: The Trip – Part 2 :
Claire fidgeted for some time beside Wesker as she attempted to break what felt like tension surrounding them as the bus rocked and bounced on the gravely road. She couldn't place her finger on why, but the feeling of.. awkwardness hung in the air. She wondered if Wesker felt the same as she stole a glance at the Captain who sat back straight, arms folded beside her.
Of course, he didn't. He was merely enjoying the peace and quiet. Sure the team were laughing and talking far behind him, but it was fairly serene at the top.
"So.. Wesker.. " Claire began awkwardly. "Um.. how do you like being the STARS captain?"
Wesker's head turned to her slightly. He had expected she wouldn't be able to sit still without at least asking how he was, or something equally as time wasting, but a question like that threw him off slightly. She certainly was full of surprises.
He hummed and smirked at her, rolling his shoulders as he readjusted in his seat. "It's agreeable with me."
Claire frowned. As vague as always. Hey, if you're not going to try neither am i! She nodded fairly passively and sat back in her seat, mirroring his folded arms, but slouched much more than he ever would.
Giving up so soon dear heart? "And you, my dear, what is it that you study at college?"
Claire smiled ever so slightly. "I'm majoring fine painting, and I'm studying Biology as my minor."
Wesker perked up at hearing the science subject. "What a curious subject to choose with painting.. why Biology?"
Claire shrugged a little sheepishly "I've always been good with Biology. I find the stuff on fungi's and Virus' kind of interesting. Chris says I just like being a know-it-all though." she snickered as she recalled all the times she would sit on their couch and read out the most disgusting lines from her biology book, that would go into great detail about how a parasite takes over its host, turning Chris off whatever the hell he'd be eating at the time.
Wesker's face was pretty blank. He nodded once and stared forward, almost as if he was ignoring Claire's existence while he mulled over this new information. A knowledge in Biology could be a dangerous thing when she was brought to the labs on Monday. She could very well recognize substances and chemicals poking around, and it didn't take much to put two and two together and see that what the labs were creating were very dangerous indeed.
She sounded interested in the subject, but for all Wesker knew, Claire was an airhead that barely went to class and barely even knew what biology was.
This of course, was far from correct, with Claire's biology teacher praising her every turned in assignment and making the top 10 students in her class of 137, she was exceptionally smart and had a real knack for the subject on a whole.
And Wesker had no idea.
"And what do you hope to do after your college days?" he asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Either go with the painting, mural work and or children's books, or I take another course with Biology and get a science degree, But art's my passion really.." she finished quietly. He looked.. pleased with her answer? What?
"I see." Dear heart, a company like Umbrella chew up young, ambitious girls like you everyday and spit them out just as fast. He mused darkly. Stick with arts and crafts.
Just then, the bus took a sudden right and drove right into a black top car park. Looking around, Claire caught a sign which read "Victory City Police Academy" and sighed, more so from relief. She couldn't say for sure why this chat felt so tense, especially considering that she felt her and Wesker were beginning to grow closer. The night when he invited her to dinner, she found he was quite a charming and even handsome man after getting some alone time with him, even if it wasn't the most romantic scene ever.
The bus ride here felt like a step backwards. It felt like he was trying to find something about her, like he was trying to get her to answer a question he never asked.. but what was it? She could tell he was biting his tongue over something, but what?
She nearly jumped up twenty feet when she felt Chris slap her back. "Lets go Claire bear!" he said in passing as he and the others hopped off the bus.
Claire stared after the members with wide eyes, they were practically giddy as they ran off the bus but now they were practically falling into a perfect line, marching off towards the main building.
"They have done this before Miss Redfield." Wesker began. "They're a specially trained team that must look the part as well."
Claire nodded at him and went to stand when he reached up and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Inform Chris that you'll be staying in the Marionette hotel before 6, we will have dinner here in the mess hall to not appear rude, and we'll depart then."
"Alright." Claire answered with a small nod and then walked off the bus, allowing Wesker to walk ahead of her once they got off. She was the faithful assistant after all, wasn't she?
As soon as she stepped into the main building, Wesker and Enrico were striding across the floor, shaking a mans hand. "Captain Oliviera." Wesker greeted the man. He was slightly shorter than Wesker, and a little less bulky, but hes slightly long black hair and friendly demeanor was enough to make her mouth curve into a friendly smile for the presumed head Captain.
"Captain Wesker and Captain Marini, a pleasure as always!" he answered back. Claire thought she heard the slightest hint of an Australian accent, but it was very faint. Weird considering his last name. "Sorry i had to move your teams arrival time, the area recently had a power outage and we were afraid that because of it, we wouldn't have the place ready."
Wesker nodded. "It was no inconvenience Captain." Oliviera looked passed Wesker to the STARS and greeted them with a small wave. "Hey guys, same rooms as last year so you can head down and leave your stuff down!" The STARS each relaxed a bit more and each picked up their bags, their perfect line still unbroken as they walked towards the dorms.
"I'll head down with them, make sure they don't start trying to switch rooms or anything." Enrico said to Wesker, who nodded and let him go on ahead.
"And Captain Wesker, we- Oh! hey there!" The Captain's words caught in his throat as he caught Claire walking up towards Wesker, a warm friendly smile still on his face.
Wesker stepped to the side, allowing Claire a full view of Captain Oliviera. She guessed he was in his late thirties, judging from the stubble on his face and how he carried himself. Perhaps he was a father, considering how friendly he was, especially considering his job.
Oliviera's hand shot out for a handshake, and Claire gladly took it. "This is my assistant, Claire Redfield." Wesker announced. "Chris Redfield's little sister."
