Chapter Five:





Claire set the pot of macaroni and cheese down on the table, her eyes never leaving her book, before she took out the pitcher
from the dishrack to make lemonade. After mixing it, she put in the icebox to get cold. She heard a click from the door, she turned
and saw Steve walk in.
"Hi honey." she said smiling. She walked over to him and gave him a hug. He surprised her by sweeping her into his arms and
giving her a big kiss. "Well, you're in a good mood." she observed.
"Better than good!" Steve exclaimed, his eyes bright and happy. "I just got promoted!"
Her smile widened and she gave him another kiss. "Oh Steve, I'm so happy for you!"
"I know! Pretty soon, we'll be able to get a wonderful little house and leave this apartment!" Steve exclaimed. "I know how long
you've waited for this."
Claire felt her heart rip open with joy. It had been such a long time since Steve had been so euphoric. Now it was like a summer
wind had just blew in, carrying the remains of a lush spring season.
"And guess what." Steve said, setting her down and getting a plate full of macaroni and cheese. "Our crew has an out of state job
in two days--the boss' cousin or something--in two days."
"Oh... really?" she said, sitting down. "Where?"
"Nevada." Steve said, he opened the cabinet and frowned. "Where's my whiskey?"
"You ran out. In Nevada?" Claire repeated.
"Yeah, the state of whores and gambling." Steve chuckled at his trite joke.
Claire felt her spirits drop but managed a wavering smile. "Oh. Well... Did it have to be this week?"
"Yes. Why?" Steve asked as he started to eat.
"Because, this week we celebrate our eight year anniversary." Claire said, her voice softening for sentimental reasons. "Don't you
remember?"
Steve thought for a moment before shrugging. "How can you keep up? It's not like we're married. I mean, the first date
anniversary, the first kiss anniversary, the first fuc-- well, that too. All those anniversaries can lose their novelties after the first few
years."
Claire scooped some food onto her plate and nodded dolefully. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
"Cheer up, babe." Steve said. "Maybe before we leave we'll see a movie."
A movie? That's it? She pressed her lips together and tried to be positive. "Well, a movie would be wonderful, Steve. People
are saying that 'A Walk to Remember' is nice--although they think that it's ridiculous when singers start to act. And if you want
a creepy movie, 'The Mothman Prophecies' are pretty good."
"Well, we'll see about it." Steve said, shoveling macaroni into his mouth. "Great, by the way."
"Thanks." Claire replied, listlessly sliding her food around with her fork. Suddenly her eyes widened. "Oh Steve! What if we just
went out dancing? Wouldn't that be fun?"
Steve chewed his food deliberately, considering every aspect of this thoroughly, then he shook his head disapprovingly. "Claire,
I don't think so."
Claire's shoulders slumped slightly. "Why not?"
"Because, it is just not something that I enjoy doing now a days." He replied. "It was fun in the beginning, but now I'd just like to
be away from all of that racket."
Claire sighed and stared at the space in front of her for a moment, trying to restrain whatever argument would escape her.
"It seems to me that those bars and strip clubs you go to are pretty boisterouos." She mumbled.
"What?" Steve asked, his eyes snapping towards her tetchily, his eyebrows dipping into a chary frown.
"I said, 'It seems to me that those bars and strip clubs you go to are pretty boisterous.' " Claire said, enunciating each word.
"Is that so?" Steve asked, setting his fork down and stared at her.
Claire closed her eyes ruefully and tilted her head down. "Steve... I didn't mean that... I just--"
"No, it's obviously something that's been on your mind for a long time..." Steve said, slowly rising. "So why don't you just get it
all off your chest?"
Unexpectedly, he grabbed his plate and flung it at the wall. Claire cringed as it slammed then shattered into a thousand little
pieces. She jumped back as Steve grabbed for the rest of the dishes and soon the tiles were carpeted with sharp ceramic pieces.
"Steve!" She exclaimed, leaping up.
Steve grabbed for her arm and threw her over the side of the couch, nearly ripping her arm out of the socket. In one cat-like bound,
he was at her side, clutching her chin in his fingers and squeezing it so hard it felt it would slide off any second.
"Anything else that you want to tell me?" He asked. Then, shaking her violently, he said, "WELL?"
Claire fought against Steve's grasp and shook her head. "No." She whispered softly.
Steve shoved her away and glared at her. "Why do you always insist on complicating things?"
Inhaling then exhaling deeply, he turned and disappeared into the room. Once the door safely shut, Claire wiped away a tear. She
wouldn't cry. She wouldn't. No matter how much it hurt.


Glop glop glop glop glop glop... The coffee percolator droned and filled the room with the refreshing smell of Folgers, nudging
Claire's senses out of a heavy sleep. Her eyes opened and she blinked a few times before she realized she had fallen asleep on
Leon's day bed the previous night. She yawned sleepily and sat up. From the wall that lead to the kitchen, Leon poked his head
out and smiled brightly.
"Hey, how do you like your eggs?" He asked.
Claire smiled and stood. "I like scrambled." She said, walking over to him.
"Ah, nice and simple." Leon said. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah." Claire said. "Where did YOU sleep?"
Leon grinned mischeivously before scooping up a sunny-side up egg onto a plate. "Where do YOU think?" he asked. "Oh,
and by the way, last night?--You tried."
Claire reddened slightly before turning away. "Leon... please...don't say anything when Steve's--"
"Steve isn't here." Leon said softly. "And even if he were, why should it matter? We're just kidding around."
Claire swallowed weakly before shaking her head. "Nevermind."
"Claire--"
"Nevermind!" She declared forcefully.
Leon's smile faded. "Claire... what's wrong?"
"How is your new job going?" she asked, instead of answering.
"Claire--" He began.
"HOW is your new job going?"
Giving up, he sighed. "It's going okay."
"Good." She said firmly.
She snatched up a coffee pot and poured herself a cup. "Did you fix many cars yesterday?"
"Only about four." Leon said. "I came back around eight o' clock last night. You were sleeping on the couch, so I didn't want
to wake you up. So I slept on the carpet."
"Oh... God, Leon, I'm so sorry." Claire said. "You should've woke me up."
"No, it's no problem." Leon replied, he smiled softly. "You looked so peaceful and beaut...um, nice... I thought it wouldn't be
right to wake you."
Claire looked up at him and saw his deep blue eyes had suddenly turned lighter, as if a fire had just been lit from behind them.
She remembered the first time she had seen him. A gun wasn't exactly what she had expected, then again, neither was a horde of
flesh-eating zombies. Not long after they and little Sherry Birkin had escaped, Claire saw that Leon's eyes could be so soft and
protective... They could even get very sexy when he wasn't aware of it. Claire took a few quiet breaths to calm her thumping
heart and slow her heavy breathing. She reached over the sink and opened the window above it, all the heat from the cooking was
making the tiny space very warm.