Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight not me!

Authors Note: Hello all!! Apologies for the very slow updates Im still really busy definitely will be uploading from next week onwards more frequently because Ill have no deadlines or anything over the horizon! Yay So I shall be free for the foreseeable future!! More writing and more uploading:D

Thanks for all the queries about where I disappeared off too! No Im not sick thanks for asking...I think...

Anyways please review I live for them:D Good or bad:D

Chapter Eighteen

C.P.O.V

When I got back to the hotel that night I felt more contented than I had done in a long time. Almost as soon as dinner was finished with and I had helped Emily clean up it was time for me to leave. Quill and Sam had moved into the living room to watch some football game on the TV, and Emily had gone to them and informed them that I was leaving for the bus now and she was taking me there. Sam had called cheerily from the couch and I had said goodbye back to him, Quill on the other hand had raised his hand quickly to say goodbye, bringing it back down quickly making me wonder if I had imagined the motion.

Emily had walked me to the bus stop, the bus parked there already giving me no time to talk further with Emily, quickly I thanked her for the day and had left for the hotel. Jane had yet to return but I imagined that she wouldn't be too far behind, probably parking the car now I thought. Throwing myself onto the couch I flicked on the TV, and sure enough Jane came in a few minutes later, smiling to herself.

"Hey Mam!" I called out brightly, waving raising my hand above my head in salute, as opposed to actually moving. Jane's eyebrows raised, obviously she hadn't expected to come home to such a cheerful daughter. "Well hello Claire…how was you're day?" she asked uncertainly, standing awkwardly by the door to her room. I wondered why she was acting so awkwardly but answered her question anyway, "Umm….it was good…yeah I just hung out around the town…how was yours…did the meeting go alright?" I asked careful not to sound too hopeful about it, if this meting went well then Jane would hopefully be staying put here near La Push. Jane looked at me somewhat sceptically before answering my question, "Yes well it went quite well thank you.." she replied cagily, she seemed to think I was being nosey I thought.

"Claire what are you watching?" Jane finally asked having looked at me for a moment or two in silence. Confused I glanced at the screen to see what she was talking about, it was a wildlife programme discussing the mating rituals of the cricket, "Oh...I wasn't even paying attention to it sorry….is there something that you wanted to watch Mam?" I asked as politely as possible; I intended to find out more information about today but I knew that Jane would have to be suitably placated before she told me anything. That was a strange thing about Jane, she treated me with a never-ending suspicion it was almost as though I was some kind of alien, that if approached from the wrong angle would attack. Jane looked at the screen for a moment or two more, "Well no…I wouldn't mind watching a film I suppose.." she said thoughtfully. I knew that she was just hinting at a film with Brad Pitt in it, Jane loved Brad Pitt, she had once when quite drunk informed me that he "he truly was sex on legs!". I quickly scanned the programme schedule on the TV and saw to my delight that 'Meet Joe Black' was on in fifteen minutes. Jane quickly went to her room quickly to deposit her things before the film started.

I had seen the film numerous times, and sat there quietly pretending to pay attention as my mother practically salivated over the screen, smiling to herself, I didn't even want to know what she was thinking. When it was over she sighed contentedly, "I really enjoyed that…I haven't seen that one in ages Susan has my DVD of it.." Jane trailed off, her smile slipping slightly. I could tell that her prolonged absence from Susan was upsetting her, she had never liked spending too much time away from her when we were children, they were just so close; for a moment I felt a familiar pang of hurt at this overt favouritism but bit my lip to control it. Jane looked at me then almost as though she were wondering if her words had, had an effect on me, "Claire why did you come here with me…I mean you could have stayed with your father in London…Susan did.." Jane asked curiosity the only tone evident in her voice. This question surprised me and I wasn't sure how to answer it, I wanted to be honest and tell her that I only came to see my family and a new country; but knew that that particular answer would put her into a foul mood so worded my answer carefully. Telling her the truth but sugar coating it slightly. "Well…I suppose I just thought that Dad had Susan and Gran around for company at home…and well you wouldn't have anyone so I wanted to come with you.." I trailed off hoping that my answer would be seen as acceptable. Jane considered this for a moment, "Well Claire that was thoughtful of you but I really don't need your pity…I'm quite capable of looking after myself." she answered somewhat indignantly. My jaw dropped, I hadn't expected that for an answer, why couldn't my mother just accept that I had chosen her over my father and be done with it. "Mam…I don't pity you…I just wanted to be with you instead of Dad…if you want me to go back to London…I mean I guess I could.." I trailed off. I knew that she would never send me back to London, I was her collateral in a sense, she wanted me around because she knew that would mean extra money for her. My father Brian had to pay child support since I was still under-age, so my mother although not lacking money wasn't about to send me home either, for her to have to pay child support. It was infinitely cheaper just to have me around, since I never really asked for anything except the odd DVD, book or CD, much cheaper than Susan with her expensive school fees. "No Claire…you can stay here…I suppose you're right it's good to have some family around…and I'm sure that Susan will want to come visit you soon too.." Jane seemed to perk up at the thought, although I severely doubted Susan would want to visit me, she never paid me any particular attention when I lived in the room next to her, I couldn't see why she would be interested when I lived in another country. "Maybe…yeah.." I started uncertain now of what to say, but I needn't have worried because the phone rang at the same moment. Jane looked at it in surprise obviously not expecting such a late call, but quickly she got up from the couch and answered it.

