Claire blinked as she woke up and pulled the bed covers over. She stretched & yawned and focused on the fish bowl that sat on her bedside unit. Both fish seemed healthy enough, but surely they couldn't stay in there forever.

She got out of bed and went downstairs in her nightgown. Her Mother was at the kitchen sink giving it a good old fashioned scrub.

"Claire, surely you can find better ways of utilising your free periods than lounging around in bed, it's bad enough on a Sunday, but it is mid-week"

Claire shrugged as she plugged in the kettle, "Oh mum give it a rest will you"

"Look, I need to go to the butcher's to pick up that boiled ham, please give me the common grace that you will be dressed and half decent when I return"

Claire forced a smile and watched her mother walk out the front door with her shopping basket. She then made for the telephone and pulled out a piece of paper with a phone number scribbled on.

She dialled the number and somebody answered.

"Hello, is that Mrs Stebson? It's Claire here from the other day...yes I am fine thank you...I was wondering whether its convenient to drop back Norman's coat? Will he be there later on? 6 o clock...that's fine I'll see you then..."

***GH***

At 6 o clock, Claire walked up the drive and rang the doorbell. Gripper stuck his head out of the top window and called down to her, " I thought that was you..."

Claire squinted in the low Sun and looked up at him, "I did telephone earlier and spoke to your mum, I've brought your coat round"

Gripper nodded, "stay there, I'll be right down"

Claire stood back from the door as she waited the seconds between Gripper closing the window and opening the front door. She almost immediately threw the sheepskin coat into his arms, "there you go"

Gripper looked pleased as he shook it out, "thanks, I missed it earlier"

Claire backed away, "well, I'll see you then"

Gripper chased her across the lawn to the street, "want to come out with me, do ya?"

She turned around and looked at him questioningly, "where too...?"

Gripper stuck his hands into his pockets, "nowhere special, just to the pictures"

She did like the idea, but then again Stewpot was going to take her later this week, she just had to make sure the two nights didn't clash.

"Alright...what about tomorrow...I can meet you at 7 o clock outside the Odeon"

Gripper shook his head, "that sounds okay...I'll see you then"

Claire smiled and quickened her pace up the street. Gripper watched her go with a lopsided grin. She just had to make sure that Stewpot didn't take her tomorrow, all she needed was for both of them to turn up. How did it come to this?

***GH***

The next day, Claire bought her lunch from Northam colleges canteen and sat down with Lisa.

Lisa salted her chips, "so did you return Gripper's coat?"

Claire looked how dried up her green salad was, "yesterday evening"

"Did you tell him that you and Stewpot are back together?"

Claire pushed her dish away, "no...it gets worse...he asked out, pictures tonight"

Lisa leaned forward because all this sounded conspiring, but it actually wasn't, "you are going to have to tell him"

Claire rolled her eyeballs at her," yes I do know that Lisa, I'm not stupid, its just finding away if telling, that's all"

Before Lisa could respond, both of them saw Stewpot walk over them clutching his tray of food, "Alright girls, mind if I join ya?"

Lisa shrugged, and Claire moved her bag and art folder. Stewpot grabbed the vinegar and poured it over his fish and chips. Claire pulled a face and stuck a finger beneath her nostrils, "Stewpot that fish really stinks"

He laughed as he harpooned it with his fork, "caught freshly out of the Thames this morning"

"Last week more like", told Lisa.

Stewpot snaked his arm around Claire, but she managed to squeeze herself out of his grip,"oh leave off Stewpot, I can't stomach that fishy breath"

He laughed and watched her And Lisa gather up their stuff, "so...you still up to seeing the Gremlins tonight?"

Lisa and Claire glanced at one another, and Lisa could see her friend wasn't quick enough for the uptake, so she answered for her, "she can't tonight..she's out with me"

Stewpot looked disappointed, "really? Well what about tomorrow? It will cost more, so you'll have to bring your purse"

Claire sighed, "glad to see romance isn't dead...see you tomorrow night"

Lisa walked with her as they dumped their trays, "you are going to end up in a right mess"

Claire nodded, "I know...I'll just have see what happens and play it by ear"

"Rather you than me...but you are gonna have to make a choice, or you are no better than he was with that Rachel"

Claire watched her friend leave. She shoved her bag in her locker and made a decision. Stewpot was her boyfriend, he had ended things with Rachel just for her. Gripper was a pig and he'll never change, not deep down. She knew what she had to do, and she had to do it tonight.

***GH***

Claire sat at her dresser and applied her makeup. Why was she making such an effort for Gripper she really didn't know. She looked at herself in the mirror. She was blinded by miscara and dumb with red lipstick. She smoothed down her tight jeans and looked towards her heels. She reached for the hair spray and used half a can.

Mother watched her come down the stairs, "oh Claire, I do wish you wouldn't use too much hair spray, you know it sets off your father allergies"

"Oh mum, leave off will you, its blowing a gale outside and I don't want to look a fright, do I"

"Well have a nice time...I assume it's the boy who's coat you borrowed is it?"

Claire eased into her denim jacket and her mother helped her, "don't wait up"

***GH***

At the Odeon, Claire could see no sooner had she arrived that Gripper had made the effort again. They stood in the foyer looking at one another before gripper nodded his head towards the ticket office,"after you Miss Scott"

"I didn't bring any money...", Claire suddenly worried.

Gripper rummaged in his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, "You're lucky girl then, because I'm paying for them"

Claire wasn't so sure about that as they stood at the box office, "but you can't...you paid for all the rides at the fair"

He shrugged at her handing over a fiver to the woman behind the counter, "It's not that I ain't earning, is it? I have to spend my money on something"

He handed Claire her ticket and she glanced a look, "Top gun?"

Gripper looked all pleased with himself as they trod across the plush carpet to film theatre 4,"Yeah, I thought you'd like it...it's got that Tom Cruise in it"

Claire was frowning at him in response, "Well I never said I liked it...sounds like a boys film to me"

Gripper paused at the fresh hold of the doors, "It's got girls in it too...come on, I'm sure you'll like it"

She sighed, "I suppose..."

"Hey, wait a minute, don't forget your popcorn" and he queued up to get some. Gripper was very much the gentleman tonight. And she called him a pig to Lisa earlier. Was she really doing him an injustice?

TBC