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As Claire made her way into the dark spontaneous jungle she thought more and more about what a good idea it would be to turn back. She stumbled over something, and looked back. It was Shannon's mutilated root. She smiled, if she did go back Shannon might beat her with a stick… better keep going.
Claire sighed, and a voice out of the jungle made her nearly pee her pants, "Need an escort little lady?"
Claire's hand flew to her chest as she tried to catch her breath, she knew that voice. As she surveyed the dense undergrowth to see where the voice came from and a figure stepped out behind her. And she found herself looking into the eyes of John Locke, "Oh good, it's you, I hoped- well, yes, I wouldn't mind having an escort, you're going to the caves right?"
John nodded. Claire hoped he wouldn't, he still creeped her out. Oh well, at least they would be getting to the caves soon.
"So, uh, catch any boar lately?" Claire asked, trying to fill the silence.
Locke laughed, "Claire, you don't have to make small talk with me, but yes, I'm going to skin it after I talk to Jack."
Claire made a little noise that sounded something like an 'oh'. She looked up at Locke, "Do you like to hunt?"
Locke looked at Claire, she looked like a little girl, really she was, "I guess I do. It gives me something to do on this island, and I contribute. So yes, I do."
Claire averted her eyes to a path and the silence came back, then she asked him a question, spontaneously, "Do you like the dark?" he gave her a weird look, "Well, I mean, it's dark in the jungle most of the time, and that's where you spend your day… so, do you like the dark?"
"I don't necessarily like it, but I don't mind it." He smiled, "Why do you?"
Claire shook her head, "No! It's so dark, and it's spontaneous, I mean you could get seriously hurt in the dark, and.. well, it's spontaneous."
He laughed, "Don't like spontaneity?"
She shook her head again, "Nope, I like consistency."
"Crashing on an island must of really been a shock."
"Yeah, try being pregnant while your at it," she stifled a giggle with her mouth, "I mean, pregnancy isn't the most consistent thing either, neither is being thrown out by your mom, or dumped by your boyfriend, who by the way, is a very crappy artist!"
Locke just laughed, as they reached the caves "Good to know, well, I'm going to let you go here, and I'll see you around."
Claire nodded, "Thanks for walking with me, and thanks for.. listening"
As Claire headed over to the waterfall she knew everyone was looking at her, she hadn't been here in forever, just for this awkward reason. Shannon could handle it, she would probably tell the people something very disrespectful and cause a scene. She looked down at the ground, avoiding everyone's stares. Then there was a rustling in the bushes, Claire looked over, it was Hurley, "Hey dudes- Claire! What's up? Waddya say to a round of golf?"
Claire shook her head, "No thanks Hurley, I'm just getting water.."
"Oh, well you know where to find me. Anyone else want to golf some?" Hurley winked at her. Claire smiled, she was thankful, the attention was officially off her, they had stop staring, well all except one. And she felt his eyes boring a hole into the back of her head.
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