This chapter is Spike's again. I think I'm gonna start swiching on and off every other chapter.
Looking over at Claire on the way back from the mall, I finially realized why she had thought I had left her back there. Everyone she had even known in her life had. Why should I have been any different?? Didn't know how to tell her that I wasn't, and I doubt she would have bought it. I could at least relate though. I mean, look at my mum and Dru. Still, I felt sorry for her though. A 16 year-old shouldn't have to be alone in life, especially not this early in it. Why do you think I invited her to stay with me?Wasn't because I liked her or anything. Oh no. Nothing like that. I was almost posivite on that one.
She was cute though. And I don't mean that as in the liking her instance either. Go and get your mind out of the gutter already, will you?? Holdin' all her bags, she looked innocent, not the usual girl that she looked like. You know, the tough and hard look she had as though she thought that nothin' in the world could hurt her. Back there though, she had let the real Claire shine through. For one moment, she allowed herself to feel. God, I'm starting to sound like Giles. I thought with a small snort of laughter.
She turned to me. "What are you laughing about?" She asked.
I shrugged. "Nothing. Just a thought I had."
"Which was??"
Thinking fast, I came up with something that I thought was equally funny. "The fact that a human girl is going to be living with a Vampire. Some reason, I doubt that happens a lot."
She laughed for a moment as well, then went back to walking. The silence allowed me to be alone with my own thoughts again.
Did I like this girl? There was no question there actually. Coarse I did. Who wouldn't like her with the whole soft interior hidden by a hard shell on the outside. The real question there was how did I like her? As in big brother, wanting to protect her from all the big bads out there, or as a high school boy who has discovered girls for the first time. Basically, Xander when I thought about who I had just described. God, I don't know. Knowing that involves thinkin', and I've never been much of a thinker. Go look at some of my poetry from when I was human why don't you if you don't believe me. I was a ruddy mess, and a horriable writer when I look back on it. I still don't know what effulgent means.
A slight stumble over a half buried toumbstone brought me back into the real world. Painfully, considering how I would up on my face. Claire laughed at me though, but more polite than I had to her when she had fallen on her butt back in my crypt a few days ago. I got up, ignoring the proffered hand. "Come on. Dawn's only a few minuites off, and I don't fancy turning into instant soup mix." I told her.
Claire nodded and took off running towards the crypt, easy to spot because it was so tall. I kept up with her, even though I had more speed avaiable. I didn't want to leave her alone again. Can you say, "softy"? Exactlly. That's how bad I was. Problem was, I didn't think it was going to get any better.
Sorry it's so short, but considering I'm home sick today, It's the best I could do on cold pills. This chapter basically summarized Spike's feelings for Claire, and really set the stage for the next few chapters.