fair with you, I would've paid you back you know"

Claire stood up, "look Suzanne, if you are gonna be like this I going"

Suzanne turned, "this will all back fire in your face you know...whatever you are doing"

Claire tutted and was gone.

***GH***

Monday morning, and Claire was back in college. She sat in a daydream. Lisa watched her and tackled her as they left the classroom, "so how was your weekend?"

Claire nodded, "yeah it was good...I went to the fair"

Lisa shook her head, "I know, I heard that Rachel talk about it on the bus this morning"

"Rachel was at the fair?"

"yeap, with Stewpot, are they a thing now?"

Claire looked like she was going to punch somebody, she thinks she can take him me, does she? I'll show her.

Lisa stopped her, "but you wanted them to see you right? You said you wanted Stewpot to get jealous of you and Gripper is it?"

Before she could answer, Stewpot was coming up the corridor, "so...you and him have a good time did ya?"

Claire turned, "Stewpot, its not how it looks"

"I saw you and Gripper at the fair...is that what you are into now is it?"

Claire shook her head, "no...anyway, Lisa said that you went to the fair with Rachel"

He couldn't deny it but tried a different approach, "look, I'll tell her I can't see her no more"

Claire folded her arms, "when?"

He looked up to see Rachel come walking up the busy corridor with her friends, "right this minute if you like"

Claire stood back with Lisa and the pair of them watched on as Stewpot ended things officially with Rachel.

Rachel through a glance her way as she said, "go with miss perfect then...you'll be bored in a week"

Lisa turned to Claire, "well, he did it"

Claire nodded and forced on a smile as Stewpot approached her, "it's done...so why don't you and me go see a film at the flicks or some thing"

"See what?"

He shrugged, "they reshowing the Gremlins again, you loved that film when I took you to see it last year"

She shrugged. And he looked at his watch "I'll give you a bell, tomorrow...we can go in the week, yeah?"

Claire nodded and he walked off, Lisa turned, "so are you and him going out together again"

"Looks like it"

Lisa walked with her to the exit, "what about Gripper? Don't you have to give him back his jacket?"

Claire was fully aware of that and nodded, "yes...I Know"...

TBC