Oliviera looked a little surprised, but then smiled even wider. "Chris has a sister? no kidding! i can see the resemblance though, nice to meet you Claire! The names David, but everyone calls me Dave."
"Likewise Captain Oliviera." she noticed in the corner of her eye how Wesker seemed to approve of her friendly attitude. Well duh, he's the head Captain!
"Please Claire, Dave!" He laughed and let her hand go, returning his gaze to Wesker. "The STARS assistant i presume?" he asked.
Wesker smirked knowingly and inclined his head. "Correct Captain."
Just as Dave was about to ask Wesker to call him Dave for the 100th time, he quickly interrupted as he glanced at his wrist watch. "Mmm, i must make a quick phone call Captain, Could you perhaps inform Claire of her first duty here?"
It was more so a statement than anything, as he quickly strided off towards a pay phone outside, leaving Dave and Claire to their own devices.
Dave chuckled as soon as the main door closed. "He's a bit of a hard ass, right?"
"You've got that right." she laughed and shook it off with a smile.
Dave smirked down at Claire, who's smile was slowly disappearing and growing into a suspicious smirk. "What's up Dave?"
"Want to know what that 'duty' Wesker was talking about entails?"
Claire laughed softly. "Sure."
"You'll regret that." he joked.
He wasn't kidding. Wesker's fucking 'duty' required Claire to go around to the dorm rooms of the applying officers - which 90% of were men - ask their names, get them to sign a sheet and be on her merry way.
So far she'd gone to 8 rooms in the east wing where there were only men. Each wing had 20 rooms, and only the west wing had women. Why didn't i go their first? In each room, there was 3 guys. Most men were polite and respectful, thinking that if they were super accommodating and charming, she'd be more likely to put their name in for an officer job, or even better, a STARS position.
Well, those guys sure were ambitious.
Shaking her head, she cleared her throat and lightly knocked on Room 9. Hearing some shuffling in the room, she flipped the page and looked over the men in the room. Lets see now.. theirs.. Joseph.. Nathan, and..
"Yeah?" asked a man as the door opened, none too pleasantly might she add.
"Hi, my names Claire Redfield with the Raccoon City Police Department, i-"
"Shit its her! Nate, get over here!" he shouted back into the room, making her wince ever so slightly from the unnecessary volume.
Just like that, 'Nathan' showed up, and they immediately began their interrogation. "How much does the job pay?" asked Nathan as he shoved who she presumed was Joseph.
"Uh.." Claire began. "No idea.. i'm just an assistant." she was feeling a little grumpy considering so far the rooms either consisted of assholes or respective men, and this was definitely an asshole room.
"Come on, just a Ballpark figure!" Nathan asked, but was quickly shoved by Joseph. "Do members get a free gym membership?"
"Did you guys not hear me? i said i'm a god damn assistant." she growled, earning a very theatrical "Oooohh" from the two men.
"No need to get snippy sweetheart, aren't you trying to get us to sign up for the RCPD?"
Claire flashed a sarcastic smile. "I could give two shits what you two sign up for."
"Little bitch." Nate hissed, and was about to step out of the room when a man she hadn't noticed before grabbed his arm.
"Cool it Nate, are you seriously getting pissed because she doesn't know how much the RCPD pays?" the man growled and pulled him back, staring him down intensely.
"Nah, i've got better shit to do." he shook the man off roughly and grabbed a gym bag from behind the door. "Heading to the gym." he growled as he stormed down the hall.
The man looked towards Joseph who threw his hands up and laughed. "We were just having a bit of fun man, don't worry about it." he answered and walked back into the room, turning on the television.
The man, Claire noticed, was actually very handsome. Cute brown hair in a swept style, tall, clearly strong judging from the muscles coming through in his shirt, and very charming.
"Sorry about that, they're not usually like this, believe it or not. We had to get up pretty early to clean the place for your arrival, and with no electricity for 3 days we've all been a bit grumpy."
Claire smiled at his smooth voice. "Its fine, i just need to get you and your roommates to sign off on this sheet, that is if you're interested in working in the RCPD."
The man nodded and took the clipboard and pen she offered, searching for his name and then signing off. She couldn't help but notice his eyes we're a lovely bright blue, much like her own. She blushed at the thought of the two having something like that in common.
Handing the clipboard back to her, he leaned on the door frame with his back and folded his arms, smiling as he watched her search for his signature.
"You work for STARS right?" he asked. Claire give a sheepish nod. Why am i acting like a fucking schoolgirl all of a sudden!
"Yeah, i'm definitely interested in working there." he said with a chuckle, noticing the growing pinkness in her cheeks. Eeep!
"Great.. mister.." Where the hell is his signature?
"Leon." he offered. "Leon S. Kennedy. And you?"
"Claire, Claire Redfield." she answered.
He nodded, with that dashing smile still in place. "Well Claire Claire Redfield, Maybe i'll see you at the Mess Hall tonight for dinner?"
"Yeah, definitely!" she giggled. You idiot, you're being too freaking eager! be coy!
"Great." he answered. "I'll see you then Claire." he finished before giving a small wave and closing his door.
"Great." she sighed. What the hell was that!
As she happily hummed and strolled up the corridor, she came to a sudden stop and cursed sharply under her breath. "I didn't get the other 2 guy's signatures!"
I'm so sorry this is short, and its taken a while to get this out, but you would not believe how busy i am augh. BUT HEY i passed the rounds for my Portfolio! and got a really high score on it too which is really weird! But i AM going to be super busy from here on out, so expect major gaps in updates between here and June, sorrrryyy!
Hope this was an okay chapter! and i know i said id personally reply to all of your lovely reviews, but i gotta go do homework, sorry! but seriously, thank you SO much for each chapter, they motivate me and make me so happy this story is still being read, thank you!
