Author's Notes: This is a short chapter that I decided to just throw in because I didn't have anything to lose. It's not chapter two, it's actually chapter 1.5. It's not long enough to earn the title of two. Reviews are really, really appreciated ;p
Chapter 1.5
You see me, see me calling
I can fly but I watch you falling
***
18:20; New York: Jill Valentine's Backyard
Claire Redfield speared a hotdog with a fork and slipped it into a bun that was strategically placed on a paper plate. She walked away from the grill and came to a stop at the picnic table that was adorned with food; potato salad, potato chips, baked beans and watermelon. Scooping up a spoonful of beans, she dropped them on her plate and, taking a look in both directions, casually approached the beer cooler. Taking one last look to assure no one was paying attention, she plunged one of her hands into the ice and emerged with a Coors light. As she turned around, she found herself face to face with Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy. Busted.
"How sweet, you got me a drink!" Her brother took it from her hands and held it high above her head. She bit her lower lip and huffed, causing Leon to snicker; he was clearly amused by the response Chris received from his sister.
"I'm only a few months off the legal limit, Chris," she said, making a grab for the beer. He moved out of her way as she lunged for him and he tumbled forward. Managing to catch her balance for a second, Claire grabbed onto the nearest thing to steady herself. The nearest thing just happened to be the ex-cop.
Leon stumbled backwards from the collision and soon found himself underneath a beautiful girl. His arms instinctively wrapped around her waist and their eyes locked. That's when he realized Claire was crying. Fucked up again Leon, she'll probably report you for sexual–
That's when they both noticed the silence; everyone around them was silently watching. Leon took one last look at Claire's face; she was mouthing the name Steve. Steve Burnside? What does he have to do with this? She crawled off him and stood up, offering a gloved hand. He shook his head no and was rewarded with a sob. She started crying harder.
Finally Jill broke the silence by asking: "What's that burning smell?"
Chris apologized profusely.. he had forgot to tend to the grill.
18:40; Umbrella Headquarters in Raccoon City: the Labs
Taking the syringe that
contained the T-Veronica virus in her shaky hands, Carrie brushed aside some of
the ants that were covering her flesh and stuck the needle into her arm. She
smiled, watching the syringe empty.. it was time.
18:50; New York: the Porch
Claire sat down on the
deck, folding her legs underneath her. She looked at the sky, towards the
setting sun and sighed. The whole scene that had happened about thirty minutes
ago had shook her up; it reminded her of Steve Burnside so much she could
scream. She could hear his voice in her head saying Relax beautiful and all she
could do to keep the tears from coming back was mutter "I'm ok."
"Who asked?" Leon sat next to her on the stairs.
"Huh?" She looked over at him and flashed a half-smile.
"Who asked if you're ok? Or were you talking to yourself or.."
"Oh, it's nothing," she said.
"You sure? You know Red, I've never seen you cry before.. before tonight, I mean."
"I think the biggest mistake I made was never crying for him," she offered, looking at Leon closely for his response. She felt like she could open up to him but she wasn't sure. He might tell Chris or Jill– then she'd never hear the end of it.
"It's ok to cry if you have to. You can cry on my shoulder."
"Redfields don't cry," she replied stiffly.
Leon could feel that he was losing her. Desperate times call for desperate actions and in a desperate attempt to find out what was bothering Claire, he grabbed her hand and wove his fingers in between hers. "I'm your friend, you can tell me."
"There's nothing to tell," she glared at him and yanked her hand away. She stood up and begun to walk away.
"Don't say I didn't try!" he called after her. He sighed, wishing that he had been able to reach her. She needed help. She needed a friend. She needed Leon Kennedy.. now if only he could convince her this.