From her expression I could tell that it was Brian, Jane's expression turned immediately defensive and I listened trying to piece together what was happening being only able to hear one side of the conversation. "Brian you do realise that it is close to midnight here don't you…I thought that you would be a little more considerate than that!" Jane snapped bitterly down the phone. Whatever Brian said in reply, made Jane stiffen and stand ram rod straight, obviously Brian wasn't intending on taking Jane's criticisms tonight, "Claire is absolutely fine thank you for asking…" Jane paused for a moment blushing slightly at whatever it was that Brian had said to her, and in a moment I understood too, "No Brian…she is perfectly happy where she is, only today I was looking at suitable schools here for her she choose to live here with me…obviously London doesn't hold as many attractions to her as you thought it did.." Jane finished a brief smirk of satisfaction flitted across her face at this. I felt rather amazed at Brian's sudden concern for my education before I realised what Jane was saying, I was staying here with her, she was looking or schools, I fought back the smile that was playing on my lips, not wanting Jane to see my delight at the idea. "Did you want to say hello to….Brian?", Jane called into the phone, annoyance evident in her expression, I knew that she had been about to say my name and felt slightly bothered that my own father had not wanted to speak with me, especially since he hadn't spoke with me in weeks.

Jane slammed the phone down before turning to look at me, her expression dark, I looked up at her with a blank expression not wanting to irritate her further. "So…how's Dad?" I asked with a forced air of lightness that sounded completely foreign to me. Jane scowled at me, "Claire you really shouldn't eavesdrop on other people's conversations it's incredibly rude you do realise that don't you?" she demanded somewhat hysterically. I nodded in compliance, "Sorry Mam…" I added pathetically, Jane looked at me for a moment or two, seemingly placated t my apology. "Well since you were eavesdropping I am assuming that you know I was looking at schools?" Jane asked rather bitterly, why couldn't she just be nice for once I though everything always had to be a fight with her. I nodded my head slightly to show her that I had heard, and she rolled her eyes at me, a move upon which used by me on her would usually result on me being either grounded or sent to my room. "Yes I researched some schools…I don't want you going just anywhere now do I…and in that case I'm assuming that it is obvious that got a job here.." Jane added nonchalantly, as though this was of no consequence to me, therefore the congratulations at the tip of my tongue remained there. "I'll be working in Seattle which is a few hours from here…" I groaned inwardly if that was the case then I would never get to see Emily and the rest of my family, Jane continued talking through my reverie, I barely paid attention to her until she was nearly finished talking, "I found a good property not too far from here…I think it would be best to have the house between your school and Seattle as opposed to in Seattle itself…the school really is very good…better than any of the schools that I saw there anyway.." Jane trailed off, obviously the schools she saw had been sub-par as far as she was concerned. I suppressed a smile, this was working out better than I had dared to have hoped, I would be near La Push but Jane would rarely be home enough to notice me.

"Claire...Claire!" Jane called to me, obviously she had been speaking to me more on the matter but I hadn't been paying attention. "Is that clear with you then?" she asked, but the question was rhetorical, nothing I said mattered so I merely shrugged in response, not wanting to arouse any suspicion in her. "Fine well that's good...we'll be moving there in the next few days or so.." Jane trailed off. I got the impression that she had been planning this for quite some time, otherwise how had she arranged a school for me and a house for us to live in, in a such a short amount of time.

"Alright Mam.." I said smiling pleasantly at her. Jane looked at me, with the familiar confused expression, that told me that she really didn't understand me at all. I turned towards the TV only to hear her bedroom door close heavily behind her, evidently she had, had enough of my company for one evening.