Next Chapter up!

And whats this important news that Chris has?

Will Claire give up and relent to Leon?

Will I actually get down to writing?

Well I get Reviews?

All that and more to find out in this chapter.

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"Claire!" Leon jumped up as soon as she entered the living room. "I'm sorry! I didnt mean to..."

"Be you? You're a chauvanistic prick Leon, but you cant help that. I forgive you for it."

She smiled at him, as he looked puzzled, not sure whether that had been a compliment or an insult.

"Shall we go?" she said, snapping himback down to earth.

"Oh, yeah..."

He grabbed his coat, and followed her out the door.

"You didnt bring your car?"

"Nope," he grinned at her, "Thought the walk would do you good. You hardly leave the house anymore."

She arched her eyebrow.

"You calling me fat?"

"What?" he stammered, "N...No!"

She loved toying with him like this.

In reality, she hadnt gained so much as an ounce since 5 weeks ago.

But 5 weeks living as she had, and she could make him feel like hell by going to town on herself.

"So what do you plan on us doing for...4 and a half hours?"

The bewildered guilt on his vanished instantly, replaced instead with a smirk and a wink.

"Well, you'll have to wait and see, wont you?"

Damn.

She hated when he had the upper hand.

He was still whistling that damn tune as well.

As if she couldnt hear.

She needed to have a talk with him about soundwaves travelling through air.

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Oh no.

The movie theatre.

She was stuck with him in the dark for 2 and a half hours.

Probably sitting through a damn chick flick.

"Already got the tickets," he said coyly, "The Loved and the Loveless."

Claire shoots, she scores.

"Great!" she forced cheerily, looking in longing at the poster for: "Crazy American with gun takes on the Terrorist army alone. 18+"

"I knew you'd like it."

She sighed inwardly.

He knew nothing about her.

Steve would have taken her to the other movie.

And he'd only known her 2 days.

"Popcorn?" he asked.

"Wha...? Oh yeah...ok..."

"Are you alright? You seem kinda off today."

"Yeah," she said, forcing the smile back, "I'm fine. Really!"

He didnt look convinced, but walked to the counter to get the popcorn anyway.

"Salted?" he inquired, "Or Sweet?"

Oh dear lord.

"How bout Cheesy?" she mocked.

"Salted will do..." he muttered to the attendant, mainly to stop her giving Claire a thumbs up.

"Butter?"

"No," Leon muttered again, not even glancing at Claire.

With snacks and drinks in hand, they made their way to the screen.

"Enjoy your date," smiled the security guard as he handed back the tickets, "She's a pretty one."

"Thank you, we will," Leon answered briskly.

Claire smiled at the young man as she walked past, and did a touble take.

She could have sworn for a momenthe flashedher a lopsided grin, his brown hair falling into his face.

Like one she knew.

"Is there a problem miss?" he asked, noticing her staring.

"N...no...Sorry..." she muttered.

She hurried after Leon.

What was happening to her?

Was she going mad?

Was the stress just finally to much to bare and no she was seeing things?

No, she shook her head clear, it was a simple momentarily lapse.

She was in control.

She was...

Wasnt she?

Leon noticed her lagging behind.

"Something up?"

"No, just thought I knew that guy."

"What, just cause he called you pretty? He should say that. You are."

Claire felt a pang of guilt.

He was so sweet, and she was treating him so badly.

Maybe she could give him one last chance.

Just one...

Like Chris said to her, it's not like Steve is coming back.

No.

She wouldnt spend her whole life moping over him.

He didnt give his for her to waste hers.

Leon had earned, through persistance and caring, a chance.

She used to DREAM of a date with him.

Very much unlike what people saw of her outside her own mind.

"Thanks, Leon."

And she flashed him a smile, walking past him into the screen.

Dear lord.

It was practically empty.

There was them two, sitting right at the back, and then empty seats in every direction, besides the assorted collection of teenagers on dates and lonely middle aged men and women.

Claire shuddered.

She didnt want to end up one of them.

Looking round at the faces, she caught the eye of a young man looking up at her, his brown eyes looking right into hers.

He smiled.

She gasped.

"Steve?" she actually called out.

"What?" Leon leaned forward beside her. "Where?"

Claire pointed frantically.

"Look!" she signalled, looking at Leon to get him to follow her finger, "Right..."

When she looked back, her finger pointed at nothing.

An empty seat.

Puzzled, she looked in all directions, trying to catch a glimpse of him.

"Claire?"

She looked back to Leon.

His face was full of concern.

"Are you ok? Should we go?"

She looked around one last time.

"No...It's just dark, I guess...I thought it was..."

"Claire..." Leon grabbed one of her hands in his own, "Claire, Steve is gone. You know that. I know that. I'm sorry, but he is..."

Claire bit her lip, which was trembling.

No-one had ever said that before, and it really did finalise it for her.

"I...I know..."

She let Leon hold onto her as she fought back tears.

"I'm...sorry Leon...I'm not being fair..."

"No, it's ok. It's to soon. I'm sorry, I never should have asked you out like this. Friends?"

She looked away, unanswering.

He watched her for a moment, then looked to the screen as well.

"Leon?" she wispered.

He looked back, just in time for her to kiss him, her lips locking onto his.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer and deepening the kiss.

Part of him was fighting to break it, and part was egging him on.

He was just comforting her, right?

Like hell, GET IN!

No, said the other part, she was vulnerable, and we're taking advantage, we should stop.

Hell, the other one answered, she kissed us...Just go with it, this is what she wants, dammit!

No argument? Leon inquired to the other side of his mind.

Ah hell, what do you care what I say? You'll do what he says anyway.

Damn straight.

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