I hope everyone is doing okay. This is day 17 of not working and day 5 of real lockdown in my state. Stay safe and healthy. I have other stories if you want to check them out, keep yourself occupied. Review, follow, favorite. Thank you.
"Why are you always here?" Ben asked one Sunday morning in March. He had just woken up to see Quil outside on a ladder cleaning the gutters, gutters that were already cleaned two weeks ago. Ben stood in the driveway with a robe wrapped around him while rubbing his sleepy face.
"I'm just helping out," Quil shrugged as he threw a few leaves down. The gutters were basically clean and he knew that but he had an urge to be around Claire today. He had made sure Leah or Embry was still around her when she did errands or ran just incase the mate of Ada came but Claire didn't know about that yet. Quil knew he was digging himself in a hole with hiding it but he also knew it would scare her.
"Maybe at first but now I don't think so. What's going on my man?" Ben asked while digging out his Newport's from his robes pocket. He finally found them and lit one up. Nothing was better then the first smoke of the day.
"I...I don't know. This place feels like home to me so I come here a lot," Quil wasn't lying but he also wasn't telling the complete truth.
"Are you sure it has nothing to do with a certain sister of mine?" Ben winked when Quil blushed and looked at him with wide eyes. He hadn't been called out about Claire in years so this was new especially coming from Ben. "Don't give me that look! I know all my friend so why don't you come inside for some breakfast and we'll talk. Claire already snuck out her window for a run," Ben just shrugged and let out a chuckle before turning to go back inside. Quil instantly panicked but instead of running off into the woods to find her himself he sent a quick text to Seth who was also off today to go and run with her. He was trying to not be overbearing.
"Coffee and toast okay? Claire is the cook while I just drink," Ben laughed again. Quil noticed whatever Ben said or did he found funny. Like life was just this huge joke or comedy show.
"Sure," Quil was awkward as he slid into his normal spot at the counter. He watched as Ben moved around the kitchen turning on the coffee maker and putting bread into the toaster. He pulled out butter from the fridge along with milk.
"Sugar and milk for the coffee? How does dear Claire make it for you?" Ben laughed again. Quil began questioning how Ben was treated while growing up. If Claire was treated like she was worthless and Sarah was treated like she was perfect then where did Ben fit in?
"She...she puts two scoops of sugar and a little milk," Quil never really thought about how his and her relationship was growing until now.
"So...Claire...you like her and it's obvious. Like painfully obvious. You are over all the time. You help clean around here like you live here too and you fix things that sometimes don't need it. I'm not expert but I know the water heater was just fine but it's acting a bit funny now since you pretended to fix it," Ben gave a small smile as he sat a steaming mug in front is Quil with buttered toast.
"Is it that obvious? Does she know?" Quil asked as he began munching on his food. He knew he made up a lot of excuses to come over but he didn't know his feelings showed that much.
"I don't think so. You two do have some special bond though," Ben shrugged as he added some baileys Irish cream into his coffee.
"She means a lot to me," Quil said truthfully as he chugged his coffee. He was starting to sweat from the nerves.
"Ask her out then," Ben rolled his eyes like it was the most obvious thing in the world. And Quil had to admit it was. Claire already knew about everything. The vampires, him being a wolf shapeshifter and him imprinting on her. What harm could be done? Oh, yeah. She could say no and that she only wanted to be friends forever. But then again at least she would be in his life.
"I don't think I could do that," Quil shook his head finally. He wasn't sure if he was even suppose to be talking to Ben like this. Claire told him earlier that he remembered Quil being the same as he was now also, Ben just didn't push like Claire did.
"You totally could. Just ask her to go to dinner or a movie. Something simple that could be played off as a friends thing just in case," Ben clicked his tongue before placing his dishes in the sink.
"Isn't that all cliché though?" Quil was doubting everything about himself right now. He was never really insecure. Even as a teenager he was always cocky with the boys even though he had no experience in any field. Once he imprinted though it sealed the cockiness though because he knew he would have someone later down the road so there was no point in looking. He found his perfect match. But now he was nervous and anxious about everything with Claire.
"Nope plus Claire has never been on a date so she won't think much of it. Just do it man or you'll regret it," Ben sung the last part as he skipped down the hallway and into the bathroom for his morning shower. Before Quil could get any more thoughts in the door swung open and two arguing voices came inside.
"Go away Seth. I was doing just fine without a partner today," Claire rolled her eyes as she stomped inside and took off her muddy sneakers. She tossed them in the kitchen sink so they wouldn't get anything dirty.
"I just wanted to take a run and you assumed I wanted to run with you," Seth sounded like a child when he argued. He always had and probably always will.
"Lies. I know this has something to do with you but I just can't prove it," Claire now pointed a finger at Quil before going to get two glasses for water.
"Want to go out for dinner?" Quil realized his mouth just shouted out the topic on his mind instead of coming up with a lie or just telling the truth. Claire turned around at the sink with two full glasses before scrunching her face up. Did he just ask her out? She handed a glass to Seth who was now looking extremely awkward and embarrassed for Quil.
"What?" Claire finally asked once she was done chugging her water. His words kept repeating in her mind. Want to go out for dinner? Was that a date? As friends or more? What were they anyway? Claire was finally beginning to question everything about Quil and her.
"I'm gonna go," Seth announced but neither paid him any attention. They instead just stared at each other with tense looks.
"As a date?" Claire finally asked when the front door closed. She suddenly felt self conscious. She was dripping sweat from her run. She was wearing a hoodie too big and old leggings with holes in them. She had no makeup on and her hair was started to grow back all over the place with tiny curls at the end. She was debating whether or not to shave it again or let it grow back.
"Or as friends. Whatever you want it to be," Quil tried to sound smooth but he could tell the answer came out shaky. His hands were sweating and he hated that Ben made him think he had to do this now.
"I've been craving sushi," Claire told him as she turned away to put the rest of the dishes that were on the counter in the sink. She needed to do anything but look at him.
"I've never had sushi. We can do sushi," Quil knew his eagerness was now peaking through his voice.
"You'll probably like it. I know a place in Seattle we can go but you gotta look nice," Claire was still avoiding looking at the man. She had never been asked out before even as a friend. Let alone someone that the legends say she's meant to be with. This was new territory for her.
"How about next Saturday night then? So you don't have to worry about rushing for work the next day. I'll make a reservation," Quil jumped up and bumped his knee on the counter. He blushed and headed to the door quickly so Claire wouldn't see.
"Saturday would work Quil," Claire loved saying his name. It felt right on her tongue. She watched as he left without another word though. She knew he was nervous like she was.